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Sharing the insights I discover as I explore and experience the mystery that is our reality. Join me in my journey and share yours.




Thursday, January 19, 2012

George Harrison: The Rising Sun

Many dramatic moments  littered this morning's landscape with negativity as I struggled to get my daughter off to school. I'm learning more and more how complex the psychology of a child can get as all kinds of things are at play within their heads giving rise to spontaneous outbursts of anger, rebellion and tears. From desk changes at school where friends become separated by rows, like waves in an ocean, impossible lengths away now hindering necessary chatter and the passing of messages. How dare a teacher spoil such fun by being attentive towards their student's joyful distractions that add a little fun to the moments of such a banally structured day?! And oh yes, great despair is injected into one's lunchtime experience at the realization that one's mom just isn't as "cool" as the other children's mothers who apparently have no reservations on packing their lunches with  snacks filled with hydrogenated oils and trans fatty acids. Frustrations to all of these things explode outwards in the most precarious and inopportune of moments-getting ready for school in the morning when the timeline is most critical.

After coming home from dropping my daughter off I found myself turning on my son's favorite show while settling him down comfortably on the couch with his favorite stuffed friends and calling him out sick from school. Yes, most likely just about every strand of virus has run its course through our family. My son now is working through his second ear infection in just more than a month.

I've been feeling quite drained lately , spiritually and otherwise, from all of this sickness and from the lack of any moments to myself. I haven't been reading, writing , meditating or hiking much at all lately. Instead I've been dolling out medicine, wiping noses and changing sheets. I guess that all comes with the job description but there comes a point when one needs an opportunity to recharge, to fill what is empty. When what is empty stays empty for too long the effects of such a state soon manifest themselves and leads to suffering, for oneself and others that have to endure the byproducts of one's inner lamenting and parched spirit. In his book Original Goodness,  Eknath Easwaran points more than once to the important fact that meditation is not only a blessing to the one who meditates but blesses others as it produces peace to flourish within ourselves and then outwards  in our relationships and interactions. I longed for such peace to flourish within after such a morning of turmoil.

I recently was perusing through different chants on YouTube when I came across George Harrison's video of singing "Om Hare Hare Om". It was a beautiful song and led me this morning to see what else I could find from George Harrison that might provide me with a little spiritual fodder and inspiration as I moved forward in my day. Well, I was not disappointed , in fact quite elated when I came across the song "The Rising Sun" from his album "Brainwashed", that was finished and released  almost a year after his death. George Harrison, like so many artists,  left us too soon at the age of 58.

I didn't expect the lyrics to rise up in my consciousness and resonate with  memories of my deepest experiences received in meditation the way they did. I could relate to so many of the verses and I just find it so inspiring that such lyrics were written that describe so beautifully the sense of oneness that defines all that Is and that can be directly experienced.  If you've meditated, practiced mindfulness, or perhaps had a moment out in the natural world where a profound sense of interconnectedness filled you with a sense of awe , hope and joy I think you will appreciate the sentiment and experience this song relays. I know it refreshed me greatly this morning and inspired me to mope less and become more present in the moment.




 




                                                          The Rising Sun

On the street of villains taken for a ride
You can have the devil as a guide
Crippled by the boundaries, programmed into guilt
Til your nervous system starts to tilt
In a room of mirrors you can see for miles
But everything that's there is in disguise
Every word you've uttered and every thought you've had
Is all inside your file the good and the bad

But in the rising sun you can feel your life begin
Universe at play inside your DNA
You're a billion years old today
Oh the rising sun and the place it's coming from
Is inside of you and now your payment's overdue
Oh the rising sun, oh the rising sun

On the avenue of sinners I have been employed
Working there til I was near destroyed
I was almost a statistic inside a doctor's case
When I heard the messenger from inner space
He was sending me a signal that for so long I had ignored
But he held on to my umbilical cord
Until the ghost of memory trapped in my body mind
Came out of hiding to become alive

And in the rising sun you can hear your life begin
And it's here and there nowhere and everywhere
Though it's atmosphere is rare
Oh the rising sun and the place that it's coming from
Is inside of me and now I feel it constantly
Oh the rising sun, oh the rising sun

And in the rising sun you can feel your life begin
Universe at play inside your DNA
You're a billion years old today
Oh the rising sun and the place it's coming from
Is inside of you, now your payment's overdue

Oh the rising sun, ooh



Is there any verse in the song that speaks to your own experience or stands out to you? Please share in the comments section. Thank you!

19 comments:

  1. I'll start..though I love every line and could probably write why , maybe in another post ;) Here's the ones that really stuck out to me:

    "When I heard the messenger from inner space
    He was sending me a signal that for so long I had ignored...And in the rising sun you can feel your life begin
    Universe at play inside your DNA
    You're a billion years old today"

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    1. You're a billion years old today, thats my favourite too..We really think similar.
      ' And in the rising sun you can hear your life begin
      And it's here and there nowhere and everywhere'
      is also a favourite. Thats how I feel often, life is here, sometimes i feel nowhere sometimes everywhere and then I feel a billion years old. Life is a passing illusion
      Btw where is the comment option, cant find it so used the reply

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  2. I'm glad you were drawn to songs that helped you today. I read the lyrics and listened to the song and it inspired me as well. There is always rest for the weary and rejuvenation for the worn out!

    Blessings to you!

    http://lyricfire.typepad.com/lyric-fire/2012/01/lyric-fire-pinpointing-the-pain-this-is-not-a-poem-.html

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  3. Thank you for stopping by Tameka..I'm glad you enjoyed the song as well..headed over to your post shortly. :) The power of music should never be underestimated...I believe it can be a conduit. :)

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  4. "And in the rising sun you can hear your life begin
    And it's here and there nowhere and everywhere
    Though it's atmosphere is rare
    Oh the rising sun and the place that it's coming from
    Is inside of me and now I feel it constantly
    Oh the rising sun, oh the rising sun."

    I wish to give you comfort but I think you've already found it deep within Jessica... by taming your sense of struggles within through a chant or a song...

    My mom did the same with us ~ although I donn't have kids, I take care of my nieces too and there came a point when I thought I couldn't give more because I wanted to do something else. My mom gave me space to breathe.

    On George, I like his songs esp. the latter ones. I think he has gone through a lot and that makes him an effective songwriter.

    You know how music has always been a part of me/us. The heartbeat is the best chant ;) It could be irregular at times, but it's what keeps you alive.

    And so again I sing with you, "Oh the rising sun and the place that it's coming from
    Is inside of me and now I feel it constantly
    Oh the rising sun, oh the rising sun."

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  5. Lovely post, great way to find your spirit. I am glad you found what you needed at the moment you needed its. <3<3<3

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  6. Sometimes it is the unexpected that nourishes us.... you found what nourished you..

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  7. Awh, I hope things get better for you and your family. Prayers,
    Pamela

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  8. Psychology is limitless, and infinitely fascinating...

    "Universe at play inside your DNA
    You're a billion years old today"

    That is just incredible. Really paints a picture of how connected we all are to what we really are.

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  9. A great start to my day dear Jessica...u have given me hope to carry on today..God bless you always.

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  10. Being a 'mom' is difficult enough these days, let alone when the family gets sick and you are the instant caretaker. For some reason, we tend to put aside little time for ourselves and our spirituality and after awhile, that takes a toll on us as you said. I'm happy that you found what gave you that extra little boost to get going again. I will certainly keep you in my prayers Jessica :)

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  11. Jessica I am sure that I had commented on this..Life is painful and messed up. It gets complicated at the worst of times, and sometimes you have no idea where to go or what to do. Lots of times people just let themselves get lost, dropping into a wide open, huge abyss. But that's why we have to keep trying. We have to push through all that hurts us, work past all our memories that are haunting us. Sometimes the things that hurt us are the things that make us strongest. A life without experience, in my opinion, is no life at all. And that's why I tell everyone that, even when it hurts, never stop yourself from living.
    I am glad that you have found what you were looking for..God bless u always.

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  12. Hello Jessica.
    I have to agree in part with everything everyone has said before me, especially Mary & Alpana.
    Life does indeed have its ups & downs. Sometimes it seems the downs are winning. It's all about balancing & taking time out for yourself...granted not easy to do when you have young children. I'm glad you found something to ease the strain of everyday life. It might seem like a small thing, but many small things add up to one big thing & if it can give you a sense of peace then that's even more worthwhile.

    I'd never heard this George Harrison song before, but as one who enjoys music while writing poetry, I can understand how it calmed you down.
    Nice post.
    Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your visits too.

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  13. I love the Beatles and then heard a lot of Harrison's songs but hadn't heard this one. It's really meaningful - and with that characteristic voice..It made a great reflection for me today, Jess. Thank you for sharing! ♥

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  14. So happy for you that you found inspiration from the song to be more happy and less stressed. Take care and god bless.

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  15. Hi Jessica, I have always loved the music of George Harrison. So glad you found this inspirational. I hope you son is feeling better and that you will find some time to recharge your batteries.

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  16. Music has the ability to inspire and bring positive energy into our lives unlike few other formats. I remember listening to Air1 the day after Erin passed and the songs filled me with hope. One song in particular still chokes me up everytime I hear it...Start Again by Red. Glad you found a song that moves and touches you. Blessings to you!!


    I'm lost inside the pain I feel without you,
    I can't stop holding on, I need you with me!!!
    I'm trapped inside the pain
    Can we ever start again?
    I'm lost without you!!!

    One more try,
    Can we start again?
    In my eyes, can you forgive me now?
    (Can we start again?)
    Can we start again (one more try?)
    Can we start again?
    Can we start again (can you forgive me?)
    Can we start again?

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  17. It's so hard when you lose your "me time" and get knocked out of your routine! I use music to recenter too. My favorite is probably "Run for the Roses" by Dan Folgelberg...

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  18. Jessica, sending my love and prayers. When a child is sick, mothers are sick at heart. I should know :-0 God, in his faithfulness, gave you a song. I’ll never forget going through a turbulent time and reading this Scripture. “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7. And that’s not all. That night I walked into a convenient mart and the song by Paul McCartney was playing, Hope of Deliverance. And even though it’s not one of my favorite songs, it was still God’s 2nd confirmation in a day’s time.

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