New Moon & Gratitude for Cycles

Yesterday was a new moon. And no I am not talking about the teenage vampire movie.

What is a new moon and why should we care? Over the last five years or so I have become much more conscious of the cycles of the moon and how I might "tune in" to them as a way of being present in my own life and creating what I dream is possible.

I have always had big dreams. This is really not my issue. What I have struggled with is the practical application of day to day practices that help realize these dreams in a realistic, sustainable, and satisfying way. The moon cycle is helpful in this.

Each month there is a new moon that leads to a full moon about 2 weeks later. Many people believe that the new moon is a time to plant seeds or intentions. If you study most religions, both monotheistic and others, the moon - where it is, what month it is, and how big it is often determines sacred days of worship or celebration.

I got to experience this first hand when I was living in the middle east, as the official beginning of Ramadan does not happen until the sighting of the new moon.

Each month, now I set intentions on the new moon. They can be as simple and grounded as, "I am joining the gym" or as expansive as, "each time I sing, my heart awakens". Sometimes I write these intentions down, sometimes I sing them. Sometimes I meditate on them. I don't like rules, so I let myself be free with it. Then when the full moon comes, just about two weeks later, I can see, did I practice? what has been created? I am often amazed at how much has shifted just because I was conscious and had intentions. And often many surprising things happen, events or experiences I myself couldn't have even thought of just two weeks before.

This is who we are: constantly creative beings. And for me, the moon is like a deep well of wisdom. A power center of well-being that acknowledges both our most human and most Divine qualities. Perhaps this is why, we have so many myths about the "dark creatures" coming out on the full moon. A "dark creature" is often a deeply passionate and creative creature and does not have to be perceived as "bad". Not if we allow ourselves to see the truth of who she/he is, and how we honor her/him.

This moon cycle that started yesterday is particularly powerful for me, as it will culminate on the full moon on Dec. 10 while I am in one of my most sacred places - Creacon Prema Agni Lodge

offering a Live Devotional Concert. To be in Ireland, at Creacon and offering the devotion of my heart in song is a dream coming true and my practice with the moon is a part of how it was created. Following Dec. 10, the next new moon is on Christmas eve - how do you love that timing? And so we are in a truly sacred time and when we begin to become conscious, we realize every moment and every moon is sacred. 

To celebrate this sacred time, I will also be offering a Solstice Concert on Dec. 21 right here on Cape Cod at Cultural Center of Cape Cod 7-9pm. I hope you will join us.

so tune in. to the moon and to yourself and allow the deep creative energy within you to flow. flow in service of all you dream and flow in service of all we dream for our world.

And if you are looking for more specific info on the moons and cosmic astrology I can't recommend more highly a new journal by Stephanie Azaria. It is a calendar and an awakening tool.

To stay up to date as to where I am singing and what I am doing please join us on Twitter or Facebook or visit my music page.

Hope to see you at soon share some songs.
love love love
Alicia

Why I Sing by Alicia Mathewson

I can't believe it's been almost 3 months since I have blogged. wow.

I have had many blog entries in my head, though none of them made it to the page. Here are the top ten titles that passed through this evolving mind:

1. Bhakti Fest rocked my world, you should go next year.
2. Sweet September (just wrote it as a song instead - LISTEN here)
3. The fall on Cape Cod is miraculous - do I really live here?
4. When am I going to make real money? (self-worth is everything)
5. Have I told you about Derek O'Neill yet? Go play with him in Ireland (or wherever he is.)
6. Seriously, wake up and love yourself. It helps
7. Being an Aunt is pure joy
8. I keep having the same relationships over and over again - YIKES!
9. I love living with my Dad. Who knew?
10. Laugh and everything is easier

And here we are now for "Why I Sing". All ready to write the blog and then....

My Uncle Paul has a heart attack and suddenly leaves the planet. As some of you may know from experience, when someone you love dies, everything changes.

Your sister calls you to watch her kids and you say yes. Your cousin needs a ride from the airport and you are grateful to have a car and the time to do it. Hugs (and food) abound. Love and kindness is flowing and miraculously inside what many of us feel is a horrible experience, there is so much love and healing, you can't help but smile amidst the tears and shock.

This is why I sing. Because when I sing - all is present - love, fear, anger, sadness, truth, beauty, pain & joy.

In singing I acknowledge that I am human and I am Divine. I am the instrument that practices, so that the LOVE that I am comes through me with more and more ease, grace, and truth.

I have not always been a "good singer". In fact, I didn't make my college acapella group because I didn't have a "good ear". I remember singing in a chorus in my late teens and someone saying, "Alicia your scooping voice is great but when you sing in a group you can't do that. Stay on pitch." Not surprisingly, I chose to sing solo most of my life. Rejection can be very painful for me. And so I often avoid it at all costs.

And let me tell you, there IS a great cost to avoiding rejection.

My need to be perfect and not be rejected has kept me from many experiences - both personally and professionally. That is over now. I choose to be me, be free, sing out, and not care how "good" that is. Now, because I’ve been singing my whole life, the choice to INTENTIONALLY sing and learn to chant devotionally has been incredibly awakening for me..

So, what's the difference between singing and chanting? Many people will answer this in different ways, because everyone can only speak from their experience. For me, chanting and devotionally singing has been liberating. Because some of my motivation to sing and perform was coming from thoughts like: "Please love me", "I am not enough" "see me!" “Recognize me!” I often unconsciously created suffering for myself and others as a result of singing (or choosing not to sing out of fear). Chanting allows me to sit back into a space of self-love and acceptance. And then my singing and chanting is in service of my own being and all beings. The practice of chanting exactly as I am, allows me to release old programs like, “I am not enough”. Instead I say, “I am the instrument through which this song comes. May it be peaceful and in service.”

In this practice of chanting and singing intentionally, I apply specific spiritual teachings I have learned, ones like: “I am not the doer”. And “I create my own reality” You know these two teachings? These two infuriatingly paradoxical teachings? When I sing and when I chant, I allow my consciousness to hold the truth of both these vibrations. Through my voice – which is also a vibration, I allow myself to shine in service of my well-being and the well-being of others.

Anyone can do this at any level. In fact, if you think you can't sing or you don't like your voice, to begin a chanting and/or singing practice will absolutely transform your life. Imagine releasing your self from the false notion that you can't sing. Imagine hearing your own voice and loving it.

Be still. Listen to your voice. Love your voice. Share your voice and together we will support each other with kindness, courage, and laughter as we come into exactly who we are. Love. Here to Serve.

And so….

This is why I sing AND why I chant. It gives me courage and joy as I wake each day and face my own fears and the fears of our world. As I allow myself to see the truth in every moment, I breathe and chant and sing and listen.

Can you hear the song of love? YES.
Can you hear the song of joy? YES.
Can you hear the song of anger? YES
Can you hear the song of loss? YES

Can you feel how it's all here to bring us back to our selves? YES.

So sing it. Whatever it is, sing it and let yourself be free.

As one of my new songs says "In every pain there is a pleasure, and in time you will see, every pleasure has its pain, be still now and be free"

Join us at Creacon in Ireland this December and Sing Your True Song - whatever that is.

And enjoy this special chant H'oponopono that I did during my 40 and Fabulous campaign

LOVE LOVE LOVE!