To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."
- Henry David Thoreau

vocal expression
vocal expression is not just about expressing ourselves with our physical voices, but about the many different ways we express our own unique voice (singing, dancing, writing, journaling, drawing, painting --- creativity of any form). Welcome and please join me in the many and varied ways of expressing yourself!

dansing Voice Studio
dansing Voice Studio information, announcements and updates. Also, Q&A, resources, vocal tips and links.

Look Within
Look within for who you truly are. Within is the ONLY place the answer is found. It cannot be elsewhere. I Am as God created me. It is not possible to be anything else. I am responsible for the world I see. Look within when upset or disturbed for any reason. Within is where to find how I created the world I see and how to heal it.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
 - Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

"O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart."
 - Psalm 15:1-2

This is not "something you do" - it is something you are! It is the energy of you. When we are in the energy/vibration of integrity and truth, we are in the energy/vibration of God. Note the words "speaks truth in his heart" - this refers to self-talk and when we tell ourselves the truth, we are with God and His energy and His power and His creativity - we are automatically in His presence/ in His tent/ on His holy hill.

When kindness, love, beauty, etc. come from Being, rather than from trying to be, do or earn our way into the heart of God, we find that we already are there!

What do you say when some one greets you with "How are you?" For the most part, you know that they don't really want to know - and what they really are asking is "How is your body (or some other possession)?"

I am coming to know and understand more and more that I am not my body and to that identify with it as such is a major source of all my difficulties in life!

I am a spiritual being expressing through a human body. I am from God - from Love - from Beauty. I had forgotten who I truly am and punished myself for "leaving home."

I punished myself by not allowing myself to do that which makes me happy - that which God put it in me to do. I punished myself by taking away and separating myself from things, people, places, music, etc. that made me happy. I filled my life with things and people that only made it possible for me to get by with some small semblance of dignity. My life had become very small, and then it got even smaller. Through a series of events, most of which seemed beyond my control, I found myself without income or a place to live and work, and back "home" with my mom.

Now, mind you, all this is a result of believing I am a body and that I have to follow the rules of this world - this society. The ego can be very cunning and deceptive . . . .

I had returned home, but was this the home I'd been punishing myself for leaving?

Why would someone need to feel? I hear it quite often - people are grateful to feel - that they felt something from the music, the singing, the message, etc. And it's in the movies. I've, for a long time, thought that certain movies with graphic details are for people who don't feel anything otherwise and, perhaps, it's the "only" way to reach them.

Personally, I wish I didn't feel so much. I am highly sensitive - I feel what other people feel, I feel the moods in music, on tv, in my surroundings, etc. - I feel whatever is in the environment, and often confuse it as my own (although not so much as I used to).

I guess it's one of those "blessings and curse" things. It makes me a better teacher, singer, friend, lover and human being - that is if I can avoid running for cover into my shell for protection. What I have to remember is who I am. If I try to rely on ego to get me through this, I will wither up and   f-a-d-e   a-w-a-y.

What is that one thing in your life that in order to do it, requires you to be your best, most loving, highest and happiest self!?

For me, it is - unequivocally - singing! Singing is the only thing, in my entire life, that in order to do it, I can't do just enough to get by. I must be healthy, strong and fit not only vocally, but physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and socially!

What I've found is that to be all this, I have to be all that God put it in me to be - that in order to fulfill His purpose for our lives, he has given us all the resources we need to fulfill that purpose. Of course, it will take hard work, perserverance, dedication, love, and so much more - all of which God put there right inside each of us to be developed and shared with all His beloved children.

Life's lessons can be really difficult, can't they?  And some lessons are just harder to get than others.

I had another "ouch" moment when I realized I'd -once again- placed my trust in some one or some thing other than God. It has not been an easy feat for me to remember that any time I place my trust outside God, it leads to disappointment and heartache.

I feel a mix of sadness and anger over this, and my particular tendency is to blame myself. But there is no one to blame. It is just a lesson in faith and truth. I hope that I really get it this time (and don't have to repeat it yet again)!

I am excited about my new journeys in life! I just had a birthday, in which I feel better, happier, and more loving than I have in a very long time. I feel as though I turned 25, with the excitement about life, people and singing  that I had then. I have much to look forward to, as well as enjoying the right now that I have!

In this new year (as of my birthday 3 days ago), I intend to:
    feel good
    be happy
    sing! dance! teach! write!
    share my voice
    be relaxed, grateful, more trusting God
    settle down (I've been traveling back & forth a lot)
    join choruses and choirs
    contribute more to the community

I've decided that this world is a friendly place and to enjoy every moment there is!

How about you? What are your intentions (thoughts you hold in your mind, and give energy / attention to) as you go about your daily life?