“In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence? ”     …………… Gabrielle Roth.

Thoughts – [click to continue...]

On a hillside, high above a ravine lived a small boy and his family. There home was a very ordinary wood shack surrounded on three sides by trees. Life seemed very boring to this young boy and he dreamed of excitement and adventure. Often he would sit on their wooden porch late in the evening and watch the valley below, change colours as the sun went down. On the other side of the valley was another building and on certain evenings there would be an amazing sight, a miracle would happen, the house would explode with amazing golden windows. He would sit and dream about who lived there, how special they must be to live in such an amazing place.

Then one day, he decided to go and discover what treasures where hidden in the house with the Golden Windows. He packed a bag with food for the journey and very early the next morning he set off down the hillside towards the river. [click to continue...]

To inspire with hope, courage or confidence. (American Heritage Dictionary) The raising of one’s confidence especially by an external agency. (Merriam – Webster Dictionary)

“It just seems like musicians want to sell a few records and put out a perfume line, and I think it’s so sad that there are so many musicians who don’t want to change the world ……. Music has been so much more”.

Moby.

Thoughts – [click to continue...]

In the age of computer generated music and technology, it is exciting to hear about the resurgence of traditional instruments. The vivo, a high pitched nose flute, which was widely used in pre-missionary Polynesia, is having a bit of a revival. The Ministry of Cultural Development in the Cook Islands has organised workshops and had 1500 vivo made on the island of Mangaia, where the bamboo used for the instrument grows naturally.

Thoughts – [click to continue...]

“A culture cannot be learned from a textbook. True understanding and appreciation are possible only from first-hand experience.”    Hiwi and Pat Tauroa.