New Experiences and Learnings

Wall Street, Asheville, NC

Last Sunday at Jubilee was another enlightening and moving experience.  I try to go there with an open mind and few, if any, expectations.  So whatever happens, happens in that moment without my expectations coloring events.

The Opening was "a song to celebrate the path of yin" and was a traditional Irish lullaby.   The lyrics had a profound healing effect on my heart and reminded me of being with LaVerne at the end of her life here on earth.  I don't think I had ever heard the song all the way through, let alone sing it.  It was about being with someone as they pass on.  Here are the lyrics.  Perhaps they will speak to you, too. 

Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee

All through the night

Guardian angels God will send thee

All through the night

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping

Hill and dale in slumber sleeping

I my loving vigil keeping

All through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping

All through the night

While the weary world is sleeping

All through the night

O'er thy spirit gently stealing

Visions of delight revealing

Breathes a pure and holy feeling

All through the night

Though I roam a minstrel lonely

All through the night

My true harp shall sing praise only

All through the night

Love's young dream, alas, is over

Yet my strains of love shall hover

Near the presence of my lover

All through the night

Hark, a solemn bell is ringing

Clear through the night

Thou, my love, art heavenward winging

Home through the night

Earthly dust from off thee shaken

Soul immortal shalt thou awaken

With thy last dim journey taken

Home through the night. 

Once again, it seemed as if the service was just for me. 

When I left, I went straight to a massage chair near Jubilee and had the lady work on a crick in my neck for half an hour.  It sure did hurt, and it sure felt so much better when she was done!  She asked how long it had been since my last massage, and I realised it had been 2 years, the last one at the Grove Park Inn on my getaway from Raleigh for a weekend in December of '08. 

On Tuesday night I accepted an invitation from new friend Jada Moonstone to attend a kirtan, chanting to achieve liberation and deep concentration.  The group leading it is named Sangita Devi, which means music of the divine mother.  They have a session every Tuesday night and have been doing this since '02.  What a wonderful group of musicians!  It didn't take long for me to feel a sense of peace and tranquility unlike anything I've ever experienced before.  At one moment, with eyes closed, I saw brown/gray shadows moving across my minds' eye which was suddenly interrupted by a pin sized point of extremely white light.  Time ceased while I was there and it seemed to be over very quickly, even though it had lasted over an hour and a half. 



Rev. Jada Moonstone



Sangita Devi setting up

 Yesterday was a stormy day and Marcia came over for lunch.  We had a nice afternoon together and lifted each others' spirits once again.  It is a difficult time for her, as her husband was very sick this time last year.  That first year without a loved one is so tough, and I'm glad I can be of some help to her and her to me as well. 

Once again I've decided to change my itinerary and stay here longer.  I plan to leave Fletcher on November 23 and head south, skipping my previously planned stay at Twin Lakes near Pendleton.  It was a difficult choice to make, but I feel like I'm getting so much from being here that I want to stay as long as possible.  Hope the peeps in Pendleton understand.  That said, I'm going to Virginia this weekend to visit daughter Barbara and family.  It will be good to see the grandsons all dressed up for Halloween and also to attend the annual Chili Cookoff, which son-in-law Trey has won a couple of times.  It will be a good time, for sure, and it may be a while before I see them again.

Thanks for stopping by!