Band of Spirit Blog

Peace is a Miracle

 

PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL PEOPLE  EVERYWHERE.

MAY WE JOIN OUT HEARTS IN PRAYER THAT THIS COMING YEAR WE WILL BE

WISER AND OF THE SPIRIT  IN ALL THAT WE DO.

His Holiness Karmapa's Animated Losar Card

 

Losar celebrates the Tibetan New Year. This animated Losar  card was emailed to me by Elizabeh E. Kelly, the artist that painted much of the artwork on the spiritbands I produce on Bandofspirit. I want to share it with you 

The card was sent by his holiness Karmapa to the KTD monastery in Woodstck, NY.

http://www.kagyumonlam.org/Download/ecard/LosarCard.swf  Download card

Jivan Gaparyan Reveals the Soul of Armenia

The soulful sound of the Duduk is so sad and beautiful when played by Jivan Gasparyan.

I first heard this Armenian music on the album  " I Will Not Be Sad In This World"

 

"Djivan Gasparyan is unquestionably one of Armenia’s greatest musicians, a living legend. He is the foremost virtuoso of the duduk, an ancient oboe-like instrument that is made of apricot wood and capable of sustaining drone notes for long periods of time." Amazon
 

I Need Durga Today and Tomorrow

I'm looking for some Durga energy these days - patience but not giving up the quest, a sense of humor to see me through and an unlimited amount of compassion so I don't loose my feelings for people who don't see things my way and I need to find Durga's warrior spirit to gain further strength in my spiritual journey. Durga

Devendra Banhart Says "Love it would be Much Better"

Devendra Banhart troubadour for an age of emotional discontent sooths the rough edges and sours past the garde.

"Singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart is often associated with the subgenres known as freak folk, psych folk or New Weird America. Essentially his music is gentle and twee and a little bit strange, with latest album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (2007) being especially experimental."

Samples from "Smokey Rolls Down the Mountain" Amazon  and check out his new album, "What Will Be" 

Good God! Born Again Funk is What My Soul Needs This Sunday

I'm lovin' this collection of gospel tunes that can shake the negativity right out of me. The album is available at "Other Music" a very cool record store in NYC or from their online store. Here are some samples from, Good god! Born Again Funk

This is one of the gospel groups on the album, "The Victory Travelers" singing live.

Charter for Compassion Needs Our Support

It's true we need compassion for each other. We need to find the compassion that is in all world religions. The compassion that is destroyed by hate for another's religion or another 's opinion. 

Compassion is one of the tools god has given us to help us get past our egos and feel god's presence within us.

I need more compassion when someone crosses some line in the sand I have set for correct behavior and I feel I am threatened. I need to see what is really happening and not what I want to happen.

Charter of Compassion is an organization that supports and encourages the idea of compassion in our lives.

"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves."

Charter of Compassion

Wilderness Torah Returns Us to Our Earth Based Spirituality

I just discovered a very interesting Jewish group: Wilderness Torah, " Wilderness Torah awakens and celebrates the earth based traditions of Judiasm to nourish the connections between self, community, earth and spirit."

I really like the idea of Eco- Judiasm - a return to the garden, Moses wandering in the desert :  Wilderness Torah

"Wilderness Torah makes these connections through an annual cycle of land-based pilgrimage festivals, including Sukkot on the Farm, Passover in the Desert and Shavuot on the Mountain; earth-based rites of passage, such as the Jewish Vision Quest, Wilderness Walks, and a b’nai mitzvah rites of passage program; and through educational programs that model and teach sustainable life skills such as organic gardening, food preparation and preservation, and nature awareness skills – all through a Jewish lens."

The Film Ressurection Has A New Life

 
The fine film "Resurrection," the story of a healer who comes to accept her gifts through adversity has been re-issued exclusively from Amazon.

If you haven't seen it, or want to view it again, it's now available at a popular price.

The film portrays one woman's journey from chaos to humility, compassion and peace.

"This woman has a near-death experience and finds she has power to heal. The use of the power without calling it the Holy Spirit gets her is to all manner of trouble. The movie really shows the difference between religion and spirituality."

"If you haven't seen this beautifully-crafted movie, run to get a copy. It is intimate, well-paced, utterly charming and full of small miracles of acting. Nominated for two Academy Awards (Ellyn Burstyn for Best Actress, Eva LaGallienne for Best Supporting-Actress, in her final film, so don't miss her!), it is an emotional trip into the big questions of life and death and what comes after that? "

 Amazon reviewers

Here's a clip: Scene

David Lynch is 64 Today and Will Probably Meditate

David Lynch turns 64 today. I have long been a fan of his films. I am also very pleased that David is doing something positive to help shift the balance of our planet away from negativity, selfishness and greed to one of a spiritual consciousness by helping young people learn to meditate through his David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness - Based Education and World peace.

David's message -  "In today’s world of fear and uncertainty, every child should have one class period a day to dive within himself and experience the field of silence—bliss—the enormous reservoir of energy and intelligence that is deep within all of us. This is the way to save the coming generationby helping young people learn to meditate. "

He has some heavy hitters in his line up - Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Russel Simmons who agree with David that the world would be a better meditating.

"This whole world is wild at heart and wierd on top" Lula.

I guess that's one good reason to start meditating.

 

Happy Birthday, David