Companions by Jennifer Baird
Solstice – June 21, 2015
For the Solstice, I went to Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin for the Make Music Madison Event. Make Music Madison is an annual one-day citywide, free, outdoor day of music to be held on the Summer Solstice, June 21. The goal is to generate a continuous wall of music as people walk around participating spaces. I went to hear my friend Old Black Joe & Grave Digger Jones & Friends perform, which would start at the solstice.
I arrived around 11:15, just in time to hear the last song of the set played by Patrick Dieter and band. The song spoke to me giving me exactly the message I needed to hear that day:
BEEN HERE BEFORE
My dear soul, I see you’re back again.
I know you cannot remember when.
You probably think you’ve never been
To this dream-filled place before.
You left a world of pain and doubt,
Where it seemed that something’s been left out.
You constantly wondered “what’s it all about?”
There just should be something more.
You’d forgotten you’d been here before.
Just lay back now — You can rest in my embrace.
Just let it be now — You are a soul here in this perfect place.
Just rest easy — This is the end of time and space.
Just let it go now — You are dissolving into Grace.
Just lay back now — You can rest in my embrace.
Just let it be now — You are a soul here in this perfect place.
Just rest easy — This is the end of time and space.
Just let it go now — You are dissolving into Grace.
The last time you left, you shed your wings.
Put away your miracles and things.
“I will not forget!” I heard you sing
As you walked right out the door.
When you left me last, you proudly swore,
You’d remember all of this and more.
You would not succumb to Holy War.
And you’d stay dead certain at your core.
You’d remember you’ve been here before.
Just lay back now — You can rest in my embrace.
Just let it be now — You are a soul here in this perfect place.
Just rest easy — This is the end of time and space.
Just let it go now — You are dissolving into Grace.
(c) Patrick Dieter and Joah Greengus, 2014, all rights reserved.
Next up was Old Black Joe and Friends playing blues, which I enjoyed very much. I especially liked the first song (wish I could remember the name), Instrumental in C jam in the middle and the John Lee Hooker songs in the last part. I was very happy I went to the park, heard live music, and shared this experience with people from all backgrounds. Thanks for putting this together Guy!
June 22, 2015 – Thinking about the Holy War
I could not get the messages from the song “Been Here Before” out of my mind, especially this part:
“You would not succumb to Holy War.
And you’d stay dead certain at your core.”
and the practical advise on how to go forward:
“Just lay back now — You can rest in my embrace.
Just let it be now — You are a soul here in this perfect place.
Just rest easy — This is the end of time and space.
Just let it go now — You are dissolving into Grace.”
I’ve been in these ascension peaks before (Been Here Before) and each time the same old ‘holy war story’ rises to the top and I go through a sequence of experiences. I can actually predict what experience will come next because I’ve been through it enough times before. Each time through it seems to be more real and closer to reality than the prior rising, to the point where my inside world matches the outside world.
At that point I feel hanging onto this holy story makes me feel overwhelmed and letting it go I believe I will totally lose myself and become the story. It feels so much like being caught between a rock and a hard place, feeling that either way the story wins. Which reminds me of suppressed memories and the way to heal them is to add experience or emotion to them to integrate them into your being. As the story expands, it gets darker and it feels like a huge weight and very hard to hold because one feels responsible for the entire world. For sure the weight of it will make me let go, the only thing I can do is surrender, to fully let go and trust that everything will work out fine.
Dumpster Diving: Black & White Leather Jackets
Today in my dumpster diving I only found two things: a ladies black and a ladies white leather jacket. I tried them on.
The black one was two big, the arms too long and too loose and felt heavy.
The white one was light and fit perfectly, just like a glove.
June 23, 2015 – Put Away Your Miracles
I’ve been thinking about these jackets today and the truth is I don’t like wearing leather jackets at all! I also think to choose any color is a mistake; it is like taking sides, creating a separation, duality or a division. Even though the white jacket fits me, I don’t want it because to me it represents a Miracle.
The next lyric stands out:
“Put away your miracles and things.
“I will not forget!” I heard you sing.”
I hear you LOUD & CLEAR — thanks for reminding me Patrick Dieter!
Now I know that what I prefer is no robe at all! (Which is not meant to be taken literally, it means spiritual disrobement…)
And I think this photo turned out the best of all and love the split white and black background, which was NOT intentional!
Betsy
June 23, 2015
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