Traveling The Holy Road

More Soon...

2010-09-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

I know I said I would write more about this experience, the whole thing, about being Mama and all that and I will too, but not here, not now...it's something I'm working on, see, a new multimedia blog experience, and I'll dish it all out there soon. For now I'll just say that I am thankful to have settled in Colorado with my Baba and my baby Louise, deeply thankful for the friends and family who helped us grow through this Summer with such grace, and full of gratitude for this amazing life that has come into my life. Thanks to Angela and Michael for taking this picture of the ancient soul who blesses me with her presence every day, teaching me like the greatest spiritual teacher...true humility, patience, trust, relax, laugh, and sing, sing, sing...until soon, holy now, L

Life With Baby

2010-08-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

This is the best thing that's ever happened to me....and of course, as life would have it, it's the hardest too. She is my everything these days. Her facial expressions carry me from holy now to holy now and though I'm going on 4-5 hours of sleep a night, I am somehow able to wake up every day feeling stronger and more refreshed than the day before. I am reading a lot too, while she nurses, and just starting to get a chance to write while she sleeps. At this moment I'm waiting for visiting friends to make me French Toast and balancing a few too many things but I'll write more soon friends, until then, a very holy now.

Louise Dharma-Moon

2010-07-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

I wish I had more time to share with you, in depth, my feelings about this journey I'm on as a new mother, but in this first month Louise Dharma-Moon is my only focus. When I'm able to eat, sleep and dream of any thing but this now child I promise to report back in detail. Until then, I'm cherishing every moment and wishing that your days are a long stream of holy nows.

Baba, Bananas and Baby

2010-05-29T00:19:00.001-07:00

It's three thirty in the morning, three twenty nine to be exact and the moon is on it's first night of waning but still almost full. This baby loves nines and threes– conceived (we believe) on 9/9/09 or else 9/11/09...I, of course, am full with child and won't be waning until she arrives, journeying like a space traveler through the canal, across time, into the Now of this strange and wonderful Universe, landing in this holy place called Earth.

I could have gone back to sleep easily enough after I woke up, a few moments ago, but I had a drink of water, ate a banana and remembered how much I love writing in the middle of the night–when the moon is big like the Mother. Instead, I put on my slippers and robe and came into this dreamy Nursery–which doubles as my writing studio–looked around at the magical straw bassanet with the mobile from Africa hanging over it, the colorful elephant mobile hanging over the changing table, the fantastical books upon books lining the shelves, my desk full of my own mystical toys, the wooden cuts outs of the lion, the tin man and the scarecrow that hang on the walls (made by my friend Rex in Missouri), the life size cardboard figure of Dharma Dog sitting on the antique pinstriped princess chair and the wall size glittering portrait of the moon (also created by Rex) and I thought, "this is real, she is almost here."

I thought about what Baba said at the Baby blessing Mama Hillybean and Shante hosted for little Louise Dharma-Moon on the deck of the lake house this past Wednesday when we sat amongst flowers, fresh papaya and rippling water. Five of us watched the baby geese swim between their mother and father birds as Baba went on with his statement of intention about fatherhood... "...and I intend to give her a safe and loving home..." A safe and loving home. That is something I have spent 36 years on the Holy Road trying to find, something he has given me and now, we'll, together, give it to her, to our cosmic partner we're about to meet, Baby Louise.

This pregnancy has been a joy and an inspiration throughout it's whole unfolding. I've been very healthy and I think it's in part because, every night I eat a banana. Baba says she'll love bananas; Who doesn't? They are the ultimate comfort food, in my mind, always willing to settle an otherwise potentially confused stomach.

As I sit here, baby Louise moves inside my belly, giving kicks and dancing. I can practically hear her singing. Signs of practice contractions come and go without any particular pattern. She could arrive any day now, any night now, any time now. She, our soul mate we've been traveling with for millions of lifetimes, will come to meet us again-sometime in the next two weeks. Holy Now.

There are no words to describe this feeling except maybe, "thank you...thank you Baba, thank you bananas, thank you baby."

Be Here Now Bunny

2010-04-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

I'm 34 weeks and counting now. I am excited and anticipating what life will be like as a new mother, as new parents. We're having baby showers and asking our friends to bring us written wisdoms about parenting or childhood to collect in little Louise's baby book. Some days I feel like I have an exam coming up and I don't know how to prepare for it. We're taking birthing classes and baby care classes which helps us have some idea what to expect, still though, mostly it is a great mystery.

Meanwhile, though we miss Dharma deeply, we are so enjoying the calm before the change. Our days are spent writing, singing, walking in nature, dreaming, reading, sleeping, eating while spending as much time as we can with our east coast friends and family before we move out West.

We celebrated Easter with our dear friends Cam, Hilly and Shante. I was the Be Here Now Bunny wearing a lovely maternity dress that Nina made for me. This rabbit has already recovered from living in the hole and has come up to remember the real time, the true time, the only time is Now time. Still, Six year old Shante and the Be Here Now Bunny had a somewhat comical run in over the question of sharing the magic eggs, hence the funny sequence of photos you see above... I know the bunny ends up looking a like the villainous one but it really wasn't like that at all.

Recording and filming the Dharma song was fulfilling.

It seemed to put a nice period on the end of that life passage, the last sentence of that chapter in that book of our journey. On top of the monthly recordings, I'm continuing to write two novels and a children's picture book with the help of my friend James who's doing some reading and editing for me. I'll look forward to sharing those works publicly when they're ready. And that's it for now...the next time I write, I'll probably be ready to pop but until then, holy now as always.

2010-03-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

DHARMA PORTRAIT BY MADELINE FALK, www.madelinefalk.com

He took me to my true self and to my true love, my Baba. He was my dog and my guide and in many ways, my god–my seeing eye god. Guarding me from demons and danger and always there, always always there without condition, without judgment, bringing me back to center.

He is a guru, a Master who teaches me still, to sleep when I'm tired, to eat when I'm hungry, to take a long walk in Nature every day and "to let the soft animal of my body love what it loves" as Mary Oliver writes in Wild Geese. Love and play are the morals by which he sets his compass and no moment is more or less important than the next. Every moment is the most important moment and every moment is Now. There is only Now. He tells me songs to write, stories to script, poetry to read...he is the great and holy Dharma and he gave me the eye through which I am able to see my destiny. Thank you is such a small phrase for such a giant soul but it is all I have, gratitude running through every vein, every bone, every memory of which there are millions. After 14 years together (he lived to be 171/2) I am humbled by his friendship and continue to be devoted to his whiskers, his spots, his funny titled expressions, his groans, grumbles, barks, growls, his lessons and his farts, especially his epic farts... all the quirks and truths I can't capture here, not yet anyway.

These are photos from Hawaii too, the ten days of belated honeymoon my Baba and I took together just after Dharma left his costume and traveled Home. Of course, little Louise Dharma-Moon is growing in my belly and so I'm big like a Buddha and thrilled by the miracle. James met us on the island and we shared some great adventures (celebrating the finishing of draft one of the novel he's been helping me edit for a couple years now)...here's to Dharma and the rainbow that arches across the universe connecting Time and Eternity to Now as life keeps growing on.

And one more thing, some day the kicking baby in my belly will be a brilliant woman fulfilling her own destiny and bringing peace to earth, so here's a belly shot pure and simple...I'm 30 weeks as of yesterday!

New Year, New Life, Thank you for*Giving me all this love!

2010-01-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I blogged. Hmmm...four months in the big picture isn't too bad I suppose but so much has happened that four month feels like much longer. You may know from the webcast, facebook or other means of communicating with us that I'm pregnant and our baby is due June 6th! We found out on the weekend of our wedding anniversary and have been celebrating ever since. Of course, I've been growing bigger as I've been celebrating–evident from these pictures.

Meanwhile, I've been working hard to finish my book–yes, the same book that I've been writing for the last three years–before the baby comes. Thanks to my friend James and his help with reading and editing chapters, I will be making my deadline. Howlelujah!

We spent the holiday traveling back from Colorado to Connecticut, stopping to see family in Wisconsin and performing a new Year's show with The Troubadours and The Sirens in Lousville, KY.

And...drum roll...Big news came yesterday...we found out we are expecting a little girl. I had the feeling all along that it was a girl who had chosen to come through us this time around. I have seen her in my dreams as a baby and as a grown woman, really!
She is beautiful, healthy and brilliant and in the dreams she tells me she is one of "The Children of Now", helping to bring peace to earth in her lifetime. Holy holy. I am honored to be the vessel.

If you're wondering who did that masterpiece painting behind me in the photos, it was created by Bart Bean (Bootleggin' Bean) from Columbia Missouri. The frame is hand built by his powerful hands and it is the most wonderful piece of art I've ever seen. He gave it to us as a thank you for the work we did in Columbia and I can only say that I am humbled–that gift really brings me to my knees and helps me make sense out of our whole Midwest journey. It was about the friends we made and the earth family we found, that's why we went to the heart.

So that's my update for now, quick I know, but James said it was about time I posted new news and I wanted to make sure to get something up before we head to NYC for the weekend. More to come about the adventures of this holy road, growing a life inside my belly, and loving the Source of life. Hopefully in less than four months, otherwise, next pictures will be of me holding the little angel! I'll really try...

oh and by the way, did I mention I love my husband? He is going to be the best "Pa" a girl could ever dream of (for those of you who don't it, the many episodes of Little House On The Prairie that I watched when I was growing up in urban Manhattan helped raise me to be the woman that I am and the "ma" that I plan to become so you can just call me Ma West from now on.)

Until soon, holy now. Yours in life and song, Lizzie (and dharma dog too)

Earth Family, truly the holy road.

2009-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Our September tour was amazing, full of adventures and, at moments, a little like an obstacle course. Besides performing to wonderful audiences and having great shows, the best part of the tour–for me–was really finding out who our friends are. After losing both my parents to cancer, finding folks along the road who can help us recreate a new, and healthy, earth family, means more than I can ever say.

So, here's to the earth family we have adopted (and who have adopted us) in the past four years. Special thanks to our holy road hosts this 2009 tour...Sophia, Melissa, Catherine, Nina, James, and Rena and Lee. Here are some shots of Dharma giving thanks each morning or evening before take off...

The Unkown Beauty

2009-08-18T11:17:00.001-07:00

This reminds me of my days playing in the New York Subways. I spent three years–on and off–going down to the Bedford Avenue Station at 6:30 in the morning to play and sing for the sleepy artists and working folks heading to jobs in the city...(Dharma usually came with me). The below chain e-mail was forwarded to me by a recent earth family member, Fran, who is a real beacon of light in my life. Thanks Fran.

****

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Birth Family

2009-07-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

Kermit, thank you for being a wonderful brother and a dedicated father. It is so wonderful to see you recreating the patterns of our lives, growing and creating the family of your dreams. I am happy you did not choose that family in Chicago, (belly laugh), even if I did throw the marble pink ash tray at you when you wouldn't let me watch "Little House On The Prairie" that time so long ago when the sun was setting on New York City and we were still working our way through the fold... Now you're the father you wished you could have had and we are all the perfect wheel turning with grace ... love and gratitude, L

Earth Family

2009-07-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Thank you James, for all you have done, do, and will do in the stories of Now–these mazes of imagination that are unfolding all the time. You are the light I found in the prairie when I went looking for what Laura had. Thank you. A true friend. Some day the w*Hole story will be told in full and then, we'll break out the bubbles, but until then we'll just keep turning water into wine and filling the pages with Ourstory.

Growing Earth Family On The Holy Road

2009-07-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Love is the way h*Ome. We come here and meet our birth family so that we can grow in search of our Earth Family.

Paul Hawken's Wisdom

2009-05-29T10:01:00.001-07:00

Photo is of my nephew and his best friend Max, taken by his Mama, Cathrine.

Paul Hawken is a longtime friend of CharityFocus, renowned entrepreneur, visionary environmental activist, founder of Wiser Earth and author of many books -- most recently Blessed Unrest. Last week, he was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters by University of Portland, when he delivered this superb commencement address to the class of 2009

This is the commencement speech that every graduate in the United States should read and absorb for it rings of truth and authenticity and it calls us to the great humanitarian values of human behavior: Truth, Beauty, Justice, Love and Faith and wraps them all in the last value, Service. Dr Paul Brandwein, the renowned educator, has written of this same need for individual courage and moral values. For years, he sought to put " the soul " back into the educational system by a return to the basic values of human behavior ( The Permanent Agenda Of Man / Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovoch / New York 1971 )

"It is a child's ultimate values of truth, beauty, justice, love and faith, which, when fully developed in his understanding, make him not only a citizen, but civilized and human. To the extent man believes in truth, beauty, justice, love and faith - to this extent, do we say he is truly man."

Hawken touches on these same themes in his memorable must read commencement address on May 3rd.

University of Portland, May 3rd, 2009

When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was "direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful." Boy, no pressure there.

But let's begin with the startling part. Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation - but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement.

Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

This planet came with a set of operating instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don't poison the water, soil, or air, and don't let the earth get overcrowded, and don't touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seatbelts, lots of room in coach, and really good food - but all that is changing.

There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn't bring lemon juice to decode it, I can tell you what it says: YOU ARE BRILLIANT, AND THE EARTH IS HIRING. The earth couldn't afford to send any recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint. And here's the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.

When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is happening on earth and aren't pessimistic, you don't understand data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren't optimistic, you haven't got a pulse. What I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world. The poet Adrienne Rich wrote, "So much has been destroyed I have cast my lot with those who, age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world." There could be no better description. Humanity is coalescing. It is reconstituting the world, and the action is taking place in schoolrooms, farms, jungles, villages, campuses, companies, refuge camps, deserts, fisheries, and slums.

You join a multitude of caring people. No one knows how many groups and organizations are working on the most salient issues of our day: climate change, poverty, deforestation, peace, water, hunger, conservation, human rights, and more. This is the largest movement the world has ever seen.

Rather than control, it seeks connection. Rather than dominance, it strives to disperse concentrations of power. Like Mercy Corps, it works behind the scenes and gets the job done. Large as it is, no one knows the true size of this movement. It provides hope, support, and meaning to billions of people in the world. Its clout resides in idea, not in force. It is made up of teachers, children, peasants, businesspeople, rappers, organic farmers, nuns, artists, government workers, fisherfolk, engineers, students, incorrigible writers, weeping Muslims, concerned mothers, poets, doctors without borders, grieving Christians, street musicians, the President of the United States of America, and as the writer David James Duncan would say, the Creator, the One who loves us all in such a huge way.

There is a rabbinical teaching that says if the world is ending and the Messiah arrives, first plant a tree, and then see if the story is true. Inspiration is not garnered from the litanies of what may befall us; it resides in humanity's willingness to restore, redress, reform, rebuild, recover, reimagine, and reconsider. "One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice," is Mary Oliver's description of moving away from the profane toward a deep sense of connectedness to the living world.

Millions of people are working on behalf of strangers, even if the evening news is usually about the death of strangers. This kindness of strangers has religious, even mythic origins, and very specific eighteenth-century roots. Abolitionists were the first people to create a national and global movement to defend the rights of those they did not know. Until that time, no group had filed a grievance except on behalf of itself. The founders of this movement were largely unknown - Granville Clark, Thomas Clarkson, Josiah Wedgwood - and their goal was ridiculous on the face of it: at that time three out of four people in the world were enslaved. Enslaving each other was what human beings had done for ages. And the abolitionist movement was greeted with incredulity. Conservative spokesmen ridiculed the abolitionists as liberals, progressives, do-gooders, meddlers, and activists. They were told they would ruin the economy and drive England into poverty. But for the first time in history a group of people organized themselves to help people they would never know, from whom they would never receive direct or indirect benefit. And today tens of millions of people do this every day. It is called the world of non-profits, civil society, schools, social entrepreneurship, and non-governmental organizations, of companies who place social and environmental justice at the top of their strategic goals. The scope and scale of this effort is unparalleled in history.

The living world is not "out there" somewhere, but in your heart. What do we know about life? In the words of biologist Janine Benyus, life creates the conditions that are conducive to life. I can think of no better motto for a future economy. We have tens of thousands of abandoned homes without people and tens of thousands of abandoned people without homes. We have failed bankers advising failed regulators on how to save failed assets. Think about this: we are the only species on this planet without full employment. Brilliant. We have an economy that tells us that it is cheaper to destroy earth in real time than to renew, restore, and sustain it. You can print money to bail out a bank but you can't print life to bail out a planet. At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product. We can just as easily have an economy that is based on healing the future instead of stealing it. We can either create assets for the future or take the assets of the future. One is called restoration and the other exploitation. And whenever we exploit the earth we exploit people and cause untold suffering. Working for the earth is not a way to get rich, it is a way to be rich.

The first living cell came into being nearly 40 million centuries ago, and its direct descendants are in all of our bloodstreams. Literally you are breathing molecules this very second that were inhaled by Moses, Mother Teresa, and Bono. We are vastly interconnected. Our fates are inseparable. We are here because the dream of every cell is to become two cells. In each of you are one quadrillion cells, 90 percent of which are not human cells. Your body is a community, and without those other microorganisms you would perish in hours. Each human cell has 400 billion molecules conducting millions of processes between trillions of atoms. The total cellular activity in one human body is staggering: one septillion actions at any one moment, a one with twenty-four zeros after it. In a millisecond, our body has undergone ten times more processes than there are stars in the universe - exactly what Charles Darwin foretold when he said science would discover that each living creature was a "little universe, formed of a host of self-propagating organisms, inconceivably minute and as numerous as the stars of heaven."

So I have two questions for you all: First, can you feel your body? Stop for a moment. Feel your body. One septillion activities going on simultaneously, and your body does this so well you are free to ignore it, and wonder instead when this speech will end. Second question: who is in charge of your body? Who is managing those molecules? Hopefully not a political party. Life is creating the conditions that are conducive to life inside you, just as in all of nature. What I want you to imagine is that collectively humanity is evincing a 20 deep innate wisdom in coming together to heal the wounds and insults of the past.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course. The world would become religious overnight. We would be ecstatic, delirious, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead the stars come out every night, and we watch television.

This extraordinary time when we are globally aware of each other and the multiple dangers that threaten civilization has never happened, not in a thousand years, not in ten thousand years. Each of us is as complex and beautiful as all the stars in the universe. We have done great things and we have gone way off course in terms of honoring creation. You are graduating to the most amazing, challenging, stupefying challenge ever bequested to any generation. The generations before you failed. They didn't stay up all night. They got distracted and lost sight of the fact that life is a miracle every moment of your existence. Nature beckons you to be on her side. You couldn't ask for a better boss. The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hopefulness only makes sense when it doesn't make sense to be hopeful. This is your century. Take it and run as if your life depends on it."

Spark The Light Within and Celebrate Now

2009-04-22T08:21:00.001-07:00

Solutions

2009-04-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

*This was an article ( so I'm told ) from the St.. Petersburg Times newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for their ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?" I think this reader nailed
it!

Dear Mr. President,
Patriotic Retirement: There's about 40 million people over 50 in
the work force. Pay them $1 million dollars apiece Severance Pay
with these stipulations. *
* 1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings -
Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto
Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing
Crisis fixed.
DONE! Economy fixed.

The Mess?

2009-04-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I'm getting sorely overwhelmed by all the talk and feeling out of control with respect to action, what action do we take? I am trying not to bury my head in the sand about all the mess, but I don't know where to begin, who to call, how to fire them, and how to clean it up. It is so different from anything I've ever had to confront before. Anyone else know where to begin?

545 PEOPLE

By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes..

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red .

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ ..

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of theOrlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you.

Music Will Save The World

2009-03-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

http://amandamichellewhite.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/speech-by-karl-paulnack-of-boston-conservatory/

There are no better words to describe our purpose with music. Amen. X=h/m.

Chariots Rise - the new album

2009-02-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

Baba and I are releasing our new album. It will be available at our website www.lizzieandbaba.com very soon and it will be at CD baby, I-tunes, and all digital distributers in the next month or so. The CD features Chariots Rise from the movie Secretary (never before released with the movie lyrics) and four new songs. Enjoy!
Your artist on the holy road, Lizzie and Dharma

2009-02-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

Living the life of my dreams, bliss is reality and it's more than a notion, it is the everything and everything is finally, just exactly what it seems. Fulfilled, and now
whole, I dream, I dream, I dream
Time spins moments into memories
Like shadows thrown from the sun
I dream of days that have come
and I dream of days that are gone
I dream of all that I have done right
And, I dream of all that I have done wrong
I dream of the memories toiling about in my brain
I dream of the forgetting
And I dream of the re*Membering game
I remember, the other night, a man that stepped out of a horse
He told me he had traveled centuries to meet me and that he would need a moment to catch his breath.

this is the best day of my life.
your artist on the holy road, Lizzie, with Dharma Dog by my side

the road in review

2009-01-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

if there is a beginning and an end, i am arriving at the end and then, starting again.

i have spoken of a vow which seems impossible to keep, but still, i work to become new again in the deep of my sleep. i offer the ball as evidence of the call i made in the Summer of 2008 and then, i reach further back to remember Carson McCullers' words like a prize, "and by habit they shortened their thoughts so as not to wander into the darkness beyond tomorrow." Suddenly, I'm in a dusty old bookstore in Chelsea, somewhere down the long stretch of west 17th street. I'm twenty two years old, confident like gold. I'm thinking, singing, and humming to myself as I strut, "I'm running through all these promises to you that I made and I could not keep..." as Leonard said in a song... and now, I say, to anyone who needs to know, trying to be free is the name of the show. The young man behind the counter says, "the book is half price for you." I smile and take his number, even though I shouldn't. I think to myself, over twelve years ago, if you have nothing to gain, you have nothing to spend and worse still, nothing left to lend. Now I notice the way the ground breaks, the way my body still shakes when spirit speaks, screams and howls all the same. A poem i wrote one afternoon a long time ago, in another lifetime it seems, comes ripping back through my mind like a chimes in the wind of a memory i can see like now, hear like then, feel like when.

I am not pigtails aiming to please
not anymore
that's for sure
the flooding of nectar
and so i swim
begin again
each time every time
i begin again
and then...
i am manic and crash
bringing it back
i am broken enough to pick up the peaces
unfold at your leisure life
by all means
be my guest
i am confirmed
baptized
blessed
and i regain the right to rest
bahmitvah me for i am so
in this i'm sure
in this i know
my robes are hung
my body pure
my skin
my hair
the white of my nail
sing me for it
hail
hail
for i see heaven split the sky
when my breath does break a sigh
alive
alive
i am
alive

The Ball of Peace

2008-12-08T03:05:00.000-08:00

The Ball of Peace started here, one evening in Washington D.C. at the start of 2008 and it grew to about 3000 by the summer of 2008. We came off the road and have put it to rest, into hybernation, for the Winter, while we work to create The Tumbleweed Cabaret as a weekly growing process.

We may carry it with us to a few special events this Winter, but we will bring it back into the light and ask our audiences to help us to begin growing it again in the Spring of 2009. According to The Myth Of The Golden Thread, when The Ball of Peace grows to fruition on earth, it will turn into The Golden Thread which will sew peace into our world forever. Peace will reign and war will be but a memory, never to be forgotten and never to be repeated. May the Source be with us all.

In trust from the holy road, Lizzie and Dharma Dog.

Thank you Mary. I take the vow.

2008-11-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

… In honor of Thanksgiving, I invite you to close your eyes for a moment and become present to the gifts that you hold and the importance of your unique contribution to our world. Ask yourself, "What would be possible if I treated myself like a million pounds of gold or a precious child? What would be possible if my heart were open and my generous nature took the lead this coming year? What would I be able to give or accomplish that I can't now?"

If you see the possibilities, take a vow of non-violence in your thoughts, in your speech, and in your actions. At this time of blessings and thanks, take a vow that you will be kind to yourself and others, that you will be gentle to yourself and others, that you will treat yourself and others with the loving compassion of a mother holding a sick child, that you will nurture yourself and others, that you will honor and respect yourself, that you will protect yourself, and that non-violence and peace will start right here today inside of your own heart. Vow to hold the love that exists in you, that precious resource, like it's the most important thing in the world. And as you treat yourself with that kind of generous, non-judgmental, and compassionate love, watch and rejoice as it alters those around you. This vow of peace begins inside of you.

So, if you are ready to take a vow of non-violence one day at a time, a vow of love and peace instead of anger, impatience and intolerance, just say it out loud now. "I take the vow." Say it like you mean it and imagine what is possible for you, for your families, and for our entire world.

And now take a deep breath, because here's where the fun begins! Now that you've taken the vow, when you hear a little negative voice inside of you, you can just say, "I'm so sorry. I can't listen because I took the vow." Or "I'm sorry I can't participate in that neglect, that abuse, or that judgment because I took the vow." Or "I can't be hard on myself or spew words of anger at others because I took the vow." Or "I can't think all those negative thoughts about this family I'm having dinner with because I took the vow."

Peace and Happy Thanksgiving,

Mary

Notes about "Re*Membering Now"

2008-11-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

"Is not all that we see or seem, but a dream within a dream?" - Edgar Allen Poe

I've been writing this book for the last two years, "Re*Membering Now : the wonderful adventures of the holy road h*Ome." It is a ten book series, about 300 pages each and it is told from the perspective of my "eternal s*Elf," Holy How*L. It is a science fiction autobiography that looks back from the future. In the book, we play The re*Membering Game together. I'm making much progress here in the quiet country of Connecticut. Write me at thankyou@lizziewestlife.com if you want to know more. Yours in trust from the holy road, X=h/m, Lizzie and Dharma Dog too.

Re*Membering The Future - Thanksgiving 2009

2008-11-13T12:14:00.001-08:00

Letter from the future to President - Elect Obama:

Thanksgiving, 2009
Dear President Obama,
It is almost Thanksgiving 2009. Our country is at peace and healing. Thank you! Before you were elected in 2008, I was terrified to have a child in this world. I couldn't bare to bring a baby into this world full of apathy, fear, and forgetting. I am no longer afraid. Thank you.

The wonderful things you have done in this first year of your presidency have brought our country back to life again. Your presidency has made me believe in the real American Dream of peace, equality, hard work and celebration. Thank you.

When you announced the Family Victory Garden (Americans feeding America) program at your inauguration, I cried. It was such a hands on approach, asking every American to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and take part in our nation's Spring healing. We all understood the symbolism of the gardens. We grew our gardens for the soldiers who had died, the innocent who had been killed in Iraq, and for our own children who needed to learn that vegetables don't grow on grocery store shelves. I am thirty six years old. When you requested that every American family plant a garden in their yards, you made me truly believe in my country for the first time in my life.

Who knew so many hungry mouths could be fed from our own gardens. "Americans feeding America" was a great grassroots initiative. Our country will eat from the hands of our good citizens (men, women and children alike) for many years to come. When you, Michelle, and the girls, broke the frozen ground at The White House, the country broke ground with you. We all planted Victory gardens and our children learned to help tend them. That day, we all planted seeds of hope our hearts. Thank you!

By June the troops started coming home and we all gathered to celebrate the end of the Iraq war. Thank god! You took all the money being used for the war to create jobs, invest in education and develop sustainable energy resources. You made our borders safer by strengthening our diplomacy, rebuilding our dignity, and inspiring our willingness to fight for a democracy we can believe in.

Then, I don't know how you did it (I am not a lawyer or a government man), but you began to, one by one, hold every single crook, from the Bush administration, responsible for what he or she did during those painful eight years. You said you had to, otherwise your children would think it was okay to steal, cheat and lie. In addition, all the bankers and investors who made off with people's hard earned tax money in the 2008 bailout were investigated and tried for robbery, misconduct, and in some cases, even treason. Those tyrants had to sell every extra house they owned to pay the people back. Let's hope the money from the house sales will to give the people reimbursement checks and save our economy. Thank You!!

I'm especially thankful that you had the courage to run for president when the country was in such turmoil. I can only imagine how challenging, exhausting and, at times frustrating, the 2008 presidential race must have been for you. Even during the worst part of the storm, though, you kept your integrity. Your balanced, poetic and dependable character inspired us all to work hard, donate money, and come out of hiding to vote for you. Thank you!

You have begun to help us all save our country from spiritual, social and financial ruin. Now here's to creating a safe, unified and peaceful world for our children.

In trust and with respect,

Elizabeth Westergaard Kieraldo (aka Lizzie West)
(Norfolk, CT)

Transformation and Changing Course

2008-11-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who have been writing. Your words of support, inspiration and solidarity mean so much to us as we travel this holy road h*Ome. Below is the letter we sent out to our friends and family in Missouri. Sometimes I think, or perhaps I remember, that Holy Road Freedom Songs was a bridge that I built in order to reach you, in order to fulfill an agreement I made long ago. I have also posted a video that Baba made (a collection of photos from the last two years), and some loving responses from those of you who have been moved to respond to our e-mail. Thank you! X=h/m, your artist in life and song, Lizzie and Dharma Dog

To our Missouri community,
Thank you for helping us grow. Over the last two years, we moved from New York City to Columbia in hopes of better knowing the heart of our country. We're so happy we did that. Being part of a smaller community and exploring the true culture of our country's heart has been absolutely inspiring.

Since moving to Columbia in 2006, we bought a Victorian house in the North Village on Saint Joseph Street, work shopped our new musical, toured around the country a few times, hosted potlucks, recorded music, opened our house to the public, embraced local artists, hosted some national artists, and produced a few fun events. In the meantime, we started a non-profit and then realized we were better artists than we are non-profit directors. Wow, what a journey!

We have made some great friends in Columbia and want to take this time to thank the whole community for embracing us, especially those who volunteered with us on various projects. Over the last two years we have seen a lot of communities around this country. We can sincerely say that Columbia is one of the most exciting and active pockets in the nation.Though it is now time for us to move east again, we will always think of Columbia as our first home together. After all, it is the majestic location of our marriage, which took place last fall along the Missouri River. Thank you Columbia, for being home to us in the happiest chapter of our lives so far. We believe in this vibrant town and hope to continue to grow with Columbia as the years go on. We leave with gratitude in our hearts and look forward to visiting soon.

To see a brief online slide show of collected shots from our two years in Columbia, click here. For anyone interested in buying The Holy Road House at 214 Saint Joseph Street, you can view the listing by clicking here and contact Brent Gardner at brentg@remax.net. It has a fresh new face and is available to look at by appointment. We sincerely hope the house will find an owner who is also committed to helping the Columbia Arts community grow.

Your artists on the holy road,
Lizzie West, Baba Buffalo and The Dharma Dog
Happy Halloween!

Lizzie and Baba--
This is a beautiful and heartfelt thanks...and had to be a bit hard to write as well. Perfect pitch, perfectly sincere...and, I believe, the right decision for you at this point in your work. I will be with you to the end of my days...and I suspect most of your fellow Columbians will be, too.
Much love...miss you, and hope for a reunion soon—here or there.
Xoxo, MK

****

Oh, Lizzie, Baba & Dharma-Dog,

What a sad moment. Columbia will miss you immensely.

I am filled with gratitude that you called me that day a year or so ago, and that I was able to take part in even a tiny bit of the wonderful energy of your place - and to have been privileged to share in your boundless creative energy. It still inspires me. I am also filled with regret that after my building fell through, that my job in Iowa kept me out of touch for so long, and then that it took me so long to get my feet under me afterwards. Believe it or not, I was emailing Blake to get back in touch with ya'll and to find out what was happening at the house when I got your message. I have entered into negotiations with another developer and am trying once again to get Theatre NXS on its feet, and I am so sorry that you won't be here to be a part of that as well.

Mostly I am very grateful to have gotten to know you, even a little bit, and to have been blessed to be present at some of your private performances, which never failed to blow me away. You are fantastic artists, and become possessed by your music in a way that all artists dream of finding. Thank you so much for your assistance and encouragement with TNXS, and who knows, maybe next time you come through here I can provide you that venue we were hoping for last spring.

May the Holy Road bless you and all of your endeavors. And I sure look forward to seeing you - and hearing you - the next time.

BTW, great job in Chicago. Do keep me on your mailing list. Thanks for everything.

Hi Lizzie,
I'm writing you in regards to your travels. It was a blessing to have met you, may God be with you in your move. It is encouraging to see an empowered woman who fights for what she believes in. When my soul was in despair a few years ago, your Holy Road album helped save it.
Hannah Robbins

*****

Lizzie,

I guess I want to take this opportunity to let you know how influential you have been in my life even way before we ever met. Holy Road Freedom Songs spoke to me. You set some kind of reachable bar, a dream within grasp for some of us that were searching...I signed up to be a Kicker. I *wanted* to play, I wanted to explore, I wanted to be strong and to be me, or who I thought I wanted to be.

But I had no idea...

I had no idea that you would come back into my world years later and continue to inspire, even if it was often painful, often challenging, often more complex than I was comfortable with. Our relationship, you and I, I felt was clouded with your mystery. I was often frustrated by the shroud of your past, and just wanted to connect with you somehow on some other level.

I don't think it happened in any way that I ever imagined, and yet you continued to encourage me to face my depths and all it's possibilities. You kicked-started a ball rolling that just hasn't stopped for me. Maybe not you personally, but your exploration, your delivery, and your relentless pursuit for facing obstacles head on.

*****

Ever so kind of you the message thank you. My life has been immeasurably enrichened by your kind friendship. Please come out and play any time, and bring your two humans with you, I always get a kick out of them, they always make me laugh and smile, and they make great music together too! ;>] There is another little one-eyed doggy out here who would make a great new friend as well!

I am back from South America deep in the land of the southern white vote. I'm not far from Selma and I'm thinking about going up there on Super Tuesday. Selma is where they cut loose with the hoses and vicious dogs during the civil rights march. Alabama swung for Obama by a wide margin in the primaries.....pretty powerful historic stuff going on down here.

Keep in touch....love.....cptkrk
--
if you don't create y*Our reality, y*Our reality will create you

Call Your Senators and Representatives

2008-10-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnnJpeElzow

In The Time Spiral Through Which I Fly

2008-09-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

The fall brings changes again. Traveling through time, the cycles make themselves known. The pattern becomes so clear it is invisible. I can see through the veil. Eye real*Eyes, Eye am alive inside the dream. Eye can change the dream but there is no need. The dream is e*X*Actly how Eye wish it to be. My re*Membering Mates make it clear, Eye can trust the source and be at peace, The re*Membering is here.

Today's thank you goes to these re*Membering Mates of mine, my soul brother Cam and my soul mate, my loving husband, Baba. Thank you for all you do, for all the thank yous I may forget to say to day, thank you for helping me find The Tumbleweed Cabaret. In trust from the holy road. Your re*Membering Mates, Holy How*l and Dharma.

Opposite The RNC and in the now

2008-09-04T20:17:00.001-07:00

The journey to Minnesota was full of love. The Dharma stayed on Prince Street with Laura, our friend and former road master. Meanwhile, Baba and I flew and stayed true, eating airport food. Finding our family at the rental car place was a comfort as we passed an endless stream of cold faced republicans. Hilly gave me bear hug #1. We laughed and loved it. Cam gave me bear hug #2. We laughed and loved it.

We all, Cam, Hilly, Baba and I, surrendered to being lost as we tried to find our way through the twin cities. I think one of the hardest things to do in life is to love being lost. We laughed and loved it.

The gas masks and riot gear didn't scare us away. We were two blocks from the convention center and watched as the hellicopters swarmed.

At The Tumbleweed Cabaret, we further energized our alliance with catalysts for change. The Busdriver and Mama Hillybean say it all in this photo. Something good has begun! The c*Lock people couldn't get us. They did NOT steal The Ball Of Peace which is getting too large for the holy road case. We dedicated the show to Mama 'cause her brthday would have been the next day. Then we dedicated the show to Amy Goodman who had been arrested earlier that night.

Holy How*l took us all for a ride as the audience danced and sang through the here and now of St. Paul. Then, together, we all went rolling through cyber space. I give the crowd a 10! What a great audience of activists. They were so active and present in their bodies of now, they healed me through the performance. Thank you to all who were there.

Thank you to Dr. Bronner's and The Brother's Melville for making the Sept 1st event possible. May we all continue to protect the light. Thank you to Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumer's Association, Jeff Norman, Tour Of Duty, Scott Ritter, Mama Hillybean, The Busdriver, Bobby, Daniel, Adam, and the family at Code Pink and all the thank you's I forgot. Something good has begun. We are growing like a magical tumbleweed.
In trust and solidarity from the holy road,
your artist. X=h/m Lizzie and the dharma dog.

2008-07-27T04:52:00.000-07:00

Some days I wake up, look at Baba and realize that we have been traveling together for thousands of years. Those are the best days, the days in which I k*Now the w*Hole truth.

Angie took this photo as we walked swiftly across town in New York City. We (Adam, Angie, Baba and myself) parked the car too far from the destination and then, my shoes broke. Once we fixed the problem, threw the shoes away, I wore the pair that could hold my feet. That's when we gave thanks for the mistake and had a great journey along the stone wall of central park. The horses and carriages were sharing the road with the bicycle taxi's and the yellow cabs. We headed to Lincoln Center to see Laurie Anderson in Homeland. The tickets were gifted by Molly and Pablo at our east village concert Thursday night. As always, there is far too much to say and so, I say what moves me most. The end never justifies the means. Change is good. unc*Locking the c*Lock and dying before death are the flowers growing from my brain this morning as I try to catch my breath in Norfolk at Victoria House. The Dharma is well, at my feet and feeding me the action of this so real play, the creating of The Cabaret.

Helsinki was a great night. That venue had the love, the audience and the sound needed to feed the show. Thank you to Hammertown Barn, KZE, We didn't tell the whole story, but we did grow The Ball Of Peace and sang a slew of the songs. The Bus Driver and Mama Hillybean were a wonderful addition to the stage show of Lizzie West and Baba Buffalo. Meanwhile Dr. Bronner's is our favorite soap, bringing us hope in a world full of pain, Dr. Tumbleweed re*Minds us to worship the rain.

Part 1
http://www.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.9.swf?&loc=/&vid=572777

Part 2
http://www.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.9.swf?&loc=/&vid=573037
--

We visited my brother. Seeing three kind and loving men, showing the child that music is the way, that was a living prayer. In trust and celebration, from the holy road. Lizzie and Dharma Dog too.

2008-06-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

This road is far too busy to do the unfolding justice, to give the story what it deserves. All I can say is we are waging peace and I will have to recap it all when we settle on the east coast. Love is the way. Gratitude is the key. The end never justifies the means. If you don't create your reality, your reality will create you. I put faith in The Mighty X, Dr. Bronner and Dr. Tumbleweed. X=h/m. In trust from the holy road, Lizzie and Dharma Dog

The Girl Who Silenced The World

2008-06-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about my search for family. When my mother and father traveled from this world, I went looking for the family I had never known, the safe father, the safe daughter, the peaceful mother, the loving husband. After five years, I can say that I have found love in Baba's family, and with The Melvilles. Shante tells me I am the child guard. Baba wears the Whitman Hat. Joe tells his animated story as Baba takes the picture mid motion. We all release the post story laughter, the moment after the photo was taken. Months become moments and moments become years. The story keeps telling me who I really am.

I am on Chapter 26 of the book I have been writing for the last two years. You were in the final scene of my waking dream, re*Member Now?

The girl who made the world scream was there too.

First we breathe, then we speak, then we fall, then we roll, then we scream, then we cry, then we laugh, then we sing, then we dance, then we how*l, then we fall again... this time, we fly.

Missouri Morning

2008-06-04T04:42:00.000-07:00

The count down begins. Baba, Adam, Cameron, myself, Jeff and all our local reps are working so hard to make sure the tour is the most inspiring it can possibly be. We are honored to be sharing the stage with Mr. Ritter and we hope he will help us stop the war machine. I am devoted to the adventure. Courage is the skin of revelation. I am alive inside this 24 hour dream. I grow with inspiration and without expectation. The book is getting closer all the time. I finally believe I can finish it by the fall. The show gets more beautiful all the time. The Dharma leads me h*Ome. I give constant thanks for every single peace of this might Master Peace. Thank you to all the wonderful people who have been writing in and letting us know that you are looking forward to seeing us this Summer. In solidarity and fluidity, the dharma and I reach for life. Your artist now and all*ways, Lizzie and Dharma traveling the holy road. X=h/m.

Thank You

2008-05-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

Baba says I should blog again. He says this blog is great and it's time for me to start coming out of my cacoon. It's time to start telling the w*hole story. I'm not quite ready but I do know he's right. I'm still unborn but can feel the wings about to open. If you have met me on the path in the last three years, you have met me inside the cacoon. A picture tells more than I can say right now. All my words and poetry is going into the story, the book, the myth, that I write in the early morning hours when only the birds, the dharma and I are speaking. The last eight (almost nine) months has been the greatest chapter in this book of my life. Living Life As Fiction is in full swing again and god it feels good to be free. Thank you Mama. The Myth is helping me re*Member how all the re*Memberers found each other deep inside the dream.
Baba said, "just do a short blog, something, anything. Lizzie, what would you call your new blog, if you were going to start a new one." I wasn't sure. I said I'd think about it. For right now, my beloved husband, I look at the flower you brought me and want to call it "Thank You." The flower reminds me that since I last blogged, you and I got married in an abandoned church on the missouri river. The flower sits on my desk, unopened but promising the transformation in the days and summer months to come. I am alive inside the dream.
"Thank You!" to Mama, the president of HRTU, to the sun,to my superhero husband, to all the wonderful people who have made the last eight months better than I could have ever imagined.
Maybe tomorrow I'll rename it. Yes. I probably will. Tomorrow I'll call it, "Dear Baba..."
I love you always and forever in the core of my being to the tips of my human hands. Re*searching the holy road,
Your artist in life and song, Dharma and Lizzie

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-09-17T12:34:00.001-07:00

Earthdance World Festival, Tehachapi, CA Sept 15th

The dance of Now was done in a field of Tumbleweeds. It was an agreement by all who attended Earthdance in Tehachapi. This community is so real, so kind, so true... They are our partners in the movement and there is no number 10+++++++++ that can serve their generosity. We love them all. The Wonderful Magician, Mama Hilly Bean and the whole tribe put The Cabaret on a huge Starship stage with great sound and an amazing view of a windmill farm. The show was a 10+++++ as well all sang, howled, breathed, danced, chanted, and omed for peace. We took vows for creating peace and gave ourselves to the children, promising to love them enough to try. Our Beautiful Elf and healer picked us up at the airport. He brought us to Larva and Geza who drove us into the mountains for the most wonderful weekend of the holy road 2007.
We are so inspired to create this year, this month, this day, this moment, of Now with our growing family. Let's all meet at Earthdance '08 in Tehachapi, CA.
In trust, love and solidarity, writing from the holy road-
Lizzie and The Dharma Dog too

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-09-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA SEPT 10TH

The re*membrance grows and grows. Morgantown was a perfect experience. Hosted by Catherine and Jim, we were given a sacred space to find our center in their beautiful new home. We arrived late afternoon, rested, set up in the living room, received guests and potlucked in the garden, and then performed songs from The Cabaret. The hosts were a 10. The audience was an 8. Their average was brought up by the two men who served as male embers, the singing professors, the women in the front row, an angel named Mary, and the hosts themselves. We definitely felt, by the end of the evening, that we had all, us and the group of twenty or so folks in the audience, had been moved, transformed, and lifted. The catalyst for the night's magic was the child who danced in awe of melody and song. We will be returning to our friends, becoming family, in Morgantown in the Spring. Until then, we'll be re*membering our friends in the Now of Morgantown. - Yours in life and song. From the holy road, Lizzie and the Dharma Dog too

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-09-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hammertown, TriArts, WKZE: 10
Joe's Pub: 7
Sangha: 8

The journey from Pine Plains, to New York City, to Sharon CT, and then to Washington DC, has been full of heart. The shows at all three stop points were powerful in their own ways. Along the holy road we travel, allowing for change to manifest in everything we do. Each show was very different from the next, but they all shared one thing in common, the ribbon of re*membering.

Time eludes us as the wheels on the blue box keep rolling h*ome. This photograph was taken at The Peace Party in Washington DC. The ribbon began it's unification there, the tying of each moment, each heart to the next heart and so, we will continue tying the thread of peace until it is long enough and strong enough to hold the pain, transforming all that is broken in our world, healing our dis*ease.

Each of the shows, in their own way, delivered me into myself. My favorite of the three was Sharon because it was our first time in a theater, with a great lighting designer, the third eye of a director, and an audience that was somewhat prepared for the interaction involved in The Tumbleweed Cabaret. The audience was a 10, willing to travel through the story and trust our connection to Now. Hammertown, WKZE, and TriArts did a great job of sponsoring the The Cabaret. 19 Miles To Baghdad was heard through the air waves of the Hudson Valley because of Hammertown's powerful sense of independence and courageous commercial station. Gregg and Joan are the best kind of friends, willing to stand behin us and help us grow into our greatest selves.

In DC, Sangha was as graceful a host as could be but, unfortunately, the front row at the show brought the audience average down with their lack of soul shine and their rude cell phone activity. In my opinion, it would be better for people to avoid experience completely then to stand cold in the presense of the inner sun. BUT, the rest of the room was full of light. Jennifer directed the collective voice and we found a soul mate for the re*membrance in Malavika, a young performer who pronounced our ancient promise well kept. Our DC hosts, Melissa and David are excellent and cared for the deliverance of our message in the kindest way. It was great to see Liz and Michael again too. The family is getting stronger and stronger every day.

The road grows on as we follow the Dharma into The Night, sailing by way of the ocean of Now and beginning to see the butterfly being free.

Thank you for re*membering. Yours in life and song.
Lizzie and the dharma dog too.

Real People, Real Reviews

2007-08-18T19:36:00.001-07:00

Lizzie has such a dynamic voice and message; and listening to her last night was such a powerful reminder as to why it is Summer Search exists in the first place to help us find peace within ourselves and essentially create peace in our communities. - Mollie, Cambridge Mass

Real People Real Reviews

2007-08-18T19:34:00.001-07:00

Lizzie West was absolutely inspiring, and how fun to feel the energy and the sense of connection among everyone present. This morning I found myself especially thinking about the spirit of gratitude she conveyed and how much it resonated with what we aim to cultivate in our students.- Rachel, Cambridge Mass

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-08-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

Club Passim, Cambridge, August 15th, 10+ (photos from Hammertown and Louisville)

Once again, Marla and Max proved themselves to be one of the best hosts on the east coast. They confirmed, for me, that something good has begun in our culture, in our world, and without a doubt, in Cambridge Town. Their beautiful town house in downtown Cambridge is full of the most inspiring artwork that they've collected from artists of all kinds. They co-produced our show at Club Passim and made sure we had an inspiring full house on the night of the show.

The show itself was among my absolute favorites of all the concerts that Baba and I have ever performed. We, (Baba, The Audience and I), flew through the fallen buildings of yesterday and awarded yellow ribbons to those who sang loudest for the reenactment. I had been blinded and masked and would have died there, if the beautiful young woman in the front row hadn't freed me from the poisoned veil. We cried together, which means we healed together, and then we laughed through the unwritten rhymes. Though the audience seemed wary of my madness at first, they dove into the unknown with me and by the fourth song and because they trusted me, they real*eyesed their own madness and so, set us all free. Because we trusted each other, we journeyed h*ome into the fields of gratitude and forgiveness, all the way h*ome. I'd like to rate Baba's performance, my performance, and the audience performance at plus 10+ ....greater than can possibly be expected by a coffee house stage...we transformed ourselves, all of us in unison, last Wednesday night. The sound was fantastic and the sound man was a real sweetie. Passim is an ideal listening room. The club was full of bright human lights, shining to keep the fire lit. We all left the show feeling more like a family than we could have ever dreamt we would feel. I long to be back in that wonderful town soon and when I go, I'll take the dharma dog to find the cookie man of Cambridge. Maybe December. I hope so. Long live the poet! X=h/m. - with love from the holy road, Lizzie and the dharma dog too.

Set highlights: Universal Land, Mercy Me, Louise, 19 Miles To Baghdad, Get Up Stand Up, This Land Is Our Land.

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-08-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

The Bookmill, August 4th, !0. No show photos. (Photo from Columbia, MO)

Jamie kindly produced the show at The Bookmill. It's a tucked away venue in Montague, Mass. "Books you don't need in a place you can't find" is their motto. It was a full house. The laughter and the tears were all part of the re*membering. The audience sang along as if they knew the songs. We toasted with the Tumbleweed and made an agreement to create peace in our selves and in the world. We brought our own sound system which never sounds as good as it should but always good enough for the show to be loved and understood. Baba was a 10 on the small key board and played it like it was a Steinway. I gave the audience all my heart and songs, as if we were all captive slaves on our hyjacked ship, heading back to the h*omeland of Now. The audience gets a 10. They stayed with me the whole time, making sure I didn't crash the rocks or stray from coarse. Many waited after to say hello and we, all together, gave each other a little more hope than we had before the show started.

Show highlights: Ripple, I Fly In Love, Tumbleweed, Reaching For Light

The Living Room From The Artist's Eyes

2007-07-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 28th Show.
The Living Room was closer to the sun than any other all summer long. Because of them, the angels at the table on the right, who stood up to uphold their end of the agreement. It was Lizzie and John Marc and they had brought their friend, who's brother was killed in Iraq. We sang for him, for them, for us, for all of U.S and each other. Something good has begun. I gave him the yellow ribbon. He promised to tie it around his arm while running the Navy marathon and ask for peace. We hugged.
The german woman, held her spirit high above the room and kept me reaching for light until I became the world and the world became me. We healed eachother, everyone in the room that night.
The venue was focused and sound was a 10. Bonnie and Bill hosted us and they held the average up at 10, such generosity to share their New York home. Zeek made sure we were comfortable in Soho. The audience was a 9. We merged songs and story perfectly that night. I am in the Now and free from The Fear, because of the healing we had in the living room of the lower east side. - Yours in life and song, from the holy road. Lizzie and the dharma dog too X=h/m

My Birthday with Mama

2007-07-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

AUDIENCE REVIEW:
LIZZIE WEST AT MAMA HILLY BEANS 7 21 07
It was for me, the long awaited answer to my plea: Let me once again hear artists sing and dance and play as though the stage of life included all of us, each and every one. Lizzie played the audience like a fiddle, our every gesture, nuance and interruption that would make others frown or skip a beat became her orchestra. I sang all the way home.

Thank you for a special evening,
As always I love you and yours
Holly

FROM THE ARTISTS EYES:
Hosts,10. Venue, 10, Baba's performance, 10. Crowd, 10. My performance, 10. Local Peace Party guest performers, 10.

The Peace Party benefit for Holy Road Tours was perfect and real and filled every part of our hungry souls. Mama was t*here, not just in theory, in spirit or in g*host, but in truth, through every shining eye and smile... AND through MAMA Hillybean, the great gypsy Mama of the california hills. She blows on the windmills and makes them move. She has created Mama Hillybean's Coffee and Community, a safe haven, a holy road hot spot. She and the man behind the shadow who brings the light, they are our new family, partners in Holy Road Tours. She is the creator of the d*blooms. Re*member the D*blooms?... how they flowered in our hearts and minds and allowed us to break free of The Fear.

The greatest moment, for me, was the one in this photograph, when the angels of Now, jumped the stage, grabbed the mics and demanded we sing to begin The Lov*olution. It was a scene out of the book, Ourstory, recreated in the dream and then again in this "reality". I am humble to the makings of magic and surrender to the Source, the unknown X. We have planted many seeds in Tehachapi and will be settling there soon to strengthen the roots. Baba kept the whole night rolling and snowballing into freedom. Thank you to the Re*memberers. X=h/m. Yours in life and song, traveling the holy road, Lizzie and the Dharma Dog too

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-06-26T08:12:00.001-07:00

The Peace Conspiracy could be considered a conspiracy against my peace. It was most certainly a conspiracy against my piece. The road block we ran into, as we headed down the dirt road to this gathering of light brought our joyful song to a stop. The c*lock people achieved their mission, catching birds flocking to re*member.

I do love Wanda though, (who hosts the festival) but the sound was a 2. The crowd's ability to dance and sing freely was suprisingly poisoned, considering it was a festival dedicated to conspiring about peace. To conspire is, of course, an active term. The crowd seemed more like they were conspiring to forget why they were there, to forget that their friends got caught in the trap up the road, to forget the pain of Being instead of re*membering to reach through the pain is to find the light. To re*member how*l much we need eachother, how*l we have to start now, helping eachother to create the world that we live in or it will so easily create U.S., making U.S. a sleeping society of apathetic and distracted forgetters. The audience is always the show, they are the embers. I am merely the match. Not much a match can do by itself. Who is the hand that lights me? And what serves as the material on which I am rubbed and lit? I do k*now the sound was much of the reason for the crowd's quiet and I should say that t*here were enough embers to get the fire started.

We did have some Angels Of Now who came to the stage and gave their ember hearts to the fire we were trying to start. Little angels who focused on me and promised to help me re*member. They k*now, as well as I do, how essential it is that we wake up from this zombie sleep and unc*lock ourselves.

It was one of my favorite performances though. I give myself a 10 for rising above the faulty sound, the c*lock people, the lawn mower that was growling all through our set, and the drummer who played his own rythm the whole show. I give Baba a 10 too, for kepping the party going despite his failoing keyboard and all the other obstacles I mentioned. I also have to honor FD and Miker and a few unknown embers for bringing their light to this creating peace party and making sure the fire got started despite the crowd's forgetting. There was a kind young man who we later saw play wash board. I'll have to dig up his name, but I give profound thanks to him for making sure we could hear ourselves through the monitors. I k*now we'll be in the sandbox with him for a long time to come.

I'm not sure we'll be back t*here next year, but I can say that the festival did help us (though not in the easiest way) re*member to give thanks for the freedom that we have. What time is it my friends? Time to Create Peace Now. HOwlelujah to ya friends, from Louisville, KY and on my way to Cleveland, on this holy road, the perpetual journey h*ome. - y*ours in life and song, Lizzie and The Dharma Dog too

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-06-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

"I went to the woods to live deliberately..."

I love columbia. It is our h*ome. The Mojo's audience was a 10.

I kept waiting to write this review 'cause I was going to post it with video but we're still synching song to film, so, here is a summary in the meantime.

I'm shortening the reviews and starting to segway into a new focus for traveling the holy road. anything that grows has to change. i follow my bliss all the way h*ome.

Columbia was so kind, so beautiful, so focused, singing along as Brittany danced for us all night long. The sound man, Chris, was a sweetie and got us a great recording.

Miker was a wonderful friend to us, helping Chris do the best job he could.

The opening artist was Lee Ruth. He's so much more than a 10. He helped turn my light on as soon as he opened his angelic mouth. Playin' It pretty is classic and I just hope we can post a good recording of it in the journal soon. Then the holy road tours columbia co-op cover band, The Hucksters, opened the show. I sang back up for them. Baba played and sang back up too. He also led us in his rendition of Angel From Montgomery. The show was made up of Baba re*membering John Prine, Karla Lewis re*membering Joni Mitchell, James Mccown re*membering Neil Young, Ron Morris re*membering Bart Bean, and all of us re*membering the late great Bob Dyer. Karla and I wore our prairie outfits and danced in the back. Baba looked like a minstrel with his accordian and black bowler hat. James looked like a 1800's pre beatnik going to meet Walt Whitman in the east. Pam kept the rythym moving with her angelic percussion supporting everyone's voices. Miker was the ship captain who helped me cross those Skandinavian waters and picked up on the power of an electric bass.

I am not dead. But, my performance was a 6 'cause I tried to explain the of Re*membering Now instead of just singing the songs.

Though it may not have translated as such to the audience, I let myself be healed through the show. It was the mask part. Long after I introduced The Dream. When the c*locked people tied me up in the yellow ribbon and I couldn't see. The Fear disease was haunting me through The Mask. I heard voices blowing over my plea, to cry for mama, mercy me. They were coming from the bar in the re*creation of the dream, of the memory from last night's trip to the cabaret. I screamed. I cried. Do you hear me? does anyone hear me? do you see me? I can't find you. I was blind and full of the poison and I asked the audience to help me.

Who here will unveil me? who here will remove the mask from my face, to help me step from the game and roll the race. Who here will hear or disappear? I can not fly. I can not rise. i can not find the key to get back into my body, to un*clock the clock and do what I promised to do without you, cause I am you and you are me and only we can set U.S. free. I asked for help and I heard Pete's voice. He re*moved the mask. He set me free. I hope I set him free too. That's what I came t*here to do.

set highlights: Lee's Playin' It Pretty, The Huckster's performance of Bob's River Of The Big Canoe, Baba and my new song, I Fly In Love, and Midwestern Tumbleweed, 19 Miles To Baghdad,

Audience Reviews

2007-06-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

The last few shows were all tens for the re*membering. Thank you to Chicago, Madison and Louisville for giving us such a warm and generous remembrance. I'm vacationing in the wonderful woods of my mind, that's why I haven't written 'till now and this review is so short. I'll be back soon though, I promise. It's two years today that baba and I found eachother. Thank you Mama. With mighty love from the holy road, X=h/m. L and the dharma dog too.

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-05-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

From The Artist's Eyes

Saturday, May 12th, 2007, Cleveland Ohio
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 7/10
Hosts: (10/10) Tim and Susan are angels of now, so kind. We had a beautiful bedroom with light pouring in, lots of snacks, our own lovely pink bathroom. They brought their friends to the show and celebrated with us. Thank you Tim and Susan, for helping us remember the balance, X=h/m.

Venue: (10/10) Cafe Limbo
The venue is a homey house with tables. The food is so good, my Soul Form kept thanking me all night. The staff was generous and they gave the dharma dog water and let him run in their back yard. They paid us and fed us and helped us start our cleveland family, thank you Cafe Limbo and thank you to The Troubadors who co-oped with us and arranged that we perform there.

Promotions: (6/10) Posters were up. Some phone calls were made. The hosts and the cafe brought in new friends to hear the melodies on now. Still, we failed to do a press release or get on the radio so the promotions were lacking.

Opener: no opener.

Sound: (10/10) The sound was great for me. We used our system and Baba set it all up perfectly, the way he always does.

Stage: (10/10) There is no stage, just a warm corner by the window that looks out on an old porch, a tree and a grassy yard.

Audience: (8/10) The audience was sweet, mostly they had never heard us before and they were just getting used to our Lizzie and Baba ways. Still, they answered Now when I asked the essential question. The good news is... I gathered some Tears Of Re*membering for The Magical Tumbleweed by the end and so, I'll be able to make my Tonic quota this week. Thank you. Two beautiful women drove from Pittsburgh to see the show. There was a group of crowing women in the back though and they talked through the show which I found very distracting and this brought the audience average doooown. Argh. Isn't that a shame! The truth is, though, it's not entirely fair to ask people who have come to eat dinner, not to talk. I think Baba and I don't belong in a restaraunt for that reason.

My performance: (7/10) Like I said, I gathered the tears despite the chatter. The crowing crowd brought me down a little though, I must confess. I did catch my wind by the end, after they left. I gave an encore of Dusty Turnaround to a group who arrived late and asked to have a song. It felt good to dance like that and the lifting of glasses and toasting to saving the bees somehow, that made the night turn out right.

Baba: (9/10) Baba didn't let the chatter get to him as much as I did. He danced and sang and played with me through the stars and all the way home with Thank You.

Set List Highlights: Monkey Back Blues, Dusty Turnaround, Of Course My Love, This Land Is Our Land, 19 Miles To Baghdad, Be Where Your Feet Are, Thank You, Louise,

From The Artists Eyes

2007-05-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 11th, 2007
From The Artist's Eyes

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 8/10
Hosts: (10/10) Mike and Liz are angels of now. They have grown our family here in D.C. and gave us their lovely bedroom. Generosity in their hearts and devotion to the music makes them friends, family, and essential to the holy road tours vision. howlelujah to 'em. Thank you Michael, Liz and Bamboo too.

Venue: (10/10) Sangha
We just love Sangha and Jennifer. Everything I wrote last time remains and more. WE had double the crowd that we had last time and we'll be back in september for our D.C. cd/book release party.

Promotions: (5/10) Michael and Liz went beyond the call of duty and did a great job inviting their friends and putting the word out on line. Our posters were great and hung around town but there was no press, radio, or advertising, and i did not get the sense that news of the show was everywhere.

Opener: no opener.

Sound: (10/10) The sound was great for me. We used our system and Baba set it all up perfectly, the way he always does.

Stage: (10/10) The stage at Sangha feels like our living room and we love it. The only thing missing is a piano and maybe some whisky :-)

Audience: (8/10) The audience was kind, loving, quiet and tame. I love D.C. and feel that we are growing a wonderful family here. They were not a singing audience though, for the most part. Some of them sang but quietly, gently, shyly, to themselves. I'm reallly excited to grow this home and bring the full cabaret to Sangha in September.

My performance: (7/10)I didn't ask them to howl and kept the What time is it question to a minimum. I think I just felt like joining the audience in their shy, mellow and quiet mood. I didn't stand 'till the third to last song with Louise and Be Where Your Feet Are.

Baba: (8/10) Baba is perfect and he always plays like an angel and carries my flight but his keyboard was acting up and it was hindering his performance.

Set List Highlights: Of Course My Love, This Land Is Our Land, 19 Miles To Baghdad, Be Where Your Feet Are, Thank You, Louise, Tin Drum

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-04-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

From The Artist's Eyes

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 10/10
Hosts: (10/10) Hammertown Barn (Gregg and Joan Osofsky) is an amazing host. Here, our souls are fed and our bodies are nourished. We eat local food, rehearse by the fire, and re*member the dream together. WKZE is generous with their sponsorship as well. We are so thankful to be part of this growing family and community here in the hudson valley.

Venue: (10/10) Helsinki
This venue is ideal. It's small, intimate, respectful of the performers process, great sound, a dressing room with a bathroom, they fed us and gave us whatever we wanted to drink. They are willing to grow an artist and take risks and help us all re*member the dream. After the show, they let The Dharma Dog enjoy time with his fans. God Dog bless Helsinke.

Promotions: (10/10) WKZE made sure we were heard on the radio. The club's web site gave us a great spotlight. Thank you David Minton. Our posters were hung all around the club. Great Barrington Community radio was supportive with a live on air interview.

Opener: (10/10) We brought Andy Guthrie out from New York City to open for us. We are big fans of his work. He did a wonderful job warming up the audience and re*minding us all. His voice is a mystic voice, hypnotizing and full, like the comfort of the ice age and the promise of evolution no matter what. I loved sitting in the crowd and listening to him, k*nowing he was opening all our hearts for the ripening.

Sound: (10/10) The sound was great for me. Peter did a wonderful job making us feel at home during sound check and the audience seemed inspired by the room mix. My monitors were perect and he dealt with my technical difficulties like an angel.

Stage: (10/10) The stage was small but cozy and I was able to step down too dance with the audience. The paintings that hang as a backdrop served the re*membering well and the velvet curtains that hang behind make it seem as if we are all working inside The Dream.

Audience: (10/10) From the start of the show, they were there for us, singing Reaching for For Light and ready to be fed and to feed. To be the flowers and the bees. They answered now and sanng through the whole show, shining their light on us, re*minding us to be the best Lizzie and Baba we could possibly be. Because of them, we got our wings on and took flight for one of my best shows ever. Howlelujah the time is now. The audience agreed to be free with us and to re*member The Creating Peace Party.

My performance: (10/10) It was dedicated to Mama since she went all the way H*ome two years ago this week. I shined for her and she danced with me. I think I touched the sky, the way I always hoped that I'd do one day. I floated on Baba's playing and the audience singing and then shot to the stars with Woody Guthrie in a r*evolution song and came back to be with my voice of Now. Oh the music lifted us all, like a flock of birds in synchronized flight, we were perfect together last night, me, baba, the stories, the songs, the myth, the magic, the audience and the Dharma Dog cut out. We re*set The Time Peace with The Key to the c*lock and we all agreed to save the bees and start our political party, The Creating Peace Party. Thank you for*giving me The Dream and the perfect cabaret.

Baba: 10/10 I love his soul, he led the Being Freeing, Happiness Happening. X=H/M Despite his cold and cough and feeling terrible, his spirit rose to per*form the best show we've ever done. Cause of him everyone was able to come with us. He is the reason we can all dance and celebrate and still be calm in the re*membering. Without Baba, I'd be flying with one wing and, although it might be thrilling to watch at times, it would make everyone far too nervous to feel good. Thank you Baba, for be*ing the one.

Set List Highlights: Of Course My Love, This Land Is Our Land, 19 Miles To Baghdad, Be Where Your Feet Are, Thank You, Louise, Baba's Somewhere Over The Rainbow,

Audience Review from Last Saturday's Show on April 7th

2007-04-10T05:49:00.001-07:00

Lizzie West's bio states that she is currently learning to fly, but I saw her soar. She passed the tonic to us and helped us re*member. I heard her soul call and she felt my soul shine.

She and Baba tied a yellow ribbon around that invisible oppressive thumb. You know, that big invisible meaty thumb that presses down on the back of your neck and makes you forget. It was the first time I heard her perform, but I can re*member every rhythm, every Tumbleweed Cabaret song and the way my tears jumped out of my eyes to join in the sway of the chorus.

I had this poem that I wrote in my Spiritual Words And Musings (SPAM) book, and it echoed in my head.

You must always be intoxicated.
That sums it all up: it's the only question.
In order not to feel the horrible burden of Time
which breaks your back and bends you down to earth,you must be unremittingly intoxicated.
But on what? Wine, poetry, virtue, as you please. But never be sober.
And if it should chance that sometimes, on the steps of a palace, on the green grass of a ditch, in the bleak solitude of your room, you wake up and your intoxication has already diminished or disappeared, ask the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clock, ask everything that sings, everything that speaks, ask them what time it is and the wind, the wave, the star, the bird, the clockwill reply: It's time to be intoxicated!
If you do not wish to be one of the tortured slaves of Time, never be sober; never ever be sober! Use wine, poetry or virtue, as you please.
- Charles-Pierre Baudelaire, The Prose Poems and La Fanfarlo

Lizzie West and the Tumbleweed Cabaret reminded me the time is NOW to be intoxicated. This is our duty. This is our grace. And our inspiration, because as I lay listening to "I Pledge Allegiance to Myself" and saw this reflection on the ceiling. I think its my soul shine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/starpuncher/453293293/

Thank you Lizzie and Baba,
Darcy

Audience Review, Kansas City, April 7th, Westport Coffee House Theater

2007-04-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

BY Bill Pryor, http://ravefilmskc.blogspot.com/
Rants from RAVE
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Lizzie West and the Tumbleweed Cabaret: It's a Movement
Last night I was among the fortunate few who got to see the Tumbleweed Cabaret in an early form before it gets refined and goes to an off-Broadway venue in Manhattan by the middle of next year.

I've talked about Lizzie West before, and here's a link to an old post if you'd like to check it out. Here's a link to Lizzie's web site, which you most definitely should check out.

You won't find anything up on her site yet about the Tumbleweed Cabaret (at least I didn't see anything). What you need to do if you can't wait for the New York version is to watch her schedule and go to Columbia, MO, or to Kansas City and see it. It'll be worth the trip. First of all, she is one fine musician and so is the White Buffalo, also known as Baba Buffalo. He has a regular name but I can't remember it, but Buffalo is good enough for me. The thing about Baba and Lizzie is that on their own, each one is a really, really good musician.

Together, they're magic.

I wish I had the words to all the extra verses she did for "This Land Is Your Land." All I can say is that Woodie Guthrie arose from his grave last night and high-fived the universe and danced till dawn with the good spirits, proud that in this day and age somebody paid attention. I don't remember if it was Woody or Pete Seeger who said it first, but both of them have talked about how folk music is built upon the original, how new musicians add their new thing to the old things. Lizzie has done Woody proud. "...from the high oil prices, to the low wage earners..." That's not the exact line, but you get the idea.

One audience member who drove a hundred miles for the event said, "It's not a show--it's a movement." He's right. And that brings up another Guthrie reference, this time Arlo. If I may quote this paragraph from "Alice's Restaurant":

"...You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them. And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin' a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said fifty people a day walking in singin' a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. And friends they may think it's a movement."

Arlo, of course, was singing about the Vietnam era draft. Lizzie is singing about our entire universe, and it is inspirational. I walked out of the Westport Coffee House Theater last night thinking that I've seen the beginning of a real movement...and maybe there is, after all, hope.

Audience Review from Kansas City, April 7th, Westport Coffee House

2007-04-08T17:01:00.000-07:00

We want to thank you for the howling howlelujah fabulous time we had last night. I can't remember when I have had more fun and pleasure in a public place. The experience was amazing! I knew when I first heard 19 Miles to Baghdad on Democracy Now that I was onto something special and the two of you proved me right in Westport. The time is NOW to say that we can't wait until the show is in full production in Columbia so we can come there and see you again. We really enjoyed ourselves. Last night after the show you mentioned my soul shine. Well, all I can say NOW is that you brought it out in me and from me. I was a kid in a candy shop the whole night, hence, the soul shine and the love. Please keep the wonderful soulful heartfelt music coming. I wouldn't change a thing and could never presume to improve upon something so grand. Your mama and papa must be smiling down on you all the time knowing that you inspire such happiness.

Thank you! I look forward to the next howlelujah and the smiles on your faces.

All our love,
Roni and Julie

From The Artist's Eyes

2007-04-08T09:48:00.001-07:00

Saturday, April 08, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.
"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 10/10
Hosts: (10/10) Peter produced this show. He worked and shined on the vision like a true sponsor, He did amazing promotion, got a beautiful venue, constantly brought us goddies like gourmet cheese and wine and cookies. We had water and a place for the dharma dog. DOG BLESS Peter for making Kansas City so perfect last night.

Venue: (10/10) The Westport Coffee House Theater
Great venue. Great sound system. Dharma Dog Friendly. Tom, the owner and sound man, was a real sweetie. I wish we had a place like this wherever we went. That said, it would be useful to have a bathroom near the dressing room.

Promotions: (10/10) Peter made stickers, fliers, posters and hung them all over Kansas City. He took adds in the paper and on the radio. Baba and I appeared on the community radio station live, Linda's show about Women's music, KKFI. We had a wonderful kind and loving crowd, (although smaller than Peter would have liked), it was perfect for us.

Opener: (10/10) No opener.

Sound: (10/10) The sound was great for me. I didn't get any comments besides from Peter who said it was a little too loud the first set and perfect in the second.

Stage: (10/10) The stage was so fitting. It was a nice black box theater and the front of the stage came out into the audience so I could us it as a dancing drum and get real close to the angels that I was sharing The Tonic with.

Audience: (10/10) The crowd was quiet at first, as got to know eachhother. There were
three beams of light shining from the first row and they allowed me to get the whole room lit. Ronnie sang along to all the songs and as I saw her lips moving, I felt the songs belonged to both of us. It is so much like a fire that we all gather together and agree to light. Truly. Baba and I brought the matches (courtesy of Queen Eternity) and those front seat Beings were the paper that so easily helped the fire loving fire manifest. Then there were sticks sitting further back, who shined from afar or came forward to serve the wood's burning. Baba and I and Mama and Eternity, blow through the room song after song after song, bringing the breeze to give thhanks to the trees for the kindling they made and the shelter they gave. Then we all turned to the wood and the wood became our warmth that we shared, a light that will last until next time we are together. The audience gave their line with joy when I asked, "What time is it?". Then they joined me in the proclomation of the evolution revolution of Now in "Look What They Done!" By the end of the first act, we were all singing "tie a yellow ribbon 'round the whole wide world". By the middle of the second act, we all took oour breathe together and sang for gratitude so we could get the key. Howlelujah to ya, the Time Has come to sit here in the sun, now we k*now the race had already been won!

My performance: (10/10) I talked to Mama all night long. The indian came and moved through me too and I wondered who we were calling this time. From the moment I lit the candle, I felt the warmth of Now and was able to perform for the Queen in my best form. She was happy indeed and proud to give the key to get back into my body for I re*membered to breathe and how to grow the magical tumblweed with all who could be free at that the wonderful cabaret, the re*membering school of Now. The Queen,as I left, told Mama to come, to give me the key and she set my being free, to lead my form today, in my continual re*search on how things seem to work on earth. Howlelujah to ya, the time is NOW and we have WON!!

Baba: 10/10 Baba's playing was on and as electric as any magic tumblweed I've ever seen. He was gentle on the ballads, read Kahlil Gibran like a prophet, blazed pasisonately through the cabaret songs and the ragtime explosions. He sang with me as if we were one perfect voice in harmony and saluted the crowd time after time. Queen Eternity made a point of saying how it would place among her favorite re*membrances up 'til Now. She gave Baba his Key and his individual bottle of Tonic and she gave me him a map to get back to The Tumblweed Cabaret tonight. We've planned to meet there and keep re*membering, until we are able to show the Queen we are ready to be free of fear in The Wonderful World Of Now forever. I love his soul, he led the Being Freeing, Happiness Happening. X=H/M

Set List Highlights: Starfish Lullaby, Run Why Do WE Run? Demons, Chariots Rise, Jenny, Mercy Me, Be Where Your Feet Are, Gently Bring Me Home, 19 Miles, Thank You

Audience Review of Saturday Night

2007-04-06T18:47:00.001-07:00

First of all, I just wanted to thank you for an amazing night on Saturday.
My mom and I were truely moved and will remember that night for many years
to come. I was a little bit overwhelmed to be honest, because the show was
so moving and the intimacy of the venue made it so real. I'd like to give
you some feedback on the show if you don't mind. I really think that you
and Baba make a great team, there is some real magic there. A couple of
songs that I would like to see added..... "Time to Cry" from the Holy Road
CD ( love the harmonica !!).....maybe you could work this in somehow with
handing out the tears? Another song that I absolutely love is "Sometime"
also from the Holy Road CD. It has a great message that would fit easily
into the show. Hope that all is going well with you!!

Thanks again,

Gus

Audience Review from Last Saturday's Show

2007-04-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hey---------It's really difficult to put into words. The evening we experienced was way beyond what I expected. I was into Lizzie's music (& message) for the past 3 years. My son, Gus, turned me on to her CD, I guess he knew I would love it! I was following what was happening in Columbia on the lizziewestlife site. Gus & I finally connected (he lives in Columbia) & we decided to come on the last performance March 31st. I knew there was a script involved but really didn't know much else about it.
We arrived at the Holy Road House & were greeted by a friendly face seated on the front porch. It was a little strange coming in, not knowing anyone or what to expect. We took a seat, and listen to a versatile group (Soapbox Sirens)rapping/singing some powerful lyrics from Louisville, KY. I was excited! There was alot of reaction from the crowd- almost like a revival of 'the church of what's happening now' . They played for a while & ended with a familiar tune that everyone got into. When Lizzie started it was so amazing to hear her voice live! I really liked it on the recording, but hearing the tones, vibratos, and quality blew me away. Well when the dialogue started , I was hooked. It was everything I believe in, Anti-fear, Time is Now!, Midwestern Tumbleweed etc... Gus & I both had experience in theater productions, so we really appreciated the acting & script. Lizzie was so incredibly talented! I also enjoyed the total audience participation. My favorite as being funny was 'George Bush' arriving and many other lines,etc.... Lizzie's recollection of her mother moved me deeply, and I really felt her pain. The anti-fear tonic really works! Lizzie's energy is amazing ! Thanks for an incredible evening. I know my thoughts are really scattered, but I have SO MANY wonderful memories of that night and the best part- sharing it with my son! I love you Lizzie-------------
Keep the movement going! The time is now!
Peace, Pat Frank Augusta, MO

Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.

2007-04-03T05:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 31, 2007
Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.

"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 10/10
Hosts: (10/10) The bonds we are all developing are grow, becoming rich and full of life. The art house truly does feel like a garden that we all share, each of us tending to with our personal touch. We are creating our reality together. And I repeat my last review comment as well..."The Holy Road House and Arts Co-op is hosting our March residence (we are some of our own hosts, two hats is confusing sometimes, but necessary to live well in this world.) Anyway, I'm just so thankful to have this enviroment and family to come home to every few months. The team we're all creating together at The House (The Tumbleweed Hotel) is doing a great job learning how to make a perfect enviroment for us (and so, the other traveling artists who will benefit from the holy road when the time comes.) Alisa, Miker, Kaos, Mike Clark, James, Brandon, Karla, Blake, (Zeek back in New Yoork) me, Baba, The Dharma Dog and all the growing family worked hard to make last night (and this whole month, Aly and Ron on the hike, Peter's making the Kansas City show happen) a success. Matt Bearman and Scott filmed and recorded." THANK YOU again TO FD, Kaos, Mike Clark, Aly, James, Mike Roberston, Ron, Brandon, Karla, Blake, Laura, Scott, Matt Bearman, Kristy, Jo, ALL OUR CO-OP GARDNERS, for making this month so wonderful for us and for our visiting artists.

Venue: (10/10) The Holy Road Easy Speak
Matt Bearman is recording these shows and Scott Wilson is filming them. WE've settled into the hous as a venue and the stage is perfect (thanks to brandon). The rooms upstairs make for great private space while we get into character. The sound system feels full and generous (thanks to Blake and Karla). The Soap Box Sirens (artists we hosted from Louisville, kY) filled the house with music and harmony. They enjoyed the boarder rooms and during sound check we all rehearsed a group piece that opened their show. Matt did a fantastic job making the living room an ideal sound envirmont. Miker watched the door. FD and Aly fed us and took care of all the last minute production details. James and FD shined as Eternity's helpers throughout the night. THANK YOU.

Promotions: (8/10) the show was packed and energized with folks who wanted to be there, to understand and celebrate and be part of it all. The e-mails, cards, a few posters and a radio interview of the Sirens, with Kevin Walsh, was enough to fill the Holy Road Easy Speak on Saturday.

Opener: (10/10) The Soap Box Sirens drove from Louisville,KY. They are angels of Now and they brought the house such blessings. The Columbia audience adored them and gave them howling love. They passed around the songs amongst themselves. Baba sat in with them. I sang from the audience front row. They got the crowd ready for The Tumbleweed Cabaret better than any other has done!

Sound: (10/10) I love Matt Bearman and Karla and Blake and Baba for making the sound perfect. Hope the recordings sound as good, I'm sure they will. I didn't get any comments from the audience but I'll assume that means, no news is good news.

Stage: (10/10) The stage (by brandon) doubles as a drum which is perfect for my dancing and stomping and calmer moments too. The baby grand came from mama and it is so stunning, the way it sounds.

Audience: (10/10) The crowd was howling, singing, sharing tears of laughter and loss, passing out the tonic, making sure everyone got some, and they couldn't have been more suppportive or appreciative.

My performance: (9/10) The first three songs were slightly stiff but by the time I got to Jenny, the spirit had risen and the voice had opened. In Mercy Me, spirit took me for a ride and sent me crashing through the crowd. 19 Miles had everyone wearing the yellow ribbons 'round themselves and we sang together, "'round the whole wide world, something fgood has begun." By the time we got to the second act, I was out of body and the songs and characters of The Tumblweed Cabaret were in charge, and they know what to do better than this form could ever know. Considering Baba and I are still so fresh in learning the script as we write it, I'd say, we brought the loving audience home to a howlelujah place called Now. The Tonic was passed out for everyone to take into tomorrow. I hope they're drinking it as we speak, I know I am. Thanks for being part of our March expiriment, we'll be getting the recording and DVD together over the next month. I think the show runs a little too long, this week we'll be cutting it and simplifying it for our Kansas City presentation. It would be hard to hand out 100 bottles of tonic, 100 yellow ribbons, etc. PS: I know the camera was blocking the view sometimes, but I think it'll be worth it when we see the brilliant work of Mr. Wilson.

Baba: 10/10 Baba strutted his genius throughout the first act and then he miraculously became DR. Tumbleweed and Dr. Kavanaski in act two, helping us all remember how to grow the Tumbleweedwith our healthy soil, tears of laughter, loss, and love and how to pour on that soul shine. Baba is the one. Howlelujah to ya DR!

James: James acted as Eternity's helpers, Officer Haggerty, George Bush, and The Tubleweed Plant! He did such a wonderful job capturing all the characters. We threw so much last minute information at him I'm suprised his brain didn't explode. He pulled it off perfectly. A great addition to the cabaret.

Set List Highlights: Bones playing Bones on a couple tunes, Rise Spirit, Starfish Lullaby, Run Why Do WE Run? Demons, Chariots Rise, Jenny, Mercy Me, Be Where Your Feet Are

Reviewing The Show From The Artist's Eyes

2007-03-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

"I sing myself and celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume,for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you" -Walt Whitman

I am Tumbling and Rolling to keep up with my Bliss Being this week and so, all Time is spent getting ready for this exciting weekend. That's why this review is so short and sweet. Life is Messy, Love the Mess. Act Two was a perfect mess of me and Baba acting out a very rough draft of what I heard some folks in the audience say was a great re*minder to free their Being and live in the Now. The audience was a 10/10, patient, loving, howling, answering, active participants. I'll leave the rest to imagination and just say that I've never had so much fun as I am these days, at The Tumbleweed Cabaret Of Re*membering The Dream!X=h/m -Howling to you form the holy road, Lizzie and The Dharma Dog too

James's Review Of March 17th Show

2007-03-19T12:07:00.001-07:00

"The show was GREAT! When I was part of the audience, I too was more reserved than usual; the reasons, I think, were that I knew that the evening was being recorded and didn't want to intrude on the beauty of the songs, and the other confusion was related to the narrative aspect of the cabaret; since it flowed, there wasn't a clear break in the action to indicate an audience response--I didn't want to break the continuity of the narrative (and maybe miss part of the continuing story). It's kind of like at a concert when a song has a long pause in it near the end but you're not sure it's really over, so you wait to see if there's more. Maybe the recording should be done without mention, like a candid photo, and without signs. Just some thoughts!"

Your performance was, AS USUAL, intimate, polished, and "on the money"! Since we see you perform so often I guess we sometimes just assume that you know that's how we feel, and don't say it out loud.

Howls and love,
James

Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.

2007-03-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

"Great Art Needs A Great Audience..." Walt Whitman
Overall Show Rating: 7/10
Hosts: (10/10) The Holy Road House and Arts Co-op is hosting our March residence (we are some of our own hosts, two hats is confusing sometimes, but necessary to living well in this world.) Anyway, I'm just so thankful to have this enviroment and family to come home to every few months. The team we're all creating together at The House (The Tumbleweed Hotel) is doing a great job learning how to make a perfect enviroment for us (and so, the other traveling artists who will benefit from the holy road when the time comes.) Alisa, Miker, Kaos, Mike Clark, James, Brandon, Karla, Blake, (Zeek back in New Yoork) me, Baba, The Dharma Dog and all the growing family worked hard to make last night (and this whole month, Aly and Ron on the hike, Peter's making the Kansas City show happen) a success. Matt Bearman and Scott filmed and recorded.

Venue: (8/10) The Holy Road Easy Speak
Matt Bearman is recording these shows and Scott Wilson is filming them. The sound check has a whole buzz of its own. The house was full of people getting ready for the show. Matt was making sure the sound was perfect, like a real artist of sound. His energy was really inspiring, he just seemed to care so much that everything was perfect and we were all so thankful for that. Baba was getting The Wizard Of Oz on the TV so it'd play silently in the background. Alisa made signs for silence (Shhh, we're recording) and ordered Pizza for the crew, Mike and Kaos got the front desk together. Mike Clark showed up in costume as requested. Zacharia arrived early to make sure he was ready to host the night. The best thing about our venue is Mama's grand piano and also, the fact that everyone is quiet (like in a theater).

Promotions: (2/10) We've been super slacking on the promotions front. It's easy to be lazy about it 'cause it's such a small venue.

Opener: (10/10) Natalie Greer was great. She brought several folks to be a suportive crowd and she sang like an angel who needed to let the world know she was real. A supreme choice and it was Alisa who made that happen. In this case, we had an after show Open Howl which was full of such extraordinary talent. My god...Bart Bean with his songs, harmonica and sacred drum!! Bones, James, Natalie, Baba, everyone was a light carrier last night.

Sound: (10/10) The sound was excellent for me but my guitar had problems, which badly effected my performance and maybe the audience reception. I didn't get any comments from the crowd so i'm not sure how it was for them. Karla and Blake brought their sound system over and added it to ours, so we had perfect monitors and the room was full of song.

Stage: (8/10)Brandon built the stage which doubles as a drum and makes for great dance numbers... so I can shimmy like I do. James opened up the pocket doors so we can fit up to 30 folks (they were very jammed when we first moved in). Baba got the piano tuned. It felt like an intimate cabaret theater. Lighting needs work though, to have the sort of dramatic impact our show needs. The stage and audience almost felt like one (which I liked). The seats were full and the faces warm.

Audience: (7/10) The crowd was focused and respectful, but shy. I think it's my fault, I confused everyone from the start when I told them that we were treating this like a theater piece when, in fact, I meant a "Happening". People seemed timid about applauding between songs. They didn't seem to realize just how important they are to the remembering. They are characters in a play that we have all agreed to perform, a play in which we all remember how to be create peace. Their participation in the happening is as important as mine. They howled like true howlers though and they answered "Now" big and loud when I asked them what time it was. I'm not sure everyone drank the tonic though, and the truth is, that's really the problem. If we'd all just drink Dr. Tumbleweed's Anti-fear Tonic, we'd be so much less afraid to set the spirit free and revive the child within. It wasn't a 10 'cause I think people were too careful about listening and not wild enough about singing, howling, and being a kid. Maybe, though, they were just too busy trying to understand what the hell I was talking about. I think lots of folks will be back next week and I think they'll be freer with their souls, since they have a better idea of what to expect now and they'll be more ready to remind me to remember to remind them. I remember, that's how it happened!! Howlelujah, the time is now.

My performance: (7/10) The audience and I were one. Neither of us could quite let it fly but we both had a good time getting to know eachother again.

Baba: 10/10 AS usual, he was my rock and the audience celebrated him the whole time. His performance of Prayer was truly moving, his Louise Rag was so playful, and after our set, he performed a wonderful solo piece with America The Beautiful in it.

Set List Highlights: Bones playing Bones on a couple tunes, Universal land, The Remembering, Gently Bring Me Home, Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep, Louise, Jenny

Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.

2007-03-05T22:38:00.000-08:00

"GREAT ART NEEDS A GREAT AUDIENCE" - Whitman

Overall Show Rating: 10/10
Hosts: (12/10) Our new family in louisville remind us to remember to remind. They host, care, guide, sing, gather, rap it, bring it, sing it. Everything from the apartment to the food to the walks to the tumble is taken care of by The Sirens who sound the alarm.

Venue: The Hideaway, Louisville, KY
The sound check was a great scene. It felt like the show had already started. The place was packed with energy. The Sirens brought special mike stands and made sure to be there with us, setting up sound and untangling chords. The Blue Umbrellas let us do our thing 'till we got a decent mix. The bartender was an angel and she set the energy from the start. Upstairs, the hideaway is just what the name makes it seem. It's a dive bar treasure with enough vibe to make up for no dressing room and lacking monitors. I can't wait to come back there. I suppose that's means the venue is a star of bars.

Promotions: Posters were hanging all around Louisville and were uop at the club. The show was promooted on the radio a bunch.

Opener: The Blue Umbrellas were power girl accoustic pop. They brought a great crowd and they got the house all warmed up for us.

Sound: Like I said, it wasn't the sound that made it a 10 show, but we were able to make it work and we, us and the audience had a mutual revival.

Stage: The stage was is a nice size for two of us. I had plenty of room to move.
Our friends Angie and Kato joined us on mandolin and bass and we could all enjoy plenty of space. No piano.

Audience: (9/10) Local Louisville designer, Nina Rosenberg made me a costume before she met me and it couldn't have been a better fit. She was there at the show and she brought me the first patch for the Mythic Quilt Of Man. Heather, Kri. Nick, Trevor, Janet, Angie, Amy, Renee, and all our new friends made the night perfect. The show was an hour and a half or so. The room was full of evolutionaries fulfilling their promise to get the fire lit and make it roar no matter what. They howled, answered "NOW" and sang along with the songs. The back of the bar was too loud. In any other show, they could have brought the overall rating down to below a five but because of the wealth of heart in the front of the room, they only devalued the experionce slightly. By the middle of the show, I made sure the back of the room had a chance to sing, by themselves, for the rest of the crowd. That was fun. From the first "reaching for light" we all joined together. The Tonic was passed around the room and by the end of the show half the kicking crowd was on stage with us. We all sang together on Starfish Lullaby and "Get Up Stand Up." The Sirens spoke it as a layer on top of the music and The Troubadors Of Divine Bliss gave all their dream power to make sure they helped us all remember. It was a night I'll always keepo close to my heart.

My performance: (9/10) I'm getting tired 'cause it'slate night after the gig, so I'll just say that I was a match and half the crowd were matches too. The fire lit, fast, from the moment I opened my mouth. There were no demons and there was no wrestling match. I was out of the way and the spirit came through, shared the tonic, made sure everyone got some, and the revival was real. Howlelujah the time is now. Thank yoou Louisville.

Baba: 10/10 AS usual, he was my rock and the audience celebrated him the whole time. His Louis Rag was especially courageous.

Set List Highlights: Chariots Rise, Reaching For Light, Starfish Lullaby, Look What They Done To My World! Louise, Rope Me In and Smoke me

Audience and Host Review, Maryland, March 1st 2007

2007-03-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

West Dazzles, Entraces

Sangha, a free-trade store in Takoma Park, Maryland known for it unique items from Tibet, Guatemala and other far-flung places across the globe, played host to singer and song writer Lizzie West and her long-time counterpart Baba "the White Buffalo" Thursday night. The crowd that braved the rainy weather to turn out, healthy for a weekday night, was the recipient of a raw and honest eighty-minute set.

West covered a lot of ground in her time on stage, running the full range of her repertoire, from "Chariot's Rise", a song that played an integral part in the James Spader, Maggie Gayyenhall film "The Secretary", to the whimsical "Sparty", written for one of the two dogs that has toured with the pair over the years.

"Chariots" was in particular memorable, performed this time with an essentially unreleased set of lyrics and a deep emotion reflective of the personal nature of the song. Also of note was her rendering of "Take These Demons", a new song from her most recent effort, "I Pledge Allegiance to Myself" which was released last year. The coffee house environment offered by Sangha clearly appealed to West as she played, and she interacted with those present numerous times, even taking a list of requests once her initial set had finished.

West currently splits her time between upstate New York and Columbia, Missouri, moving back and forth every few months, touring the cities along the way in between. She heads to Louisville next, and then on to her self-described "spring residency" in the midwest. For those who missed it, West will return to the area this May as part of her "Midwest Tumbleweed Roadshow".

Michael Horlick

Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.

2007-03-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

Host, Audience, Venue Review: Maryland, March 1st, 2007

Overall Show Rating: 9/10
Hosts: (10/10) We were invited to come to Maryland by Michael and Liz Horlick. They suggested the venue and offered to host us. They were amazing hosts. We arrived (at 10:00pm Wed night) to Tibetan flags being blowing in the breeze of their front yard. They cooked for us, gave us their own master bedroom (they took the guest room), led us on walks through the local parks with the dogs, shared their brains and extensive knowledge of Mythology and Linguistics, and made sure we were well rested for the show. They printed fliers and posters and spread them around town. They couldn't have been more gracious. The information they shared is going straight into my writing as I work on the novel. I, now, write from their sweet 1920's brick home just before we (me, Baba and The Dharma Dog) head for Louisville. This morning they gave is our own set of Tibetan Flags to hang at The Holy Road House in MO and blessed our travels with silk prayer scarves around our necks.

Venue: Sangha, Takoma Park, MD (10/10)
As soon as we arrived, Jennifer (the venue owner) greeted us with hugs. She made hot tea for us all. The venue is a Fair Trade Store with a stage in the back room and it sells all kinds of beautiful things that feed the collective mind and bring us into The Now. Jennifer lit candles and filled the room with love. The room seats about 30 happily but it can fit up to 150. The Dharma Dog was allowed to be with us in the venue and so, he made himself comfortable. He inspected all garbage cans. couches for sitting and found himself a pair of hand made nomadic Mongolian boots, made from hide, to eat. Much to his dismay, I discovered him before he did too much damage, bought the boots for 50 bucks and tried to find him some dinner (to his credit, he was legitimately hungry since I'd forgotten to feed him). Jennifer was an angel about it. I insisted she take the cash. The venue was a truly inspiring place to fly through the valleys of these songs and stories that we share. They gave us %100 of the door and %100 of Merchandise and so, we love them for that too.

Promotions: Poster was on the front door. Our wonderful hosts had spread posters and cards all around Takoma Park.

Opener: No Opener.

Sound: We did our own sound and provided our own PA, which means that the sound is limited but it does the trick and it's nice 'cause we're in control of the energy during set up. We don't have room to carry extra monitor speakers with us so that is always a draw back for us. A couple audience members told me the room sounded great overall.

Stage: The stage was nice, small, surrounded by paintings, love worn chairs were up close and personal. No piano.

Audience: (9/10) The show was about an hour and a half long. We started it off mellow 'cause the rain was coming down and the room felt quiet. By mid show, I was downing "The Tonic" and letting it loose, shaking it, with Baba ripping ragtime solos and we were screaming with the audience, "Look what they done to my world, They went and fucked it up, ma!" The Tonic was not passed around the room but a few folks did get some when I handed it off the stage to the front row. I feel bad about that today, I should have made sure to share it with the whole crowd. In Louisville, I will! Anyway, even without the tonic, they howled, they shouted with us, they sang softly, "tie a yellow ribbon 'round Takoma Park" and they answered "Now" whenever I reached for them with Eternity's question of Time. In short, they started out tame and possibly apathetic but they turned revivalist by the end. THey helped me remember to remind them to remember. Some of them said they had heard "19 Miles To Baghdad" on Democracy Now. It hit me, as we all sang "Look What They Done", that we were in DC and that it was important for us to be here, in this political town more often. I did wrestle with my beast through the show some. But it was Liz and Michael who upped the Audience rating and helped me out too, (they were the paper in the front row and they made sure my spirit won and the beast became the vessel for my voice. We all rode Home together. We got the key by the end and unlocked our clocks. That's good. Real good. I was the match and the air, but so was Liz, so was Baba, so was Michael. We all took to the fire pit, as evolutionaries committed to making a fire that would last 'till we were all back together again. Everyone else in the room agreed to be paper, easy dry kindling (especially Melissa and Sarah who sat to the right, on the couches). Jennifer and her Sangha friends were good dry logs that took to lighting well and promised to last 'till May. Liz and Michael and the rest of them know they can go to Sangha to get lit when they need it. We sold lots of cds and gave away tons of stickers. Howlelujah, friends, the time is now.

My performance: (9/10) Like I said, I started off in a wrestling match but the Joseph Cambell helped. Then, "Reaching For Light" got me lit enough to look for matches among us. They were there and they helped me. The rise of the rest is a blur until I downed "The Tonic" and shook it with "Look What They Done" but I think Chariots Rise may have been the first kicker for me and for all of us. I had a blast, so happy to win the wrestle and take the beast into that flight across The Divide. By the time I landed back on Earth, at the end of the show, bringing the key to the crowd, I know my own soul had successfuly traveled through Eternity's domain into The Now.

Baba: 10/10 His playing got the audience howling. He kept me clear and made sure I didn't lose the wrestle until it was clear we had won and were riding the beast together, through the glory and the fields of Now.

Set List Highlights: Chariots Rise, The Day We Met, Take These Demons, Reaching For Light, Long Live The Poet, Starfish Lullaby, Gently Bring Me Home and Look What They Done To My World!

Sharing The Road: reviewing the experience from the artist's eyes.

2007-03-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

"Great art needs a great Audience..." -Walt Whitman
This is new. To review. I've started asking the audience to send reviews of our shows to me and I'll start posting them on this blog. I promise to do the same, start reviewing the audience, our generous holy road hosts, and the venues too. I want to make this agreement, to be here now and to talk about what we're experiencing and why. So here it is.... days are busy and the reality is shifting again, changing...staying in touch with it is a challenge, not drowning in it but growing with it. I have lots to do in Maryland today. Walk, write, rehearse, sound check and perform but I'm going to review the NY Show some and tomorrow I'll review the D.C. show. It's a balance, of course, and essential that you know, I do not come from a place of judgment. Whether you are reading this as a "fan", a Holy Road Tours Family Member, an "audience", a venue, or a Holy Road Host, I mean whatever I say as a friend of the evolution. I come from an honest place of hunger for the healing. It's about all of us aknowledging that we are, whether we like it or not, creating our reality and affecting eachother's worlds. From the moment I walk in the door, the experience begins defining itself. Is the sound man warm, happy to be where he is, has he researched the music he is about to manifest, does he take pride in his own art form, as a music lover, as a sound designer, as a creator of mood and function? Things like that...Okay, 'nough explaining. Here's the sharing, please write me your reviews of my reviews, the shows, the venues, and all the experiences we share. Thanks so much, my friends, for reminding me to remember to remind.

Venue: The Cutting Room, Feb 27th, '07
Overall Show Rating: 6/10

Promotions: We were not listed on the club calander inside the venue, no posters up and no fliers out.

Opener: We had not been told he was opening for us. He pushed our start time so that the show started 40 minutes late. An audience member told me he was not a good match for us, "too depressing" she said.

Sound: Chip was pretty brazen. Didn't seem inspired to be there. Didn't seem to care who I was or curious about the road I was traveling. He wanted to get us on and off stage as fast as possible. He seemed poisoned by the Zombie Town poison and he had a screen of apathy over his eyes. I introduced myself. He was polite but disinterested, just doing his job. That was my impression. anyway The sound had the same vibe. That said, the mix was decent and the monitors let me hear myself okay. Though the audience called, quietly, for an encore, Chip cut off the show.

Stage: The stage at The Cutting Room is nice and big. The grand piano was out of tune but we are always so thankful to have a piano that we hardly cared. Baba moved the drum set and made sure we got the best enviroment we could. It's a great space for me to dance and move around on. The lights are dramatic but it was hard for me to get Chip to shine them on the house enough (a requirement for me to have a happy show), so I could see the audience faces. By the third time I asked, he finally did it.

Audience: (5/10) I had some "Birth Family" there as well as "Earth Family." My nephew was sweet but he was also a little distracting during the ballads. The house was full of reserved love, like a hug from an arms length. When I asked, What Time Is It? Almost all of the audience answered "Now" which fed me when I needed it. It seemed like about 1/4 of them sang with us when I turned the mike around. Nice applause. No howling though. Overall.... it was not a revivalist audience but it was warm enough to keep the show moving. I am realizing that the audience and I are there together to start a fire which needs to keep us warm until the next time we are together or until the next time a "light exchange" happens. Here's my question? Who's the match? Who's the kindling? Who's the paper? Who's the blowing air? Who's the ember?
My performance: (6/10) I started off with "The Remembering Monologue" which I think scared the new yorkers a little. It was confusing for them and I don't think I delivered the "Remembrance " very well. I think, they didn't seem to understand why I was passing the "Dr. Tumbleweed's Anti-fear Tonic" around and they didn't realize why I was asking them to drink it. I don't think they made sure that everyone got some either, which is not good! In fact, one audience member told me she was reallly sad 'cause she didn't get any. In short, I worked hard to get the fire lit at this show and keep it lit. A little too hard. I was the match and the breeze and the paper this one. There was a great piece of paper and stick in the front row, (that was Alex), and in the middle of the room (couldn't see her face but I could feel her) and in the back of the room, there was a young man and woman willing to be the paper too. I loved talking to folks after. The woman who traveled acround the Eqautor (Monique), Margeaux, and Beth... they all made me feel as if I had lit them from within and so, I did my job and felt happy about that when I went to sleep Tuesday night.

Baba: 9/10 He was amazing, kept me growing throught he whole show and played like the genuis he is!

Set List Highlights: Universal Land Part I, Tumbleweed, Look What They Done, Starfish, Hallelujah, This Land Is Our Land, Little Boxes, Thank You.

Reviews From The Road

2007-03-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

Cutting Room performance - NYC
27 Feb 07

Dear Lizzie West,

i am moved to respond - to share my thoughts about your show - truly genuine, engaging performance - you are an unique fusion between janis joplin and bob dylan - i left last night speechless in the corridor of your light and poetry - thank YOU for being authentic, following your heart - being present in the NOW !!

octavio paz, so eloquently said, that 'each poetic adventure is distinct and each poet has sown a different plant in the miraculous forest of speaking trees.'

cheers to you and Baba Buffalo for spreading your love and joy - living your Holy Road quest - uncovering & planting seeds along the way !!

warmest regards,
monique stauder

Reviews From The Road

2007-03-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Audience and Show Host Review, Cambridge Show In Feb, 2007:

Marla and Max Felcher were Holy Road Hosts. They invited us to Boston and hosted a concert in their wonderful home. It was one of my favorite shows I've ever performed. Their show hosting was ideal in that they provided a full house, great food, and inspired a completely focused enviroment. The crowd howled, answered "Now!", sang and bellowed from the core of their Beings, they were a revival audience, Baba shined in perfect harmony, melody and time, the audience reminded us to keep reminding and remembering, folks bought a bunch of cds, everyone signed the e-mail list. We provided our own sound and Baba made it feel real good. In short, I give the Venue, The Hosts, and The Audience a 10/10. Hoowlelujah, the time is now and something good HAS begun!

From the Host:
"If there is a better way to spend a cold winter evening in Boston than listening to Lizzie and Baba play in my living room, I certainly can't think of it. From the moment the duo played their first note, the thirty friends who had gathered in my living room for a house concert were smitten and transfixed. Remember a time in our country when people took a heartfelt stand for what they believed? We need people like Lizzie and Baba to remind of us that time, to bring that time to NOW, and to leave us with a sense of hope. Thank you guys, for an evening of beautiful music, and hope."

Marla Felcher

Cambridge, MA

2007-02-27T22:36:00.001-08:00

An Audience Review By David Minton:
It has been my privilege for the last several years to see many extraordinary artists within Club Helsinki's special sanctuary of music and life!

Lizzie's visit on Sunday night just took this old folkie's breath away!! "Reaching for Light" stays with me, two days after her performance, and I expect it will for a long, long time to come.

If you are of her generation, I hope she speaks for you, she represents all the goodness you carry within yourselves.

Speaking as one of her parent's generation, this is what we raise good children to do...love us, teach us, remember us, and remind us that NOW is always the moment we inhabit. This young woman's visit was one of the most memorable performances I have seen. Should you not know of her, by all means visit her website, www.lizziewestlife.com

She brought us beautiful music, word, and presence. Lizzie West is a timeless spirit and ageless soul, seek her out.

David Minton

2/27/2007

http://www.clubhelsinkiweb.com/news197.html

2007-02-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

she wants to know....what she should do.... ? where should she go? who should she be? how can she be happy here, now? Dr. Tumblweed's ant-fear tonic will help you remember everything you know. Just toast to Eternity and ask the light carriers to help you keep it lit all the way home.

"afoot and light hearted i take to the open road
healthy and free, the world before me
the long brown path leading wherever I choose
henceforth i ask not good fortune
i myself am good fortune
i whimper no more
postpone no more
make no more querilous complaints
healthy and free
i take to the open road." -Walt Whitman's Song Of The Open Road

-me and the dharma, howling to you from the holy road

2007-02-23T04:18:00.000-08:00

"They did not see that they dwelt in a unified cosmos, in god's world, in an eternity where
everything is already born and everything has already died." -Carl Jung "Memories, Dreams, Reflections" (an autobiography)
What is the world?
the lesson rides beside me
trying to get me to listen
and let it rest.
howling love from the road, L and The Dharma dog too

2007-02-15T04:04:00.000-08:00

The sun is rising on Pine Plains. I am writing again, bringing chapter five to its ripening, its fruition. Found the key to the door and got back in. My dog that was a long sleep. I am here now again, sneezing twenty times a day, lost the lemons and had too find them. It's too cold to take my god for a walk in the woods, guess I'll have to just have to remember the warmth and walk across the divide, me and the seeing eye god. Peter, Olivia, Nina, Joan, Kri, Heather, Janet, Angie, The Bee Man, Gregg, Kaos, Mike, Mike, James, Alisa, Tracix, and all of the angels who are helping us remember and making Ourstory come true. Thank you. The message will repeat. Howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie and The Dharma X=h/m "Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your guide."-Kahlil Gibran

2007-02-06T04:32:00.000-08:00

the only way to remember not to hurt is to love in gratitude, like a child, a plant, a dog, one that needs to be taken care of with good water, steady light, fresh food, long walks ion nature, sleep, and the daily coming of the X. it's that simple but somehow there's always something i forget. what is this forgetting? why is it so much easier to forget than it is to remember? "every frozen soul, every good inention turned dishonest, these are the gross manifestations of our darkest fears, our mortality looking deep into the eyes of our citizenship, a paralysis of our higher mind and our greater spirit." Packing up Mama's apartment two years after she's gone... swings me somewhere but not here. Mama! -Howling to you from the holy road, X=h/m, me and the dharma dog both.

2007-02-05T04:19:00.000-08:00

Early monday morning in New York. Reading Black Elk Speaks and asking the voice to speak, still inside the dream. "Up on the Madison Fork the Wasichus had found much of the yellow metal that they worship and that makes them crazy..."- Black Elk. Waking up now. Howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie and The dhaRma dog.

2007-02-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

digesting the memories is all part of remembering, sometimes painful but feels so good when it finally goes down and delivers itself as waste on the other side of time. the desperate clocks are trying to hold on but they have no chains that can't be opened anymore, there is no shape they can create that won't fit this key...this is freedom and so they can't seem to get a lock down on me, their c, leaving them stuck with nothing but a shell of control. "and by habit they shortened their thoughts so as not to wander into the darkness beyon tomorrow."- Carson McCullers
-howling in love, me and the dharma both

2007-02-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

I know this blog has been neglected. i want to give it new life somehow, starting today it is an effort of remembrance of Now. i just love reading baba's stories. perhaps i'll try a quote and a virtual hug from me and the dharma. we send it from here, deep in the woods of our imagination, where we're writing the wonderful adventures of the holy road. "of all the needs that a lonely child has, the one that must be satisfied if there is to be a hope and a hope of wholeness is the unshakable need for an unshakable god. -Maya Angelou's, I know why the caged bird sings." -howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie and the dharma dog
Reminder: "they won't bury us 'till we die."

2007-01-04T04:18:00.000-08:00

Hey travellers,
Wisconsin and St.Louis were breakthrough shows. We're rolling like a "Midwestern Tumbleweed" along the holy road, writing and growing the show as we go.

We'll be rolling the show into Kansas City, this Sunday, performing at The Pilgrim Chapel on January 7th and then we'll be rolling it back here for a show at The Blue Fugue on January 13th...with Bart Bean's Elixir, The Moonbelly Dancers, East Ash Street band and Annie's Anti-Fear Tonic. See the flier below.

Latest :

* We're heading out on an East Coast Tour at the end of January and being hosted by Hammertown Barn for our Feb residency.
* A couple of our songs will be featured on the TV show "The L Word" this coming season.
* "Flying" and "Discipline" were my words of the year. They haven't washed off yet.
* Chapter five of "The Wonderful Adventures..." is on its way into the world and by the end of January, before we leave, we'll be hosting a reading at our new venue, The Holy Road Easy Speak.

See you soon, somewhere on the holy road, thanks for traveling with us and let's try to keep it lit within...
Yours artists in song and life,
Lizzie West, Baba Buffalo and all the family at Holy Road Tours
"If you don't create your reality, your reality will create you."

www.lizziewestlife.com
myspace/lizziewestlife

2006-11-25T06:15:00.000-08:00

Candle lit within and without. Keeping my focus on the novella. Publishing it at the site next week for real. In the meantime, wondering if I should walk with the rising sun or write all morning. Loving the mess 'cause the robin is here to tell me how. yours in life and song. X=h/m. howling to you from the holy road, L

2006-10-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

So excited by writing this novella and by the prospect of The Howloween Ball...no time to journal as now time is needing tis story to be my focus over the next two weeks. i love being here now. i'd rather be here now. thank you for being alive. thank yoou for making me alive. if you can, please come to the ball, download the book, sing the sparty song, and celebrate with us. there really is a time to cry and the time is now and then we will have won. -howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m (more at howloweenball.com)

* * * *
All characters in this story are fictional. Although they may be inspired, at times, by my travels along the holy road, they are, in fact, imagined, seeded and grown in the fields of my mind .

To my loving friends at The Agency who have given me the courage to finally tell this story.

The Wonderful Adventures... by Lizzie West
This is the story of ten little children who knew everything and nothing at the very same time. I’ll begin with Eva and the forgotten Church.

BOOK ONE: The Wonderful adventures of Eva and The Forgotten Church

“After all the tea and cakes and ices, shall I have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? For though I have wept and fasted and wept and prayed and though I have seen my head brought in upon a platter, I am no prophet and here is no great matter, for I have seen the eternal footman carry my coat and snicker and in short, I was afraid.” - T.S. Eliot

CHAPTER ONE: The Letters Behind The Mantle (or “Just in case something happens...”)

October 10, 2069
It’s now 5.23 a.m. and I’m in the October garden on St. Joseph Street, with my lantern lit, the fire warm and the outdoor chimney smoking. I am ninety six years old, just five years older then Heidi Lewis was the year that we, The Hucksters, bought her home and turned it into The Holy Road House. The red breasted robin is still picking seeds from the ground nearby and the ghosts are still singing our songs. I’ve been trying to tell this story for a long long time....

2006-09-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

too much to tell. writing the novella keeps me away from this blog. but i promise to at least get a few lines up each week. me and figaro are sitting on the porch at st.joseph street. it's chilly out here. october's coming! we are a little tired 'cause we wrote most the night to finish the first chapter. building this co-op with these wonderful columbia citizens is the most fun i've had, maybe ever. knowing that ourstory is possible to create and history is possible to leave behind...of course we must always study it, understand it, recognize it, not repeat it, but let's not create it anymore either...okay? congratulations to gregg's sister who had her baby and to mike hagan had his baby. tony mixed the new howloween ball single "sparty", it'll be up next week. laura and sparty are growing wings and manifesting constantly...what else? for now, just howling to you all,Lizzie X=h/m

2006-09-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

baba and i at the table paula and ken lent to the holy road house. both typing on our lap tops to meet deadlines. the moving truck full of gifts arrived yesterday. the baby grand is up in the music room and the red breasted robyn came to give promise of mama with me in eternal time. love is the best teacher, sometimes the hardest too. hoowling to you, X=h/m, LIzzie

2006-09-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

nice to talk last night. out in the garden at the holy road house.it's all new. can't say it's not scary. it is. but i'm not growing to get distracted by the destination. I am going to stay with the journey. be clear about the intention and grow it to fruition. A fruition that will feed my soul by practicing the art of creating reality on a whole new level. I'm going all the way Home this time. Creating a collective reality through the BALL. howloweenball.com
They found a fire place for the garden, .35 cents says god is, without a doubt, winking, laughing and howling for the holy road. Howlelujah...
howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m

2006-09-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

finding the balance and learning to keep heart over mind, that is the way to eat the fruit. to eat it to its core. If we had finished it to the core, we wouldn't be in this tangle. Just one bite meant a confusing evolution toward learning to just sit and finish the apple on the river bank, saying Thank you! my god that feels good.
But life is demanding. it calls for our time and attention at every detailed pass. there is always something to justify working in the name of your mind and leaving the heart behind. but making a commitment to electing a different dictator, a different source of power....that's what the equation is about. what amazes me is how i can carry around songs, ideas and books of reasearch in my bag of living and then wake up in the morning of my re-birth again and again, knowing i didn't practice the X=H/M method as i had hoped i would. that M somehow negotiated its way into the drivers seat again and took me down a road that H would never of allowed. damn it. I got taken for a ride again, a ride through a world that ticks desperately toward human time.
life is messy and that's the moral of the story. learning to love the mess is how H stays strong, stays the dominant factor in an equation for living that satisfies my eternal being. when M tries to organize the beautiful chaos and compartamentalize my fear of losing control, that's when I can't hear H telling me what to do anymore.
let me promise once again that i'll honor H first. to simplify it, it's like this...next time my mind says...we have to do this, go here, be afraid, wear this...my Heart will firmly but gently remind the Tool (the mind being a miraculous tool, which is productive when it knows its place and dangerous when it tries to command the road) that it is a Tool and nothing more, not the Hand of god (as Whitman says, "the elderhand of my own.") In short, i won't accept my writing time stolen from my Heart schedule, the Now Manager. Indeed, if the mind wants to do something, fine, but it will have to apply for approval from H. "This I replied: no one, if he could help it, would tolerate the presence of untruth in the most vital part of his nature concerning the most vital matters. There is nothing he would fear so much as to harbour falshood in the the soul." - The Republic Of Plato
Heading for the prarie on tuesday is a promise to H. - Howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m

2006-08-31T07:59:00.000-07:00

E-MAIL LETTER SENT TO NYC FAM:
This September 11th at 7:30, we'll be together with you at The Cutting Room in NYC. http://www.lizziewestlife.com/cutting.jpg

We'll gently remind ourselves who we are and what it means to be human on earth today, in the early Fall of 2006. We'll remember what happened, sing the sorrow from our bones. We'll create our reality in the midst of a seemingly unchanged world, knowing all the while, that though we may seem the same, every one of us is completely changed in the very core of our being. Though our waking may be slow and distracted, it is a waking nonetheless. Something HAS begun and it is good. My home town was born and raised under the towering stages of hustle and bustle, a shocking destruction stunned my soul and set me free. I believe, I believe, I believe. The morning after September 11th, 2001, I sat down to to let music do its work on me. As I recorded "A Time To Cry", by myself in the garden, the song kneaded my pain into healing. We'll sing that song on Monday night, along with 19 Miles To Baghdad, Prayer, Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Woman, Waiting For A Sign and Look What They Done To MY World, MA...If you have any other song requests, please let me know before Sept 7th. I'll do my best to fit it in. The morning after this coming Sept 11th, myself and our family at Holy Road Tours will leave again for the Prairie. We won't be back with you until December. Here's a live download of "Waiting For A Sign",

Please join us on Sept 11th, 2006, to listen, to sing, to be kneaded, to reach for light and to send us off with love... as we head to our Midwestern October Artist In Residency. If you don't create your reality, your reality will create you. It's easy to read about our travels on the holy road, http://travelingtheholyroad.blogspot.com/

Here's a photo of us with our long time friend and newly added band member,
Gregg Osofsky (you'll meet him at the show) taken the other day at WKZE the Inspiring local independent radio station of our "Pine Plain's Artist in Residency Home"

Howling to you from the holy road always, Lizzie West X=h/m

2006-08-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Coming 'round the bend of time, seven days left here in pine plains before we celebrate the residency with our closing show at the stissing house. we've been living in the old farm house next to hammertown barn. joan and gregg adopted us. wkze produced the ads. the stissing house made sure to be a perfect space to honor 21 years of independent business, hammertown happiness i call it. the farming workshop was real. it fed me from within. i was especially interested in listening to kaya talk about killing her livestock by herself. i always wanted to know that i could do that and listening to her reminded me of that. i ate a local steak the other night. it was red and good. it fed me from without. i haven't eaten meat in a long while. the new song is whole and belongs to columbia, our commuting route 70 and this small east coast town. i've been remembering my hunger for the plains lately. laura's been really keeping the ship sailing lately, with logistics of the move and the shows and so much that is worldly and necessary to reach you. tony's been making sure the web site is always new. gregg has been such a friend, an good loving host. we're planning to kidnap him and show him our love, missouri. i have a feeling he'll fly there and show me how. meanwhile, i reach for light in this moment, at the mountain cow cafe in pine plains new york. i'm wearing the yellow rag dress that baba's mama made me. it's almost time to retire the summer dress for the colder fabrics of fall. my black pants have been useful lately since my jeans ripped down the leg beyond repair. funny when i think that i bought these pants i'm wearing now so that i would look good for a record label meeting. that was back in the day when i was still trying to please the machine makers. HALLELUJAH, i lost my job. i've changed so much, i think i would be entirely unrecognizable to the vampires now. fam jim perry from new hampshire died suddenly this month. so strange to think of time's vulnerability to eternity. he was just here! we were just talking about how we'd sing the sun in to being and now he's completely gone to my world. i love it. it keeps me on my toes. i know he went where the buffalos will always roam and if i stay steady, preparing for my return, this spiraling journey through the now, maybe the Source will take me HOME too. I'll greet mama and all my goodness when i arrive. missing her is harsh lately as i close in on her birthday and spreading her ashes back to earth. "why should i see god better than this day? i see something of god each hour of the twenty four, and each moment then, in the faces of men and women, and in my own face in the glass; i find letters from god dropped in the street, and every one is signed by god's name. And i leave them where they are, for i know that others will punctually come forever and ever."-Whitman. i plan to prepare my soul daily and rise according to the rights of passage, there where i enter the trail to the planetary divide. i'll do it from the stage and sea, you and me, sept 1st in boston, sept 3rd in pine plains, sept 11th in new york city. come be with me and i promise to be true. howling to you from the holy road, X=h/m Lizzie

2006-08-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

another week now. we've got just a while left here in this pine plains residency. mama's doing her thing, moving all things into constant bieng. i've been inside my notes on research with colored pens and glue. renewed vows for the new years declerations of celebration and discipline. plan to start now. abbey's gregg's golden retriever. she's sleeping on the floor by the early fall fire. gregg's sitting with music a while. baba's reading lust for life in the room next door, the dharma's beside him, breathing heavy and restful, like a dharma does, i love this living. the howl-o-weeen ball found its home today. Laura's been driving around the country side in Faith (the spitfire convertable) passing out fliers and hanging up posters around the hudson valley. come october 28th, we'll all dress up like pilgrims kidnapped by indians and like it. i'll go meet the boys in bed now, read my copy of the john irving paperback. gregg's coming with us to boston, he'll sit in and we'll all start the new book of today. tomorrow's the first real holy road tours workshop, "living local in america". i'm so looking forward to the learning. howling to you from the holy road, L X=h/m

2006-08-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

the holy howl. five days without word. that's the howling taking all my body, mind and soul. closing on 214 tomorrow. that's the biggest news since birth, in ways. i'll return with the wind when the sun's gone down. too much growing growing on to tell stories now. only in retrosepect will it make sense, but i'll say this....the fast brought me Home. i am whole again. i remembered what it means to pray and that i need to be taught too. "after all the tea and cakes and ices, shall i have the strength to bring the moment to its crisis, for though i have wept and fasted and wept and prayed and though i have seen my head brought in upon a platter, i am no prophet and here is no great matter. for i have seen the eternal footman carry my coat and snicker and in short, i was afraid."(T.S. Elliot) - Howling to you from the holy road, X=h/m, Lizzie

2006-08-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Waking up felt impossible this morning. My body had sunk into the bed and the night had attatched itself to me. After the fruit juice Tony brought me in bed, I started to come to. Then the excavating began. All day was an inch toward memory, toward the new life. I went through waves of clinging and release. I swam and loosened the pain between my shoulder blades, stretching slowly. I think that's where my wings are growing in, where the pain is. I sat with the sun from its first sign of setting until the new night star had appeared. I wrote and remembered how to pray again. How to be in total surrender and say help and I do not know.... Breath in, thank you....breath out, for give me. Howling to you from the holy road, X=h/m, L

2006-08-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

The third day of the fast. My whole body feels lifted. The hunger is gone. I don't feel the need to eat. The juices are so full of life. When I drink them they go straight to my heart, my blood, my brain, my memory, and I feel all emotions being transformed. It seems like faith in a glass. My fear cells are diluted and then flower into grace. Tony looks lifted, Laura and Gregg too. I practice the chanting, "god is breathing in me, i am breathing in god," and I question the time to bring me closer. It is now. i just want to be closer to The Great Author, let it be known that I am a humble and ready collaborator, on my knees I pray to thee...The Moon is so huge tonight, bigger than I've ever seen it. White as white can be. We're at The Hammertown House waiting for Gregg to finish showering. We're gonna take a night walk through the corn fields and howl our intentions. I'm in the holy old jeans and my I Pledge Allegiance To Myself sweatshirt, sitting next to the buffalo in bed. He's typing. I'm typing. The wireless connection is everywhere here. We're both reaching for light. Figaro's being his dharma self on the end of the bed and in a few moments from now it will be now again. I'll sit up and say, "ready baba?" Fig's ears will stand up all pointy and curious, his eyes will look at me with hope and devout love. Somewhere in his dharma Self he knows I'd never do a night walk without him, but still, he has to ask....Howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m.

2006-08-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Started the fast yesterday. Juice and nothing but juice for seven days and seven nights. Greg, our host and long time friend of mine, says I should write about it, he says that we should all write about it. So, Tony started his story..."dear mom" he writes... god, how I'd love to write this story as a letter to my mama but she's gone now and so she wouldn't be able to leave comments like Tony's mom does...The moon's almost full tonight and music is a consistant part of the sunsets here. I want to lose my addictions to coffee and food and all things that keep me from surrender. I want to be more myself than I've ever been. Creating my reality in the fascinating moon, sinking orange into everything and focusing. Wanting to see the puzzle for what it is...But there's no guidance save the face my heart wears, the one I have to search for like a fumbling kid. I'm hungry without hunger and satisfied without food. The long lawn into the Cattail field and the Sunflower field tell me that this is a whole 'nother lifetime again, a new chapter in a book i'm writing, reading and a walking in, all at once, just right now. I have won when I remember that, that I can't win the Great wrestling match with god. I surrender at the mercy of goodness and magic everywhere. god is everywhere, go there."we must eat first of all, to believe in what makes us eat, that something makes us eat, to believe that whatever haunts us in the mysterious depths of ourselves need not haunt us as a soley digestive concern. what I mean is, if it is important for us to eat, it's even more important for us not to waste in the sole concern for eating." -Artaud / howling to you from the holy road, X=h/m....Lizzie

2006-08-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

We've been doing the holy road scramble. Keeping H over M and all together happy. the wind shift took us to a blessed 60 acres of Roundfarm, old friends and new fam everywhere... thank you mama. the show in NYC last Wed was one of my favorites.... I'll send out some live downloads to fam who've signed up for those kinds of things. I'll say more here when i can but right now i'm catching my breath from that dance i did, the holy road scramble and the Force that caught us, helped us land on our feet again, for yet another chance at this graceful walk Home. last night we ate a great meal 'round a long table of strangers who quickly became fam, enjoyed the heat and sweat with a group of beautiful young farmers, since it meant we were alive after...earlier that evening we had come six inches from losing our lives in a car wreck...on our way to watching the collective play soccer and sing songs on the sidelines, . THANK YOU MAMA -howling to you from the holy road X=h/m, L

2006-07-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

It turned out that traffic hit and the human hours tied me up into the what will be, ripping me out of the now and keeping me from seeing tony's show. i was so mad that my head turned and split in two. i lost the ground i'd found, ended up wishing i'd left two hours early, which is always the holy road rule of travel...when something important lies ahead....
that was my birthday day, being Born again, back into the now....which is Not fun but still a gift. the weekend was spent celebrating the new life, with constant thanks for baba, the dharma, the manifestor, the long coutry road, the books, the sleeping, the waking, the howling, the big open lake, the breathing, the reaching for light and the Now Clock that ticks in my time. tomorrow's show will tell the whole story. the little boxes exposed, my fight for the right to be in the now, our journey back to new york, our road heading to new hampshire and the healings to come...from the holy road with love and howling - L, X=h/m

2006-07-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday, Every day is my birthday on the holy road and every minute my funeral and all things are always in the process of being born and dying. Something special happened though, 33 years ago (in human calculation) when my body entered this earth by way of The Great Mother Canal. At New York Hospital, on July 21st, 1973, I arrived. They used to say I was born singing/born laughing but it's not true....I was born quiet and silently screaming for my return to the eternal cradle. Memory believes before knowing remembers. My skin was yellow and they lost both our heartbeats....My mother clung to me, all sweaty and strong, once it was clear that we had both survived and we would travel this lifetime together, helping each other find the Way Home. I'll write more later...howling to you, X=h/m. Lizzie

2006-07-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'm reading "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn", just started it on Thursday and I'm half way through. It's so good to read like that again, just hours of being with a book, traveling back to New York in the early 1900s.
We had a weekend of rest, the Buffalo, myself....the Dharma Dog and Spartacus joined for air conditioning couch rest too. Didn't turn the news on, not once, knowing that it would scare us if we did, feeling like the start of World War III.... Instead, we slept, played guitars and howled in the afternoon, walked through the crowded soho weekend streets in the humidity, heading to dinner with Kermit and Azi at 14th street. No time for podcasting or the work of the holy road now, not until August 1st, when we're back from break and in the flow again.
"Have you heard it is good to gain the day, I also say it is good to fall. Battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won." -WW...We're carving a path for ourselves now, we who don't want to worship money god anymore, clearing the brush of consumption and ownership obsession, finding a passageway Home. "Summer in the city can cause that rip to tear." Tony went back to a week of teaching for NDI until Friday. Laura and I are here on Prince street, planting holy trees that will bare such colorful caring fruit in the Fall. Howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m

2006-07-14T16:39:00.002-07:00

Watching the news is always a paralysis. the wars breaking out all over the world, fundamentalism of every kind, religious and corporate. i want to crawl into the consumer sleep and be safe there like everyone else, inside the drama box, the tv. the only thing that draws me out is steady breathing, knowing tony's coming for the weekend...we'll talk and read and rest here, in love and leaves of grass, "it is not chaos or death, it is form and union and plan, it is eternal life, it is happiness." I miss the city in the middle but know the now. -howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m

2006-07-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

It's evening now and I find the storming new york almost lovable again, almost peaceful and almost sincere. sitting under the cafe canopy on prince street, writing about the midwestern tumbleweed. the lovers from denmark say i still hold the city in my heart, they can tell, they say, by the way i direct them to the williamsburg galleries and the central park boat yard and the natural history museum. howling to you, L ... X=h.m

2006-07-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

The city is packed with people moving in and out of train cars. hot, busy, overwhelming, lots of homeless people
carrying bags of cans or doing nothing but be hungry. cellphones everywhere, inescapable sounds of ring tones and honking. i don't know how folks find serenity in the constant suck of this city. it's beyond gravity, what pulls people to volunteer for the drain every day. it's social distortion indeed , i grew up in this and have spent my life trying to leave. i've seen both the coasts and i know they harbor the disease worse than anyone. fear and money worship are the natural causes from which we die every day. places where people are caught with their heads in the tiger's mouth, time is the tiger and they're addicted to their own hanging skin. the thrill is enough to make them trade their whole life for that feeling but not me, no way. i'm planning my escape route from the egg roll and next time i come back, i'll call the seaguls from the east river to host a breakfast of thieves. with one breath after breakfast, i'll invite you to join me in travel through the tunnel we carved for the evolution. howling to you from the holy road, Lizzie X=h/m "every atom belonging to me, as good belongs to you."

2006-07-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

The first night back in New York is always the hardest. I hear my mother's voice, not as an eternal cradle song but as a memory with actual tone and emotion. I see her playing Chopin on the grand piano or calling me to the living room to sit and as she would say... "tell me everything, everything!" If only I could, I would...oh how I'd ramble on...all about Columbia, The House on St.Joseph Street, all the angels flying in and out of my court, about the beautiful buffalo and the rising, and laura's being deeper than all the oceans deep, the saturday hospital healing from Paula and Ken, some of the infinite family found... but I can't tell her, not in words anyway. it makes me feel better when the buffalo says, "she already knows everything, she's 'conducting the orchestra, lizzie', (quoting "louise"). The Dharma sees me on my knees. he barks the same wisdom that the buffalo shares. I'm sure they're right... but I miss her bountiful hug, her excited eyes opening wide with my stories, her feeding crackers to fig while we walk and talk, her physical being was such a wonder. Since I can't sit beside her, I've decided, this morning, to come and sit beside you. Is it alright if I tell you everything....the holy road is neither good or bad but always winding, I'm heading Home, chanting this with every step.... If you don't create your reality, your reality will create you...Howling to you from the holy road, your friend in life and song, Lizzie ( X=h/m)
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