 I already miss Chuck Berry. Saturday, I went with my wife and daughter to see the new Beauty and the Beast movie. At the end, as the credits rolled, I turned my phone back on. And then I got the news notification that Chuck Berry had died. I was surprised how hard this hit me. Sure, I was a fan. I even knew a bit about him, and had seen the terrific documentary “Hail! Hail! Rock And Roll” (which I watched again Saturday night. I have been doing the Psychic Tapestry radio show for almost four years now. And in that time, I’ve had my own share of experiences (maybe more than my share). I know we all go on. I know that this isn’t it. I know that everyone I’ve ever known and loved is still around; they didn’t end when they passed from this life. I’ve even talked to dead people (and some have talked to me). I say all that not to brag. It’s just that I felt that I had learned enough, that when someone died, I would know they still existed. That also made me think that I wouldn’t be sad about losing them, since I knew we don’t really lose anyone. But when I saw that Chuck Berry had died, the tears flowed. I felt the same Leon Russell died a few months ago. And last year, Glenn Frey’s death was also hard on me. There were plenty of others, but those were the ones that leaped to mind. My connection to music is what made me feel close to these folks, even though I never met them. But that isn’t really the point. The point is that the grief I felt surprised me because I knew I hadn’t really lost Chuck Berry. He had just transitioned and is only a thought away (and probably feeling better than he did when he was in his ninety-year-old body). Grief isn’t something you just shrug off because you know that we don’t really die and that we all go on. It’s something we all deal with, just because we’re human. And that isn’t a fault. It’s not a short-coming. It’s not something you should be embarrassed about. And there’s no time limit on it. This isn’t just about Chuck Berry. This goes for family and friends, for anyone you have known and loved. You don’t just get over it in a day or a week or a month or a year. Even if you know they’re still around, they still love you and that they’re only a thought away. The truth is, you never really get over it. You just figure out a way to live with it. Day by day. And that is okay. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to cry. Even after it’s been days or weeks or months or years. Just remember that you also need to live your life. You’re still here. You have things to do, and people to love. At times, it can be overwhelming. At times, it can hit you out of the blue. At times, it can be a mix of both, or somewhere in between. Grieving isn’t the same for all of us. And you have to manage it as best you can, even if that means letting yourself cry and deciding not to manage it at all. You aren’t alone. Your loved ones, your guides, your angels are always just a thought away. And you can talk to them, even if you don’t always hear them talking back. They always listen. And they love to be remembered. And they love you. You can be sad that they died. You can even be angry that they left you. They understand, and they still love you. And you should never think that the grief you feel is wrong, or that you should be over it by now. Your loved ones, your guides and angels are always with you, always supporting you and always sending you their love. Even when you feel lost and alone. Especially when you feel lost and alone. I know Chuck Berry isn’t gone. And I’m grateful for the time we did have him here, and I’m grateful that we’ll always have his music. But part of me will always be sad that, on this plane at least, we had to say goodbye.
0 Comments
 Hi All!
Usually, I write these posts about one particular song. This time, I want to talk about the power of music using playlists. For those who don't know, a playlist is simply a group of songs that you've put together for a particular reason. Songs you like to listen to on a Monday. Or on a rainy day. Or that are all by, or about, a particular artist, or about a particular place, or thing. I often talk about my Psychic Jukebox, which is basically a huge playlist, containing thousands of songs. I use this for readings on Psychic Tapestry's Love Show (Friday's at 5:00pm Pacific on Blog Talk Radio) as well as my private readings (either through this website or in person on Mondays at Myztic Isle). I set my playlist to shuffle, which is to say that I let it play randomly, and I ask my angels and guides to play the song that is the message for whoever is getting a reading. I thought, instead of writing about one song, I'd offer up a list of songs that I find inspiring. Not just inspiring. I find these songs especially conducive to connecting with my guides and angels. And I thought you might, too. And there are two songs by each artist, just to help you really build your jukebox. This is not a list of my most favorite songs. Or a list of songs that guarantee you any kind of connection. As always, your intention is most important. And using that, I hope you'll find this list of songs a springboard to create your own Psychic Jukebox. Don't get overwhelmed by this list of songs. Feel free to pick and choose what you like, or what you feel strongly about. You may not know, or even like, all these songs. And that's okay. Use them to find songs you do like, or that resonate with you. And you may also find that there's another version of one of these songs that you prefer. That's okay, too. You should use whatever you feel is right for you. You can create playlists on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and Napster, among others. If you don't own the music, and if you don't subscribe to streaming services (or if you don't want to), you can always search YouTube, where you should be able to find most of these songs. Don't treat this like a homework assignment, searching for meaning, solutions or some kind of Da Vinci Code secret in these songs, or in some kind of special combination. Just select what you feel will work for you, and add in whatever else springs to mind (and believe me, if you start to do this, songs will spring to mind). Anyway, here's a starter list of a hundred or so... Grateful Dead "Ripple" Grateful Dead "Uncle John's Band" Otis Redding "Try A Little Tenderness" Otis Redding "(Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay" Queen "Don't Stop Me Now" Queen "The Hero" Frank Sinatra "That's Life" Frank Sinatra "I've Got The World On A String" John Lennon "Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" John Lennon (The Beatles) "In My Life" Jim Croce "Workin' At The Carwash Blues" Jim Croce "Photographs and Memories" Andrew Gold "Never Let Her Slip Away" Andrew Gold "The King Of Showbiz" Buddy Rich "West Side Story Medley" Buddy Rich "Birdland" Ray Charles "Mess Around" Ray Charles "I Believe To My Soul" Roy Orbison "You Got It" Roy Orbison "I Drove All Night" Elvis Presley "Follow That Dream" Elvis Presley "Kentucky Rain" Johnny Cash "I Walk The Line" Johnny Cash "I've Been Everywhere" Michael Jackson "Off The Wall" Michael Jackson "Man In The Mirror" George Harrison "Any Road" George Harrison (the Beatles) "I Me Mine" Del Shannon "Hats Off To Larry" Del Shannon "Runaway" The Clash "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" The Clash "The Magnificent Seven" Beach Boys "God Only Knows" Beach Boys "I Can Hear Music" Jimi Hendrix "The Wind Cries Mary" Jimi Hendrix "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" James Brown "Please, Please, Please" James Brown "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I'll Get It Myself)" Bing Crosby "Too Marvelous For Words" Bing Crosby "Swinging On A Star" Whitney Houston "Step By Step" Whitney Houston "The Greatest Love Of All" Nat King Cole "L-O-V-E" Nat King Cole "Stardust" Andy Gibb "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" Andy Gibb "Words and Music" Patrick Swayze "She's Like The Wind" Patrick Swayze "Cliff's Edge" Sammy Davis Jr "I'll Begin Again" Sammy Davis Jr "For Once In My Life" Dean Martin "I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am" Dean Martin "Pennies From Heaven" Joe Cocker "Cry Me A River" Joe Cocker "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today" John Entwisitle (The Who) "Success Story" John Entwistle "I Believe In Everything" The Blues Brothers "(I Got Everything I Need) Almost" The Blues Brothers "I Don't Know" Janis Joplin "Mercedes Benz" Janis Joplin "To Love Somebody" Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters) "Now" Karen Carpenter "The Last One Singing The Blues" Cass Elliot "Make Your Own Kind Of Music" Cass Elliot "The Good Times Are Coming" Bo Diddley "The Shape I'm In" Bo Diddley "Pretty Thing" Wilson Pickett "Mustang Sally" Wilson Pickett "Ninety-Nine And One-Half (Won't Do)" Rosemary Clooney "I Get A Kick Out Of You" Rosemary Clooney Let's Face The Music And Dance" Ludwig van Beethoven "Symphony No. 5" Ludwig van Beethoven "Symphony No. 9" Sam Cooke "You Send Me" Sam Cooke "Frankie and Johnny" Nirvana "In Bloom" Nirvana "All Apologies" The Outfield "All The Love In The World" The Outfield "No Fear" Toto "Stranger In Town" Toto "I'll Be Over You" Glenn Frey "True Love" Glenn Frey "I Found Somebody" Sweet "Fox On The Run" Sweet "Love Is Like Oxygen" Andy Williams "The Impossible Dream" Andy Williams "More" Harry Nilsson "The Lottery Song" Harry Nilsson "I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City" Prince "Purple Rain" Prince "Guitar" Keith Moon "Together" Keith Moon "Fiddle About" David Bowie "Ashes To Ashes" David Bowie "Blue Jean" Etta James "At Last" Etta James "Trust Yourself" Naked Eyes "Promises, Promises" Naked Eyes "(What) In The Name Of Love" Jimi Jamison "I'm Always Here" Jimi Jamison (Survivor) "High on You" INXS "Need You Tonight/Meditate" INXS "Kiss The Dirt (Falling Down The Mountain" Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" Lynyrd Skynyrd "The Ballad Of Curtis Lowe" Leon Russell "Tight Rope" Leon Russell "The Ballad Of Mad Dogs And Englishmen" The Waitresses "I Know What Boys Like" The Waitresses "I Could Rule The World If I Could Only Get The Parts" George Michael "Faith" George Michael "One More Try" Bonus songs that came to me while I typed out the above list... Bobby Vee "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" Bob Welch "Sentimental Lady" B.B. King "How Blue Can You Get?" Solomon Burke "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" Dan Fogelberg "The Leader Of The Band" Harry Chapin "Circle" Rick Nelson "Garden Party" Okay, I could keep going for days, but that's more than enough to get you started! The playlist you put together does not need to include all of these songs, Or half of these songs. Or any of these songs, actually. This is just a sample to help you get started building your own Psychic Jukebox. If it all seems too overwhelming, just pick five songs. Put them together in any order and let them play. See how that feels. If you like those five, but want more, start adding in others. As many, or as few, as you want. Remember, you are building Your Psychic Jukebox. Any rules, guidelines or limitations are totally up to you! And I'd love to hear from you if you do start to do this! Let me know how it goes! Wishing you Love, Light and Music! Ken  “Shadow Dancing” was a platinum smash hit for Andy Gibb. It was his third number one single, staying at the top of the charts for seven weeks in the summer of 1978. Andy would have three more top ten hits in the U.S., but this was his last number one. It was written by Andy and his three brothers (Maurice, Robin and Barry), and it marked the first time that a solo pop artist had his first three singles hit number one. In another first, while Andy performed at a concert in Miami that summer, his three brothers joined him on stage to perform this song – the first time all four brothers performed on stage together. This song came up for me after having an interesting experience with shadows. I was walking around the Old Town area of San Diego one evening (yes, still playing Pokémon Go – gotta catch ‘em all). Old Town is home to the Whaley House, the most haunted house in America. There is also a small cemetery with many graves going back into the 1800’s. And there’s a rich history there, with other historic landmarks, and stories of ghosts and hauntings. This didn’t take place near any of that. While I was walking, I had this feeling that I wasn’t alone. It was a surprisingly quiet night in Old Town, which is usually a bustling tourist area. I stopped and noticed that I seemed to be casting two shadows (though one appeared to be much taller). Since I already had my phone out, I snapped a photo of it.  Then I whipped around, still feeling like someone was there, following me. When I saw there was no one there, I took another picture.  I was going to dismiss it when I noticed something else as I turned back around. Now, I was only casting one shadow.  Curious indeed. Feel free to share any photos you have taken recently where someone (or something) showed up unexpectedly! In the meantime, here’s Andy Gibb… |
AuthorKen Kessler has always been interested in psychic phenomena, and like Mulder on the X-Files, wants to believe. But like most, he tends to look for, and accept, rational explanations. (More) Archives
April 2018
Categories |
RSS Feed