Perhaps in honor of the full moon tomorrow, I would like to share with you a couple of songs from Tom Petty's first solo album, Full Moon Fever.

Each of them capture an important part of the work I do, and I end up either talking about what they represent with those I help or certainly letting what they represent influence my work.

When we need to speak up and honor ourselves, along with trying to respect any others involved, being assertive becomes important, and I invariably seem to mention the topic in my practice.

I think this first song greatly establishes the firm boundary of how much one should honor oneself when faced with any difficulty involving others.

Music video by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers performing I Won't Back Down. (C) 1989 Geffen Records

[I do think the official copyright above may not be entirely accurate, since I believe only some of The Heartbreakers assisted with this album, with just one performing in the video, to my knowledge.]

This next song captures a more intangible aspect of the work I do, which I may not always mention or perhaps ever directly talk about, although I do mention it on this blog.

When we embrace more the mystery of life, there comes more of a stillness, a peacefulness, a pure potential for what may be next, what may be an answer, what may be nothing more, or less, than healthy truth and guidance.

When he sings about working on a mystery and going wherever it leads, this captures the essence of this.

I hope you enjoy these.

Music video by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers performing Runnin' Down A Dream. (C) 1989 Geffen Records

[Again, I think the official copyright may not be fully accurate for this video.  Some of The Heartbreakers assisted with the album.  In the video, perhaps they all do appear though midway through.]

I wanted to share a song that has meaning for me, since I heard it on television as a younger person, being carried away to other lands, remembering those journeys as I hear it now.

It captures the seasons, and captures my own journey recently, to settle into another place for my practice, my former place of five years having had to be reclaimed as a home, a peaceful older building in which I enjoyed helping others.

Please enjoy hearing the unique sound of this artist and the lyrics, which come straight from J.R.R. Tolkien's book, The Hobbit.

I welcome you to my new practice home, which brings up a few feelings, not unlike those I experience when I hear this song.

--

From the original soundtrack of The Hobbit (1977) animated movie by Rankin/Bass.
Music by Maury Laws. Vocals by Glenn Yarbrough.

[Update: I have come back from vacation since first posting this.]

I wanted to share what you may have already come across before, but I am just about to head on vacation and want to share this here.

Many of the lines and lyrics speak to me personally, and I hope they do for you.

Thankful this is out there to share.

Please enjoy . . .

Music video by Katy Perry performing Daisies.
(c) 2020 Capitol Records, LLC

I am again bringing over sensibilities from another website I started, sharing the spirit of it here.  This comes from a band I used to listen to when I was quite a bit younger.  I will say this song, the title of the post, captures the opportunities presented to us in troubled times.  I have mentioned doorways recently in posts, as places and opportunities for deeper discovery.  I am posting the lyrics here before the song itself, which may not be to everyone's taste, of a heavier nature.  But, I stand by the lyrics and am happy to share them here.

Long Since Dark

It's been long since dark

Sitting here bathed in the moonshade
Underneath a willow tree
To stare above, the sky is burning
The diamonds dance in nocturnal symphony
What does it mean? How do I fit into the scheme?

Why is there dark sky above, what does it veil?
Is there a purpose to the point
Beyond the norm we hail?

Reflecting on my future to come
Underneath the crescent moon
Long since dark, and my thoughts are flowing
And deeper still, beyond the cloak of unknown
Relentless drone, why was I put here, left alone?

Why do I hunger to know what will I gain?
Is there true wisdom without end
Or will I find just pain?

How many times do we take for granted
Simple things that make life sweet
Enraptured by material longings
We miss the point, we need to know, to see
Beyond our being, and in the void lies the meaning

Just as the dark sky above had spoke to me
The answers came so clear, then vanished
For a moment I was free

I am free

Songwriters: Warrel Dane / Lenny Rutledge

Long Since Dark lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

--

Long Since Dark (Song) by Sanctuary
Into the Mirror Black (Album)
℗ 1990 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

When I heard this piece of music again after some time of not having heard it, it struck me on a deeper level than perhaps it had before.

If you feel like the universe, your version of a high power, even yourself, has let you down, if you have felt like something has been missing, something has not been there for you, or your very self even, the best of you, has been absent, perhaps it is not so hard to hear the call to healing and help being offered to you from this place, through the lyrics and this song.

Sacred, beautiful, feminine.

Powerful. Real.

Thanks, Adele.

Hearing the call....

Hello by Adele
​(P) 2015 XL Recordings Ltd., under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment

enjoying the warmer
weather

but missing
the full feel

of winter

almost
over.

Feeling spirited today, with spring coming, and could not help but enjoy this today--

"Do you know that there's still a chance for you, 'cause there's a spark in you? You just gotta ignite the light, and let it shine. Just own the night, like the Fourth of July."

"It's always been inside of you, and now it's time to let it through."

Music video by Katy Perry performing Firework (quoted above).
​(c) 2010 Capitol Records, LLC

In discussing the musical theme of the character Rey in the seventh Star Wars movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, composer John William had the following to share, which to me seems to be the kind of journey all of us would be more likely to relate to, on the human level: "Rey, her theme has a musical grammar that is not heroic.  It's kind of an adventure theme that maybe promises more than resolving itself in the most major, triumphant resolutions. “

Here's to journeying through life with the precious everyday moments being triumphant and full of life, and love, in their own way, by just being and being experienced..

I have always enjoyed life when I can experience it beyond just the surface details, including in popular culture.  Here's a song which certainly could be heard as a call from a very loving part of ourselves, or something outside of ourselves asking us to be loved just a little more.  (Bit of language in this song FYI.)  Snow Come Down by Lori Carson