Recently, a harp friend told me that she was going to move along.  That she was done with the harp.  That she had completed what she set out to accomplish. And now that that’s done, it’s time to move on to something else.

I struggled for what to reply.  The concept of being done with playing the harp is an anathema to me.  I don’t get it.  What?

I wanted to argue.  She’s a good player.  She’s put in so much work.  So much time. So much money!

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that arguing with her wasn’t the right tack.  After all, she knows her own mind.  If she’s done, she’s done.  No amount of my quizzing her to death would help.  And all those questions surely wouldn’t woo her back and might just push her farther away. 

I just needed to be sad.

Sad because I’m likely to lose a friend.  When your friendship is built on sharing music, will it survive without it?

Sad because the harp gives me such joy (while also being a challenge) that I can’t conceive of leaving it, yet I have to allow her to do just that.

Sad because I felt badly that, although I think she’s a fine harp player, she had evaluated her own harp life and found it lacking.

And I’m still hopeful that it’s just that she just needs a break and that she’ll come back to the harp – and her harp friends.  That she’ll miss playing and just sort of migrate back to it.  That the simple act of playing will remind her of the joys to be had. 

But if that’s not the case, I really hope that she finds something that is a balm to her like I find my harp is to me – in good times and bad, it’s there for me and I want my friend to have that too.  Even if it’s from doing something else.

Because it’s about her and her happiness – and satisfaction – with playing.  If that’s not happening, then she probably should move on. I don’t know what she’s going to do with her time now that she won’t be practicing, going to workshops, playing, and all the other things we do.  It’s a lot of time to fill.  I’m not sure that when we’re in the middle of it, we realize how much time we spend – sometimes it really is more time that we spend with other people (not that there’s anything wrong with that! 😉).

And although I’m sad about all this, I also fervently hope that she is not sad at all.  That her choice to move along is standing her in good stead and that she’s finding something that makes her heart sing.  I’ll get over it.  I’ll play my harp to do so.  Maybe I’ll feel compelled to write a tune about it. Or maybe I’ll just play things that we had played together – as a commemoration of sorts.

I know I shouldn’t be sad – things change.  And I’ll move past it.  But for now, I’m going to be just a little bit sad about it while wishing my friend all the best. 

How are you? Let me know in the comments!

It’s not a good time just now.  (Another) War has broken out.  (Un)Fortunately, we have 24/7 media coverage, so you can be forgiven for being unable to escape the reporting.  Its relentless drumbeat is likely to wear on you.  And while you might think it’s stupid/pointless/misguided – now is the time to play for peace.

For your own peace. 

There are plenty of stressors available in our worlds and if the lingering crisis of the last two years wasn’t wearing on us enough, this latest one is a doozy. 

Regardless of your politics, your “side”, or your more general thinking, these events aren’t usually good for most of the people involved.  But for those on the outside, looking in, incapable of drawing away from the window, it will also take a toll.

Because we are all “involved” – some just have the luxury of pretending that they’re not going to be touched.  At this point though, there is not much we can do about it.  It is far away.  The diplomats are doing whatever it is they do over coffee in fancy meeting rooms.  And it’s been a long time since a “mighty war harp” was needed on a battlefield.

But just like there’s a tiger inside your kitten and a wolf in your puppy, inside your harp might be your best defense while we wait and watch and wonder what will come next. 

You have music.  It can help shield you from the ugly.   You can play the music of sorrow and the music of respite and make ready to play the music of joy…eventually.  You can play for yourself – as a balm for your soul.  And you can play for others who find themselves also locked in the thrall of the media, needing the succor you can provide.

You might think that you aren’t doing anything – but you’d be wrong. 

Every act of beauty will counter an act of ugliness.  Each beautiful note you play near an ear will send out sound waves that will bang into and deform the shock waves of a bomb detonating too near the ear of another. 

You might consider playing those simple but beautiful tunes.  Let them act as a salve for your mind.  If you aren’t sure what tune that might be, I’m sending subscribers one of my favorites.  It is the simply beautiful Crodh-laoigh nam Bodach (The Old Man’s Young Cows).  Play it to pour out all your emotions and once they are in front of you, play to move around in your feelings.  No good, no bad, just you, your harp and the defense of the music. 

In the end, which tune is not important – play anything you like that allows you to expel your emotions.  And once again we have a lovely opportunity to share with others who might not have the facility to play the music but will be comforted if you decide to share.

Times are troubled – again, more. Play your harp to help you get through the time and possibly to help others as well.

What do you think of the tune?  What other tunes you would play to feel the same things?  Are you letting your harp get you through (another) trying time?  Let me know in the comments.

Ok, let’s start by just taking a breath.  Because it’s been a breath-taking week.  No matter how you look at events and their attribution, it’s been quite a week.

So, we could sit around and kvetch about it.  Between the pandemic and the world and politics and social media and social distancing and east coast hurricanes and west coast fires, and everyone being sure that they know the answer, and everyone else is an idiot, there’s a lot to “unpack” as they say. 

One thing seems sure – many people are feeling many things, including anxiety and ennui. What if someone could give a gift to multiple people simultaneously, that would help ease that, if only for just a brief while? Wouldn’t that be a wonderful gift?

Of course it would be!  Well, guess what?! 

YOU can give that gift.  You can provide that brief respite.  It’s all there, right at your fingertips!

Consider going out and playing for the people near you (and for yourself).  You can create a version of a Sound Bath.

What is a Sound Bath?  It’s an experience that uses sound as an aid to relaxation and meditation.  The music is played to wash over the listener – hence the “bath”. 

While simpler sounds are often used, the harp is certainly a perfect instrument and this is a perfect situation.  All you need to do is play.

Play simple melodies.  Play those tunes you learned at the start.  Play what you’re learning now.  Play from your heart and with the intention of relieving any conflict in your own head as well as creating an environment in which your listeners can relax.

It won’t be a performance.  Perhaps it will feel slightly more embarrassing – after all, you will be inviting others to join you in a bath!  Ask them to join you, to relax, to close their eyes, to breathe, to listen, while you play your harp.  Then bathe them with sounds.

It doesn’t need to be fancy – just play from your doorstep, porch, driveway.  Or go to the park.  Or the Walmart parking lot.  No matter where you sit, be sure you play from your heart.  It will do you good.  It will do them good.  Use your harp and your music as a balm. 

It won’t matter what you play.  What will matter is that you play.  It’ll do you good. 

Will you go out there?  Will you draw a sound bath for yourself and others?  There’s no time limit and certainly no deadline, but there’s no time like the present.  Let me know if you decide to play, where you chose to play, who you played for – let me know in the comments!