Anacaona Orchestra

Son is the most popular, important and influential Cuban music and dance genre. The son is considered the national music of Cuba. On the 1900s, it was dominated by Men. At the time, it was believed women were not capable of playing Son.

Most of the modern Cuban musical styles such as Mambo, Cha-cha-cha and Salsa were originated from the son. Although Cuban's music history is very passionate and beautiful I'm not here to talk only about that. 
The message I want to share with you today is about sisterhood and it's power to go against an entire country beliefs to accomplish a dream.


Anacaona is the name of an all-girl orchestra, founded in 1930s in Havana by Cuchito Castro and her sister. A total of 11 sisters joined the band proposing a female septet to challenge the male-dominated son music. 
In my opinion, the Anacaona sisters were very strong minded. At a time where women were considered not capable of playing this music style, they created a band and became very successful with concerts in 1938 in New York and Paris, along with films in Mexico, they rose to international fame. 

In 1987, the Castro sisters decided to retire, and the leadership of the orchestra was passed on and kept in good hands. Since then, Anacaona has been renewed with young and talented girls, graduated from different Art schools and with the required musical talent and charisma to maintain the legendary orchestra.
Eighty-one years after the first band was formed, the spirit of the original members of Anacaona is still alive.
Today the band’s leaders -sisters Georgina and Dorita Aguirre- maintain the legacy they received from the Castro sisters.

Thanks to these brave females, Cuba and the world were able to see that we women can play Son Music as good as any men. It opened the doors to show the world that women can actually play any instrument, sing any music or dance any song they want. 
I can only imagine what they have been through in life in order pursue what they loved. I can also only imagine how many people were against it by telling them to go find another career or stay home taking care of their family.


I strongly believe that they were able to succeed against all the odds because they had each other. There isn't any family bond as powerful as the one you share with your sisters. I know that for a fact. I'm very blessed to have Izi and Alix as my sisters and I know that together we can accomplish anything we want. I hope one day to have them very close to me; preferentially sharing the same roof and experiences just like we did when we were little kids.
I love you my sisters
xoxo
Ariel

References

Wikipedia

www.latinjazznet.com

The music of Caribbean and Brazil class, Rollins College

LOVE !

I love life!


I love being alive...
I love to be a human being!
I love to share
I love to experience
I love to love
I love to be in love!


I love to travel
I love to feel
I love to think
I love the idea that we don't know...


I love hate
I love fate
I love music
I love art


I love beauty
I love fashion
I love clothes
I love being nice


I love crazy things
I love cards
I love what money can bring $$$


I love read
I love write
I love home
I love chill
I love peace


I love movies
I love theatre
I love park
I love animals
I love many books


I love me
I love you
I love my self
I love my family


I love the planet
I love the trees
I love water
I love breath


I love dance
I love shake
I love kiss
I love massage


I love being naked
I love my body
I love shake
I love trash


I love stretch
I love sex
I love shoes
I love chair


I love bracelet
I love rings
I love glasses
I love jackets
I love pink!


I love friends
I love couples
I love white
I love mushrooms!


I love pictures
I love colour
I love coffee
I love yoga


I love day
I love night
I love sunshine


I love the sun
I love lights
I love shadows
I love many things


I love sweet
I love salt
I love pepper
I love high heels!
I love high heels!
I love high heels!


Too many things to love in life....
Too many things to love
Too many things to love....


So many things ... So many ..
Many many...
How many...


I just love!


And you, what do you love???

The Power of Meditation

Are you meditating at least 20 minutes each day? If not, you should be.

So what is Meditation?

Meditation is a period of time in which your thoughts flow free of judgment. It is a period of time in which you can just “be.” Meditation is a doorway  for you to explore your spirituality. Meditation is a time in which you become in-sync with your true-self. Meditation is a time in which your conscious mind is able to recharge after being constantly bombarded with the every day life. Meditation is the process of connecting with the energy of humanity.

THE SIMPLEST AND QUICKEST WAY TO COMPLETELY TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE IS TO PRACTICE DAILY MEDITATION.

Select some portion of the day in which to meditate. The best time is the very early morning when the spirit of repose is upon everything. All natural conditions will then be in your favor; the passions, after the long bodily fast of the night, will be subdued, the excitements and worries of the previous day will have died away, and the mind, strong and yet restful, will be receptive to spiritual instruction. 

No saint, no holy man, no teacher of Truth ever lived who did not rise early in the morning. Jesus habitually rose early, and climbed the solitary mountains to engage in holy communion. Buddha always rose an hour before sunrise and engaged in meditation, and all his disciples were enjoined to do the same.

I know it can be tough, I'm not a "professional" at it. Nevertheless, I've been trying my best to meditate in a daily bases. It has been great. I feel more energetic, focus and calm.

Sometimes, I meditate for about 20 minutes in the morning before going to work. 

Twice a week, during my full body massage, I meditate deeply. When my body is relaxed, my mind is calm, I get in sync with my thoughts and ideas and I feel the connection between my body and soul. It's simply amazing.

My Experience With Meditation:

Oneness is a wonderful benefit of meditation.When I am in a deep state of meditation I can’t help but feel connected to the entire world because meditation is the flow of thoughts without judgment. It often takes me some time to reach this state but when I do, I feel connected to everything and everyone. 

Your intentions quickly manifest when your mind is calm, therefore meditation is a perfect time to send out your intentions. I personally enjoy sending out my intentions during my meditations. While meditating, I often find my "authentic intentions..." So, I try sharing them with the world.

Sometimes during my meditations I like to give thanks. I simply send out a simple intention, thanking the world for all it has given me. It leaves me a great feeling of being blessed. it is very gratifying.

During meditation, I also take some time to visualize my ideal state of being. I picture myself in my ideal life. The power of imagination is extraordinary. Simply picturing yourself in your ideal state can do wonders for your health and well being. My visualizations often leave me feeling powerful and strong. If you had the “perfect” life what would it be like? How’s your health? Your relationships? Are you financially independent? Take some time to imagine your ideal life.

"Not paying attention keeps us in an endless cycle of wanting. 

We move on to the next thing because we aren't really taking in what we already have; inattention creates an escalating need for stimulation. 
When we're keenly aware of what's happening, we don't need to grasp for the next great moment of sensation or taste or sound (all the while missing what's actually here, right in front of us). 
Nor do we need to postpone our feeling of happiness until a more exciting or more pleasing object comes along..."

"Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation" by Sharon Salzberg. 

Conclusion

We live in a world of constant stimulation. We push ourselves to the limits and in the process forget to let our mind and soul recharge,and as a result we  become stressed and sick. It doesn’t have to be that way. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Meditate today.

I hope you enjoy this simple yet complex message.

Ariel

Black & Blue

A noite me acompanha
Como uma moça sem vergonha
Apanhada de calor
Com seu jeito sedutor

A vida me ensina
A morte traz a dica
Que a noite alucina
E o dia irradia

O amor é cego
Quando tenho você por perto
E quando se sente ao ego
Meu coração sai de perto

Sei quem sou
Sei que serei
Sei que não estou
Mas sei quem quero ser.

Alix

... Black&Blue

A noite me acompanha
Como uma moça sem vergonha
Apanhada de calor
Com seu jeito sedutor

A vida me ensina
A morte traz a dica
Que a noite alucina
E o dia irradia

O amor é cego
Quando tenho você por perto
E quando se sente ao ego
Meu coração sai de perto

Sei quem sou
Sei que serei
Sei que não estou
Mas sei quem quero ser.

Alix

Get out of your COMFORT ZONE because the worst is never that bad!

Lately I've been reading a lot about people who have ‘followed their heart’ and ended up finding what they were looking for. However, what do I mean by that?


Us humans have something in common; we all have dreams and aspirations. We wish upon a star, we day dream, we paint dreams, we wrap our troubles in our dreams, sometimes we have unrealistic dreams but we hold on to them and keep on dreaming.
Some of us want to be loved. Some want to be rich. Some want to learn French. Some want to change professions, or get a divorce.

Where do all these desires come from? In my opinion, they come from within, from deep in your core. But why us human beings don't act on our desires as much as we would like? What is holding us back? Why are we so scared? When the time to make important decisions in life comes, are we choosing what we really desire or what is known as right?  Are we opting for a profession based on the financial or personal satisfaction? Are we marrying the Mr. ‘Right Guy’ or the man we love and make us happy? Why not to learn French or become famous if that's what you wish...


The problem is that we are all scared and the lack of confidence doesn't allow people to follow their dreams. The development of self-esteem feelings starts very early in life.  For example, back home, every parent is proud to hear when their kids says they want to become a lawyer or a doctor (well, here is no different). Why? Because normally in Brazil you can make money with these professions but what if their kid says that they want to be an actor? Most likely the parents would encourage him or her to focus on a profession that brings good financial return and study acting on the side. The problem is there is no such thing as ‘doing something on the side’. Once you start getting involved with a profession or relationship your energy and emotions are concentrated to make that work. So, if the relationship is not exactly the relationship you aspire or if profession you chose is not the profession you love, guess what is going to end up happening? You will eventually get frustrated, not motivated, unhappy and ready for a change because at that point you probably have achieved your ‘comfort zone.’


Most of us live day in and out inside of our comfort zone and let's face it - we are all scared of stepping out of it. The ultimate challenge is to step away, yet this first single step can be the hardest. Sometimes it feels nearly impossible to do it when the majority of the world survives off of routine and structure. Well, you should stop and think: "What is the worst that could happen?" I can guarantee you that the worst is NEVER that bad.


We all have to learn how to step away from our comfort zones and enjoy everything life has to offer otherwise whenever we finally decide to make a move it might just be too late. That's when we see parents forcing their own frustrations in their kids, trying to make them "be" what they wish they "had been,” or worse, it could be mentally so stressful that people could be depressed or even get cancer! Then, everything becomes a cycle, an unhealthy cycle, one thing leads to another and problems start to arise.


How can you find the cure? By finding the cause; finding out what doesn't make you happy and changing it - is that simple!! Doing what you love and worrying less about what people are going to think or say. Satisfaction has to come from within.
Always remember - What's the worst that could happen?

People that suddenly decided to change their lives in search of happiness have always fascinated me. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the memoir ‘Eat, Pray and Love’ is an example, she would never had found herself and what she wanted from life if she hadn’t made a "move" - ask for a divorce, take a year off from work and go around the world living life to the fullest. Obviously, not all of us have the luxury of doing that. Nevertheless we can all start from somewhere.

Andrea Bocelli loved music and singing his whole life but didn’t really see it as a career possibility so he got a law degree from the University of Pisa. At the age of 34 he decided to do what he always loved and became very successful at it.


Believe in the voice that comes from within . Get out of your comfort zone and have the courage to run after what you believe. Life is too short - Don't be afraid of changes. You have the power of making crushing events into opportunities as long as you are not scared.

Thanks Angelina - Love you!