Andrew Hand

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A Spiritual Life Center – Neutrality and How It Can Help Bring Peace

A spiritual life center …what does it mean, why seek it and how can this mindset serve us as the world becomes faster and faster?

Of all the things in life that we could be, neutral seems to be one of the least appealing. If your father asked you, ‘so, what do you want to be when you grow up?’ and you were to reply neutral, I suspect you would not receive praise for your decision.

We are taught to be for things or against things. This is the way that society has socialized us. But what if it is in neutrality that you can move outside of your known perceptions and step into the realm of endless possibility. The realm where the universe can only fulfill your desires. You aren’t pulling or pushing, but merely standing still while moving along the track of life waiting to receive all that you need from your source.

If you can get outside of your own mind-race enough to be the observer of your thoughts and see that through all things there is only what exists right now in this current moment, then it is possible to see all the effort that is put into trying to create your own reality will ultimately fade away and leave you with a sense of loss. However, if you can maintain neutrality, knowing you are moving forward toward your soul’s fulfillment, then all things that come to you appear to do so directly from the bounty of the universe. As if another stone has been placed in front of your feet and then you take the step forward to land securely on it.

I understand that such statements can be viewed as being naive or too optimistic, not living in REALITY, but I would invite you to continue reading and keep an open mind. I understand your feelings. I have felt them many times through my life as I’ve wrestled with myself and my perceptions.

Recognizing the Push & Pull

The first step that I would like you to begin practicing is to observe your thoughts and your life. Look to the areas that you feel dissatisfaction with. What is going on in these areas? Are things not good enough, not quite right, leaving you feeling frustrated? Do you feel that just a few more things need to fall into place and then you’ll have everything you need to be happy? What is it that you are pulling yourself toward and what is it that you are pushing away?

We need goals in life, they help us learn things about ourselves and connect to other human beings, which is the whole point of this journey here. We have come here for a purpose, to learn something by which we can grow into our souls more deeply. The question is in whether it is the destination or the journey that leaves you feeling fulfilled. The push and pull are all about the destination. So focussed on it in fact that the journey never seems good enough because the journey is NOT the destination. It never can be. The destination may never be reached, it may change and in so happening will leave you feeling defeated and angry. But, if it is in the journey that you feel peace, the journey that you feel growth, the journey that you feel empowerment, then you can never go wrong. You are on a journey your entire life. A series of journeys that lead to more journeys, on and on until your life reaches its end.

That thought right there might have just got you upset. My life ending with just a bunch of journeys?! ‘That is pointless,’ you might say, ‘What was accomplished?’ If a goal was not reached then what was the purpose of the life. This is the internal wrestle, the push and pull. It happens both externally and internally, sometimes at the same time, stirring you up into a ball of emotional turmoil, feeling out of place, out of sync and out of control. These are the moments that it is critical to re-ground, re-group and re-assure yourself that you are on your path. You are here, right now and growing in this moment with perfect design. You return to neutrality and calm and stop pushing and pulling. You open to accept what comes into your life and live with joy.

That might sound too easy and in fact it is THAT EASY, but that simplicity is what makes it hard. When we are goal minded it just seems too easy to focus on the journey, the present step. If I take my eyes off of the destination then I will falter, I won’t reach it, I won’t be focussed. The goal will not be achieved. There is a retraining of the mind that must take place to embrace this ease of flow. You must begin to witness the thoughts. Witness the resistance and then consciously let it pass out of you and feel neutrality. It is like a wave of peace coming over you, like a breeze of fresh air blowing in and cleaning out all the pain, hurt, worry, fears and frustrations that stagnate in the mind as they roll back and forth, ever repeating their loop of discontent. Breathe in now, a deep breath, that flows through your entire body. Feel the push and pull stop…feel the calm at the center and know that this is your rock. This is your soul, centered deeply in your body, like a rod of light that runs head to toe. It will never steer you wrong and it is a magnet of attraction for all the things you need in your life to continue your growth. Listen to its call and follow it. It exists beyond the mind, deeper than the mind, more powerful than the mind.

This is the first step, the first recognition. Now the task is to practice this daily. Practice centering yourself, recognizing the pushing and pulling and returning to neutrality.

Songwriting Tips – The Song, The Song, The Song!

Recently I attended the ASCAP NY Sessions and spent a day immersed in learning about what my fellow songwriters are doing to make a living in this new music industry climate.  A few funny things kept being repeated throughout the day that stuck in my head.  The first one was something that was mentioned by Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 in his interview to kick the day off.

Rob was talking about writing and how whether you are a major label artist or Joe-Schmoe in your bedroom, you must be committed to writing a great song.  That often times sounds like a very easy thing to say and believe you are doing, but in reality it takes an ability to self-scrutinize and accept that you can do better.

On the note of doing better, another panelist, Casey McPherson of Alpah Rev was speaking about his journey in music.  Casey has just been signed to Hollywood Records (A Disney subsidiary label) and is a bit of a lyrical machine.  In this panel discussion, the producer of Alpah Rev’s upcoming album relayed conversations with Casey about the writing process.

One line that struck me was when the producer (Jason) recalled calling Casey and asking, “..so what did you do today?”, to which Casey replied, “wrote 10 songs,” Jason: “any of ’em good?,” Casey: “nope.”

That was a pretty startling exchange to witness.  Often times if we were to have written 1, 2, 10 songs in a day, we would be brimming with joy, but if we were holding ourselves to a particular standard perhaps that would change.

So what is the standard?

The good and bad news is that there isn’t one.

There are song forms to follow and placement of memorable hooks and crafting builds and releases, but aside from that it comes down to you as the writer emotionally crafting a lyric that rings true and is universal and widely relatable.

To me the only way to achieve this is to begin studying what you’re drawn to that already is and has been successful for a long time.  Break it down, understand it all and then throw it away and write, write and write some more.

By continuing to study, throw it away and write you are imprinting this pattern for success on your mind and will begin writing to include all the elements that make a top song.

Remembering John Lennon: 28 Years After His Death

Today is the anniversary of the tragic and untimely death of John Lennon. It was twenty-eight years ago that Lennon was killed by Mark David Chapman outside the Dakota. I just came from Strawberry fields in Central Park, across from the Dakota, where the Imagine circle lies and where so many come to pay tribute to John.

I was struck by how many people came by in tourist droves. This was part of their sight seeing and as I sat there in the bitter cold reflecting on John’s impact I thought of this…

John Lennon had a profound impact on the history of the world. He first was a member of the most popular band in the world, which got him seen and into the conscious of so many, but he then took all that attention and used it to spread a message of peace and love and a message that still impacts so many people. He stood up and put his heart and soul out to the world through his music and became a catalyst for people who felt the same way he did, who wanted to see a better world.

As John said, “some might say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” Lennon knew there were many, who felt the same way he did and he made them feel he was speaking directly to them. What better human interaction can one have than speaking with other human beings? That is what we all seek in life, quality human interactions. Feeling that there is another being on this planet that feels the same way we do. That is community, tribes, and friendship.

So as I reflect back on my morning and all those people that John has touched and continues to touch, I think to my own music/life and how I can apply the idea of “I’m not the only one” into my conversation with others. How can I be of service, of kinship to my fellow beings on this wonderful journey of life and strike a common thread in their lives?

I am so thankful to have found music (at the late age of 24) and the road it has taken me down has been nothing short of amazing. My musical heroes speak to me even now despite their passing. John Lennon is the biggest of those heroes that I have and so today I pay tribute to the man who has asked so many profound questions and offered such wonderful answers. He spoke from his heart and has touched mine.

Thanks John, your spirit lives on.

 

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