Embodying Rhythm

Rhythm, Music, Education, Performance

Newsletter

August is nearly here

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Hello Dears,

We hope that this summer is treating you well. We’ll be celebrating our one year anniversary soon and it has been a very sweet journey.

We have been reading Martha Beck’s book, “Finding Your Way in a Wild New World.” Arlyn’s obsessed and resonating strongly with Beck’s suggestions. One of them is a recommendation for a cycle of playing and resting. Basically: play until you need to rest and then rest until it’s time to play again. It’s been fun to see what that brings and the places where it feels impossible. . . and then seeing if something small can shift the dynamic. Yesterday Arlyn alternated 5 minutes of reading with 10 minutes of housecleaning and had a lot more fun cleaning than she sometimes does.

See below for ways that you can play with us.

The Sticky Mulligan / Pretty Gritty double header evening is one that we are especially looking forward to enjoying on August 9th! It’s only $5 because we wanted to make sure everyone could come and play together.

Many blessings on your playing and your resting,
Arlyn and David

www.embodyingrhythm.com
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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David with Sticky Mulligan and Pretty Gritty
Double the fun. Soulful Americana with Pretty Gritty and fun and funky with Sticky Mulligan and band.
Friday, August 9th. Doors open 7:30.
Live at the Blue Sage, downtown Paonia, CO. Show around 8pm. $5.
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David with Pretty Gritty
August 10
Live at Cavalcade in Fruita, CO. 7pm $10. 201 E. Aspen Ave
a great listening venue
www.prettygrittymusic.com

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ARISE
August 17th
David with the Sea Stars 11pm. main stage. right after Michael Franti
http://arisefestival.com
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David with Sticky Mulligan and band
August 24th.
Live in Redstone Colorado. 6pm. Outside next to the Crystal River.
www.stickymulligan.com
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David and Arlyn with FEAST
August 31
Live at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, CO. 7pm $15. (kids under 14 years of age are free)
http://www.taboroperahouse.net/bcevent.ihtml?lastcatid=1&step=4&pid=533&month=08&year=2013
www.musicbyfeast.com
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Wild Writing with Arlyn and Adrianna
Tuesday’s at 3pm in August @ Adrianna’s under the willow tree. Bring a notebook and favorite writing utensil.
Let your imagination flow. Let the words be free.
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For your calendar:
Pulsing into Truth; Tapping into Oneness through Rhythm.
David and Arlyn will teach a frame drum and dumbek class in Oct/Nov.  This class will be more metaphysically based than some of their other classes and focus on the simplicity and depth of rhythm as a tool for meditation and how we come into rhythm together as a group. No experience necessary. Open to beginning rhythmists as well as accomplished musicians who want to deepen into themselves through rhythm.
Dates, times and location to be announced. Paonia, CO.
Contact us if you’re interested. We’ll solidify our plans soon.

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The Summer Day
~Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

July offerings from David and Arlyn

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Hello.

It is now officially summer and a good time for getting up into the mountains. If you have any mountains near you, we highly suggest it. Woods, forests, beaches, and deserts will have a similar essence. Here’s a picture of some conifers with Ruby and Owen peaks in the background from around Kebler Pass near Crested Butte, CO for inspiration:

DSCN0246

We have been so inspired and thankful for these wild places that still exist in our backyard – such majesty and presence.

July for us is about being in the garden and in the wilderness.  Also this month, Arlyn offers yoga and wild writing and David plays with Pretty Gritty, Sticky Mulligan, and Celebrate the Beat; see below for details.

Many blessings,

Arlyn and David

www.embodyingrhythm.com

 

____________UPCOMING EVENTS______________

 

Arlyn will be offering a “Wild Writing” (Goldberg) style writing circle Tuesday’s in July (beginning July 2) from 3-5pm. Under the willow tree at the Heideman’s house. Gift.

Arlyn will be teaching yoga in the dome. 9:30-10:45am Wednesday’s in July (beginning July 3). By donation. Here’s what Adrianna says, “It is a very Present, meditative, deep yoga; leaving me feeling quiet, calm and enriched.”

David with Isa and JoeAlan in Ridgeway, CO Town Park on Thursday, July 4. 6:00pm opening the Free Ridgeway Concert in the Park for Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band.  Also playing at the after party at Sherbino Theater 10pm.  isaandjoealan.com

On tour from Maryland – Blaine and Sarah return to Colorado with more great soulful Americana. David will sit in for a couple of these shows.prettygrittymusic.com
Pretty Gritty in Dolores, CO. Dolores River Brewery. July 5. 8:00pm
Pretty Gritty in Carbondale, CO Steve’s Guitars on Saturday, July 6. 7:00pm
Pretty Gritty in Crested Butte, CO Rumor’s Coffee house. July 8. 4:30pm
Pretty Gritty in Paonia, CO Revolution Brewery on Wednesday, July 10. 5:30pm
Pretty Gritty in Fruita, CO Cavalcade on Wednesday, August 10, 8pm

David with Sticky Mulligan in Casper, WY Nicolaysen Art Museum on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 5:30pm stickymulligan.com

David with CTB in Paonia, CO July 22-26. Performance: Friday July 26th @ 5:30pm Town Park ctbeat.org

David at Arise Festival – Sunrise Ranch, CO  August 14-18. www.arisefestival.com
Playing with Sea Stars and sitting in with the Tierro Band.

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I wish I could speak like music.
I wish I could put the swaying splendor of the fields into words
So that you could hold Truth against your body and dance.
I am trying the best I can with this crude brush, the tongue,
To cover you with light.
I wish I could speak like divine music.
I want to give you the sublime rhythms of this earth and the sky’s limbs
As they joyously spin and surrender, surrender against God’s luminous breath.
Hafiz wants you to hold me against your precious body And dance, DANCE.

~Hafiz

June is moving fast

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Hi! We do hope this email finds you well.

Our big and exciting news is that the new website is up for your viewing pleasure: www.embodyingrhythm.com . Please let us know if you find any links that don’t work or other discrepancies, we are still in the final stages of building it and would love your feedback.

Things here at the homestead (loosely defined) are good. Busy. Full. Summer! (though not officially until Friday). The garden is going off! And so is the beauty in the high-country. What abundance and blessings are to be received from nature. As a side-note, we thought you’d like to know that Alicia Michaelson will be offering herbal studies classes in Paonia at the Trading Post in July – Wednesday’s 1:30-4pm more info: 527-4740.

David will be playing drums for lots of fun projects this summer; see below for the list. And Arlyn will teach three yoga classes during Bernstock. We hope to see you soon.

blessings,

Arlyn and David

www.embodyingrhythm.com

 

_____UPCOMING EVENTS_____

David with Sticky Mulligan in Evergreen, CO. Wednesday, June 19, 2013 7:00 pm. www.stickymulligan.com

David with the Tierro band in Boulder, CO. Friday, June 21, 2013 10:00 pm Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place. www.tierro.net
David with the Tierro band in Niwot, CO. Saturday, June 22, 2013. Double Rainbow Ranch.

David with Sticky Mulligan in Paonia, CO on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 4:30 pm Paonia Town, Park Ride the Rockies.
David with Sticky Mulligan in Paonia, CO on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 5:30 pm Revolution Brewery.

Bernstock – June 27-30th Dances of Universal Peace retreat. Dancing morning and evening. www.bernieheideman.com for details. David will teach a drum class Saturday afternoon (~2:30pm) and Arlyn will be offering yoga in the mornings Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 7:45-8:45am.

David with JoeAlan and Isa in Ridgeway, CO on Thursday, July 4, 2013. 6pm Ridgeway Town Park. isaandjoealan.com

David with Pretty Gritty in Carbondale, CO on Saturday, July 6, 2013 8:00 pm. Steve’s Guitars. prettygrittymusic.com
David with Pretty Gritty in Paonia, CO on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 5:30 pm. Revolution Brewery.

David with Sticky Mulligan in Casper, WY on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 5:30 pm

David with Celebrate The Beat Summer Camp in Paonia, CO. July 22-26. More info at ctbeat.org

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On a day when the wind is perfect,
the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.
Today is such a day.

My eyes are like the sun that makes promises;
the promise of life that it always
keeps each morning.

The living heart gives to us as does that luminous sphere,
both caress the earth with great tenderness.

This is a breeze that can enter the soul.
This love I know plays a drum. Arms move around me;
who can contain their self before my beauty?

Peace is wonderful,
but ecstatic dance is more fun, and less narcissistic;
gregarious He makes our lips.

On a day when the wind is perfect,
the sail just needs to open
and the love starts.

Today is such
a day.

~ Rumi ~ trans. Daniel Ladinsky

May in Colorado

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Hello ,We hope that you are doing well and staying equanimous amidst the changing spring weather.

 

We’re loving the green growing things in the garden and are working to cultivate the pallet for some weeds in the garden too – dandelion, mallow, lambsquarter are all finding their way into our salads and stir-frys.  Such abundance and such nutrition and healing for the body! And yay for Alicia Michaelson and her sharing of the herbal traditions.

 

David has returned from his travels on the east coast to find the house rearranged and it’s been fun to play music together and work in the garden. It’s good to have him back in Colorado!

 

My brother, Aaron, and I are busily re-working the Embodying Rhythm website. I’m excited to share it with you but it’s not ready quite yet. You can learn more about Aaron here: www.northforkpermaculture.com. The biggest change for you will be that in a month or so all newsletter emails will arrive from a different email address and maybe have a bit of a different look. We’ll let you know more soon.

 

Here’s a youtube video for your viewing pleasure of David with some found percussion: youtu.be/IVGSzVkjM78

 

much love,

Arlyn (and David)

www.embodyingrhythm.com & ladyarlyn/wordpress.com

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

 

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

David with The Tierro Band tierro.net and The Sea Stars www.seastarsmusic.com

Lumonics Sound and Light Gallery 800 E. 73 Avenue #11 Denver CO 80229

8pm – midnight   $20

A powerful night of music and magic. Capacity is limited, tickets here:

http://www.lumonics.net/seastars_tiero.htm

 

Saturday, May 4th, 2013

David with The Tierro Band tierro.net and The Sea Stars www.seastarsmusic.com

100 Sunrise Ranch rd. Loveland CO 80538

concert at 7:30pm   $25

as part of a two day extravaganza including a dance workshop with the lovely Ixeeya. Find out more here: http://sunriseranch.org/ixeeya-tierro-sea-stars/
Sunday, May 5th, 2013

David with the SEA STARS www.seastarsmusic.com at Cavalcade

201 E. Aspen St. Fruita CO 81521 (970) 260-5413,

7pm, $10

Fruita, Colorado.  Home of great fruit, great mountain biking and a great music venue called Cavalcade.  We’ll be helping soothe folks into a sweet Sunday bliss.  The space is beautiful with a great sound system.  Come one, come all!  more info: http://www.cavalcadefruita.com/index.html

 

 

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This month’s inspiration is writing from Charles Eisenstein, author of Sacred Economics.

Read the full article here: www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/to-build-community-an-economy-of-gifts

 

“Community is woven from gifts. Unlike today’s market system, whose built-in scarcity compels competition in which more for me is less for you, in a gift economy the opposite holds. Because people in gift culture pass on their surplus rather than accumulating it, your good fortune is my good fortune: more for you is more for me. Wealth circulates, gravitating toward the greatest need. In a gift community, people know that their gifts will eventually come back to them, albeit often in a new form. Such a community might be called a “circle of the gift.”

“Fortunately, the monetization of life has reached its peak in our time, and is beginning a long and permanent receding (of which economic “recession” is an aspect). Both out of desire and necessity, we are poised at a critical moment of opportunity to reclaim gift culture, and therefore to build true community. The reclamation is part of a larger shift of human consciousness, a larger reunion with nature, earth, each other, and lost parts of ourselves. Our alienation from gift culture is an aberration and our independence an illusion. We are not actually independent or “financially secure” – we are just as dependent as before, only on strangers and impersonal institutions, and, as we are likely to soon discover, these institutions are quite fragile.”

 

 

“You don’t have to participate in a local currency or service exchange to be part of the cooperative gift economy. Any time you give (or receive) a favor for a family member, neighbor, colleague, or stranger you’re part of it. “  37 Ways to Join the Gift Economy by Beverly Feldman and Charles Gray

 

 

 

 

 
Deva Dancing Header ImageDeva Dancing Footer Image

April 2013

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Dear One,

I hope that springtime is treating you well.

It is time for the equinox:

/ˈikwəˌnɒks, ˈ[ee-kwuh-noks, ek-wuh-] the time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring (dictionary.com) March 20 5:02am Mtn. for the spring passage from dark into light.

I like the way Machelle Small Wright thinks about the Solstice and Equinox cycles, read more here:

http://www.perelandra-ltd.com/Solstice-Equinox-Cycle-W4585.aspx

I have been happily planting away in the garden (and David has been digging): a cold-frame with greens, carrots, transplanting yarrow and adding a few new Asian Pear trees to the mix. It’s very exciting for me to feel the shape of our garden really starting to show itself. And I’m making friends with lots of new planties especially after studying medicinal plants this winter.

 

In non-garden news, the FEAST tour was a success. Thanks for all your prayers for safe travels; the weather cooperated remarkably well for heading north in February. You can see some pictures here. And here’s a video of David and I performing our rhythmic vocal duet  Solkattu Conversation from FEAST Nov. tour.

 

And now, David heads to the east coast today to visit family and friends, work with the Home School Talents, play some shows in Maryland and D.C. and record on Sticky Mulligan’s sophomore album. You can find out more and support Sticky’s album here.

 

lots of love,

Arlyn (and David)

www.embodyingrhythm.com and ladyarlyn.wordpress.com

 

 

   —> UPCOMING EVENTS <—

 

 

David with Sticky Mulligan www.stickymulligan.com

Wed. April 3rd at the Music Cafe in Damascus MD. 7-9pm. Thurs. April 4th at An Die Musik in Baltimore, MD. 8-10pm. Friday April 5th at Bloombars in Washington, D.C. 8-10pm.

 

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David with the HST Homeschool Troupe

April 19 and 20.

hstonline.org/home/shows-2

 

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David with Sea Stars and Tierro

Saturday May 4 at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, CO

www.seastarsmusic.com and www.tierrolive.com

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And an event for your calendar:

Arise Festival 2013 a 5 day festival in Loveland, CO. August 14-18, 2013

David will perform with Sea Stars and Tierro.

get your tickets here: arisefestival.com

The festival features Xavier Rudd, Zap Mama, Midnite, Michael Menert, Lunar Fire and many more!

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The Music we are by Rumi (translation Coleman Barks)

 

Did you hear that winter’s over?The basil and the carnationscannot control their laughter.The nightingale, back from his wandering,has been made singing master overall the birds. The trees reach outtheir congratulations. The soulgoes dancing through the king’s doorway.Anemones blush because they have seenthe rose naked. Spring, the only fairjudge, walks in the courtroom, andseveral December thieves steal away.Last year’s miracles will soon beforgotten. New creatures whirl inFrom nonexistence, galaxies scatteredaround their feet. Have you met them?Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooningin the cradle? A single narcissusflower has been appointed InspectorOf Kingdoms. A feast is set. Listen.The wind is pouring wine! LoveUsed to hide inside images. No more!The orchard hangs out its lanterns.The dead come stumbling by in shrouds.Nothing can stay bound or be imprisoned.You say, “End this poem here andWait for what’s next.” I will. PoemsAre rough notations for the music we are.

 

January 2013

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Dear One,

 

Sending blessings and love for a splendid 2013!

 

I wanted to share with you a quote that a friend shared with me recently (loosely translated from satsang with Jacque Jefferies): “We are here to not only personally bring to rest our own tendency/conditioning of suffering, but for the world as well.” So thank you my dears for every deep breath you take and share with your friends and families.  Thank you for every moment you choose to smile. Thank you for every time you notice the beauty of the natural world. Thank you for every time you choose kindness. Thank you for every time you are able to be honest with yourself and your relations.

 

I’ve been noticing how quick and small the triggers towards suffering can be. One phone call that is unexpected. One moment that didn’t go how we thought that it would. One look or a tone of voice from our loved ones. One ache in this body that is unexpected. The slowing down and bringing them back to rest is such an ongoing practice. For me it sounds like this, “Ah, welcome, this list of things to do. Ah, welcome, this familiar pain in my hip. Ah, welcome, this sensation. Here.”

 

If you’re reading this – you likely have a minute and safe space for your body. And here is my invitation for us to relish this moment – just as it is. Rich with humanity.

 

lots of love,

Arlyn (and David)

www.embodyingrhythm.com

 

____UPCOMING EVENTS_____

 

JANUARY 2013: FEAST’s brand new show, “Celtic Rhapsody” in Colorado

tickets: http://junctionconcerts.tix.com/Schedule.asp?OrganizationNumber=3329

Jan. 10: Montrose Pavilion. 7:30pm Jan. 11: Avalon Theatre, Grand Junction. 7:30pm Jan. 12: Avalon Theatre, Grand Junction. 7:30pmJan. 13:Glenwood Springs High School 3:00 pm

with two new arrangements by David Alderdice plus a fabulous duet with frame drum and modern dance (David and Rosie).

This incarnation of FEAST is: David Alderdice and Arlyn Deva on percussion with Marcin (violin) and Becky Arendt (vocals), Ben Dekock (bass), The entire Mientka crew: Catie (piano), Gabe (cello), Stephanie (viola) and Rosie (dance).  And two champion Irish Dancers Blaine Donovan and Jessica Lesser (these two are fabulous, we got to tour with them in November and so much fun to watch!)

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David with Sticky Mulligan

Jan. 18: Fruita, Cavalcade. 7:30pm

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FEAST – Celtic Fire 2013- please tell your friends in the North. . .

Feb. 16, 7:30 PM: Yankton, South Dakota; High School Theatre Feb. 17, 7:30 PM: Huron, South Dakota; High School Aud. Feb. 19, 7:30 PM: Milbank, South Dakota; High School Theater Feb. 22, 7:00 PM: Merrill, Wisconsin; High School Aud. Feb. 23, 7:30 PM: Eagle River; Wisconsin, Northland Pines HS Aud. Feb. 25, 7:30 PM: Devils Lake, North Dakota, Lake Region State College, R. Fawcett Aud. Feb. 26, 7:30 PM: Rapid City, South Dakota; Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Feb. 28, 7:30 PM: Helena, Montana; Civic Center

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Saturday, Mar 09: FEAST Celtic Fire. Grand Junction, CO

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from Rumi:

 

My worst habit is I get so tired of winter I become a torture to those I’m with.

If you’re not here, nothing grows. I lack clarity. My words tangle and knot up.

How to cure bad water? Send it back to the river. How to cure bad habits? Send me back to you.

When water gets caught in habitual whirlpools, dig a way out through the bottom to the ocean. There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can’t hope.

The hopers would feel slighted if they knew.

Look as long as you can at the friend you love, no matter whether that friend is moving away from you or coming back to you.