Wait, How Cool is This?!

I am in Nazereth and Jerusalem for Christmas!  Seriously, can I mention it again???  heheh.  After 30 years of going to the Church Christmas Celebration and watching magnificent plays about the story of Christmas and Jesus's Life and all that jazz and here I am, In the place where it all took place!  WOW.  hehehe.  Yeah, it makes me laugh a little cause I am not that touched really, but, I can imagine many intensely involved Christians and Catholics would have a serious face melting experience by the thought of being here during this time.  I am really not sure much Christmas Cheer will be going on all around, probably sprinkles of it here and there, probably some super serious mass will be going on, I have no idea, I just know that I am here and when I think of it, it's pretty cool.  I would think that my friends and family in the states would think so at least.  

Anyways, as of now, we have only seen the small (extremely small, even by Israeli standards) street market in Nazareth, there is a nice big tree in the middle of the square which was cool, I also saw some lights on the street lamps, but we were there during the day.  I am intrigued and interested to find out what goes on here during Christmas.  We have such an elaborate Celebration in the USA, with all the lights and shopping and parties and shopping and dinners and shopping and then it comes and goes, but the season is so joyful and warm.  It's almost like the whole Hallmark thing did something really magical to the Season of Christmas and Hanukkah and New Years.  

Here in Israel, people keep on working, the children definitely party during Hanukkah, but, I did not feel that sense of the season that all that consumerism and Hallmarkism brings in the states.  It was sort of like a passing breath, you knew it was happening, all the signs were there that it was happening, but it naturally came and went without needing to much attention. hmmm

Anyways, this is my 5th year out of the USA for the holidays.  Maybe next year I will be inspired to go back.  But again, this year, I AM IN JERUSALEM and NAZARETH for CHRISTMAS!  WOW!! 

Big love and laughs!

The Platform

The Platform - April 23rd, 2011

For months and months now I have been guided to a vacant platform overlooking the hills of jerusalem for my morning practice. It was as if this small piece of stone slab was placed for me to go into deep meditation and ecstatic Yoga at first light everyday. There was a deep sense of belongingness to this platform that I figured was due to the fact that it was surrounded by nature, but, much to my constant yearning of realization of something greater, I happened upon a connection while walking the dog of a Potential Business Partner here in Israel.

For the last week, we have been having constructive meetings about representation in Israel and the possibility of doing an rather large festival in the near future. On this day, My partner and the potential Israeli partner decided to speak in Hebrew in order for the meeting to move along smoothly. So, after a few 30 minutes of gathering my thoughts I decided to get up, have a stretch and look around the yard.

In the distance, I saw a curious looking canine beckoning me to its 20 meter CAGE. After getting over the fact that the poor mutt was in a cage, I decided to take it upon myself to take the muscular and excited mammal for a walk …. he ended up running me! When I walked/ran outside with the poochie, I looked to my left and SAW MY MORNING PLATFORM! WOW I thought, we are so close to where I meditate in the mornings, what a great thing that would be if we ended up working together, maybe I could come for breakfast …. When I returned, I told the potential business partner about my findings and he mentioned the platform was HIS. I guess I have been attracting him in for some time now. AMAZING!

Jerusalem Mask

Overlooking the rolling structured hills of Jerusalem brings instant fantasy into the mind.  David, Daniel, JESUS....did they walk this land?  When I close my eyes and open them again, I am almost 2000 years back in time.  Something is in this City.  Is it the world's endless obsession with the Bible that has given this place such a powerful presence?  It is like I am wrapped in some dream of some fantasy world of names and places that I thought only existed in text and in the minds of the religious fanatics, and now, I am here!!  Bethalahem: what!!!!??  This is an actual place?  Guess so!

On our way to the Old City of Jerusalem, I got to see first hand what has happened in this country in the means of separation.  An enormous wall has been built all around the Palastinian sectors of Israel, somehow attempting to erradicate the struggle between the two.  I say if you want to irradicate the struggle of fighting people, a rediculous notion all together, then put them in a big area TOGETHER and then put a wall around them.  let them fight it out if they wish or let them survive together as that is all they are trying to do anyways.  The walls make the country look like a war - zone, yet, again, all I am seeing is people smiling and enjoying their time on the planet...even the soldiers!!!!  Freedom is all I feel here, although the people whom I was with loved talking about the past wars that did go on over these roads.

On to the Old City, or, Revamped Old City.  Everything was brand new!!  New buildings, new shops, tons of things to buy.  Expensive food.  The only thing that remained in the Old City that was really OLD, was the mindset of having 4 different Quarters Separating the Religions.  THAT is old school.  I guess these people still haven't learned that My God is chilling with your GOD and they are laughing at us trying to retain the values of the OLD.  The city is gorgeous, full of power and Jerusalem Stone....OH Jerusalem Stone!!  I just love it.  

On a funny note.  I was not aloud to bring my guitar to the Wailing Wall or inside the Tomb of Jesus, but, smoking was aloud in and outside of these areas.  I did manage to get the guitar inside and do some singing of "What are we fighting For!"  And then an intense man in a black cloak aggressively stopped me!!   Fun Times!  I have also been told that you can pay to carry a cross on your back and walk the supposed "Jesus Walk!"  MY GOD!!!  HE must be smiling a the mere thought of it.  What a funny world we live in.  I look forward to a return visit in the near future.  I think I have just scratched the surface here now.....more to come!!!