Author Archives: nandajurela

Music Education and the Birth of Motown

A very interesting article by Livia Gershon — about a paper written by Marie McCarthy of the University of Michigan.. Apparently, Detroit was not only a town of recreational music. Schools nurtured young talents with special educational programs; educators gave kids with promising skills and the love for music the confidence to go out andContinue reading “Music Education and the Birth of Motown”

Born On This Day: Minnie Riperton

Minnie Riperton would have been 73 today. The singer provided her 5 octave voice with the high pitched “scifi sounds” that became her signature to a genre-unifying, crossover, and, then quite futuristic, music. She first sang with Rotary Connection, then published her own albums, and occasionally joined musicians like Stevie Wonder and classical ensembles. SheContinue reading “Born On This Day: Minnie Riperton”

Every Motivation Is a Seed.

Think of all motivations as seeds. What if your motivation is to bring healing? You will reap what you have sowed: inner peace, contentment, ease and harmony. And if your motivation is to aggravate, annoy and provocate, you will also live with the consequences, with the appropriate responses to what you have sowed. So don’tContinue reading “Every Motivation Is a Seed.”

Happy Birthday To Lani Hall.

Lani Hall turns 75 on this day. The world class singer wrote a book while she was sick with the Epstein Barr Virus and could not perform. It is a mix of fiction and non-fiction short stories about women discovering who they are. Lani does not give many interviews, but when she introduced her book,Continue reading “Happy Birthday To Lani Hall.”

Happy Birthday To Vandana Shiva.

“Farming is care for the land. It is love for the land. It is not an activity to extract from the land.” Vandana Shiva, 68 on this day You will get a lot out of this almost 1 h long conversation between the UBC in Vancouver, in February 2020, and our birthday girl, ahemm, lady.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-0MC4Q3Jyc

Happy Birthday to Gregory Porter.

The singer lost his brother, with whom he was very close, to covid19 and still made himself available to a few interviews this year. … “This is going to sound strange but I’ve been listening to my own music too, just reaffirming the things I believe. When I sing No Love Dying, or even songsContinue reading “Happy Birthday to Gregory Porter.”

Sovereign Human Beings / Reclamation of the Mind

Imagine the power we would have, if women stopped dieting and men stopped drinking and drugging. While under the influence of self-deprivation and intoxication, no one has access to their innate wisdom. That is what advertisers want: the ability to trigger and enslave. What advertisers don’t want are sovereign human beings who think clearly, forContinue reading “Sovereign Human Beings / Reclamation of the Mind”

New Sobriety Movements

For the record, I endorse them all! I find it great that people are giving life without toxic substances a chance, and that so many are choosing a sober life style. I cheer to every person who gets free from crutches and from addictions. In the last years, I read about indigenous communities in CentralContinue reading “New Sobriety Movements”

The Problem Of Our Time and Culture: There Are No Elders

The problem with not having old people in positions of counsel (and I am not talking of 45 year old or 55 year olds, I am talking of a long and profound experience of life and the ability to make sense of it, coupled with love for humanity, in a senior) is that there isContinue reading “The Problem Of Our Time and Culture: There Are No Elders”

Goodbye, October. Welcome, November.

—The End Of the Harvest, October’s Blue Moon, Full Moon In Taurus — It is the Day of Dead weekend. The veil between the visible and the invisible realm is thin. The moon is full, as we transition from one month to another. It should be a memorable night. The moon is in Taurus, theContinue reading “Goodbye, October. Welcome, November.”

What Are You Rewarding?

What you encourage grows. What you react to can grow too — because it feels validated and claims the power to expand. Punishing what pains or chains you or self-hate because you can’t resist it effectively belong to an approach that hasn’t worked all that well to create what you want and love. Instead of shooting backContinue reading “What Are You Rewarding?”

Eat the Whole Plant: Radish Leaves

I never thought about eating radish leaves. Now that several varieties of radish – pink, white, heirloom – are growing in my garden, I gave it a try… Sure enough they are edible and have an interesting, fresh flavour. Use them before they wilt in salads, wraps, and sandwiches… Maybe they are good in vegContinue reading “Eat the Whole Plant: Radish Leaves”

Meet Your Own Expectations

It is always a let down when you notice that people don’t mean what they say, do not choose what they claim to choose, do not stand for what they describe. That what they offer is hot air and not more. But there is a medicine for it: you be solid. You – trust yourContinue reading “Meet Your Own Expectations”

Truth Is Like Water

The knowledge that comes to you without fanfare can change your life or move you so deeply that you begin to trust yourself. That is why the loudest, most repetitive, most elaborate voices have less power over the mind than something that is true — even when the truth is quiet and familiar, yet cutsContinue reading “Truth Is Like Water”

Welcoming the Dawn

Just for today,I am comfortable with my light,I am comfortable with my strength,I am at peace with peace,I live in harmony with myself,I co-create with the sun,I let Source run this new day. So todaymy light is my comfort,my strength is my comfort,peace is my delight,I dig the harmony within and the harmony without,the sunContinue reading “Welcoming the Dawn”