• We feel it in our heartbeat, our footsteps, and our breath. We are rhythmic and cyclical beings. We have our own inner "drum" going on all the time. Well, at least I do. There is a pulse even when I am sitting for my daily meditation or deep-diving into my morning songwriting sessions with Mr. Steinway. On some days, my heart is moving quicker than usual, and on other days, there is a slowness, a "hey, take it easy, it's a rainy fall day. There's no need to rush, only a need for deep hush" as you tune in.

    "Walking rhythm sound

    Splashing, slapping, ground

    Thoughts are flying,

    Overlying

    Where is it that I'm bound?"

    So many people ask me, where do you find the lines for your lyrics? Where do you gather ideas or get inspiration for your songs?

    These are the first lines of my song "Open Up and Receive". Every time I sing them in concert, I am reminded of that long autumn weekend I spent in Paris.

     

  • I walked for hours through the tiny cobblestone streets and loved that I had no idea what was being talked about or said. Yes, it had been on my list for years to learn French, and yes, I am sure, like many of you, I signed up for a course at college. Having my management in Paris and working on my Le Grand Love Project, I swore I would finally learn this excellent language and downloaded the "dailyfrenchpod," which I carried around in my pocket and plugged into my ears while at the airports or in the gym.

  • Did I manage? Well, I experienced what I would call LANGUAGE BATHS.


    I started to absorb colors and rhythms with the innocence of a child. I arrived at Charles De Gaulle Airport, got picked up, and whisked off to Hotel Bourg Tibourg, one of the quaintest hotels I have ever stayed in. I climbed out of the cab, through the brass doors into the carpeted lobby, and said confidently, "Bonjour, Monsieur". That was it! I had mastered Good Day! Smiling, I realized that I now had to improvise and draw on other ways to express myself and was thrilled to find myself once again in that open, receptive state of childlike innocence. And yes, with no further word or sound other than "Bonjour" to break the silence, the smiles and gestures got me a key to the second floor nice single room, and a map of the local attractions. Skipping up the stairs, I blurted out "Merci!" and grinned. Ahhhhh, the beauty of it all! I understood NOTHING, and it was pure bliss to fall into the lilt of a language and be in love with a city only by listening to the sounds and absorbing the sites. Paris is now where I go when I want to run away for a few days with a good book of poems, the latest novel, and my journals.

  • So, how can you too get the pleasure of taking a language bath if you don't have time for a weekend trip?


    The world is coming closer and closer together, and I love playing with language. While it is not always possible for me to book a flight to Paris or spend time in another of my favorite cities, Rome. I can fall in love with music from all over the world. So, with the internet taking a more dominant role in our lives, I have figured out how to take language baths by playing one of my favorite games that I call "Radio Tarot".

  • I have a map of the world in the kitchen. Then I close my eyes, count to three, point my finger at a country, and then through the internet radio, find a good station.


    Try it. It is relaxing and also reconnects us automatically to our inner child.  

    Last week I was in India listening to Punjabi, and yesterday, I went off to Iceland. This way, we capture the world's essence, rhythms, and sound and come back to that lovely space of listening to our inner voice. Other spaces start to open up when listening to sounds that we can not yet explain or analyze. Curiosity appears out of nowhere, we become more playful, and creativity abounds. Suddenly, we rush out to buy some fresh coriander and try making Roomali Roti for dinner instead of baking a pizza.

  • STAY GOLD,

  • P.S.: Wanna dip your senses into some foreign sounds? Book some voice classes with our teachers. We are a multi-lingual community. Combine your love for singing with your passion for language? Our young German students are whizzing through their English classes with flying colors. Our Italian community members are no longer homesick in Berlin:) They study in their mother tongue:) We are there for you. 

  • WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE?
    Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:

    Kara Johnstad is a creative visionary, transformational catalyst, and powerful voice in the time and age of transition. Her breakthrough methods have healed thousands of voices and helps people live to their highest potential. She is a singer/songwriter, poet, creator of the weekly VOICE RISING Radio with a reach of 3 million, and founder of the School Of Voice. If you liked today's article, you'd also enjoy listening to Kara's soulful music as part of your daily ritual of reconnecting to source or jump onto the next level and experience personally the power of your true authentic voice at the SCHOOL OF VOICE. If you are ready to take your voice and world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. guided meditation at https://karajohnstad.com