One of my most recent non-guilty pleasures is watching the BBC.They have some series that are so well made, they simply pull you in. One is called, How Clean Is Your House, in which two cleaning goddesses take on unbelievable messes and whenever possible use simple household ingredients to clean the worst of crud, how Viirgo of them. Another fine example of semi reality TV is called Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, starring Gordon Ramsey, chef extraordinaire known for his US Series, Hell’s Kitchen. Having been raised in food service, I find it amusing to watch his many culinary adventures. My newest find Is Robin Hood. This is a truly contemporary version, where the Sheriff of Nottingham is very Versace and his bad guy, Gisborne dresses like an 90s version of a Italian race car driver. The characters are believable and their chemistry is brilliant. Robin Hood is a nerd, but in a good way. Maid Marion is feisty and feminine in an “empowered regardless of society” way.

Since I so love to share my addictions, I decided to tape Robin Hood for a friend who doesn’t get BBC America. Naturally, when I found the time and the incentive to make it happen, I couldn’t find a tape. Hmmmm. Then I remembered, that crate of demo tapes that I have been meaning to watch for way too many years. Reaching in the box I grabbed the first one and quickly made peace with taping over whatever it was. Now, I know it will sound odd, having spent so much of my working/teaching/touring life in some kind of media or other, but I truly dislike getting my picture taken. Every couple years for my drivers license is mighty fine by me. And every decade for my passport is simply because I love shopping in Windsor. (Plus I like to play that traveling game, “When you look like your passport picture, It’s time to go home!”) So, watching those tapes of me was about as inviting as a do it yourself root canal, with a crochet hook and a Vicodin.

As I plopped the tape in the recorder I was aware that the tape was not rewound, probably from back in time when my old VCR gave up the need to rewind. The more I reasoned with it, the sloooower it worked. Just like a machine. Then again, I used it until the buttons fell into the TV, sure got my money’s worth. OK, I wasn’t actually watching me, I was watching me in reverse. The tape in question, turned out to be a tape of a daytime talk show called Dayna. (Where are you Dayna? Please be well! Thanks for being so wonderful to me.) I was doing astrology readings with my cute little AstroDice. As the camera went from my perfectly manicured hands, to my face, milk came out of my nose and I wasn’t drinking milk. Say it wasn’t/isn’t so!

Omygawd, the hair was scarey, the makeup was Ringling Brothers, the stage lighting showed all six of my chins and the suit looked like the Salvation Army uniform. To make matters worse, I was bent over a low table, showing the AstroDice to the camera. That made me look decidedly like a hunchback. Who needs Madame Cleo, when you can get Madame Quasimodo? Yikes. Gathering my strength, I fast forwarded it and watched it rewind again and got the giggles. Had there been makeover shows at that station, surely they would have wrestled me down the hall and shaved my head for starters. Sad thing is, I thought I was looking good back in the day. Go figya..

Having pulled more than a few muscles laughing at my former fabulousness, I drove to the store and bought a batch of new tapes. Once every blue moon I will pull out a tape of my past and watch a bit of it just for the giggles. As I dumped the still unlabeled tape, into the crate of many others, I could hear my engineer Mark, from my Wkarma radio days reminding me “Hey there, L. Newman, life is a continuous loop.” Funny how some of the most amazing mystical truths, come out of everyday conversation, with folks who don’t think they are metaphysicians. Life is a continuous loop. Lessons recycle, relationships reshape, dreams return, all part of this never ending, ever changing dance called life. Pray for an opportunity and watch how many ways it crosses your life path. When the cycle is right and the Spirit is open, the brass ring finds you, you don’t have to reach for it, your belief system will deliver it.

Recently I found myself standing in line for a Keyoshi Nagata Ensemble concert in Ann Arbor. If you want to hear Taiko drums as they are meant to be played, check out Keyoshi. I heard about the Concert at the very last minute, so there wasn’t even a guarantee that we would get tickets. Regardless of the fact that it was Commencement Day, in spite of a nasty downpour, we got right to the head of the line. Gabbing with my friend in line, I heard someone say, “I know that voice!” There I was face to face, with beloved friends whom I had not seen in waaaay too long. Instantly that heart chakra connection was there. Seems that as long as you follow your heartsong. you will cross paths with those who have touched your heart and shared this sacred journey. After the amazing concert, we scurried out into the night, nobody stopped to say, “When will see see each other again?” It didn’t matter, since we know it will happen again, in the interim, we share the same rhythms.

Like consciousness will always seek the same source. Heart to heart, the drum called us home. Life is a continuous loop and a lovely one at that!

Rev. Linda Newman is a third generation astrologer, mystic student, and holistic wellness practitioner. She has a private practice in Birmingham, Michigan and tours with the MotherPeace Drum Group. She can be reached at (248) 546-9740 or visit Motherpeace.net.