Jeremy Weinglass: Blog

THE MESSAGE at Agape was of gratitude and joy on the Eve of Thanksgiving. A reminder that we create our lives from our belief systems both consciously and unconsciously. The vibration of gratitude is where all manifestations are able to arise from. And to live in this vibration daily, moment to moment, especially when challenges arise, is the single most important practice we can do to continue our growth as creative and conscious beings. It is from this space of gratitude for simply being alive - the gift of every breath, realized in every moment - that our greatest visions and desires really begin to manifest! 

Rewind a bit: Before Michael Beckwith delivered his message of the evening… There I was on stage at the piano in front of around 400 people. I had just finished playing about 25 minutes or so of my own music, as people had gathered in the hall and made it to their chairs in time for the meditation to begin. The Practitioner that was guiding the meditation for the evening had just spoken softly and eloquently to bring people within, closing their eyes, as I brought the music down to a soft pulse - and then to silence!...............

.................I had been here many times before over the years, but normally I wasn't the one meditating. I was there to help facilitate the process for others to meditate; not me! But tonight, on the Eve of Thanksgiving, I decided to let go of my usual mind chatter: "What am I going to play next? How does the 12 minutes of silence feel before I'm supposed to cue everyone with my playing? How delicate should I be when I start to play? How much improvising should I do? What note should I start with? What clever or simple chords would work best? Should I play something I've already written but only softer and slower? Is Ricki going to come up on stage 5 minutes or possibly 10 minutes after I start playing? How can I time it just right?... Is the 12 minutes up yet???” (OK, you get the idea!)

HOW CAN I JUST BE PRESENT, in the middle of a performance, NOW???? 

So for the first time, without checking the clock, I closed MY eyes, breathed deeply and meditated, right there on stage at the piano bench! I let my mind stop and as my thoughts began to fade, I decided to focus on being grateful..... I am so grateful for this opportunity to be sharing my gifts with the Agape community, with every person in this room along with 4,000 or so people listening to it streaming on the internet at AgapeLive.com. Then I put my attention on myself, and my breath, expanding and filling everyone in the room, and then as far out in the world as I could imagine! At that moment of expansion and awareness, my entire body flooded with joy and I was at peace, on stage, where I was supposed to be! 

It was in this moment that I asked the Universe for guidance; to bless this night; this performance; this piano; with some kind of sign that would help me feel safe to improvise fully and be present with the music. To help me let go of how any note should be played, or making a mistake, and to just be ONE with the room and ONE with the music!

12 minutes passed and then I played; so softly, so effortlessly, with passion and grace! It was still delicate - people were still awakening slowly. The Practitioner continued and I was right with her; on every word... with my eyes closed too... just caressing the keys to the poetry of "Oneness," "Creation," "Harmony," "God," and "So It Is!".... a perfect crescendo of notes arpeggiating and dancing across and up the keyboard. The melody soaring now, as if to welcome the late comers through the opening hall doors! Filling the room!!.... Yes!!! ....MY EYES OPEN

And I see that on stage with me, to my utter surprise, are 8 beautiful girls dancing together, choreographed with steady, flowing, circular movements, gracefully moving their arms and hips! And I was still playing! How long have they been there? Was I dreaming? They were dancing with MY music!!! My first thought was that maybe they had some pre-recorded music that hadn't come on yet or someone else was supposed to be playing and I should stop- maybe I missed something because my eyes had been closed for a while, but I shortly saw that this wasn't the case. I was STILL playing and they were STILL dancing! Well, here we go... Thank you Universe!!!

It was so amazing, I was watching them move and I was letting my fingers find their way. It was as if we had been rehearsing for weeks! And as soon as we started to climax, there was Ricki on stage behind me, just in time to cue the ending. In perfect harmony we finished to the grand applause of the entire Agape congregation!

Playing the piano with dancers, or movement interpreters, has always been one of my favorite things to do. It opens up opportunity for me to bring a greater artistic expression to my story telling when my playing is in harmony with the visual performance. Although I had no idea what was coming, this was more than I asked for; the perfect guidance that appeared before me helped me relax into my playing. It was from this place of true gratitude that I was able to manifest my desires and then give my gifts fully- and for that I am grateful!

May all that you do and create from gratitude bring happiness and joy to the world!

Happy Holidays to you - I am so grateful for all of your support!!!

Love,
Jeremy