Waiting in the Detroit Metro Airport for our flight to Seattle on February 28th, I told Allison "Something feels different." I have made that trip each year for more than a decade as part of my annual West Coast Tour but I could tell that this would be like no tour prior. Without knowing it we were standing on the precipice of the corona virus outbreak in the United States. The day after we arrived in Seattle, the governor of Washington declared a state of emergency because the virus was spreading there.
My first response was fear. Then I remembered to breathe, and to take refuge in the practice of present moment awareness. Allison and I talked about what we should do, prayed about it, and sat with it in meditation, turning it over to the Great Spirit. We were able to have fun and joyful performances at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island. We were scheduled to end the tour on Lopez Island, one of our favorite places to visit. As we took stock of the developing situation, Allison had the idea of renting a car and driving home rather than flying, to further reduce our risk of exposure to the virus.
We reluctantly cancelled our Lopez Library show and used our final four days of the tour to drive across country, taking the southern route from Bremerton, Washington through Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska (where a state trooper was convinced that we were trafficking drugs), Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and back home to our precious mitten-shaped state. Thankfully the weather was clear and the roads were dry. We enjoyed the journey and were grateful to have made it home safely, only to find the corona virus close behind. Soon after we returned the virus began spreading here in Michigan. Schools were closed, and just this week our governor ordered us to "stay in place," or as I like to call it "be still and know."
We have been home now for over two weeks and thankfully have not experienced any symptoms. We have been carefully taking precautions and trying to do our part to slow the spread of the virus. All of our music gigs for the foreseeable future have been cancelled or postponed. We, along with most other humans around the world, are learning how to adapt and live in this new reality.
Of course my old friends fear and anxiety have continued to arise. The spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, and making and sharing music have been so deeply helpful. I have been reminded that the ancestors and Spirit helpers are here with us, and that each moment is an opportunity to take refuge in their love and compassion. Music, meditation, and mindfulness help bring me back to this place of knowing; Knowing that I am deeply interconnected with all life, beyond space and time. Knowing that it is our human nature to grow old, to get sick, and to die. Knowing that I want to respond to this situation with wisdom and compassion. Knowing that I don’t know the outcome and that’s okay. Knowing that I can trust God, trust the Spirit, and take good care of this present moment.
Allison and I are aware that we are very fortunate. We are healthy and well. We don’t have underlying health conditions. We are currently out of work but we have enough savings to make it through the next few months. We are aware that those who work in health care are on the front lines of this fight. We pray for those workers, and for our elders and for those who are the most vulnerable.
In our own little way, we offer our music and songs as a refuge and support along your path. I'll be doing two live stream music events this week and I hope you will join me. Whether you are young or old, sick or healthy, working or not, we are in this together. We inter-are. And we sing for you.
Wishing you and your family good health and happiness,
Joe
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Be Still and Know
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Joe Reilly “Be Still and Know” Non-Tour Spring 2020
**All previously scheduled performances are postponed until further notice**
JOIN JOE FOR TWO LIVE STREAMS THIS WEEK:
Joe Reilly Children’s Concert Live Stream
Wednesday March 25th, 4-5pm EST on Joe’s Facebook Music Page: https://www.facebook.com/joereillymusic/
This concert is being generously co-sponsored by the James and Grace Lee Boggs School (Detroit), Burns Park Elementary School (Ann Arbor), Detroit Waldorf School, Dicken Elementary School (Ann Arbor), The Birmingham Temple Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (Farmington Hills), Upland Hills School (Oxford), Martin Luther King Jr. School (Ann Arbor), The Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival, First Steps Ann Arbor, IslandWood (Bainbridge Island, WA), Wines Elementary (Ann Arbor), Sunnyside Environmental School (Portland), and Four Corners Montessori Academy (Madison Heights).
"Be Still and Know" Music and Mindfulness with Joe Reilly
Friday March 27th from 7:30-8:30pm EST on Zoom
Sponsored by Ascension Healing Arts Center in Southfield, Michigan
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/414930077?pwd=MWtCd2ViREpZQnB0VjZsM054alJ2dz09
Meeting ID: 414 930 077
Password: 335964
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,414930077# US (New York)
Additional Musical and Spiritual Resources From Joe:
Joe has uploaded several spiritual practice songs on a wonderful mindfulness site and app called Insight Timer to help support you in connecting with your spiritual resources.
Joe's friend Kaira Jewel Lingo, a Dharma teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh, has posted a 10-day course on Insight Timer called “Skillfully Moving Through Challenging Times,” and has used an excerpt from Joe's song Be Still and Know for the intro and outro of each 15-minute session. This course has been a lifesaver for Joe and many others during the challenges of this time and is highly recommended!
Lion’s Roar and the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation are offering a free 5-day online summit with many amazing Dharma teachers called In the Footsteps of Thich Nhat Hanh March 25th-29th. Join Joe and thousands of other participants across the globe for this event.
Financial Support
If you would like to support Allison and Joe financially during this time, and have the resources to do so, they humbly welcome donations via PayPal
You can also stream, download, or order Joe's music using the link or from your favorite digital music platform, which helps support them financially as well.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Now let us wash our hands with mindful awareness!
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