Galen Hooks is a choreographer whose work I deeply admire. Not only has she created choreography videos that I watch again and again but in today’s inspiration she hosts an event called Freestyle Roulette in which dancers spin for a theme and a song and then improvise on the spot. The results are deeply individual and always fascinating. In this particular episode, be sure you watch the last one. It’s a beauty!

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.

“I just want to create this feeling of softness in the room, and community.”
Raveena

This morning my sisters and I were talking about what a comfort music is at this time. If you don’t know about NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concerts, welcome to a rabbit hole of beauty and joy. You can start with the soulful laidback jazzy tunes of Raveena.

What music are you enjoying right now?

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.

Depending on where you are, you may or may not be able to go out for a walk. In this video Byron Katie not only describes an approach to your walk, if you can take it, but also provides a visual walk for you to experience from wherever you are. I found it very calming to sit in my studio and go on this walk with her guidance and presence. I hope you will too.

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.

From this first moment I saw this performance by Pomplamoose of Je Me Suis Fait Tout Petit, an old French tune by Georges Brassens, I fell in love not only with the song but also the infectious joy of the performers. Today I watch it with delight and remember how good it will be when people can get close to one another again!

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.

When things are stressful, it can be hard to rouse enough energy for a big creative project but something as simple as cutting and gluing can bring a surprising amount of meditative comfort. It taps into that childhood joy of just playing with paper and loving what you love.

If you have magazines, used books, clippings or other fun creative stash, why not make yourself a glue book (also known as a picture book)? It’s simply a matter of gathering and gluing things that you enjoy into a journal or a sketchbook. No rules. Just fun.

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.

If you are a musical lover, there’s a treat coming for you on The Show Must Go On. Each Friday they will be sharing an Andrew Lloyd Weber musical for free for 48 hours. For a little while longer you can see a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. My sisters and I grew up on the movie version of this musical and can sing it start to finish!

Here’s how the presenters describe this version…

Jesus Christ Superstar (2012): Director Laurence Connor presents this contemporary re-imagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s legendary rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The world renowned phenomenon portrays the story of the last seven days of Christ leading up to his crucifixion as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Filmed as an arena rock opera, the performance features a star-studded line-up which includes award-winning musical comedian, Tim Minchin as the role of Judas Iscariot; pop icon and former Spice Girl Melanie C as Mary Magdalene; radio DJ Chris Moyles in his stage debut as King Herod; and Ben Forster, to take on the title role of Jesus. 

You can be notified of the next installment by subscribing to the The Show Must Go On channel and clicking on the bell, which activates notifications.

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.

I want to share with you today a passage that has stayed deep in my heart since I first read it, one I reference in many of my classes, an essential teaching from Pema Chödrön that will serve us so beautifully now.

“When I was about six years old I received an essential teaching from an old woman sitting in the sun. I was walking by her house one day feeling lonely, unloved, and mad, kicking anything I could find. Laughing, she said to me, “Little girl, don’t you go letting life harden your heart.”

Right there, I received this pith instruction: we can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and  make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice.”

Pema Chödrön, The Places That Scare You

On the New Moon, I began a new blog series: 40 Days of Beauty, Goodness & Love, little moments of light to get us through a difficult time. If you get solace, peace and inspiration from this, please share with others who need the same.
PS In the video below, be sure to put on subtitles.