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Living Consciously with Carol Carnes
July 17, 2010 - Emerson said in his essay on Compensation: The changes which break up at short intervals the prosperity of men are advertisements of a nature whose law is growth.

All of nature lives in an evolutionary mode. We out-live our childhoods. We gain wisdom beyond our teen years. We become so adept at our professions that promotions and raises follow. We are constantly making progress, but in the short intervals there are sometimes reversals or downtimes. It may seem as if all is lost or that all our efforts are in vain.

However, all systems, whether they be of thought or politics or family, must by necessity serve the soul or we will find new ways to broaden our scope of experience. Emerson used the analogy of a crab shedding its beautiful shell when it becomes too small for his body and then slowly growing another.

Change is a requirement of life and of health, love, prosperity and creative self expression. If we are constantly looking over our shoulders, bemoaning the loss of a past that is gone forever, we miss the beauty of our own soul which is forever moving forward. More

David Benoit Takes # 1 Spot on the Smooth Jazz Now TOP 30 Countdown
Mindi Abair Set as Special Guest on Program
July 15, 2010 – It’s never surprising but always an event when a Smooth Jazz superstar reaches the number one position on our TOP 30 Countdown. Case in point David Benoit’s new album ‘Earthglow’ has just produced our new number one tune with ‘Will’s Chill.’

Benoit, who grew up in Los Angeles, started studying piano seriously in his early teens and by the mid-seventies graduated to Music Director to Lainie Kazan, Ann Margaret and Connie Stevens. The pianist’s solo career started shortly after but it was not until his association with the famous GRP label that things finally took off.

“I think David Benoit is a national treasure,” says Smooth Jazz Now Program Director and Countdown host John Beaudin. ‘We’re talking about a guy who was there creating exceptional product when this format got started, in a similar form to now, back in the mid-eighties.” Benoit will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Smooth Jazz Awards on October 29, 2010.

Mindi Abair will be the special guest on the countdown this week. This marks her third visit to the show.

Two songs entered the chart this week, ‘Let it Shine’ by Tim Bowman and a huge debut by Kenny G with the title song to his new album ‘Heart and Soul’ which entered at No. 16.

The Smooth Jazz Now TOP 30 Countdown is heard every Saturday and Sunday at 12-Noon and 6PM (eastern) and throughout the all-night show on the weekends. It’s also aired at 7 and 10PM (eastern) on Wednesday nights and throughout the all night show on Thursday mornings. Check out the chart for our next countdown on Saturday July 17th. More

Me: A Selfish Work in Progress - By Andrea Connell

July 17, 2010 - I believe in being the best you can be. It isn’t always easy, sometimes we end up on a slippery slope no matter what, sometimes, one too many glasses of wine can blur the line between smart and not so smart, sometimes our deep-seated crap just gets in the way. But I try anyway.

I realize that I am a work in progress so I cut myself some slack but I still try to be aware and honest with myself; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Even still, I am not always committed to doing what is best for me. I don't exercise enough for example, though I know how important it is. I drink way too much coffee even though I know that my system is too acidic and coffee only makes that worse. I already mentioned the wine thing, I could lose a few pounds (OK several), I stay up too late at night - every night, thinking, reading, writing - old habits. So although I am conscious about my habits and behaviors and I have my reasons (not always good ones I'll admit) is it because I am not committed to my best life?

I've come to realize that my best life means I live fairly selfishly, for my own best interests. Doesn’t sound good, does it? I don't always think of others first. I'm no goody two-shoes, no wilting violet and certainly no spiritual martyr, but I completely understand and cherish the value of living your best life. We come into this world alone and we'll go out alone. It's up to me to have the life I want. Over the years I've consciously created my own code of living a good life. It suits me, it serves me and it's admittedly selfish. So I did some personal investigating into who I am and how I behave. I do this periodically to refocus, realign my mind with my heart, and repair all that ain't working! So here it goes... More

Bruce Nazarian’s ‘The Digital Guy’ Coming to Smooth Jazz Now
July 15, 2010 – Smooth Jazz Now is pleased to announce the addition of ‘The Digital Guy’ a very popular radio show by veteran musician and broadcaster Bruce Nazarian. The two hour program will debut on Wednesday July 21st from 3-5PM, it’s regular time slot, and will be repeated the following Saturday at 10AM.

"I'm very excited to become part of the Smooth Jazz Now lineup," says Bruce Nazarian, host of "The Digital Guy" radio show. "Our show's content is really unique: a careful blend of great current and classic jazz, funk and soul music, new music features from our reporters Marissa Caliguire in Detroit (my home town) and Denis Poole in the UK, and our exclusive "Behind The Music" chats with great musicians will fit right in with the interesting variety of presenters who hold forth on Smooth Jazz Now. It's the perfect North American outlet for our rapidly growing show." More

Christian Meditation? How to do the Christian Meditation

July 17, 2010 - When you hear people say meditation, there is a great chance that you will often think of Buddhist monks humming with their hands on their large beads. You will also imagine bald people in yellow robes reaching enlightenment. You have to consider that meditation isn't only done by bald monks in yellow robes in order to reach enlightenment and know about Buddha's words of wisdom, you have to consider that other religions, such as the Christian religion also practices meditation but in a very different way.

The Christian bible tells Christian followers to think about God's word. You have to consider that what you think about affects the action you take. The mind is a powerful part of your body that can control your mind. So, by thinking about God's words about the great things you have to do in order to benefit other people and help people who can't help themselves, you will be making a good thing on society (humanity).

Meditation has a very different meaning in the Christian religion. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to shave your head and wear yellow robes, lie down on the floor or squat in order to meditate, meditation in the Christian religion means to think. In Christian Meditation (christian meditations), you have to think about the good words that God has commanded people to do. You have to consider that you shouldn't break the commandments and you have to do good to your fellow human beings in order to go to heaven and have eternal life. More

Meditation - A Waste of Time?

July 17, 2010 - Many would say yes, meditation takes up too much time!

Time is one of the few commodities we cannot save or store. Everyone is allotted 24 hours in a day and most of us have busy lifestyles with little time to lose. It would appear spending ½ to one hour sitting perfectly still doing nothing might easily fall into the category of a useless activity devouring precious time.

A Zen practitioner meditates between 6 and 8 hours each day for 20 to 25 years before they permanently balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. I don't know about you, but I don't have 20 to 25 years to become "enlightened." I can barely squeeze out an extra hour per day, let alone 6 to 8.

Why would anyone even consider meditation?

Well, let's look at the benefits achieved through regular practice first. Then I will explain how to quickly enter into Zen-like states and meditate like the masters.

First the benefits:

- Regular practice actually sharpens the mind so you will achieve more in a shorter time period.

- Science has proven the mind/body connection exists. When achieving the Alpha, Theta and Delta brainwave states we actually reduce production of the stress hormone cortisol. Stress is now considered by many to be responsible for upwards of 95% of all human dis-ease.

- Allows for the body's immune system to function efficiently. More

Spiritual Awakening

July 17, 2010 - Spiritual awakening refers to soul awakening, self-development, and self-transformation, leading to a balanced and integrated life, internal joy and a more fulfilling spiritual life purpose.

Spiritual awakening is a gradual process; it is the unwritten commandment that we are unconsciously following. The only need is to become aware of it and then making little steps toward it consciously.

The Four Classes of Spiritually Advancing Persons:

When you are leading a normal life, we are also making spiritual advancement. It is happening passively.

When you are leading a religious life, following truly the teachings of any religion, you are progressing toward this goal much faster. The original teachings of each of the different religions revolves around the same principles that progress us spiritually.

The core practices of any religious path are practiced by very few individuals, and they are the scientific means of spiritual awakening. Few individuals are able to dive deep enough in these precious teachings and implement them in their lives. They are truly practicing the essence of all religions even though they might be following a particular religious path. More

Superwoman & The A-ha Moment

July 15, 2010 - “It's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.” This anonymous line from an e-mail packed with insightful gems sums up exactly what I’ve been feeling lately.

Years ago while attending a Pow Wow, I was privileged to sit in an Aboriginal healing circle. As individuals shared their grief for the benefit of healing, although I revealed nothing from my own life, I wept non-stop for over two-hours. When I asked the Shaman leading this circle the reason for my reaction she explained, “You are a channel. It’s a gift from the Great Spirit. You cry the tears others cannot.”

For over twenty years now I’ve gratefully used this gift with pride, spontaneously assisting individuals with the expression of their heartache, so when I opted to write this column, I believed myself to be Spiritually mature, well poised to provide streams of wisdom to the masses and confident in my ability to ride any Spiritual wave with balanced energy fit for stormy seas.

Now, you may remember from my last few articles that there have been some very unsettling events swelling up around me. Each incident has left me a bit more off balance, but because of the nature of my gift and even though this most disturbing sinking feeling was never part of the experience before, I allowed myself to believe what was pulling me under was the unintentional channelling other people’s grief. I could see no other possible explanation so I intended to weather the storm. More

Living Consciously with Carol Carnes

July 15, 2010 - Who are we without our desires? Funny question, but think about it. If you didn’t want anything how would you define yourself? If we didn’t interact with the world by achieving goals and materializing our personal vision, how would we know ourselves? 

Yes, there is that Real Self that all spiritual traditions speak about; the One that is our core being which lies undisturbed within our own field of awareness; yet, if it isn’t expressed in some particular way it is incomplete, or let’s say it remains in the potential or wave state.

However, in our culture we have misunderstood desire. The impulse to express comes from our Spirit Self but we often interpret it as not having which quickly becomes wanting, which turns into longing, which depletes us of energy and joy. We will then focus almost entirely on something outside of ourselves and our Self is left in the unexpressed state. It is like denying God its experience of being you.

The desire for love is an indication that Love in us wants out. If we do not have a relationship with our Core Self, we will feel it as a need and the cycle of chasing after what we already have begins again. More

Conquering Demons of Fear - By Andrea Connell

July 14, 2010 - Week after week we are inundated with news to fear and worry about. The news media has launched a relentless attack on our good senses and optimism. On a daily basis we hear about the threat of pandemic viruses and their dubious vaccination programs, ongoing war and terrorism, widespread unemployment and personal financial losses, a worldwide failing economy, global warming, growing risks of cancer, heart disease and other life threatening diseases and it goes on and on. And it doesn’t stop when we turn off the TV; fear is coming at us from every direction. We are literally being frightened to death. Most of these issues seem out of our control and we hate being out of control. Never before have I seen so much worry, angst, anger, and fear. Our demons are not just lurking in our own subconscious, they are reflected in the faces and actions of strangers on the street. It is critical that we take a stand against the persuasive power of fear as it settles down around us. It is vital that we learn quickly to cultivate a positive state of mind and stay optimistic, and come to understand ourselves as light beings. As the light around us diminishes we must learn strategies to develop our natural power of being bearers of good tidings and light. This is not a time for white washing everything or for putting on our rose coloured glasses; this is a fight for survival, make no mistake about it. More

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