Category Archives: Blog

Rachel Love Show Podcast

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I had a super great time chatting with Rachel Love on a2zen.fm yesterday about my book “Dance of the Electric Hummingbird,” what I learned from my experiences and about Sammy Hagar.

Although I always visit the host’s website to learn about him or her before I go on the air, one of the most difficult things about being interviewed is that you never really know what to expect. What are the host’s beliefs? Did s/he read my book? Plus, you have to be prepared for anything–you never know what they’re going to ask, and you want to come across as intelligent and interesting.

Rachel was a delight; she has a wonderful sense of humor and had me laughing most of the time. However, there was a moment about half-way through the show where we became disconnected. I had headphones on and was nowhere near my phone, so how this happened, I have no idea. All I know is that since I’ve become a bit more comfortable with things that aren’t always explainable, perhaps the energy between Rachel and me was just so great that it overloaded the airwaves because this has never happened to me before! So please excuse the dead-air space until I was able to call her back and resume the interview.

In case you missed the show, you can listen here:

Thanks again, Rachel! I enjoyed talking with you. It was like chatting with a dear friend.

And thank you to all of you who tuned in. You are the greatest!

Voyage into the Mind and Limitless Possibilities

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My heart is beating fast with anticipation, frustration and excitement because I’m so inspired I want to climb out of my skin. My next book is swirling in my mind like a mad tornado, ripping up everything in its path: ideas are bouncing around in my head, in the pages of my notebook, scribbled on scraps of paper that get scattered all over the house, and saved in dozens of computer files. In other words, the story is still working itself out but not fast enough to catch up with my emotions. That’s often what happens to me. I don’t write the story, or the poetry that comes out of my hands—they write themselves. But it’s coming. I still need to do some research though, and that takes time.

As a means of better understanding the revelations I’ve been shown about the power of the body, mind, and spirit, and in order to more effectively relate what I’ve learned through my books, in a few weeks, I’m attending the 6-day Gateway Voyage program at The Monroe Institute (TMI) in Virginia. TMI is dedicated to educating people from all walks of life and from over the world about peak human performance under the premise that human beings are much more than their physical bodies and they use sound to induce altered states of consciousness. That’s exactly how my out-of-body experience (OBE) happened to me—sound waves (in my case through live music) lifted me out of my body and showed me my definition of self, God, truth, and the meaning of my life, so TMI seemed like the next logical step.

In retrospect, it’s no surprise that TMI came to me in the serendipitous manner in which it did. When I first had my OBE during Sammy Hagar’s concert in Mexico in 2003, I had no idea what had happened to me. I thought it was my imagination. Or the heat. Or the tequila. But things changed instantly in my life as a result, and I knew that heat or tequila or my imagination were not enough to maintain the ongoing and exceedingly incredible things that I soon found taking place in my life.

I kept a journal, because the things that were happening to me were so hard for me to believe and so wonderful. These things didn’t happen to ordinary people like me! But they were. Fearing for my sanity while at the same time, feeling in complete awe at all the events taking place, I sought concrete explanations. After my Internet search of the words “altered states of consciousness” brought up a book titled Muddy Tracks by Frank DeMarco, I checked the book out of my local library and eventually bought it.

As I read the first few chapters of Frank’s book, I became disgusted with myself for harboring the ridiculous notion that I could ever write a book about what was happening to me. “There’s no reason for me to try to write a book about all this,” I told myself. “Frank already wrote it!” DeMarco was saying the exact same things that I was going to say–and although I initially felt discouraged as far as the writing of my own book, it was such a relief to discover that I wasn’t losing my mind because obviously, these things happened to other people too. But Frank’s story also differed from mine in a lot of ways, one of which was his mentioning of a place in Virginia called The Monroe Institute and how it helped him travel out of his body to places all over the world and to other dimensions.

The more I read Muddy Tracks, the more I got the feeling that I was supposed to contact Mr. DeMarco, but I kept pushing the thought away, telling myself that it was ridiculous. What would I say to him? And the moment I had these thoughts, I read in Muddy Tracks, how Frank was considering writing to the author of a book he was reading. The title was something about a praying mantis, I think. One day as he was pondering all this, he noticed a praying mantis clinging to the outside of his screen door, and he took it as a sign that he should indeed contact that author. But like me, he told himself he was being ridiculous and he didn’t know what to say to her, so he talked himself out of it. A year later, he finally decided to reach out to that author but when he did, he discovered that she had recently passed away. He would never know the impact that author would have had on his life.

When I read this in Frank’s book, I nearly fell out of my chair. It was as if he had read my mind and was telling me not to make the same mistake he did. So with trepidation, I emailed him, telling myself, “He’s a famous writer. He’ll never answer me.”

Days later, I received an email from him.

We exchanged emails for a little while and he was very encouraging and kind. At the time I was still unsure of where my experiences were leading me and I was afraid, so I was rather vague about whom the famous celebrity was that was involved in my story and other details.

Years passed. I wrote my book, got an official endorsement from Sammy, then proceeded to try and find an agent. After countless rejection letters, I decided to self-publish. I knew I had a good book. I knew it was well-written. But something told me to contact Mr. DeMarco again. Maybe he’d be interested in hearing what became of my experiences. Maybe he’d even write me a blurb of endorsement! I almost talked myself out of it again because I didn’t want to bother him, but something within me insisted, so I emailed him once more.

Not only did he write a blurb for my book, but he gave me the name of his publisher and told me he would recommend me to him because he thought his publisher might be interested in my story since he specialized in New Age books.

I contacted Frank’s publisher and he asked for my book proposal, which I sent. Then I held my breath. I’d been through this process before, but something about this time felt different. Within a week, the publisher told me that he loved my book and wanted to publish it.

I later learned that my publisher too, had participated in several workshops at The Monroe Institute, and when the opportunity recently presented itself for me to go, I jumped on it without giving it much thought. Part of me scolded, “It’s too expensive! Think of all the other things you could do with that money!” But, as is now typical of the serendipity and synchronicity that has poured into my life since my OBE in 2003 at Sammy’s concert, it all just fell into my lap and I felt nudged by an unseen force, so I’m doing it! I’ve learned over the years that when something happens so effortlessly like that, whether I understand its significance at the time or not, it’s always in my  best interest to see it through.

I will keep a journal while I’m there to record my experiences. From what I hear, I’m sure they will be vast. And although I’m going there with no expectations other than to gain a better understanding of the power of my mind and spirit, since I’ve already had an OBE, I’m curious to find out what will happen during my Gateway Voyage.

Stay tuned.

(For more information on The Monroe Institute, please click here: The Monroe Institute)

 

Mitochondrial Eve

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Author’s note: This is a post I’ve been working on for a long time. I hesitated to post it due to its controversial nature. However, I think it is important to expand our horizons by considering different perspectives, because when we are exposed to new theories, it opens our minds a little bit and helps us grow as human beings. In no way do I intend to offend anyone’s belief system. Please also know that I am not stating here whether I believe or disbelief any of the contents of this post. It is a fact that Mitochondrial Eve exists, but its implications are subjective. And that’s what I find so fascinating, so I wanted to introduce new concepts and possibilities to those who may never have considered this subject before.

In 1987, scientists discovered a common ancestor to all humans alive today. She lived in Africa 200,000 years ago and was given the name “Eve,” not to be confused with the Eve from the biblical story of the Garden of Eden. Mitochondrial Eve was not the first woman from whom all humans were descended, just a common ancestor.

According to Nova’s website, Mitochondrial Eve was actually the most recent common ancestor through matrilineal descent of all humans living today. That is, all people alive today can trace some of their genetic heritage through their mothers back to this one woman.

Trace our heritage through our mother’s side? How is this possible?

Whenever an egg cell is fertilized, nuclear chromosomes from a sperm cell enter the egg and combine with the egg’s nuclear DNA, producing a mixture of both parents’ genetic code. The mtDNA from the sperm cell, however, is left behind, outside of the egg cell.

So the fertilized egg contains a mixture of the father and mother’s nuclear DNA and an exact copy of the mother’s mtDNA, but none of the father’s mtDNA. The result is that mtDNA is passed on only along the maternal line. This means that all of the mtDNA in the cells of a person’s body are copies of his or her mother’s mtDNA, and all of the mother’s mtDNA is a copy of her mother’s, and so on. No matter how far back you go, mtDNA is always inherited only from the mother.

Like the debate between Creationism and Evolution, the theory of Mitochondrial Eve is also highly controversial.

But let’s just assume for a moment that it’s true, and if so, could it have an effect on the manner in which women are treated even today? In my Women’s Studies classes in college, we discussed the goddess theory and how in the beginning, woman was worshipped because woman was the bearer of life. Among her sacred symbols were the serpent, the apple and others which through time became associated with evil and sin in Christianity (the story of the Garden of Eden is but one example). Perhaps this sowed the seeds for the oppression of women.

If it’s true that our heritage can be traced back to one woman, isn’t it interesting that even today when she marries, a woman often takes the surname of her husband? I wonder how different the world might be if it were the other way around.

On a more positive note, I am fascinated by the way “the Great Mother” has affected my life. I have heard differing opinions of this term. Some believe “The Great Mother” was Mary, the mother of Jesus and she very well may have been. But I tend to think of her as half of Father God, as in Mother God/Father God; the two of them being two halves of the one entity I call God. For me, the yin/yang symbol represents this concept perfectly.

Yin/yang represents all opposites of the universe–long and short, postive and negative, male and female, up and down, etc. It’s also interesting to note that each half contains the seed of the other. To me, that symbolizes our personal duality: we all have male and female hormones and we all have both positive and negative qualities, but in order to be whole, we must embrace both sides.

The term “Mother Earth” is also a common expression, along with “Mother Nature.” perhaps as a complement to “Sky Father” or “Heavenly Father” (the yin/yang principle again). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_father.

In any case, I wonder whether the discovery of Mitochondrial Eve was a possible sign that it is time for us to embrace the sacred feminine in ourselves and each other. If you don’t believe in signs, it can only be a beneficial thing to embrace all aspects of ourselves and others, can it not?

 

Celebrating Joy and Gratitude and YOU!

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To me, it matters not, which holiday one celebrates, whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice or nothing at all, but I’d like to share something I wrote in my journal the other day because it’s about experiencing joy and most of us could use more joy in our lives:

According to the Mayan calendar, today wasn’t supposed to come, yet here we are: days away from Christmas. To me, Christmas is a magical time, and this year, I’ve been trying to sneak in little moments of joy whenever possible–to pause and really appreciate the moment–because obviously, December 21, 2012 wasn’t the end of the world, but perhaps it will be the beginning of a new world where peace and love prevail at last.

I was walking through our local mall the other day when all of a sudden, a children’s choir began to sing, diverting my attention from the rush I was in. When I looked in the direction of the sound, I saw parents and grandparents crowded together in coats and boots and beaming as they watched their little ones perform. The children looked to be about 5-6 years-old.

I paused for a moment to listen to their sweet, little voices, but a tear formed in my eye and a lump rose in my throat as I thought about the twenty 5-6 year-olds who were gunned down last week at an elementary school in Connecticut. I don’t think I’ve ever cried as hard for people I didn’t even know, as I did for those babies. That inconceivable event NEVER should have happened.

I didn’t stay and listen to the children at the mall for long because I didn’t want those kids’ parents and grandparents to see me crying. Instead, I tried to focus on how it felt when my kids were that age and had to perform in the mall like that. There was never a mother more proud than I was as I watched my kids deliver their practiced lines while dressed as Santa’s reindeer or elves.

When I walked out of the mall the other day, huge, fluffy snowflakes began to fall from the grey sky and a sort of hush seemed to descend over the parking lot, even though people were scampering here and there to finish their last-minute shopping.

I stood beside my car for a moment and I smiled and sighed at the beauty of the snowflakes. I wished I could have stood there taking it all in for hours, but it was getting dark and I had a lot of things I needed to accomplish before nightfall, plus I knew I was probably getting dirty looks from impatient drivers waiting for me to vacate my parking spot.

Days later, I sat on the floor in front of our Christmas tree–we bought a real tree this year for the first time in over a decade–so I sat and gazed at the tree decorated with lights, tinsel and color and I thought to myself, “It just sings of joy!” And I wondered, why is it that the anticipation of Christmas is so magical? –the songs on the radio, the decorations and colored lights in the stores and all over town, gifts beneath the tree–yet once Christmas Day is over, so is the magic.

And how can I tap into that magical feeling and joy that only comes at Christmastime, throughout the year? I wonder if I’d still feel the magic if I couldn’t afford a Christmas tree or gifts for those I love. But like “The Whos Down in Whoville” in the Dr. Seuss story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” I realize that the magic of Christmas–and joy–do not come from a store–they come from the heart.

So as 2012 winds to a close, I want to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank-you to all of you for your love and support of this website and my book “Dance of the Electric Hummingbird.” Without you, my book would simply be a conglomerate of typed words in my computer or a bunch of sentiments in my head. YOU helped make it reality by buying the book, telling your friends about it, by attending my book signings and by being there for me every step of the way. I couldn’t have accomplished this without you and it means more to me than words can relate. Please do not ever give up on your dreams and never stop believing in the marvelous and magnificent gift that is YOU.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays and a New Year filled with perfect healthy, prosperity, peace, love and joy.

~Baja Rock Pat

Neurosurgeon Has A Near Death Experience Similar to Mine at a Rock Concert

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Ever since I had an OBE (out-of-body experience) in 2003 in the middle of Sammy Hagar’s rock concert, I’m noticing more and more people speaking out about having these types of experiences. Dr. Eben Alexander, respected neurosurgeon, describes an experience infinitely similar to mine, although his took place as he lay in a coma due to menigitis.

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear of these experiences–especially those of respected doctors and other professionals–and how we all describe the same thing: a sense of floating above one’s body, a loss of language and physical senses, a feeling of euphoria and oneness with something greater than ourselves accompanied by an immense feeling of acceptance, warmth, comfort, and an overwhelming knowledge that love is all that matters. Alexander describes it as a “warm awareness of the Divine.”

What also fascinates me is that Dr. Alexander describes “seeing” a melody spinning in front of him. I too, saw the words of the song Sammy Hagar was singing that night–they became tangible objects that literally lifted me up and out of my body.

Here is a video of Dr. Alexander describing his experience:

So what does it all mean? That there is an entire realm of consciousness available to all of us–and some of us become aware of it through meditation, or an OBE or an NDE (near-death experience), but it is nonetheless real. And magnificent. And when one encounters this consciousness, one is forever changed and so filled with joy that one cannot help but want to see others experience the same thing.

Recommended Reading

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New Age:

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Teachings of Abraham)

Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue, books 1, 2, and 3 by Neale Donald Walsch

Diary of a Psychic: Shattering The Myths by Sonia Choquette, Ph.D.

I Had It All the Time: When Self-Improvement Gives Way to Ecstasy by Alan Cohen

Jesus And The Lost Goddess: The Lost Teachings of the Original Christians by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Many Lives, Many Masters: The true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives by Brian L. Weiss, M.D.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way by Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

The Psychic Pathway: A Workbook for Reawakening the Voice of Your Soul by Sonia Choquette, Ph.D.

Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman

 

Science and Spirituality:

Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality, edited by Charles T. Tart

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth, by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles, and Belief, by Gregg Braden

 

General Philosophy:

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life by Rick Fields, with Peggy Taylor, Rex Weyler, and Rick Ingrasci

In Search of the Miraculous by P.D. Ouspensky

Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

 

Music and Spirituality:

Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey Into the Spirit of Percussion by Mickey Hart with Jay Stevens

Spirit into Sound: The Magic of Music by Mickey Hart and Fredric Lieberman

The Mysticism of Sound; Music; The Power of the Word; Cosmic Language: The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan by Sufi Hazrat Inayat Khan

 

Native American Philosophy/Shamanism:

Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux by John G. Neihardt

God is Red by Vine Deloria, Jr.

Seven Arrows by Hyemeyohsts Storm

Touch the Earth: A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence compiled by T.C. McLuhan

Shamanism:

Any of the books by Carlos Castaneda

Mending the Past and Healing the Future with Soul Retrieval by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.

The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power, and Grace of the Earthkeepers by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.

 

Eastern Philosophy:

Buddhism:

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki

The Gospel According to Zen: Beyond the Death of God edited by Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

Zen Meditation in Plain English by John Daishin Buksbazen

Taoism:

365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

 

Martial Arts Philosophy:

Abundant Peace: The Biography of Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido by John Stevens

Seven Steps to Inner Power: A Martial Arts Master Reveals Her Secrets for Dynamic Living by Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim

The Magic of Conflict: Turning A Life of Work into a Work of Art by Thomas F. Crum with foreword and photographs by John Denver

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

There But for the Grace of God, Go I…

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Last week I had a near-death-experience.

It had been a tough day. I was on my way home after twelve hours of babysitting my three granddaughters–whom I adore, by the way, but they’re all still in diapers and two of the three were fussy pretty much the entire day.

Anyway, I was driving home and it was dark. I was tired. My back hurt; my knees ached and I was looking forward to getting home and maybe taking a nice, long, relaxing soak in the tub.

For now though, I was stopped at a red light and I knew it would be a long light, so I reached down and inserted a new CD into the player: The Eagles’ “Desperado,” one of my all-time favorites–extraordinary vocal harmonies, and I just love that banjo in “Doolin-Dalton (Instrumental)”. That’s what I was thinking as I hit the play button, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark-colored minivan run up the embankment to my right (I was in the right lane), its headlights suddenly blasting into my windshield, the van itself tilted at such an angle that I was surprised it wasn’t tipping over onto its side and into the car ahead of me. My first thought was “What are they doing? I guess they must have overshot the turn!” (A silly thought to have at a time like that.) But I quickly realized that the minivan’s front panel was dangling from the car, the passenger side was all smashed in and smoke was billowing from under the hood.

Reaching for my cell phone, I quickly dialed 911 to report the accident. People were jumping out of their cars all around me and running to check on the occupants of the van. It was all happening so fast!

After completing my phone call, I got out of my car, walked toward the minivan and asked if everyone was okay. A middle-aged man said, “Yes, everyone’s okay.” So not wanting to get in the way, I got back into my car and proceeded to merge with the now-bunching-up traffic to my left. It felt like time was standing still. I could not even make myself turn my music back on. I needed it quiet. It was similar to how I felt when I got the phone call that my dad had died–but nowhere near the intensity of that moment–shock, I guess you’d call it and an attempt to process the reality of something unexpected and horrible.

By the time I was able to move and I passed through the intersection, that’s when I saw the other car–a silver sedan smashed up pretty bad and sitting diagonally in the middle of the intersection. I said a silent prayer for all those involved, hoping that no one was seriously hurt. From the looks of both cars, it could have gone either way.

As I proceeded home, I had to pull over several times in order to allow firetrucks, ambulances and police cars to get through, and as I waited for them to pass, I realized that my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. I was shook up for those who were involved in that wreck, and grateful that I was the third car back at that intersection, instead of the first. Had I been in the first car, I would have been hit. Maybe killed.

When I got home, I tried to pretend that it was just another day and that that accident didn’t really affect me, so I logged onto my computer and was instantly inundated with the problems of other people that had somehow suddenly become my responsibility. It was too much.

I got up, poured myself a glass of merlot, then closed my eyes and just breathed. And in that moment, all those problems and the 80 gazillion other critical things I needed to deal with RIGHT NOW suddenly became insignificant. I was alive. I was still breathing. What did it matter if so-and-so might think me rude because I’d forgotten to return his or her phone call or email? Or that that businessperson whom I had hoped would give me an interview turned me down because I was not a writer for People Magazine? And so what if there was still chocolate ground into the carpet from Halloween because I hadn’t had time to clean the house this week?

I sat back in my chair, and felt the wine slide down my throat–smooth and warm, and I thought about how lucky I was to have such beautiful grandchildren. Even though they’re fussy sometimes, I am so blessed to be able to see them often and to have a family and friends who love me, a roof over my head, food to eat and everything else I have. Because like life for those people involved in that accident, everything can change in an instant. You can be going about your day the way you’ve done for the past 20 years or more and all of a sudden something unexpected happens and changes everything in ways you never could have prepared for. What then? You deal with it. You have to. But maybe next time you’ll be a little more patient with that eldery woman who took forever to get through the line at the grocery store last week when you were in a hurry to get that special dinner on the table for your sweetie. Or maybe next time you won’t be quite so quick to judge your neighbor because he has tattooes or because he dresses differently than you, or has too many kids or not enough kids or believes in a different god or no god but is still doing his best to be a good person just the same.

Because maybe, just maybe, there won’t be a next time.

Today’s Guest Blogger: Mystery Writer Patricia Stoltey

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Patricia Stoltey

 

 

It is my pleasure to feature Patricia Stoltey as our guest blogger today. I hope you will post your comments or questions, as she is on hand and ready to reply to your comments. And thank you, Pat, for taking the time to interact with my readers today. Your professionalism and talent are an inspiration to many.

Paying Attention Might Change Your Life by Patricia Stoltey

Pat, thanks so much for inviting me to visit Voice of the Spirit. I’m especially honored to be here as I’m a big fan of your inspirational memoir Dance of the Electric Hummingbird and admire the commitment and the hard work it took to get your story published. Everything that happened for you indicates you’re someone who pays attention.

For me, paying attention means observe, notice, listen, and interpret. Instead of charging through my day as if I were in complete control, I need to feel the underlying message, test my interpretation, and then act with confidence.

A few years ago I stayed with my mom in Illinois after her knee replacement surgery. Over the years, I’d tried hard to convince her to move to Colorado to be closer to me, but she couldn’t decide. My brother and his wife lived nearby, and because of their health issues, it would have been harder for them to travel to Colorado than for me to visit Illinois.

Just before her surgery, however, my brother had to move to a town closer to health care providers and Mom was unable to make the move on her own. Now just out of the hospital and still on pain medicine, totally dependent on me, she was at her most vulnerable. I wanted to swoop in, take charge, and move her to Colorado.

It didn’t quite work out the way I wanted. As I watched and listened to what my mother and brother were not saying, which was far more revealing than what they were saying, I realized there had to be a better solution. I had ten days left in my two-week stay, and only seven of those days were weekdays. In that time, I rented the only available apartment in the same complex where my brother now lived, and it just happened to be a ground floor apartment which was critical because of Mom’s arthritis. I found a local mover who could transfer her furniture and possessions immediately. We got the house listed for sale, everything packed, the move completed, and a caregiver to visit each morning to finish Mom’s therapy from the surgery.

I believe nothing happens that fast, without a single hitch, unless I’m 100% doing the right thing. That conviction eased my disappointment and helped banish any regret I might have experienced later, especially during those inconvenient layovers in Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

And guess what. The force is still with me. As I got older and a little more creaky, Frontier suddenly added a direct flight to an airport only 45 minutes from where Mom (now age 93) lives, and there’s a convenient shuttle between the cities. No more all-day travel events with four hours to kill in O’Hare.

Serendipity is often seen as a mere surprise or accident, synchronicity as coincidence. I don’t believe that for a minute. I’ve experienced way too many surprises and coincidences in my lifetime. I think it’s because I look for them, I expect them, and I express my gratitude for every signal and every sign.

Here’s another little story for you. Not long ago, I received an e-mail through my website from a gentleman named Gary Sand who wrote a novel called In Dreams. Out of the blue, he contacted me and asked if he could send me a copy. He had figured out from photos, my website, and my blog that he’d written about my generation and that I now lived in the state where most of the novel is set. He had a feeling I might enjoy the read. Gary doesn’t aspire to be a writer of dozens of books, and he had no expectations for a review or publicity. Being the book lover I am, I of course said, Sure.”

I put the book on the bottom of the To Be Read stack on my coffee table (a stack that seems to grow taller every week), but that particular book kept drawing my attention—I couldn’t help but wonder, “Why me? Why did Gary send it to me?” Finally I pulled In Dreams out of the stack and read it almost straight through. I ended up in tears…twice.

Gary’s novel told of events in my own life experience, events Gary would have no way of knowing. The parallels are stunning. His story was almost like a rap on my head, a reminder that we are all connected and we should pay attention to our instincts as Gary did by asking to send me a book. And I paid attention to the signals that said, “Read Gary’s book now, because you need a reminder to count your blessings.”

There are a couple of books you might want to read if you’re interested in these topics. Rhonda Byrne’s The Magic focuses on gratitude. Alex Marcoux just released Lifesigns: Tapping the Power of Synchronicity, Serendipity and Miracles.

Now how about you? Do you pay attention?

Links:

In Dreams (http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Gary-Sand/dp/B005CHKIAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351028939&sr=1-1&keywords=In+Dreams+Gary+Sand)

Lifesigns (http://www.amazon.com/Lifesigns-Tapping-Synchronicity-Serendipity-Miracles/dp/0615627978/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351028775&sr=1-2&keywords=lifesigns)

The Magic  (http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1451673442/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351028863&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Magic)

 

Bio:

Patricia Stoltey lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and two-year old Katie Kitty. She is the author of two amateur sleuth mysteries in the Sylvia and Willie series published by Five Star and Harlequin Wordwide, and she has three standalone suspense manuscripts in the works. The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders are now available as e-books for Kindle and Nook.

You can find more about Patricia and her books at her website (http://patriciastoltey.com/) and blog (http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com/). She can also be found on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/patricia.stoltey) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/PStoltey).

Links:

Prairie Grass Murders: (http://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Murders-Sylvia-Mystery-ebook/dp/B004FGMT0Y/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1351031661&sr=1-1)

Desert Hedge Murders: ( http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Murders-Willie-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00960SI9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351031721&sr=1-1&keywords=the+desert+hedge+murders)

 

Sammy Hagar Gives Author Patricia Walker the Ultimate Shout-Out

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During his recent concert at Cabo Wabo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on October 9, 2012, Sammy Hagar talked about how important dreams are and how one must never give up on one’s dreams. He said that he wouldn’t be where he is today if he hadn’t held fast to that belief.

 

 

Joe Satriani performs with Sammy Hagar at Cabo Wabo

 

 

 

Then, to my complete surprise, he introduced me to the crowd, saying “I wanna bring up Pat.” (Video used with Sammy’s permission)

I didn’t know if he wanted me to get up onstage with him or if he just wanted to tell people about me. It happened so fast that all I could do was stand there in total disbelief as Sammy came over and grabbed my hand. Then he went on to tell the crowd that speaking of dreams, I was a perfect example of someone who had made her dreams come true. He said that I sent him poems many years ago, beautiful poems, and mentioned that I told him that I wanted to write a book someday about all my incredible experiences. Then he said that I went on to do just that. ”She wrote this great book and people bought it…”

Sammy Hagar Cabo photo by Patricia Walker 2012

Sammy kept on talking and before I knew it, he was playing “Dreams” slow and low. “Dreams” was the song that started everything for me. It was the song he was playing when I had my out-of-body-experience during his concert back in 2003. I had never heard that song before that night.

By this time, tears were streaming down my face because my emotions were over-the-top. I felt like he was playing that song just for me although I knew he really wasn’t. Or was he? (After the show, a member of his road crew told me that “Dreams” wasn’t even on the setlist that night.) Then Vic Johnson, Sammy’s guitar player knelt down on one knee in front of me while playing his guitar. When I looked up at him, he too, had tears in his eyes…

What a night.

 

Sammy and his band The Wabos perform with Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) and Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver) at Cabo Wabo

 

Sammy also sells my book in the gift shop of his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico:

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this incredible shout out, sales of DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD have skyrocketed. Yes, dreams DO come true. I am living proof. Thank you, Sammy!

Just in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to be a fan of Sammy Hagar or rock music to enjoy this book. It is for ANYONE who is looking for more out of life.

DRUMline Interview and Book Review

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Mike St. John of DRUMline with drummer Kenny Aronoff

 

 

In May, 2012, while waiting in St. Louis to interview Chickenfoot’s drummer Kenny Aronoff, Mike St. John of DRUMline interviewed me about my book DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD and Sammy Hagar.

St. John also wrote the following review about my book:

Music is transcendent – maybe it puts you in a better mood or reminds you of your past.   Good or Bad, music has the power to move us emotionally, spiritually…even into action.  In her book ‘Dance of the Electric Hummingbird’, Patricia Walker chronicles her spiritual journey to self realization sparked by a Sammy Hagar concert in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Walker, not familiar with Hagar at the time, is dramatically and spiritually moved during her visit to Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina while on vacation with her husband.  Maybe she leaves herself open to inspiration because the fun of being on vacation in a remote location and the power of music causes her to forget the rigors of daily life…being a wife and mother in Colorado.

Back in Colorado her life is consumed in the routine of preparing meals and getting the kids off to school…existing but not really living.  On her journey, Walker opens herself up to feelings and reinforcing signs that life can be enjoyed as well as lived.    Often the signs she receives are birds…symbolizing a spiritual presence accompanying her personal growth.

Walker’s transformation is extreme and she does encounter cynicism and questions the validity of what she has experienced.  Each chapter opens with inspirational quotes which help open the reader’s mind to the possibilities being explored…although it’s gonna take a journey for anyone to change.   One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

‘Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom.  If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.’                - Charlie Parker

Patricia Walker ultimately acknowledges the signs she repeatedly receives and decides to live a fuller more joyful existence.  She doesn’t progress in a bubble, however, and invites the reader to discover the possibilities of fulfillment and joy.  It’s an interesting and inspirational read (available on Amazon.com) and a challenge to live life to the fullest.  Hey Patricia, did you know Charlie Parker’s nickname is ‘Bird’?

A HUGE thank you to Mr. St. John for the great interview and book review and no, I did not know Charlie Parker’s nickname was “Bird.” But after all the magical and mystical things that have happened to me on this journey, that does not surprise me one bit.

Please visit http://www.drum-line.net/blogtwo.html and http://www.drum-line.net/home.html as this is a wonderful and informative site dedicated not only to drummers and professional musicians, but to those of us who are music lovers as well. I am deeply honored to be included alongside such incredible and inspiring artists.