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DANNY, Joining the many others who are celebrating this anniversary of your "latte-est" (latest) revolution around our sun. Thanks for all the delicious and healthful vittles with which you please our palettes. Thanks, too, for the other ways you give back to our community - like the 11 AM THURSDAY AA meetings (these are closed meetings...the shop opens their healing spaces an hour before opening to the public) Cozy Winter Coffee Shop with Snoopy ☕ Relaxing Jazz for Calm Days (3:02:01) Danny, may you experience many more suns and moons… Your sign - Pisces - is second from the Moon... Trevor Hall - MOON / SUN (Official Music Video) (04:03) The vegan nature of your shop means it's fish-friendly. The "SIGN SYMBOL" below reminds us of the tables inside where you serve us delicious meals with caring smiles... Another: Happy Mirthday!!! A little mirth for yer birthday... As I see it, on the 8th day, god (as I understand god) created humor…to help us deal with the other 7… SPACEBALLS Clip - "Mr. Coffee" (1987) Rick Moranis (06:26) Another translation says... #Danny #WitchesBrew #birthday #skateboarding #music #AA #Snoopy #JoeCool #Hippocrates #food #humor #Spaceballs #MelBrooks

(*) "Nein" is German for "NO" EXPEDITIONARY PATHS thru some occupied territories... Playlist for our journeys Ice Nine's History Uncle John's Band: A song that UNITES us... I Ching: Collective wisdom in tough times for living and DEAD Gathering Together Holding Together I Ching Hexagram 56: Traveler...Stranger...Wanderer...and "Fire on the Mountain" Get on the Consciousness Bus... A Young Woman of Color's Cry..."There is fire on the mountain..." "Weir" Grateful for Poets...living and DEAD... MiCl..."Rock" Salt melts I.C.E. (Micknesium Chloride) I.C.E.: NEIN! * "WE don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows..." A New Winter Sport: Dark ICE-Capades NOW...Let's get on the bus, go out into our shared world, connect with others...and let our love FLOW... Related February 2026 posts Ice Nine's History Ice Nine offer us a lot of music that brings people together...while I.C.E. divides and separates loved ones and communities...Read on... Oh...Occasionally, the band pauses to assume a prophetic role...See below... Robert Hunter, chief lyricist of The Grateful Dead , chose the name based on Ice-9 , a new form of water, which once released from its vial would crystallize all forms of water on the planet to permanent ice from Kurt Vonnegut's novel, 'Cat's Cradle' . Rock Scully  was instrumental in forming Ice Nine as a partnership of Grateful Dead's writers in 1967. The legendary San Francisco music lawyer of the time, Brian Rohan  set it up. Ice Nine was registered as a corporation by the Dead’s long time attorney, Hal Kant  in 1970. Source Ice nine publishing Uncle John's Band: A song that UNITES us... Bobby, Thanks for your UPlifting energy...! FIRST, some reflections from THE DEAD guru of songs and their meanings... [from the link that follows] Blair Jackson once wrote something to the effect that “Uncle John’s Band” is the song. I’ve thought a lot about that statement over the years. And I think I know, or feel more than know, what he meant. When the Dead played the song, the crowd came together in a huge way. We were in  that band; we were coming to hear Uncle John’s band by the riverside. Ain’t no time to hate. Barely time to wait. And, where does the time go, anyway? Regardless: there ain’t no time to hate. In my mind, if there is just one lesson to take from all of Hunter’s poetry, that is the one. He approaches it from a number of angles, but for me, it always comes down to that. “Without love in the dream, it’ll never come true.” Thanks, Emily (Dickinson), and thanks, Hunter. Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Uncle John's Band" - David Dodd on Dead.net Fulfilling this song's prophetic words... ...all three front men: JERRY, BOBBY & PHIL - have passed through the veil... Grateful Dead : Uncle John's Band @ Radio City 10-31-80 (08:19) Afterthoughts on the lyrics... "It's a buck dancer's choice my friend, better take my advice You know all the rules by now, and the fire from the ice (ICE)" I Ching: Collective wisdom in tough times for living and DEAD Ice Nine's logo is the I Ching hexagram for 'Gathering Together' changing to ' Holding Together' . Source Gathering Together I Ching Hexagram 45: Gathering Together, astrological interpretation   I-Ching Category (click next link for in-article links) Interpretation:  Harmony, arbitration, and mediation should be promoted. We have to act diplomatically and with empathy, respect, and perspicacity so that we gain as much approval as possible, and we need to understand the use of gathering together, like a bunch of grapes, where each seed represents a separate individuality but together they also form an organized unit.This is a time for making propositions and finding solutions, allies, and assets, and all means of approaching dialogue should be used; openness and trust in others should be considered.It is a good idea to smooth over differences and focus more on what brings people together and unites them, that is, shared traits and goals.Being honest is a vital prerequisite, but it is also important to be conscious of the fact that a group, a community of people, or a couple cannot be dealt with in the same way that we deal with ourselves when we are isolated and alone, and this inevitably calls for some conciliation.Pooling strengths and means is helpful prior to initiating action, making a decision, or effecting change.Avoid being too individualistic and solitary in the choices you make. Astrological points to pay attention to:  Uranus’s energies come into play quite a lot in terms of mechanisms for “social harmony” or setting up a group or a community with the aim of working together, championing a cause, and creating a community of ideas.We also find Venus to be very present, especially in terms of its rulership over Libra / the 7th house, which in turn represents the qualities of exchange, seduction, politeness, kindness, and empathy, and which we also find more on an affective level.Air forces are greatly accentuated, which implicates anything that allows us to engage in sociability, exchange, communication, and transmission, so we also encounter Mercury’s energies, as well as some facets of Jupiter in terms of its likeable aspects and ability to socialize, and even some of its religious aspects. Remarks:  This hexagram represents the intermediaries that may sometimes exist in-between polar opposites, as well as the moment when we understand that different points do come together despite everything and create attraction and magnetism between them. I Ching Hexagram 45: Gathering Together, astrological interpretation Holding Together I Ching Hexagram 8: Holding Together, astrological interpretation I-Ching Category (click next link for links in-article links) Interpretation:  This coming together is dictated by common interests and a need for exchange and socialization with reciprocated goodwill, involving dialogue, tolerance, and understanding. This is what will lead to success.You may succeed in convincing, seducing, negotiating, and reconciling, and you should make sure not to let any offers pass you by that are related to these things and which may allow your strengths to coalesce.Friendship and love are of course highlighted, as well as love of your neighbor in a broader sense, respect, a sense of commitment and honor, and a communion of affects. Astrological points to pay attention to:  First of all, many highly social Air energies are expressed here, so we will encounter Mercury/the 3rd house and of course the air-like aspect of Venus through Libra and the 7th house, which deal with partnerships, associations, and couples, adding forces of sympathy and courtesy, especially if Jupiter is involved.Once sublimated, in their upper octave, we of course encounter the forces of Neptune and Uranus, which tend to open these energies up to more absolute, humanistic, altruistic, devoted, selfless, and compassionate views, or even to forgiveness, sacrifice, sharing, and many other very “Christian” values, potentially even adding an undeniably “religious” aspect to things.The energy of a Trine may also have an effect by favoring an energetic exchange between two parts of your birth chart, in which case it would be particularly important to analyze these two sectors and work to develop them further. Remarks:  This hexagram represents lofty ideals that should be implemented, in terms of noble, wholesome, human values for an entire society or community. It is important to be able to choose that which unites over that which divides, as this is what will have the best payoff at present. I Ching Hexagram 8: Holding Together, astrological interpretation I Ching Hexagram 56: Traveler...Stranger...Wanderer...and "Fire on the Mountain" Hexagram number 56 indicates a journey of discovery. It could be an outer journey to a new place or employment, or may reference a journey of self-discovery. This is a time to be sincere and extremely honest with yourself. What are you really looking for? Where do you think it will be found? Wandering over mountain tops, the wise person sees each step as a gift, and knows that home is always right where one stands. If you feel like staying, stay. If you feel like moving, move. Let your heart be your guide. Source Source [from the article link that follows with my added emphases] The I Ching  contains a hexagram, #56, titled variously “The Traveler,” “Travel,” “The Stranger,” and so on. It is represented by the two trigrams of fire and mountain , with fire resting on mountain. I have received quite a bit of mail over the years with convincing interpretations of how this applies or might apply to the Dead, or to the scene, or to world politics, or to the individual spiritual journey of the person writing the email, and truly, I think these are all  valid ways of looking at the hexagram, in the context of “Fire on the Mountain.” On the other hand, “Fire on the Mountain” is also a line from a nursery rhyme (a frequent source for many lines in Grateful Dead lyrics); a fiddle tune; the title of a book by Edward Abbey , and so on. Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Fire On The Mountain" - David Dodd Get on the Consciousness Bus... [from article link that follows with my emphases] This book takes a playful and insightful look at the relationship between the Grateful Dead and the I Ching . The Grateful Dead and the I Ching have a surprisingly rich history and resonance together. The Grateful Dead have been the pied pipers of consciousness expansion for generations. They lead us on a journey into the ocean of the numinous where the mythical content of the collective unconscious dwells. As drummer Mickey hart put it, "we are in the transportation business." The I Ching is an ancient way of accessing the collective consciousness and one that the Grateful Dead were quite familiar with. We explore the band's relationship with the I Ching and the considerable resonance between the I Ching, the Grateful Dead, their songs and the ritual of their shows. The author is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine , a professor at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts and attended his first Dead show of many in the 1980's. The book includes insightful commentary from Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh, John Perry Barlow, Ken Kesey and Terence McKenna, among many others. Come get on the bus and enjoy the ride! Source A Young Woman of Color's Cry..."There is fire on the mountain..." There is fire on the mountain And nobody seems to be on the run Oh, there is fire on the mountaintop And no one is a-runnin' I wake up in the mornin' Tell you what I see on my TV screen I see the blood of an innocent child And everybody's watchin' Now I'm looking out my window And what do I see? I see an army of a soldier man Marching across the street, yeah Hey, Mr. Soldier man Tomorrow is the day you go to war But you are fighting for another man's cause And you don't even know him Oooh! What did he say to make you so blind To your conscience and reason? Could it be love for your country? Or for the gun you use in killing? Asa - Fire on the Mountain (3:36) "Weir" Grateful for Poets...living and DEAD... Thanks, Bobby, for your service to humankind. We miss you... ...With his ever-watchful eye on our next generation... Grateful Dead - Throwing Stones (Official Music Video) (04:38) The Grateful Dead - Estimated Prophet - 1977 - with lyrics (05:50) "Estimated Prophet" is a song by the Grateful Dead that debuted in 1977, known for its unique themes of destiny, self-assurance, and a spiritual journey, often performed live with extended jams. Click here for more insights. MiCl..."Rock" Salt melts I.C.E. (Micknesium Chloride) A majority of those targeted by ICE agents are ordinary people and usually near the bottom of the food chain... "Let's drink to the hard workin' people Let's drink to the lowly of birth Raise your glass to the good and the evil Let's drink to the salt of the earth Say a prayer for the common foot soldier Spare a thought for his back breaking work Say a prayer for his wife and his children Who burn the fires and who still till the earth" The Rolling Stones - Salt Of The Earth (Official Lyric Video) (04:48) I.C.E.: NEIN! * * "Nein" is German for "NO" "WE don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows..." For what it's worth ...The road sign shown below is an example of paranoid leaders... Source CAUTION: Next video contains scenes of violence. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (2025 Protests) (02:43) Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (Official Video) (02:15) A New Winter Sport: Dark ICE-Capades Jan 28, 2026 To the Editor: Fear has raised its ugly head in the U.S. again. Trump charged DHS/ICE with impossible quotas, while telling us only the “worst of the worse” would be deported. Instead, DHS has lowered recruitment standards and inadequately trained agents, who have netted thousands of basically law-abiding people of color. Most deported immigrants hadn’t committed serious crimes (according to police and ICE records, only c. 4% of those deported over the past year were convicted of felonies, and c. 48% committed misdemeanors, many of them minor (e.g., traffic violations). Thus ICE is able to meet their quotas only if they arrest children, documented and undocumented people of color working/living peacefully in their community – even Native Americans and citizens. I happen to think that ICE frightening lawful immigrants and citizens of color into staying away from work, schools, doctors, or grocery stores isn’t American, more like something you’d see in Iran. The sheer terror ICE has created – wearing virtually faceless masks, ramming doors down, shattering car windows, often refusing to look at I.D., screaming and/or pointing guns at captives, frequently having no warrant, manhandling their captives without explanation into a vehicle (which constitutes kidnapping – a felony), shooting at runaways, has spawned profound fear and angered communities/states and our former allies. Why? Because civil rights and other laws are ignored; because communities have lost teachers, nurses, farm workers, employees, employers; because “mistakenly” sending lawful people of color to unsanitary torture prisons outside the U.S. where they’re beaten, raped, given spoiled food and tainted water, deprived of sunlight and proper medication is unethical. Because this isn’t normal in a democracy. Legally, morally, we need to hold these ill-recruited and ill-trained government agents as well as DHS accountable and limit ICE to arresting only the “worst of the worst.” Sharon Wirt Southbury SOURCE NOW...Let's get on the bus, go out into our shared world, connect with others...and let our love FLOW... The Youngbloods- Get Together ( Woodstock-1969) (04:41) Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers #music #immigration #IceNine #ICE #RobertHunter #GratefulDead #KurtVonnegut #CatsCradle #RockSkully #IChing #traveler #stranger #wanderer #DavidDodd #bus #PeterShea #Asa #BobWeir #prophet #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #RollingStones #MickJagger #BobDylan #weatherman #BuffaloSpringfield #Youngbloods

Source Hypocrisy...Self-deception...Reigns... "and I've been quoted a lot - usually by people who stop reading right before the inconvenient parts."... The next two images are from a course on the 12 Steps I'm taking this Lent (2026) through Garden City, NY's Center for Spiritual Imagination . They are excerpted from "Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps" by Richard Rohr. A 2026 open letter from 281 Maine faith leaders regarding ICE actions in our state: “Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19) As spiritual leaders across Maine, we are writing out of deep concern over the devastating impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in our home. We stand in solidarity and prayer with our fellow Mainers, particularly with immigrants and asylum seekers who are being targeted by the current ICE surge. Our sacred texts teach us to love the stranger and urge us toward empathy and welcome, not toward violence and bigotry. Yet across our state, parents are afraid to pick up their children from school, workers are afraid to go to their jobs, and parishioners are afraid to walk home alone from worship services due to the discriminatory and unjust actions being perpetrated by ICE agents. This sort of terror is not welcome here. We denounce the current operation and call for its end. We also call on all Mainers to act proactively and nonviolently to protect the dignity and lives of our neighbors, embracing the sacred call to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). We encourage all Mainers to educate themselves using resources from ACLU of Maine, Presente! Maine, and Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition ; to use the statewide hotline, 207-544-9989, to report possible ICE actions and to get needed services for those directly impacted by ICE; and to document incidents they witness using these guidelines: "We have rights when documenting ICE." We join together in prayer and hope that our collective actions of love and community support will help bring about a future where justice and compassion prevail over hatred Resources links are contained in this complete copy of the article Assault 'n Pepa Spray... Defensive alternative to Pepper Spray Blaze the Roof (Facebook/TikTok) (00:33) None Of Your Business - Salt-N-Pepa I chose selected lyrics from their song to accompany my immigration theme... "What's the matter with your life? Why you gotta mess with mine? Don't keep sweatin' what I do 'Cause I'm gonna be just fine, check it out Now who do you think you are Puttin' your cheap two cents in? Don't you got nothin' to do Than worry 'bout my friends? Check it You're poppin' all that mess only to stress and to spite me Now you can get with that, or you can get with this But I don't give a shit 'cause really, it's none of your business Now every move I make, somebody's clockin' Don't ask me nothin', will you just leave me alone? So the moral of this story is, who are you to judge? There's only one true judge, and that's God So chill, and let my Father do His job" Source Songs of the Immigrants... I.C.E. often targets the everyday working man... Immigrant’s Song (Official Lyric Video) - Keith & Kristyn Getty ft. Jordyn Shellhart (04:08) EXTRAS 'A Day Without Immigrants': Nationwide Movement Planned for Monday WCCO Minnesota (02:01) From first post in this February 2026 series... I.C.E.: NEIN! (*) (*) "Nein" is German for "NO" "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows..." This next story is an example of paranoid leaders... Source Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (Official Video) (02:15) CAUTION: Next video contains scenes of violence. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (2025 Protests) (02:43) Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers #music #immigration #Jesus #ICE #RichardRohr #12Steps #CenterForSpiritualImagination #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #WhiteNationalism #SaltNPepa #EqualJusticeInitiative #JohnLennon #NeilSedaka #HamiltonMixtape #immigrants #StatueOfLiberty #BobDylan #BuffaloSpringfield #KeithGetty #KristinGetty #JordynShelhart

Our Mission At the heart of the Long Island Immigration Clinic's mission is a commitment to being a welcoming presence to all undocumented immigrants living on Long Island who need our support and services. This mission has a three-prong focus: - To assist these individuals in gaining legal status to remain in this country, - To educate them in their legal rights, - To guide each person in becoming a successful advocate on their own behalf in court proceedings, as well as the broader immigration forum, and the communities in which they live. The Need Through its experience serving immigrant communities, the Long Island Immigration Clinic (LIIC) Advisory Board recognized a major gap in services on Long Island for newly arrived immigrants. LIIC was founded to meet this need - offering guidance and support for asylum applications and other immigration processes. Our model is inspired by successful Pro Se clinics operating in the New York City area,  adapted to serve the specific needs of Long Island residents. The need is significant. As of mid-2023, the United States was home to 51.9 million immigrants , representing 15.4%  of the nation’s population. In 2022 alone, the foreign-born population grew by nearly 912,000 , accounting for 65% of total U.S. population growth. Each year, countless families arrive seeking safety and opportunity, often without access to affordable legal assistance. At LIIC, we believe these individuals are vital members of our community. Our model ensures that every person seeking help is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. By offering accessible legal guidance, we empower immigrants to understand their rights and build stable futures for themselves and their families. Together, we’re creating a stronger, more inclusive Long Island where everyone has the chance to thrive. How It Came To Be 2016 The LIIC was a vision created in partnership with immigration advocates across Long Island. The initial seeds were planted in 2016 , when there was a dramatic increase in the arrest and detention of undocumented persons in ICE raids on Long Island. Several local organizations became involved in the creation of a Rapid Response Network which spanned across Nassau and Suffolk counties, whose goal was to mobilize quickly when these unannounced raids would occur in individuals’ communities. Volunteers were trained in accompaniment work, walking alongside and empowering undocumented immigrants to represent themselves at federal court hearings and other appointments. Pro se clinics began to develop and open in New York City, but there was no counterpart on Long Island. 2020 In response to this growing need of those living on Long Island, in September 2020 , an Advisory Board was formed to work specifically on the creation of the Long Island Immigration Clinic. The founding Advisory Board included members of religious congregations and the LI Episcopal Diocese, as well as local organizations providing direct support and advocacy to the immigrant community. The Advisory Board’s initial purpose was to assist the program in becoming operational, with its primary goal to provide community members free assistance in preparing their asylum applications and employment authorization documents. The program model would be largely volunteer-driven, with the assistance of immigration attorneys who would provide supervisory support. 2021 In January 2021 , the Sisters of St. Joseph offered to be the clinic’s fiduciary sponsor, and they provided space on their Brentwood campus which was renovated by them for the clinic’s operations. The following year, after discussions with the Advisory Board, the clinic became an official ministry of the Congregation. The clinic hired its first employee in September 2021, and after training its first cadre of volunteers, The Long Island Immigration Clinic officially launched in the first Quarter of 2022. Long Island Immigration Clinic - Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, LI Beginning in 2021, after being asked by a Long Island interfaith council, the Sisters opened their campus to house people affected by war and terror in their homelands. [see links inside the article cited below] Editor's note: The yearlong GSR series "Hope Amid Turmoil: Sisters in Conflict Areas" has focused on sisters' ministries serving those who live in areas affected by war and civil conflict. Today's piece takes a different angle: examining a sisters' ministry on Long Island, New York, which is helping refugees who have arrived in the United States from conflict-affected countries like Afghanistan and Ukraine. Publishing the story this month is appropriate — Sept. 24 is the church's annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The answer was an affirmative yes. With Afghanistan's fall to the Taliban in August 2021, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York, were asked by contacts on Long Island's interfaith community if "the nuns" had any extra space on their campus to house incoming refugees. The sisters said they did. So, in December 2021, the doors of the congregation's large campus on central Long Island opened — and "opened wide" as several sisters say — and have remained so for nearly two years now.    What began as a small initiative to welcome a few refugees has now become a growing and sustained program that has housed 23 adults and 16 children from three countries — Afghanistan, Pakistan and Ukraine — on a large 211-acre campus with more than a dozen buildings.  Long Island sisters open their doors, and their hearts, to refugees | Global Sisters Report Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers #SistersOfSaintJoseph #BrentwoodLongIsland #refugee #immigration #SocialJustice

In their own words... The Hamilton Mixtape: Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) (06:07) Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) Song by Snow Tha Product, K'naan, Riz Ahmed, Residente You know, and it gets into this whole issue of border security, you know, who's gonna say that the borders are secure? We've got the House and the Senate debating this issue, and it's... it's really astonishing that in a country founded by immigrants, "immigrant" has somehow become a bad word. So the debate rages on and we continue... And just like that it's over, we tend to our wounded, we count our dead Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom... Not yet I got 1 job, 2 jobs, 3 when I need them I got 5 roommates in this one studio but I never really see them And we all came America trying to get a lap dance from lady freedom But now lady liberty is acting like Hillary Banks with a pre-nup Man I was brave sailing on graves Don't think I didn't notice those tombstones disguised as waves I'm no dummy, here is something funny you can be an immigrant without risking your lives Or crossing these boarders with thrifty supplies All you got to do is see the world with new eyes Immigrants We get the job done Look how far I come Look how far I come Look how far I come We get the job done Look how far I come Look how far I come Look how far I come Immigrants We get the job done It's a hard line when you're an import Baby boy it's hard times When you ain't sent for Racist feed the belly of the beast With they pitchforks, rich chores Done by the people that get ignored Ya se armó Ya se despertaron It's a whole awakening La alarma ya sonó hace rato Los que quieren buscan Pero nos apodan como vagos We are the same ones Hustling on every level Ten los datos Walk a mile in our shoes Abróchense los zapatos I been scoping ya dudes, ya'll ain't been working like I do I'll outwork you, it hurts you You claim I'm stealing jobs though Peter Piper claimed he picked them, he just underpaid Pablo But there ain't a paper trail when you living in the shadows We're America's ghost writers, the credit's only borrowed It's a matter of time before the checks all come But... Immigrants, we get the job done Look how far I come Look how far I come Look how far I come We get the job done Look how far I come Look how far I come Look how far I come Immigrants, we get the job (Not yet) The credit is only borrowed It's America's ghost writers, the credit's only borrowed It's America's ghost writers America's ghost writers America's ghost writers, the credit's only borrow-borrowed It's Americas ghost writers, a credit is only borrowed It's Americas ghost writers, a credit is only borrowed It's Americas ghost writers, a credit is only borrowed It's Immigrants, we get the job done Ay yo aye, immigrants we don't like that Na they don't play British empire strikes back They beating us like 808's and high hats At our own game of invasion, but this ain't Iraq Who these fugees what did they do for me But contribute new dreams Taxes and tools, swagger and food to eat Cool, they flee war zones, but the problem ain't ours Even if our bombs landed on them like the Mayflower Buckingham Palace or Capitol Hill Blood of my ancestors had that all built It's the ink you print on your dollar bill, oil you spill Thin red lines on the flag you hoist when you kill But still we just say "look how far I come" Hindustan, Pakistan, to London To a galaxy far from their ignorance Cos Immigrants, we get the job done Another version of this song EXTRAS 'A Day Without Immigrants': Nationwide Movement Planned for Monday WCCO Minnesota (02:01) Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers #music #immigration #ICE #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #HamiltonMixtape #immigrants

"If the smooth moon can slidе to any coast without any permission Why must the wetback prove with Visas that he's not from Neptune?" --Mojado - Ricardo Arjona (see song below) Mojado Ricardo Arjona e Intocable (04:20) Ricardo Arjona - Mojado (Video Oficial) (05:50) Mojado: English Lyrics [Verse 1: Ricardo Arjona] He packed some shirts, a hat His adventurer's vocation, six pieces of advice, seven photos, a thousand memories He stuffed every desire to stay His capacity to transform into the man whom he dreamt of and never achieved He said "goodbye" with a grimace disguised as a smile And he begged his crucified God on the shelf for his shelter And he perforated the bordеr as best he could [Chorus: Ricardo Arjona & Ricky Muñoz, Ricardo Arjona] If the smooth moon can slidе to any coast without any permission Why must the wetback prove with Visas that he's not from Neptune? [Verse 2: Ricardo Arjona & Ricky Muñoz, Ricardo Arjona & Ricky Muñoz ] The wetback has every want to dry himself The wetback is drenched with nostalgia-stricken tears The wetback, the undocumented Bears the weight that the law wouldn't carry Even if they were obligated The paper nightmare has made him a fugitive And he's not from here because his name doesn't appear in the files And he's not from back there since he left [Chorus: Ricardo Arjona & Ricky Muñoz, Ricardo Arjona] If the smooth moon can slide to any coast without any permission Why must the wetback prove with Visas that he's not from Neptune? [Bridge: Ricardo Arjona & Ricky Muñoz, Ricky Muñoz & Ricardo Arjona ] Wetback, your truth tastes like a lie, your anxiety like sadness Of seeing a freeway and dreaming of the lane headed to your house Wetback, drenched by all the crying, knowing that somewhere A kiss waits for you, having been paused since the day you left [Chorus: Ricardo Arjona & Ricky Muñoz, Ricardo Arjona] If the smooth moon can slide to any coast without any permission Why must the wetback prove with Visas that he's not from Neptune? If the universal Visa is extended on the day we were born, and it expires upon our death Why do they persecute you, wetback, when the Council of Heaven has already permitted you? Above from my 5/4/19 post - snapped this while hiking NYC's Highline Trail on 8/19/18 (link is at end) IMMIGRATION SONGS/PLAYLISTS Top 60 Songs For Immigrants' & Refugees' Source: Activists Without Borders Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers Related Cinco de Mayo - Walls can keep people out and keep people in. What kinds of walls are we building? 5/4/19 #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice

The next video is part of the Ohio State University article that follows the video link. Operation Wetback: The Roots of Immigrant Deportations Today (06:33) Operation Wetback: The Roots of Immigrant Deportations Today - Origins/Ohio State University (April 2024) [from the article link that follows] The relationship between immigration and agriculture in the United States is deeply intertwined. For centuries, immigrant labor has been a vital component of American farming, supporting everything from fruit picking and vegetable harvesting to dairy farming and meat processing. However, recent shifts in immigration policy have created significant ripple effects throughout the agricultural sector, disrupting labor supply chains, inflating operational costs, and even jeopardizing the nation’s food security. The U.S. agricultural sector depends heavily on immigrant labor—especially undocumented and seasonal workers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than half of all hired farmworkers in the United States are unauthorized immigrants. These individuals are often engaged in physically demanding tasks such as picking strawberries, milking cows, and harvesting lettuce—jobs that are notoriously difficult to fill with domestic workers alone. Without this labor force, many farms would struggle to function effectively. Farmers argue that even when they attempt to hire U.S.-born workers, few are willing to accept the grueling, low-wage conditions typical in agricultural settings. As a result, the industry has relied on a consistent influx of immigrant workers, both legal and undocumented, to keep operations running. When immigration policies tighten or enforcement becomes more aggressive, the available labor pool shrinks. This shortage has tangible consequences: crops rot in the fields, dairy farms reduce production, and food prices rise across the board. How Immigration Policies Affect the U.S. Agriculture Sector - Rebecca Black Law (2025) [from the article link that follows] Now in Trump’s second term, American employers can’t afford to pretend these workers don’t exist. Burying our heads in the sand won’t protect undocumented workers or the employers who will continue to rely on their labor, regardless of federal policy.  From the construction site in California, to factory in Georgia, to the elder care facility in Maine, undocumented workers are already here, already contributing, and already holding up critical sectors of our economy. They’re not waiting in the wings to be added to the workforce—they are the workforce. What they lack is not motivation or merit. What they lack is safety in their workplaces. This is where business leaders come in. Because when a system benefits from someone’s labor while denying them protection, that’s not just an ethical failure, it’s an operational liability. If you say you value inclusion, now is the moment to prove it. And if you say you believe in growing the American economy, now is the moment to prove it. Not with a statement, but with infrastructure which intentionally protects your most vulnerable workers, whether they have disclosed their immigration status or not. Here is how employers could support undocumented workers right now:  Create a silent support fund Train managers to lead without needing proof Expand emergency leave policies Redefine inclusion to include immigration justice See article for details. How Employers Can Support Undocumented Workers - Time (2025) Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers #SocialJustice #immigrants #UndocumentedWorkers #wetback #ICE

The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) Related February 2026 posts Polar opposites: Ice Nine & I.C.E. Nein...(*)...1st Unites...2nd Divides We begin with a light dusting of word play & transition to deeper drifts...shifts of consciousness...Eastern & Western...of course, there are tunes... I was a stranger...and you called I.C.E... Wandering from hypocrites to hip hop, we explore our current immigration situation... Safe LI Refuge for Immigrants and Refugees Offering Long Islanders a safe source for their immigration questions. Immigrants...We get the job done... In their own words, we hear their stories of unfair treatment... May our eyes be WET as we look at these faces of our fellow human beings... In the style of Visio Divina, a look at the faces of those trying to find a better life for themselves and their families... Huddled Masses...DEPORTED... The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus (01:27) #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty Our country runs on the sweat of undocumented workers... NOW is the time for the ethical treatment of undocumented workers #immigration #SocialJustice #SocialInjustice #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty

On the road in TIBET (Sept. 2024)... In his book “Eager to Love,” Richard Rohr says about our life: "It’s a series of road trips…" Though young in calendar years, John has wisdom beyond his years. As part of the C W Post band , he went to many corners of our shared world. So far, he's touched down in all continents except Africa and Antarctica . This current 3-week pilgrimage to China and Tibet was his second time in this ancient land. This time, he went with Linhai , his teacher, and fellow students to continue their studies of traditional Chinese medicine for healing… For several months this year I worked with Linhai - as he used a combination of acupuncture and other treatments. The guy has an interesting history: lived in China for many years, plays guitar and surfs - once showed me his phone with a surf cam for a favorite break in Rockaway Beach .  Looking for a song to express the heights of my admiration for who John is, I thought first of "Sitting on Top of the World: by Cream and others...But the lyrics weren't appropriate. That's when this one surfaced... Imagine Dragons - On Top Of The World (Lyrics Video) [HD] (03:10) H a p p y B i r t h d a y , Son ! Posting this on the 36th anniversary of your current incarnation...10/8/88 After midnight on October 8, 1988, John was birthed with music, as Eileen released him into our world. I was keeping vigil in the waiting area at Mercy Medical Center as "Morning has Broken" was followed by "Here Comes the Sun" forever known as "Here Comes the SON" ... Fast Food at 10,000 Feet...Where's the BEEF? While Chinese Buddhists are vegetarians, Tibetans value this animal in place of beef... So, when you go into a mountain McDonald's in Lhasa, Tibet you'll be ordering a... BIG YAK! Father-Son Pilgrimage Seeing the hot air balloons in the "On Top of the World" video recalled our father-son pilgrimage in the Summer of 2016 that included a visit to Richard Rohr's Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque for their annual Conspire Conference. Richard shown signing a book for John: ...and while in Albuquerque...a sunrise trip up, up and away... A cable "car" lifted us higher...Turns out, this is nearly the same altitude as Mt. Emei in China - see further down. "The SON also rises..." Our hot air balloon ride brought us over the Rio Grande River... We also passed by this roadside marker commemorating the person who introduced the yoga form I practice - Kundalini - to America - Yogi Bhajan . Now, back to China...  Old Man on the Mountain: Chops wood, Carries water  Daily life of monk at world's highest monastery (02:13) And this from my first spiritual teacher: RAM DASS...from his "BE HERE NOW"...In 1972, it guided me onto a spiritual path for the first time in my life... While there, Linhai, John and the others climbed a sacred mountain in China known as MOUNT EMEI. The trek to the summit is equivalent to climbing 100 Empire State Buildings. It took them 8 days as they stayed at monasteries along the road. They were guided by dragons...above...and below... A Qigong break: ...Then back to the path... Linhai, party of 10... Linhai is to John's right... A breathtaking journey to the top of Mount Emei (00:15) This is Mount Emei , Sichuan. Buddhist mountain, monkey paradise! (05:57) Then it's back on the road to Tibet... "My bags are packed, I'm ready to go..." The Child is the Father of the Man... William Wordsworth used the expression, "The child is father of the man" i n his famous 1802 poem, "My Heart Leaps Up," also known as "The Rainbow." This quote has made its way into popular culture. What does it mean? See "Source" link following the poem and "My Interpretation" below for my own take... My Heart Leaps Up --William Wordsworth   “My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man; So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.” Source My Interpretation... Since childhood, John has offered his wisdom to Eileen and I, bringing much-needed inspirations to each of us. For my part, I experience this exchange as him parenting me... This mutual interplay between generations is described in CSN&Y's "Teach your Children"... The roles reverse with these lyrics: and switch again... Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Teach Your Children - Playing for Change (04:15) Born to Wander...and Wonder... John was born with a wanderlust for life's roads. When he was christened (with 30 weight oil), a fellow parishioner, Frank Barber gave Eileen and I a card that I've tried to reproduce below: John's first "car"... We lived in an apartment with no parking space for this favorite of John's. He first enjoyed it whenever we visited Eileen's brother Jim, his wife Deb and their two sons Mike and Glenn in their Massachusetts home. As soon as we arrived, he bounded from the car, headed straight for their big backyard, climbed in and exclaimed: "This is what I came here for!" Online photo...no original... For his birthday this year, John's cousin Glenn sent him this cool article and video: Someone Made a Real Little Tikes Car That Goes 70 MPH - Nerdist.com Say "CHEESE...STEAK!" As soon as he got his driver's license, John and a fellow West Hempstead High School mate, got in his car and drove to the City of Brotherly Love for one of their famous Philly Cheese Steaks ... Later on, he bought an RV so he didn't have to leave home...he took it wherever he wanted to go. Like his Dad, he even did a cross-country trip. In my day, I did 4 in my 1965 VW Bus ...On one, took my brother and fellow surfer Mike . On my last, when I relocated to Callie , my parents asked to go with me (part of a reconciliation). When I returned to New York two years later, three of my sisters ( Julie, Mary & Cathy ) road shotgun. Music for Life's Road Trips... Yusuf's memorable road trip ode begins with this important question... As the tale unfolds notice how much baggage the traveler accumulates...... ...until he has a moment of awakening and leaves his LOAD for a different ROAD ... Father Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest and prolific author. With Sounds True , he has released the six-part audio learning program, The Art of Letting Go: Living the Wisdom of Saint Francis , in which Richard explores the life and teachings of this beloved figure, and offers ways we can incorporate his wisdom into our lives. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Father Rohr and Tami Simon discuss the relevance of Saint Francis in today’s world, what he calls the “spirituality of subtraction,” Jesus’ teachings on nonduality, and what genuine contemplation might look like. (52 minutes) Link Yusuf / Cat Stevens – On The Road To Find Out (04:08) Rascal Flatts - Life Is a Highway (From "Cars"/Official Video) (04:58) Side Roads... Inspired by this post, Eileen and I watched the "CARS" movie tonight. My brother Mike had sent us a copy as a gift. Thanks, Bro! One of my favorite cars was a VW Bus named Fillmore and voiced by George Carlin . Best of Fillmore! | Pixar Cars (01:54) 2025 China Adventures... Let’s follow our SON: a China Cat Sunfollower… Let's follow John as he returns to the Orient in 2025 to continue his studies in traditional Chinese medicine... #music #humor #JohnTittmann #China #Tibet #HappyBirthday #CWPost #TraditionalChineseMedicine #Linhai #surfing #RockawayBeach #ImagineDragons #CenterForActionAndContemplation #Albuquerque #Kundalini #YogiBhajin #Zen #RamDass #BeHereNow #MtEmei #monasteries #Buddhist #WilliamWordsworth #CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung #CSNY #PlayingForChange #Eileen #FrankBarber #Philadelphia #PhillyCheeseSteak #VWBus #RV #Julie #Mary #Cathy #InayatKhan #MichaelSinger #MeisterEckhart #RichardRohr #SoundsTrue #TamiSimon #StFrancis #YusufCatStevens #subtraction #RascalFlatts #Cars #highway #road #Conspire #dragons #Lhasa #McDonalds #yak #Fillmore #GeorgeCarlin #MikeTittmann #MikeDuffy #GlennDuffy #LittleTykes #CozyCoupe #MercyMedicalCenter #CatStevens #Beatles #China2025

Hello! We're going on a journey to a far off land where we'll connect with our son John who, for the second year in a row, has traveled to the East, where he's continuing his studies in traditional Chinese medicine ... For much of his life, John has followed paths of healing. Eileen and I have learned much from him and are so grateful. "And you of tender years (Can you hear and do you care) Can't know the fears (And can you see) That your elders grew by (We must be free) And so please help (To teach your children) Them with your youth (What you believe in) They seek the truth (Make a world) Before they can die (That we can live in) Teach your parents well Their children's hell Will slowly go by And feed them on your dreams The one they pick's The one you'll know by" --Teach Your Children - Crosby, Still, Nash & Young (04:11) This post includes links to two separate posts with photos from this year's excursions to China and Tibet . At the end of the post there's a link to last year's September trip. On the Road to Find Out... If you're in a hurry to catch a bus...(from the mundane)...click any of these next 3 links to places "Furthur"... --Watch this Trevor Hall "Moon/Sun" music video that's later down in the post --Photos of John in China 2025 --Photos of John in Tibet 2025 Otherwise, let's continue on the road to find out... Those who know him, know that John spends a lot of time in the sun… The sunflower’s genus  Helianthus comes from two ancient Greek words, ‘helios’ which refers to the sun, and ‘anthos’ meaning flower. There’s even a Greek myth surrounding sunflowers, explaining why they always face the sun. Chinese Folklore Sunflowers in Chinese culture symbolize good fortune and longevity, reflecting the flower’s ability to turn towards the sun. Historically, they were valued by Chinese nobility, who consumed them as snacks, believing they could promote a long life. For more sunflower myths from around our shared world, please refer to the link under this next image. The Sunflower: Meanings, Myths, and Folklore - Petal Republic (2024) This next article provides guidance on using sunflowers in our spiritual practices. It begins with... The Sunflower’s Connection to the Sun Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are named for their unique behavior—they turn their faces toward the sun, following its path from east to west in a phenomenon called heliotropism . This trait has made them a powerful symbol of: Light and Positivity  – Just as they seek sunlight, sunflowers remind us to seek out the light in our own lives. Resilience and Strength  – They stand tall, even in harsh conditions, teaching us about endurance. Faith and Devotion  – Their unwavering focus on the sun mirrors spiritual devotion. The Spiritual Meaning of Sunflowers: A Bright Guide to Their Symbolism - Wisdom of the Spirit (2025) Music for Life's Road Trips... My 2024 post about John's adventures in the Orient included a lot of music...So, here are some new tunes... First stop via some English explorers... "Brave Helios, wake up your steeds, Bring the warmth the countryside needs." --"The Day Begins" - Moody Blues The Day Begins by The Moody Blues (05:33) ...Next, on our planet...Xavier Rudd guides us... When you feel love coming down on you Like a heavy wave When you feel this crazy society Headin' to the strand Take a stroll to the nearest waters and Remember your place Many moons have risen and fallen long Long before you came Xavier Rudd - Follow The Sun [official music video] (04:19) --lyrics for this song are at the end of the post -- Linhai , the leader of this and last year's expeditions, includes surfing and playing guitar in his medicine bag... He's the guy seated on the left sporting a blue hat. John is seated in the back row to Linhai's left. ...Moving further into the Cosmos...with Trevor Hall as our guide... Life is more colorfully vibrant when we travel with "companions" ** **word means "those with whom we share bread" Trevor Hall - MOON / SUN (Official Music Video) (04:03) --lyrics for this song are at the end of the post -- Trevor is among my favorite mindful music makers. First saw him live at Mulcahy's  on Long Island. John Tittmann: Unafraid of new faces...strange places... "Eight Miles High" --the Byrds Eight miles high and when you touch down You'll find that it's stranger than known Signs in the street that say where you're going Are somewhere just being their own Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground Rain gray town known for its sound In places small faces unbound Round the squares huddled in storms Some laughing some just shapeless forms Sidewalk scenes and black limousines Some living, some standing alone Eight Miles High - The Byrds (03:35) NOW...for this next one, let's tune into the energy of John Lennon's birthday (today, Oct. 9) and IMAGINE... ...G-d as a woman who's joyfully singing this number to one of her creation that has chosen to love HER... Weekend Prayer Warriors: These words are addressed to you...See, we gotta keep our focus for 8 Days a Week... Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine (Official Music Video) (03:48) Channeling the loving birthday energies from son John (Oct. 8) and John Lennon (Oct. 9)...I was greeted by this lawn sign today while out on my daily rounds through our neighborhood: "There's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion..." ...So says longtime friend Steve Bermont. We surfed together around the country and Steve was my Volkswagen  repair mentor...as he calls it  "playing with cars." In some posts, a particular Dead song emerges as I listen to my Muse and tell the story. In this case, "China Cat Sunflower"  provided a lot of the initial motivation to celebrate John's adventures... Grateful Dead - China Cat Sunflower by Jam Bands Video (04:56) ----->Grateful Dead Family: Click here to continue on exploring an annual festival "deadicated" to DEAD Chinese Sunflower gardens... Chanting for Tibet...Dead plus Monks... Enchanting Spirit of Buddhism : Music: Drummer for Grateful Dead backs Tibetan monks of Gyuto Tantric Choir, which will perform at USD’s Camino Hall. L A Times (1991) [excerpts from the article] " Hart and a few of his rock band colleagues formed the Society for Gyuto Sacred Arts in the late 1980s to support the monks’ efforts to draw international attention to persecution in Tibet ."   "Tibet was annexed by the Chinese in 1950. It has since periodically experienced devastating attacks by Chinese Communists . In the 1959 Tibetan uprising, 10,000 people reportedly died. A few monks escaped with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama , to northern India, where they have been living in exile." The Tibetans and The Grateful Dead -- The Magical Buffet (2012) [excerpt from this article] " Mickey Hart , a drummer for the erstwhile Grateful Dead, is also a serious ethnomusicologist who now works with the Smithsonian Institution . Fascinated by the Tibetan monks’ multiphonic chanting, he put the infrastructure of the Dead to work and helped organize six sellout coast-to-coast tours with twelve of the Gyuto monks." Read on to hear about their being led to pray with San Quentin inmates... He toured with the Grateful Dead and now runs the Bay Area's biggest Tibetan monastery - SF Gate (2024) Yes...this "tail" includes a cat on the path to enlightenment... [Excerpts from the article] From the Himalayas to the Grateful Dead "At the age of 12, Donyo’s parents asked him if he wanted to be a monk, and he 'maybe accidentally' said yes. A few weeks later his father dropped him off at the Gyuto monastery. So began a life of service."  "At the time, he had no money. He lived, in his words, as an 'undercover monk,' delivering auto parts and working as a busboy. In 2000, he finally founded the Gyuto Foundation in a small house in San Jose . But the monastery’s history goes even further back, and it involves the Grateful Dead  — a group that Donyo intermittently refers to as 'the hippie guys.'" "The story goes like this: In the 1960s, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart received a tape recording of the Gyuto monks’ chants and developed a fascination. When the monks began touring the U.S. to call attention to the persecution of Tibetans , he sponsored several of their tours around the country." Related article: Monks' chanting begins around 06:50 as deep guttural utterances. Grateful Dead - "Drums/Gyuto Monk Chant" (Shoreline, 6/2/95) (13:40) Lyrics to "Follow the Sun" & "Moon/Sun" Follow the Sun - Xavier Rudd Lyrics   [Verse 1] Follow Follow the sun And which way the wind blows When this day is done [Verse 2] Breathe Breathe in the air Set your intentions Dream with care [Verse 3] Tomorrow is a new day, for everyone And brand new moon, and brand new sun [Verse 4] So follow Follow the sun The direction of the birds The direction of love [Verse 5] Breathe Breathe in the air Cherish this moment Cherish this breath [Verse 6] Tomorrow is a new day, for everyone And brand new moon, brand new sun [Verse 7] When you feel love coming down on you Like a heavy wave When you feel this crazy society Headin' to the strand Take a straw to the nearest waters and Remember your place Many moons have risen and fallen long Long before you came [Verse 8] So which way is the wind blowing? And what does you heart say? [Verse 9] So follow Follow the sun And which way the wind blows When this day is done Moon / Sun -Trevor Hall Lyrics Here we go again, creation Clap now for the jubilation Look at all that light you making Send it out no reservation Like a river we let it flow Still hot like a volcano Mother Earth still got my soul In the hot, in the cold, in the rain, in the snow Hey lo, wish on a butterfly wing Take that crown, put it on that king Sing like a child, no care for opinion Real love across our dominion Oh, so bountiful Pull it back and let it go Like ocean wave, we're powerful Constellation, magical So, this love still holds true Now what you gonna do? I won't give up on you I won't give up on you Between the moon and sun This life is never done I won't give up on you I won't give up on you, ah I won't give up on you, yeah Send up, send up, send up my love, ah I won't give up on you I stand up, gotta put my hands up Fruit down straw like Mauna Kea In the ocean, holy motion Ride that flow, I'll see you later In the park of Shangri-La I see my ma She's standing holy, all those colours filled with glory Open up and hear this story Oh, and this love still holds true Now what you gonna do? I won't give up on you I won't give up on you Between the moon and sun This life is never done I won't give up on you I won't give up on you This love still holds true Now what you gonna do? I won't give up on you I won't give up on you Between the moon and sun This life is never done I won't give up on you I won't give up on you I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah) I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah) I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah) I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you (I will follow you, yeah) I will follow you I will follow you I will follow, follow, follow you Yeah I will follow you, yeah MORE PLACES TO GET ORIENTED... John Tittmann: On the Road of Healing: China & Tibet (September 2024) #John #JohnTittmann #China #Tibet #TraditionalChineseMedicine #Furthur #Snoopy #GratefulDead #sunflowers #TheMoodyBlues #XavierRudd #TrevorHall #Linhai #surfing #guitar #Byrds #KatrinaAndTheWaves #DeadAndCompany #Buddhism #TibetanMonks #GyutoTantricChoir #DalaiLama #SmithsonianInstitution #MickeyHart #CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung #SteveBermont

"Peace on Earth ... Goodwill to all..." This story began last week as I was watching a video from one of my favorite children's choirs: The Barton Hill Children's Choir from Austin, Texas (song is near the end) . Listening to their refrain of the Grateful Dead's "He's Gone..." and seeing the baseball park venues in their video immediately reminded me of a departed friend and fellow Sunday School teacher, Mark Tarantino . And as I re-watched the first video that follows, I remembered another "Mark"...musician Mark Phillips ... SCORECARD PART I: Is there baseball in heaven? 1508-1512 Season Grateful Cubs Grateful Giants "Gone... but not forgotten... " PART II: Is there Rock & Roll in heaven? Why wait to find out... Exhibit A: Mark Phillips and the Broken Arrow Band... Exhibit B: Mark Phillips, Paul Ammendola and the Red Words Band... Exhibit C: Combo...Mark Phillips, Paul Ammendola and the Red Words Band... Exhibit D: Extra Sets...Grammy Award Winning Producer/ Engineer Larry Mitchell and Mark Phillips Rock & Roll Heaven "There's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion..." Postscript: Teach Your Children...to be GRATEFUL... PART I - Is There Baseball in Heaven? Eileen and I spent many wonderful years with the folks at this Malverne, NY church. In 2010, the choir got to perform at Citi Field . Seems we had someone on the "inside" - as one of our parishioners also named Mark worked for the Mets ... His tale continues in Part II . As I see all the faces...I'm filled with emotions every time I watch this video : ))) Here's Paul Ammendola taking the lead...You'll hear more from him in Part II ... Church of the Intercessor Choir at Citifield (April 19, 2010) (03:03) 1508-1512 Season God created the world in seven days, but it took Michelangelo four years to depict it on this remarkable ceiling. He was sent down to the.... SOURCE Grateful Cubs Check out their video announcement... SOURCE Grateful Dead and The Dancing Bears: where did they come from? (00:55) [from the creator] "Today the Dancing Bears remind us of the unity and celebration music brings to our lives echoing the legacy of Owsley and the Grateful Dead ..." Grateful Giants FLA@SF: Grateful Dead perform national anthem (Apr. 12, 1993) (02:34) "Gone... but not forgotten... " Mark Tarantino: "I'm gonna leave this broke down palace..." (Jan. 17, 2024) Is there Sunday School, Baseball, & Acting in Heaven? (Jan. 11, 2024) PART II: Is there Rock & Roll in heaven? Why wait to find out... Exhibit A: Mark Phillips and the Broken Arrow Band... Facebook Broken Arrow "Rock n Roll Kid" The Boulton Center (07:53) Below...Mark's on the right...layin' it on the line... Broken Arrow "Lay it on the line" (03:04) Broken Arrow Unplugged "Footsteps" (04:27) The Greatest Rock Band You’ve Probably Never Heard Of - Medium That story mentions this collaboration between Broken Arrow and another Long Island band: Red Words that featured Mark . Exhibit B: Mark Phillips, Paul Ammendola and the Red Words Band... Website Videos Facebook YouTube Mark, Paul and the rest of the band... Mark defies gravity as he "lays it down..." My Everything- Red Words (04:10) Exhibit C: Combo...Mark Phillips, Paul Ammendola and the Red Words Band... Here's a shot of Mark and his mate Mary C.M. Phillips on keyboard. She's also pens poetry...some of it found its way onto buses in PA... Check out this post. Broken Arrow/Red Words - My back pages by Bob Dylan at the Boulton Center 3/16/24 (05:00) Exhibit D: Extra Sets...Grammy Award Winning Producer/ Engineer Larry Mitchell and Mark Phillips Hanging with Mark Phillips of Broken Arrow (44:14) Rock & Roll Heaven In case you're still wondering if there's Rock & Roll in heaven... Rock And Roll Heaven - Righteous Brothers 1974 {Stereo} (03:38) "There's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion..." So says friend and former fellow surfer, Steve B...and he's right... Before continuing these reflections, P A U S E ...and remember friends, family and other loved ones who have passed over to the other side... Grateful Dead's 'He's Gone' by the BHC (06:22) We miss you, Phil (RIP 2025)... Grateful Dead - Broken Arrow (Orchard Park, NY 6/13/93) (05:22) [from the description] "This is a rare near-contemporary hit the Grateful Dead covered, joining Hey Jude from 1969 and Werewolves Of London in 1978. Robbie Robertson wrote the song and included it on his 1987 solo debut album. In 1991, Pop superstar Rod Stewart covered the song, and less than two years after its release, the Grateful Dead started covering it, sung by Phil Lesh. A very welcome addition to the setlist." - David Lemieux Postscript: Teach Your Children...to be GRATEFUL... Deuteronomy 6:7 SFV (1) Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (1) What version is this? : )))))) #music #humor #EileenTittmann #MarkTarantino #PatCoviello #SundaySchool #MarkPhillips #PaulAmmendola #BrokenArrow #BoultonCenter #SundaySchool #ChurchOfTheIntercessor #Malverne #ChicagoCubs #SanFranciscoGiants #NYCFireDepartment #CitiField #BartonHillsChildrensChoir #AustinTX #PhilLesh #GratefulDead #SteveBermont #children #RighteousBrothers #MaryCMPhillips #poetry #Deuteronomy

Ending the old year with a hope for a change… …That in spiritual circles "hymns/hims" will be balanced by HERS FYI - "Elohim" is a Hebrew word for "G-d"...It is masculine. Although Elohim is a plural form, it is often used with singular verbs when referring to the one true God, indicating its unique usage in Hebrew. The term is derived from the root word "El," which also means deity. ( Source ) ORDER OF SERVICE God our Mother - poem by Allison Woodard A pastor from the Virgin Islands offers some wisdom… And a Fab Four from the British Isles… A “mother-load” of Marian icons Our Lady of Huntington Processing with Our Lady of Chicago The History and Origins of the Sacred Feminine Permissible "HYMNS" Full texts of two cited articles God our Mother - poem by Allison Woodard God Our Mother (03:01) Text to poem near the end of this post. A pastor from the Virgin Islands offers some wisdom… O come let us adore HER... O come let us adore her - Virgin Islands Times 2017 Reader: The text from this article is reprinted at the end of this post in case this article is no longer available. And a Fab Four from the British Isles… Paul McCartney, Times of Trouble, and “Let It Be” (2023) Word on Fire [from the article - full text is reprinted at the end of this post in case it's no longer available] When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be The song arose in times of trouble. War raged in Vietnam, riots rocked the Chicago Democratic convention, and students protested all over the world. Rev. Martin Luther King, as well as presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, both died by the bullets of assassins. It was a time of trouble for McCartney personally, as the Beatles were fighting over finances and heading for their breakup at the end of what he called “the crazy sixties.”  A “mother-load” of Marian icons [from the site] This site offers an interfaith view of the Virgin Mary as a vibrant expression of the feminine face of God, her connections to Mary Magdalene, Martin Luther, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and many goddesses. Black Madonnas Around the World - InterfaithMary.net Our Lady of Huntington A few days ago when I was reconnecting with friends from my younger days, spotted this ink on the man busing our table in a Huntington diner. He said it's a representation of our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico . Peace on Earth…goodwill to all… Processing with Our Lady of Chicago My Muse leads me here "here...there...and everywhere..." and I love HER ... This next song came as a result of coming across "Mary Star of the Sea"... When I saw its thumbnail, I smiled - as it depicted another "El" : an elevated portion of the Chicago Transit Authority . Zwan - Lyric (Video Version) (03:18) Zwan’s ‘Mary Star Of The Sea’ Is Billy Corgan’s Lost Classic - UPROXX --a piece about the founder of Smashing Pumpkins . This is one of the tracks on their debut and only album "Mary Star of the Sea." The History and Origins of the Sacred Feminine [from the article - more at link] Around 4,000–2,000 BCE, global social structures began shifting. Indeed, many historians and anthropologists have observed a movement from egalitarian or goddess-revering cultures toward patriarchal systems , reflected in: The rise of male-dominated pantheons The marginalization of priestesses The demonization of goddess symbols A focus on conquest and hierarchy over fertility and nature For example, in monotheistic traditions that developed later (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), the concept of a singular male God became dominant. Yet, traces of the Divine Feminine remain, reflected in the following examples : The Shekhinah  in Jewish mysticism The Virgin Mary  and Mary Magdalene  in Christianity Sufi poetry , which often personifies divine love in feminine form Despite the shift, the Divine Feminine survived through symbolism, folklore, and hidden spiritual traditions. The History and Origins of the Sacred Feminine Permissible "HYMNS" The Beatles - Lady Madonna (02:34) Lady Madonna...cool interpretation... John Lennon helped write the lyrics, which give an account of an overworked, exhausted (possibly single) mother, facing a new problem each day of the week. [16]   McCartney explained the song by saying: "'Lady Madonna' started off as the Virgin Mary, then it was a working-class woman, of which obviously there's millions in Liverpool. There are a lot of Catholics in Liverpool because of the Irish connection." [17] The lyrics include each day of the week except Saturday, which McCartney only noticed many years later: "I was writing the words out to learn it for an American TV show and I realised I missed out Saturday ... So I figured it must have been a real night out." [14]  McCartney said his inspiration for the song came after seeing a photograph in National Geographic  magazine of a woman breastfeeding, titled "Mountain Madonna". [18] Speaking later about "Lady Madonna", Lennon said, "Good piano lick, but the song never really went anywhere", [19]  adding: "Maybe I helped him on some of the lyrics, but I'm not proud of them either way." [5][16]  Author Howard Sounes identifies both a relevance to McCartney's Catholic upbringing, and an autobiographical quality that belies the song's upbeat melody and delivery. He writes: "the lyric is also tender and personal, evoking the image of Mary McCartney as midwife, tending mothers and their babies in Liverpool as she had during Paul's childhood. The phrase 'Lady Madonna' also has a clear Christian meaning, of course, conflating Paul's memory of his mother with the Virgin Mary in what is a boogie-woogie hymn." [20] SOURCE (contains links) The Beatles - The Beatles - Let It Be (Official Music Video) [Remastered 2015] (04:02) God our Mother full text God Our Mother --A Poem by Allison Woodard To be a Mother is to suffer;To travail in the dark,stretched and torn,exposed in half-naked humiliation,subjected to indignities for the sake of new life. To be a Mother is to say,“This is my body, broken for you,”And, in the next instant, in response to the created’s primal hunger,“This is my body, take and eat.” To be a Mother is to self-empty,To neither slumber nor sleep,so attuned You are to cries in the night—Offering the comfort of Yourself,and assurances of “I’m here.” To be a Mother is to weep over the fighting and exclusions and wounds your children inflict on one another;To long for reconciliation and brotherly love and—when all is said and done—To gather all parties, the offender and the offended,into the folds of your embrace and to whisper in their ears that they are Beloved. To be a mother is to be vulnerable—To be misunderstood,Railed against, Blamed For the heartaches of the bewildered children who don’t know where else to cast the angst they feel over their own existence in this perplexing universe To be a mother is to hoist onto your hips those on whom your image is imprinted,bearing the burden of their weight, rejoicing in their returned affection,delighting in their wonder,bleeding in the presence of their pain. To be a mother is to be accused of sentimentality one moment,And injustice the next. To be the Receiver of endless demands,Absorber of perpetual complaints, Reckoner of bottomless needs. To be a mother is to be an artist; A keeper of memories past, Weaver of stories untold,Visionary of lives looming ahead. To be a mother is to be the first voice listened to, And the first disregarded; To be a Mender of broken creations, And Comforter of the distraught children whose hands wrought them. To be a mother is to be a Touchstone and the Source, Bestower of names ,Influencer of identities; Life giver, Life shaper, Empath,Healer and Original Love. Full texts of two cited articles O come let us adore her - Virgin Islands Times 2017 Aug.15 is the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, and although the etymology of the word “adore” raises the idea of prayers (in light of the derivation of “ore” in “adore” from the Latin “orare,” meaning “to pray”), many Christians in our post-Reformation era insist should be directed solely to the eternal triune God or persons therein (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). On the other hand, “adore” has come to take on a broader use, referring less problematically, but still in some sublime fashion, to honoring and loving — wholly suitable for Roman Catholics, Protestants and even some non-Christian people of faith. At the same time, my thesis this week is that a closer reading of the Christian Bible’s New Testament, and greater attention to context and to consideration of other aspects of the bibliology of Holy Scripture, reveal for us an astonishingly beauteous portrait of the God-bearing Mary, whom all, even in this postmodern era, might well — and I dare say should — adore and even emulate. Consider first this bit of “mother wit” (pun intended). Whenever my wife and I meet a really fine person, especially a fine young person like Jesus (only 30-something years old, we are told), who is other-directed and given over to the business of helping to make world a better place, we remark to each other, “Wow, what wonderful parents or maybe grandparents he or she must have or have had.” There it is, the theological point: While Jesus was wholly God, he was also, by definition of the Incarnation, fully human in being, in experience and in relationships. And so there was inevitably a mother, like St. Mary the Virgin, or a father like St. Joseph, and very possibly both — or nowadays a grandmother or grandfather, or some other mothering parent or person in loco parentis — someone imparting necessary, outstanding values and inculcating them in the Christ-like potential in youngsters around us. We should be those someones. There it is: The challenge for you and me: Run after them. Manifest and spread the values so critical for the health of communities around the world and for the world community. Save the children. Save the young people because, as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preached at a church convocation in Philadelphia just three weeks ago, we will one day surely need those same young people to save us. Why adore and even emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary in particular? Well, because, according to the biblical narrative, she surely helped make Jesus the wonderful man and blessed Savior he turned out to be — dedicated, in his life and witness, to the core value of agape love (“Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down) which is love that is universal, unconditional, all-forgiving, leading and guiding in paths of righteousness. You and I need to be like that: living sources of good, sound values. It ought to be that when worshiping in our churches here, we learn and model distinctly valued behavior in the way we treat one another and in what we teach the generations ahead of us or behind us. We need to be like Mary — and in all probability like Joseph as well. God got it started and, as we know, brought Jesus’ character to full fruition. But surely Mama and Daddy played roles as well, just as we should. Again, why adore and even emulate Mary? Because of whom she bore. Mary is the Theotokos, the bearer of God, and just as important, the participant in shaping the character of this Jesus of Nazareth. Why should the name of St. Mary the Virgin resonate in particular in communities populated largely by descendants of the enslaved, and in institutions created for or administered by them? The answer can be found by looking at our African-American history, the historical, anthropological, sociological, and overall cultural contexts. We should remember that enslaved families in the oppressive, turbulent 18th and 19th centuries in the Western Hemisphere were held together by mothers and grandmothers, and aunts and great-aunts, while the enslaved men were forcibly sold off and scattered. In the active memory or deep in the culture of many African Americans, “family” truly means a nurturing mother and her generations of progeny including her adoptive or foster progeny. “Family” indeed has evoked all the adoration that we have seen in African-American culture through the years, wherein nurture and knowledge of God and of godly ways of living have always conjured memories of mother — celebrated with the special reverence that we have long given to Mother’s Day. Also remember the fury that can ensue in black culture when someone has spoken ill of another’s mother. That inevitably is followed by the threatening response, “Don’t you talk about my mama!” Earthy as the foregoing may be, I believe that such colloquies are history-based and culture-base, and entail well-earned adoration, stimulated in the honoring of St. Mary. The values, the character that Mary embodies in the biblical narrative are ennobling for all of us, and especially in today’s world. Was Mary blindly and meekly submissive? No, no, no. Mary was attuned to the Divine in faith. She judged God’s way to be the best way, and she acted boldly and bravely on that conviction, refusing to succumb to the shame of Jesus’ “untimely” birth. She taught and helped shape the Master and traveled all around Judea and Galilee with the indispensable bevy of women who nurtured, shaped, funded, and otherwise cared for Jesus and his itinerant Disciples. Consider our Most Rev. Michael’s brilliant homiletic tour de force, his “roll-call at the Crucifixion”: There she was: Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other Marys, boldly leading in faith and leading in humility before and after the Savior, defying the attempts of the world to express her value in only responsive, second-hand, reactive terms. What perfect modeling for women today and for open-minded men: preaching and teaching fearlessly while others have sought and seek — perhaps to this very day — to “half-step” newly gained freedom. Read your Bible carefully. There she is, behind it all yet ahead of so much: • Mary, the wise, the teacher of teachers, the bold and brave when others cowered, who even dares more than once or twice to correct or to speak up and question the Savior of the World. • Mary, whose heart is the model of love and mercy. • Mary, who models not only the agape of communal love, but also another form of love, storge love. Mary, mother of the world, who as such instinctively puts her all on the line for her children. • Mary, who implanted or at least affirmed the best ideas and ideals in her son Jesus and quietly in the youngsters in her neighborhood as well. Why in our bibliological study of Jesus’ life and ministry should we give particular honor to Mary? The answer is because, notwithstanding the relentless attempts by many to erase her from the dramatis personae, to relegate her to the proverbial “back of the bus,” Mary truly, with no personal aggrandizement, had the first and last say about Jesus — about what Jesus said, what he did, and what it all meant. My point here is as follows: With uniquely detailed knowledge of the facts of Jesus’ birth; with contextualizing understanding, years later, of his blessed Nativity otherwise and with detailed knowledge of critical scenes during Jesus’ ministry (for example, Jesus’ pre-adolescent colloquy with the elders in the Temple, the wedding in Cana of Galilee, the Crucifixion, Resurrection and day of Pentecost, in ways and to an extent, not experienced by others. Who do you suppose was present? Who therefore played an incomparably big role, instructing the evangelists, leading men and women in piecing together the biographical narratives that we call by the names of her interlocutors, for example, the men and women gathered in the names of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as Peter and the seminal contextualizer Paul? It must have been, it had to be: the Blessed Virgin Mary, who indeed lived enough years after her son to enabled her, a witness like none other, to contextualize, to give the profound, extra meaning of events in Jesus’ life. It had to be Mary, with notes, with interviews, with quiet correctives day by day, who recounted and taught. Let us adore her, especially in the manner of the Jewish community to which Jesus, Mary, and Joseph belonged, in which it is the mother’s lineage and identity in the community of faith that determines the nature of one’s membership, and in the manner of the formerly unfree and their progeny, who understood and even today understand, deep in our souls, what it means to be saved, and what it is to struggle to be heard, not from the back, but in the front of the bus, and seen in full glorious humanity. Yes, let us adore her and live into her example. Hail Mary, full of grace, o come let us adore her. Amen. — The Rev. Dr. Wesley S. Williams Jr., K.St .J., is bishop’s sub-dean for St. Thomas and St. John and Vicar of Nazareth by the Sea Episcopal Church in the Diocese of the Virgin Islands (U.S. and U.K.) and chairman of SRMC All Faiths Hospital Chaplaincy Paul McCartney, Times of Trouble, and “Let It Be” (2023) Word on Fire In a new podcast McCartney: A Life in Lyrics , Sir Paul McCartney talks about his most famous songs with the poet Paul Muldoon. The podcast is aimed at “dissecting the people, experiences, and art that inspired McCartney’s songwriting.” A recent episode explored the meaning of the lyrics of the title song of the Beatles’ last album, “ Let it Be .”  When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be The song arose in times of trouble. War raged in Vietnam, riots rocked the Chicago Democratic convention, and students protested all over the world. Rev. Martin Luther King, as well as presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, both died by the bullets of assassins. It was a time of trouble for McCartney personally, as the Beatles were fighting over finances and heading for their breakup at the end of what he called “the crazy sixties.”  But then McCartney found consolation. Although his mother Mary Patricia McCartney had died years earlier when the singer was only fourteen-years-old, she appeared vividly alive to him in a dream. She said to him, “Let it be.” He awoke, comforted and calm. The song “Let It Be” arose from this experience. Sir Paul realized later that he had actually encountered an inspiration for this song earlier in his life. As a school boy, a favorite and formative teacher made him memorize passages from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet . In the play, the Danish prince Hamlet finds himself in times of trouble as “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” and war looms with Norway. Hamlet’s father, Denmark’s king, has died suddenly. His uncle Claudius had taken both Hamlet’s widowed mother in marriage and the throne of Denmark. Hamlet intends to kill Claudius, and Claudius intends to kill Hamlet. McCartney connects the lyrics of “Let It Be” with Hamlet’s famous soliloquy: To be, or not to be, that is the question,Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;No more; and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache and the thousand natural shocksThat flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummationDevoutly to be wish’d.  Is it better to be alive or not to be? To be suffering or to be in the sleep of the dead? To be or not to be? The answer, McCartney says, is to “let it be.”  But there is a still earlier inspiration for the song. In the podcast , McCartney notes, “I called her ‘Mother Mary’ rather than ‘my mom Mary.’ I knew enough to know, okay, we have a sort of double meaning going here.” This spiritual meaning of “let it be” arises from Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus. She found herself in times of trouble. The Roman Empire occupied her homeland, and there was constant talk of revolution, violent uprising, and conflict between Jews and Samaritans in the Middle East. Then, the Gospel of Luke recounts, an angel appears to her. She is greatly troubled at his message: she will conceive a son. How can this be? She is a virgin. If she is found pregnant before marriage, what will her fiancé Joseph do? What will happen to her? Despite the difficulties, doubts, and distress of her situation, she responds to the angel, “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary’s “let it be” (her fiat ) is her consent to God’s mysterious plan for her in times of trouble. This spiritual meaning of the song arises in part because Paul and his brother Michael were, at their mother’s insistence, baptized as Catholics. Paul says, “We’d been christened (baptized) to save our immortal souls which I was always rather pleased with. I’m glad. . . . I thank her for doing that.” To be baptized is to be a brother or a sister of Christ. To be baptized is to be a child of Mother Mary. To be baptized is to be invited to cooperate with God’s mysterious plan for us and, in times of trouble, to whisper words of wisdom: Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be There will be an answer, let it be. #music #humor #poetry #Mary #AllisonWoodard #VirginIslands #UnitedKingdom #PaulMcCartney #Beatles #Guadalupe #LadyMadonna #LetItBe #Zwan #BillyCorgan #SmashingPumpkins #Catholic