Christmas in Cuba

Like old women who were once BEAUTY queens, buildings radiantly worn, time has aged them increasingly VIBRANT, there’s a thickness in the air, my hair has created a life of its own, jungle texture, there’s a PURITY and a GRIT that exists in the people that hasn’t yet been corrupted by our consumerism, we praise thru song and DANCE to the deities originating from the mother, OSHUN drips honey all over her body, seduction, chango takes hold of my hips, cigarettes so prevalent my voice has some rasp, I like the sound and consider smoking for 3.7 seconds until the feeling of being boxed in with the smoke leaves me claustrophobic for freshness and life force, no puedo imaginar Cuba without vintage treasures that adorn their streets and lives and hearts, no system is flawless, I still am learning what it means to be FREE, beyond the constraints of my government, in the obscure parts of my mind, in the pained parts of my heart, dancers BRILLIANT as the sun! honored to study with maestros, limber/effortless/fluid they paint through their bodies with a strength that withstands the cement floor, my feet dance till they’re dead and reincarnate into a spirit beyond my understanding, no mirrors in class to learn so everything must be felt, the queen of folklorio reminds us to dance with our faces, Rumba! Various levels of provocativeness, one in Matanzas where the man playfully pops the woman in the pussy! damn! the roosters call our alarm clock, Guantanamo’s HEART exceeds its reputation, el aire in Santiago tan sucio – makes LA smog seem refreshing, no toilet paper in any public restrooms, my uber healthy spoiled palate adjusts to minimal veggies, good thing I love some rice and beans, pescado and platanos, mmmm fresh mango juice, dark aged rum, ménage a trois via salsa, SINGING on the verdadero American r&b tunes with Cubanos and Americanos, laughing and free, Christmas in Cuba! taking in el campo y la ciudad, the sea my heaven, every molecule baptized, there is no higher BLISS, grateful for golden LUMINOUS souls impacting the world with their light, met a 7 foot tall otherworldly angel whose hug pieced my heart together again, the father drum asks questions the mother drum gives answers, polyrhythms in my body, my heart’s elation, beautiful tears of joy born from realizations, cheeks ache from smiling, I will never be the same.

 

 

City of Angels

When you get through the big pain, this is what happens: near blinding RADIANCE. You will have more to give—and you will LOVE giving it. You will seek to give. It will be the most incredible feeling. Someone is going to come to you with a broken wing, or low on reserves and you are going to have so much love and insight to offer them. You’ll actually say things like, “I can help you with that!” And you won’t feel taxed or burdened or obligated. You will feel like you are doing your work in the world. In essence, you will become an Angel.

You will have a LOT more energy. (If, currently, your adrenals are shot and you’re just piecing together your exit plan, this may be hard to believe. But…believe.) You’re going to get up earlier and stay up a bit later. You will intensely want to live life. Making, meandering, pleasuring, giving, learning, LIFE. You’re going to want more of it than you ever have. You will be intimate with joy—because at some point during your immense suffering you will have felt it. It seemed ironic, and then miraculous, and then…yes…even in the midst of pain, I can still feel my true nature—and it is joy. You’ll know that happiness and agony, and delight and grief come and go, but at the core—is always joy—YOU. And you will be confident that you know how to find your way back there more easily.

You’ll look different. As in better. A bit shinier, maybe even blindingly radiant. With all that weight off your shoulders, your spine will be straighter and the prana will be flowing more. The weariness in your eyes will be replaced with the sexiness of presence. It’s going to show in photographs and it will be seen by your tribe, and wow…holy shine.

You’re going to make better choices. If you’re on the other side of agony, chances are you’re way less inclined now to make compromises or bend to your breaking point—and you will spot the death eaters and dream stealers before they get on your property. When you’ve transmuted dark poison, you develop an appetite for light and only light. You will choose to eat the light, point out the light, paint with light, speak with light, make love with light, dance for light, work for light, laugh with light, rest in the light, inquire from the light. You will throw light around like the lightworker that you are. It will be stunning.

Compassion. You will be that. You will smell other people’s suffering. And you will consciously decide how to respond. Sometimes you will lay your light all over them, ceaselessly and committed. Other times, you will keep your wisdom quiet, step aside and let it unfold. All compassion.

Your sense of time will morph, considerably. You may exist in the paradox of peaceful urgency. You will know that you have all the time in the world, but…NOW. Let’s make it happen NOW! And this is what happens when you fall in love with a new person, romantic or otherwise; or a new cause, or, best yet, The New True You: real love makes time holographic. A year in a day. A day in an hour. You will enter the zone of no regrets.

You will be mindfully grateful. You won’t necessarily be grateful for the shit that went down, but you’ll be immensely grateful for all that you learned from it.

There will be a Before & After delineation. “Before the death, the crisis, the break, the break up, the break through. Before the revelation, the birth, the Truth.”

Not much is going to scare you. Because you got through THAT. And you did all that it took to get through THAT. You’ll be decisively flexible. You won’t bend for just any cause now. In fact, your boundaries are going to be damn firm. But when you flex, when you melt…watch out. With all the inflammation gone from your being you will have full range of mobility in your Soul. You’re going to really dance when you dance.

You’re going to know more about what Love is. Very specifically, Self love. And you are going to amaze yourself. And we will recognize you by your light. -Danielle LaPorte

Photo by JMPerez Photography

Transformation

I get so much JOY from walking down Sunset Boulevard to the farmers market to get my fridge sexy. Late Saturday morning. Sunshine on my skin. Headphones on. I can’t help and walk hand-in-hand with my MUSIC. We’re so in LOVE. Not one not two but three butterflies danced around me. Transformation. Fear is only created in my mind. I don’t care what they say, people in LA will smile and say hello if you allow it. Connection. Dream and plan. NEXT LEVEL. Every day steps. Four butterflies! Perspective is everything. How do you flip the script to be the truth? Exude it in your conversations, interactions, essence, energy, and your song. The tones I sang resonated richly, delicious round and SENSUOUS in my mouth. Take a bite out of the sonic happiness. I just want to elevate you to that world where all is right and even if it’s not right, you have faith it will be. It’s not escape, it’s exultation. Five butterflies! Heaven and hell, what we create here on Earth within us. How do you define love? I don’t know but I know I fucking love him. Yoga in nature. Discussion with a goddess. She breaks down the concept of atonement. At-one-ment. We’re all one. Separation an illusion. What we do to others we did ourselves. Let’s forgive ourselves. You think that it’s someone else. It’s really you. Where you not giving love to the situation? All blame is a waste of time. Letting go. Freedom. Acceptance. I declare publicly I will now only learn lessons with ease and grace. New beginnings. I was broken and rebuild myself with the bricks of light. Solid, weightless, luminous.

 

Eartha Kitt

Grand Performances Minnie Riperton Tribute

Just processed the experience of the Minnie Riperton tribute at Grand Performances. It truly was a DREAM COME TRUE. To celebrate and experience Minnie Riperton’s beautiful, otherworldly, spiritual, sensual, conscious music with such phenomenal musicians and ridiculously gifted singers (singers that I deeply admire and respect) was something I’ll never forget. And to be around so many singers that support eachother’s shine is really special! We need more of that in this world! I feel like my musical family is extended in a beautiful way. I am more than grateful! #epic #musical #night #supermoon #openair #grandperformances #thedecodersmusic #minnieriperton #tribute #queens #elevate #community #niaandrews #coco #kimbra #jimettarosesmith #toddmsimon #thalmadefreitas#brandoneugeneowens #stevehaney #adamberg #kadjabonet #nikiranda#joeydosik #tylanarenga #gavinrohonoda #ambercoffman #mosessumney #marahruby

Adventures From Paradise: A Tribute to Minnie Riperton

Next week The Decoders are dropping the second single from their Minnie Riperton tribute record that I had the pleasure of singing on. So much talent on this project. Hope you dig it!

Art by Michelle Robinson.

Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles

Last month I had the honor of performing at a benefit show for the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles! Such a beautiful cause- empowering young women through music education. If you weren’t able to make it to the show you can still donate at:

http://www.rockcampforgirlsla.org/donate/

Performing “Go Go Gadget Heart” on AXS Live

Performing “Go Go Gadget Heart” on AXS Live with my ridiculously gifted band!

Performing “Serial Monogamist” on AXS Live

Performing “Serial Monogamist” on AXS Live with my funktastic band!

ART UNLEASHED

Why I’m super excited about this next show:

I’m finally getting to hear one of my nearest and dearest ladies Mimi Vitale’s NEW MUSIC! Mimi is a beautiful and captivating performer who will rock this show! (On a side note she and I actually became friends at an audition for the musical Cabaret! When most girls are competing we wanted each other to both make it so we could work together and hang out!) 🙂

I’m performing a really broken down and intimate set with just guitar and percussion. Though I love my incredible funktastic, ridiculously talented full band, it’s fun to experiment vocally with all the space that is there with a smaller set up. I don’t typically do this so it’s a rare treat!

I’m really excited because one of my soul sisters, the divinely talented visual artist JULIA RAUDA is the featured artist.

Excerpt from http://www.JuliaRauda.com

“Julia Rauda connects to the world through her art. Her work visually speaks of female strength and the beautiful chaos of nature while exploring self-love and trusting the universe. Her profound love and connection with music, poetry, and fashion inspires the feelings, colors, textures, and styles expressed within her paintings. Regardless of the materials used (acrylics, markers, spray paint, fabric, aluminum, etc.), Julia is bold in her choices of vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and spiritual meanings. She explores other dimensions, emotional states, and the light and darkness of the mind within her art. This up and coming artist creates work that makes you feel, making her paintings impossible to ignore. Her rawness hits you at your core. And the aim of her work? To inspire your own individuality, self-expression, spirit, and evolution.” YES!!!

This show is during downtown LA’s Art Walk. Artistic inspiration everywhere you turn.

The Lexington 129 E 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 8pm-on

NO COVER!

Rapper Aiyo performing.

Also spinning is the multifaceted DJ Miss Sunny Z!

See you there music lovers.

One of my favorite paintings from Julia Rauda “La Guerillera.” Colorfully gangsta.