Asking For A Miracle (revisited - with poetry)

[Christopher Stewart]

(« The Miraculous Draft of Fishes » - Artist Unknown - photography by TTaylor)

« Asking For A Miracle » is a short instrumental arranged for acoustic instruments, and written in a time of dire need.

While working on the composition, I recalled a tarot reading I gave to the fiancée of my sole nephew, sometime after she had lost her first unborn baby. Although she never voiced her question, I felt that she was hoping to try to give birth again. The cards clearly told that the possibility was there despite what had gone wrong in the past, and that her attempt would be successful as long as she was willing to commit to the process and make the required sacrifices. I remember she was visibly moved by the reading and very happy about the possible outcome.

Her son, my sole grandnephew, is now three years old. The piece is dedicated to him.

The poetry has very little to do with that story. About half the stanzas have been written around the end of April, as observations on events and people in various online communities I am part of. The remainder have been inspired by interactions that took place in the recent weeks. In publishing the verses, it is my hope that some of the prayers and questions they voice will be answered.

sister Jo is in tears
her best friend died on her
after so many years
lost her fight to cancer
the ghost rings at her door
seeing no one out there
she crumbles to the floor
please spare her from despair

brother Bill generous
shares his blessings daily
though strong and courageous
he sometimes grows weary
routine never ceasing
hasn't he earned reprieve
must his words keep paving
the return of his Eve

on his own poor Kerry
wants to move overseas
to join his friends merry
and once more be at ease
can't you extend his range
of creativity
so he can bring the change
he's so yearning to see

and Peter is dismayed
by his circumstances
all his efforts unpaid
never bring his chances
lightworking all day long
good deed after good deed
little he does is wrong
why shouldn't he be freed

Alysson is in hell
or so suggests his name
a boy meaning so well
why should he miss the aim
hankering for a break
from his predicament
why can't he, for his sake
find steady employment

Persephone is flawed
or so she seems to think
why couldn't she be awed
and recognize the link
in how failings define
perfect trajectories
designed to intertwine
and resolve the stories

Kimmie is yet buzzing
planning for this and that
always multitasking
she wears more than one hat
isn't she deserving
for all her energy
why can't she be reaping
the desired synergy

and Gary is teaching
inimitable voice
that of heaven reaching
we have to make the choice
the mystery within
hints at the solution
the answers lie therein
pray confirm his vision

Eloura is upset
in her understanding
she is right on target
so she shuns the warning
blind as to the error
that causes her illness
she shoots the messenger
save her from this darkness

Eva too is lonely
upsurges of anger
and sudden enmity
are nothing to help her
in her soul restlessness
friends coming and leaving
can't you in your kindness
grant the peace she's craving

Chris is often tired
undertaking the vow
a pure land required
in the here and the now
an eight-year wide desert
whirlwind of creation
can't you with him concert
and back his solution

the church of the joyful
has for only dogma
happiness bountiful
solves all enigmata
some shout their bliss aloud
but vain simulation
dire needs doesn't shroud
please still their affliction

and how many do share
that which is not given
hurting the ones who dare
pluck the fruits of heaven
thus their mirror is bent
takers' economy
when their merit is spent
pray ease their misery

and as their world crumbles
wrongdoing they deny
when the setback humbles
they blame the gods on high
eyes open by chagrin
angels fall from the sky
teach them that there's no sin
is the tempter's best lie

all the friends of freedom
hoping for more justice
a new kind of kingdom
with no king nor malice
cannot they realize
that it is in their hand
that they must strive to rise
to reach the promised land

in judging wrong and right
and punishing the foes
among themselves they fight
of conflict in the throes
how hours are wasted
in wars horizontal
prizes never tasted
efforts detrimental

love is the only choice
upward the only road
finding our own voice
yet partaking the load
we're bound by objective
endeavour vertical
together supportive
attain the pinnacle

can you allow this wish
superorganism
must we first relinquish
our skepticism
is faith spoilt by blemish
merciless obstacle
or must we accomplish
our own miracle

[Netfino]

OK, OK,Chris! I want to present my view.
I realize, a law is a law but I wish the world would be organized in another way, without strict laws, which I still
don't understand.
Look at the famous singers, musician - music pirates "attact" them  the most- still copy their songs, music- but the artists, despite the fact, earn gigantic money!
That pirate activity doesn't makes them poor -  they even give hundred thousands or even millions dollars for charity!
As I said earlier, I condemn typical pirate actions (for money).
I absolve myself from fault when I am watching a video, sent by my friend, containing f.egz. his holiday photos, with a music by famous artist in the background (and vice versa). Sometimes it is only a short fragment the composition!
Likewise: a low quality movie, made during a concert, put on youtube - it can only encourage me to interest the performer and maybe to buy CD(DVD) of the artist whose performance I have just watched on the site.
From my point of view it is a form of promotion of the artist.
In my opinion a harm of these acts is very small, it is done in the name of personal musical development, friendship, love, joy (not for money) and, to my mind, it doesn't reduce earnings of artists.
When youtube tell me to remove my video, in which I used no my music, due to copyrights, I do it, but I don't agree with it.
I try to abide by the law but sometimes it is difficult for me to understand it.
And I think I would never hear about many performers if I didnt see them on youtube.
I can understand your attitude  because you are an artist, so you are placed on the opposite site of the problem.  
You are right but I think I am right in some points too.:):):)

Netfino

[Christopher Stewart]

@IaAY : we agree...

« Both art and spirituality have a goal, and that goal is supreme joy, supreme delight. We can say that art is a tree of evolution. We climb up this tree in order to pluck the fruits of light and delight, and we climb down this tree in order to distribute the fruits of light and delight. » — Sri Chinmoy

thanks for your kindness... i return you the compliment with a Fleur de Lys from Québec...

@Netfino : i have no doubt that you mean well... still, i think i should mention the following :

about the notion that sharing contents helps the creators because it promotes their work : this is possibly true in some cases, but from what i have found on the net via a quick search, it seems that the studies that have been conducted thus far demonstrate that either such activities hurt the sales, or that there is no correlation between the two... so either way, it appears the argument doesn't stand...

also, i understand that some might discover new artists because of such sharing activities, but it is not as if there are no other options : most artists have websites or official channels via which their material can be discovered... sharing links and contents approved by the artists (or rightsholders) accomplishes that same objective of discovery, but with the significant difference that the activities are consensual...

if the recordings are not available anymore, then one alternative would be to contact the artist and/or their management and ask to re-release the contents in present-day formats... if there are enough inquiries, then the operation could be viable and profitable for all parties concerned... and if there is not, then perhaps the artist will consent to the material being made freely available... but as long as such permission is not granted, then the sharing is illegal, no matter the age or the availability of the material...

rules of law have a necessity... laws are intended to protect people, on both sides of the equation they are attempting to balance...

in this instance, copyrights protect the creators in giving theme way to ensure that they will be duly remunerated for their work... it might not be obvious to the non-artist that creation is a very difficult endeavour... great works of art are often the expression or the results of painful processes of exploration and transformation that the artists accept to go through in order to create pieces that have value not only for themselves but ultimately for the betterment of the whole of humanity... this is very important work because this is how light reaches us in our subjective worlds in a language that we can understand and through forms that we can relate to... we have to respect that, and when we don't, we ourselves suffer the consequences because, willingly or not, we devalue the art, and the associated light... « bien mal acquis ne profite jamais » as we say in French...

if there were no copyrights, and thus if anybody could take, consume, reuse, share, or resell the material as they see fit, then no one would ever want to bring such material into the world, because it wouldn't be viable to do so... if the food at the grocery store was free for everybody to take back home, no one would ever want to run a grocery store...

thus, copyrights also protect the listener, the reader, the amateur of visual art, and so on and so forth, because it ensures that there are people who are willing to climb the tree of evolution and pluck the fruits of light and delight, and then bring them down to us so that we can revel in them... and if there is no one willing to do that for us, then we are sentenced either to life in darkness, or to have to create our own light...

the risk of not supporting the artists who bring true beauty in the world is that it becomes tempting for them to sell their talents to those who pay, like the mainstream media... and then what is the result of their so-called artistic work ? too often, it is work that conveys materialistic or individualistic values... pop-tarts showing their navel and rap stars praising gold and power... are those the fruits of light and delight ? or rather, isn't it the repetition of ideas heard too many times before ? isn't it work that leaves people where they are, and leaves them wanting more, pulling them down towards where they come from instead of elevating them ? if elevation and spiritual growth weren't necessities, then perhaps such choices would be acceptable... 

if those creators who bring the light that is needed for growth are not duly supported, if their needs are disregarded in favour of our own, then how can growth be possible ?

from the poem above :

and how many do share
that which is not given
hurting the ones who dare
pluck the fruits of heaven
thus their mirror is bent
takers' economy
when their merit is spent
pray ease their misery

and as their world crumbles
wrongdoing they deny
when the setback humbles
they blame the gods on high
eyes open by chagrin
angels fall from the sky
teach them that there's no sin
is the tempter's best lie

and that being said, i wish you all a delightful week !

best wishes & blessings,

Chris

[IamAnotherYou]

...Beauty, Harmony, Wisdom - these are forms of Joy to me :)

Chris - You are All 3 in 1 :) :) :)

You are a Trillium to me :)

 

...You are being Celebrated with a Seal of Ontario :)

 

 

[Netfino]

Thanks, Chris, for an interest in Marek Bilinski's music.
As far as copyrights are concerned, I treat videos, placing on youtube, like a form of advertisement of songs, music, even if it is put by "non owners".
In the second case sound quality is usually very low (poor, bad, wrong).
I often receive links from my friends to that kind of videos and when I like it I really go to the shop to buy CD, containing high quality music.
Sometimes these recordings from youtube are very old, you can't buy it nowadays!
But I find a fight against music pirates (people who, for egz., copy original CD and sell it) well- grounded. Their activity really decreases incomes of artists from  sale of CDs.
I try to respect rules of law but sometimes they are not too clear for me and unnecessary.
This is my humble view on the discussed matter.

[Christopher Stewart]

you're welcome Nicole ! ✩

in English, imaginative means far-fetched (or implausible, unlikely), and also inventive, as in the quality of persons or things that exhibit creative imagination... imaginary refers to something that is not real... which i believe is what you meant below...

in French : imaginatif vs. imaginaire...

@Netfino : thanks for the clarification... yes, there are synthesized sounds in our demos, your ears are not mistaken... thanks again for your kind words !

also, thanks for the video, but out of respect for the artists i don't watch (or listen to) videos when i cannot ascertain that they have been uploaded legally to the web, and/or are approved by the artists/rightholders...

i have found Marek's official YouTube channel though : http://www.youtube.com/user/MarekBilinski and he has published live versions of E=mc2...

best wishes of an inspiring and joyful week to all ! ♬

Chris

[Netfino]

I'm sorry I have confused "a little". When I was writing my comment I was in a hurry and concentrated my attention to a grammatical correctness of my English statement.:)
I want to explain what I meant when I said I hadn't used to listen to such a kind of electronic music very
often.
When I was listening to your demos No. 2,7,11,9 or 20 I heard sounds from synthesizer (I hope my ears didn't
make a mistake :) ) and during my writing I probably thought about it.
I find your music very sophisticated, with high artistic level.
I used to listen to less recherche pop compositions, containing strongly marked melodic line.
I haven't got any music education but I think my life experience gave me the elementary music knowledge.
I put this explanation because I want you to know that a part of your audience, which I personify, can see a
difference between various genres of music.:):):)
I do see differences between your progressive rock music and music by Jean Michel Jarre or Polish composer Marek Bilinski.
I am non-professional, so never mind what I call your music- the most important - I simply like it!
 
And it is an opportunity to widen my music knowledge.:):):)

Please listen to one of Marek Bilinski's compositions:

[Nicole]

It cleared my mind on the subject by 'answering' to those questions. I had to re-write them 3 times. So i'm in gratitude for this opportunity that I saw for my own self.

And, I know now the difference between 'imaginary' that comes from something our mind invented and 'imaginative' that is pure creation from the Heart.... Thank you for your teaching here. I'm always open to learn more and more :)

[Christopher Stewart]

thanks Nicole !

the questions weren't so much questions, but rather i was trying to convey an observation...

and the observation is that regardless of the metaphor, whether one is aware of their divinity or not, and whether one pictures it within or without, or even non-existing, in the end, the underlying mechanics of the cosmos seem to be the same...

by the way, i believe you mean an « imaginary heaven » ... imaginative means something else altogether...

blessings,

Chris

[Nicole]

Et c'est un bon choix Christopher....

It's better that way, IAM and Netfino are also from Poland and we all speak English together, our common language. I remember the time when I was still struggling with English and Netfino was learning English too....

Out of Heart, we all found a common ground with the same language, honoring the creator of this site of course and following the amazing connection we have here.

About your question of the ones who are asking for an external divine intervention or the ones asking their higher selves or even the ones addressing their prayers to Angels... they are all granted with a big yes of course.... The Source of it all is being One and the Same.... and it's not out there somewhere on the clouds or in an imaginative heaven, IT IS within each and everyone of us.... We are all holding the divine light, so we are all holding a spark of the Prime Creator within us....not outside ....

So the difference you are talking about is mainly about if we are aware of our divinity or not.. and since there is no punishment or judgement, all are granted by an automatic YES :) with of course the wonderful help of all the Archangelic and Angelic realm and all the diverse enlightened beings and Ascended Masters, all an extension of our own selves :) No separation at all....

[Christopher Stewart]

je suis tenté de répondre en français, mais je ne suis pas sûr que ça soit la meilleure chose à faire considérant que d'autres, apparemment non-francophones, ont déjà participé à la discussion... une prochaine fois, peut-être ?

(translation : i am tempted to reply in French, but i'm not convinced that it is the best way to proceed, given that others, presumably not French-speaking, have already participated in this thread... maybe next time ?)

that being said, we essentially agree on this... still, some miracles have been granted to me without me ever praying specifically for them...

also, isn't it possible for someone to pray/wish/ask for divine (as in external) intervention, not as much for themselves if they believe they can accomplish the deed by themselves, but also for those who don't seem to share this belief ? shouldn't such prayers/wishes/demands be granted too ?

or, in other words, what's the difference in the end ?

best wishes and blessings,

Chris