Celebrating the Mercy & Grace of God; moving lyrics & stirring orchestration... speaks to the heart of our personal relationship with God via the Spirit within. Perfect for personal/ group meditation, communion, prayer, baptisms, weddings, etc.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (43:57) !
Related styles: Spiritual: Contemporary Christian, Spiritual: Inspirational, Spiritual

People who are interested in Feeling close to the Spirit Love, Hope, Charity, Faith Mercy & Grace should consider this download.


Details:
Many Names, One Journey

Learning to blend music with inspirational messages.....an open letter from the artist

Beloved Friends and Family in God;

I was blessed early in life with parents who provided wonderful inspiration in a number of ways, starting with the joy I experienced, of a large family (many aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc.), while we were also being taught about God via a Christian Church and school.

Then, as the years went on, I was exposed to many other cultures, due to the nature of my fatherâs turn as a U.S. Congressman followed by years of national and international âhunger relief work,â which at times, took our family overseas with him. My father was also famous for bringing guests of international origin home for short or extended stays. This always made for interesting conversation, opening my mind to many different perspectives.

At age 13 for instance, I was introduced to Yoga by my Brazilian Aunt (go figure), the beautiful and gracious Maria Julia. This experience then opened the door to studies and books about other religions and sacred teachings from all over the world. I remember how full of zeal I became, reading everything I could get my hands on which could tell me of the many ways in which people throughout history had pursued a relationship with God. I often wept as I turned the pages; my heart was so full when learning of the tender and humble devotion that many souls have expressed throughout their lives, their sacrifices, and their service to God.

As I read on, it did not seem to matter what country or culture was represented in the chapters of the book that I had in my lap at any given time....I could feel and share-in the depth, the spiritual wonder, and reverential respect for God found in each seeker's story. And after reading over a hundred such books, my vision for my life was permanently extended beyond the horizon of my little existence in the suburbs of D.C. My soul could no longer be contained in, what normally might have been the simple dreams of a young teen. A shift had been taking place in my consciousness even before these books had transported me throughout history and around the world, as all of the events of my life began to work together to take root as the beginning of a restless passion that would drive me my whole life.


The Consciousness Shift....

Perhaps this "shift" did begin with the influence of my parents and with where our travels took us. Perhaps included, was the impact of witnessing the extreme poverty and suffering in the streets of South America. Then combined with the earlier experiences of feeling close to Jesus...I knew that I was no longer content to dream only about high school and college followed by the expected next steps of marriage and kids.

Yet, I realized that ongoing education might be necessary to prepare for humanitarian work and I also considered that a family might be one of the experiences that God had in mind for me at some point.

But also, I believed deeply, that there would be "something else" that my Heavenly Father would ultimately impart, which would not only answer the questions of my heart about Him and about my spiritual quest, but I believed as well, that He would answer my other prayer and bless me with a way that I could help others. I wanted so badly (and still do) to be a part of the relief of suffering on this planet; and with so much needed everywhere, I wanted Him to lead me to where I could best serve.

Indeed, I had already learned that there was no end to the many forms of misery; besides material poverty and it's effects...I was discovering that mental and emotional anguish left many people's lives in shambles as well. I could see that there were other contemporary plagues affecting the planet such as addiction and god-lessness, which represented a kind of impoverishment of the heart or soul, equally as painful as physical hunger and lack.

At times I would feel a sense of rage and frustration at how some humans would treat one another and at how people seemed to suffer, and needlessly so at times. My heart was full of yearning, "If only there was a better way to help the afflicted or to move the hearts of those who could help."....Well, I had no idea how or when God would send His leading to address all of these concerns, but deep down in my soul....I had to know.... that He would make all things clear. This represented the beginning of "faith," in my heart and the beginning of learning how to trust in the unseen as my soul reached to know God and His Plan.

Seeking the balance...

Though I have mentioned first, my personal tour of the human condition on the planet.....you might be asking yourself as you read, "did Ann also see magnificent beauty all around?" Yes I did....and it moved me to my core. But even with the discovery of profound beauty... I ached, wondering how I could truly "touch" beauty and reach it. How could I hold onto those precious moments as they seemed to slip away far too quickly? And all the while, my mind never wandered far from the images of those people out there who I had seen in their suffering, with no end in sight for them.

What could be the balance in all of this? Would I ever be able to enjoy anything in life now that I had become aware of the pain of others who were waiting for relief? I have to confess, that I knew much torment during my early years. So, apart from my music and poetry which emerged from these experiences, I was probably not the easiest soul to be around at that time, as I lived with far too many questions.

Other Great Teachers.....

But back to my list of those who originally inspired me...my father introduced me to Rev. Martin Luther King, who's vision I embraced immediately; and as for Mother Teresa...she brought the best out of everyone, and...if my memory serves me correctly, I believe my father had an opportunity to meet her during one of his visits to India. Irmã Dulce was another beloved and famous nun working in Brazil who worked tirelessly with the same heart as Mother Teresa; and I was able to see the love in her eyes as she shared her heart her during visits to our home in Rio.

Then later through other individuals and groups or at compassionate action events (where I would perform as a recording artist), I learned about the teachings and works of many other beautiful living saints such as Sister Immanuel of Egypt, Jimmy Yen of the Philippines, and Tamo-San of Japan. I had opportunities as well, to meet and listen to some very interesting leaders who were coming into view during the 60s and 70s such as Ram Dass, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Yogi Bhajan, and Swami Satchidanandaâ¦just to name a few. (Manâ¦did I spell those names right? It has been a few yearsâ¦.forgive me, if I missed a letter here or there in one of these names).

As my journey continued, I learned of political heroes such as Mahatma Gandhi of India, Nelson Mandela of Africa and Lech Walesa of Poland... inspired leaders from around the world who at times suffered imprisonment, torture or even death while attempting to bring about freedom for their nations. There were American heroes who were making a difference all around the world with ground-breaking humanitarianism; and many great new artists were born who were blending compassionate messages with lyrics and melodies, bringing insight through their works. The list is endless really...of all of the great sources of provocative thought, which challenged complacency.

Another great highlight of my earlier travels was when I had the privilege of walking with various Native American leaders such as Sun Bear and his people or Grandmother Twylah Nitsch of the Senecas of New York; these encounters took place at Medicine Gatherings, on their reservations, or wherever they were when I was invited to join up with them for a visit or event. I learned so much from these eloquent Native American teachers about their reverence for God and for His provision. They taught the significance of having respect for all of life. What they imparted to me about my relationship to God's creation all around left a glowing impression on my soul..... where I would no longer look at a stone as just a stone or a coyote as just another forest creature; the coyote was now my four-legged brother and the eagle was my wing-ed brother and in like manner I came to learn how all of us humans are part of a magnificent whole in the tapestry of The Great Spirit's creation.

Many names, same journey

Throughout my travels, I picked up a few extra names as is the tradition of various groups: Twylah Nitsch named me "Heartsong," Yogi Bajhan named me "Shabdkar" (relating to the sounds of God's love throughout the universe). Another Native American group called me "Eagle Eyes - She who speaks in visions." Sun Bear just called me, "little sister." Then, my yoga instructor from the 70s named me "Annie Rainbow,â after completing my yoga-teacher's training course; and for years people up and down the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia would come out and visit me under the name "Annie Rainbow" when I would sing in clubs and events along the Hwy 81 corridor. Later, when I was baptized (went to the water) I had an experience of "receiving" a new name, "Angelica" which I have kept in my heart.

In the end, I retained my maiden name of Wolf, for various reasons; for one thing, it is easier to deal with copyright law when one has only one name. Keeping the name Wolf, helps me feel connected to my Father who was a great inspiration to me regarding humanitarianism and my mother who taught me so much about character, faithfulness, diligence, and hospitality; and having this last name also reminds me of my Swiss ancestry. However, the Native American people appreciated that name as well, especially since the wolf is a "family-oriented four legged brother who loves to sing." They told me that they do not believe that I was given that name by coincidence.

By any name, I give thanks to God for the "grand tour" I received, introducing me to such a rich variety of ways in which people search for God and celebrate their learning experiences.

The Journey Continues...

Are you getting the idea by now that I had âbroad exposureâ to many different cultures and viewpoints? Well, somewhere between incredible moments meditating on Jesus and reading every book I could find on religion or âspiritualityâ from around the world, I did become a Yoga teacher myself as I have already mentioned, and taught "Relaxation Therapy" classes for over 13 years. The deep breathing and stretching techniques which Yoga offers did me a lot of good at that time in my life. The simple exercises provided basic skills which helped me become more balanced during those tumultuous years of my early youth. And who knows? Perhaps those skills even strengthened and prepared me for the long years of âSeekingâ which were yet to come.

Today, I still enjoy some of the breathing and stretching techniques, as these can be great for general health, along with other forms of exercise. So, though I am grateful for the âtherapyâ that I received during that period of my life, I will admit that my soul still reached and searched for âmoreâ as there remained many unanswered questions.

Something moreâ¦

And, in spite of this rich background of exposure to unlimited cultural options, I also began to realize after many years of experience, that developing deep levels of spiritual discernment would require an inner-most connection with the Spirit of God. I also began to see how hard it was for the workers of compassion to hold on to their hearts when confronted with enough hatred, fear, evil, and downright exhaustion in trying to deal with all the problems of life.

So, already feeling like a burned out social worker by my late teens, my heart sank and I slumped into somewhat of a depression; I was already very tired in my soul after doing battle with all of these concerns for so many years. But, from time to time, I would experience some temporary relief with yoga and meditation. I also remember experiencing a sort of soul renewal after embracing the "back to the land" lifestyle in the 70s; and of course along with gardening, canning, tending the wood stoves, and writing music...all which brought considerable joy... the arrival of my two beautiful children helped keep me grounded as well. I could be feeling terrible and if my kids needed me, I would snap right around; or if I suddenly got an idea for a song, I would suddenly feel comfort in knowing that perhaps the documentation of my challenges in song might help someone else. It is amazing to think back now on the help which God sent to me in so many ways...to carry me through, moment by moment, through it all, until I would finally come to know lasting peace.

So, in moments of joy and especially in times of weakness, I reached out to God for answers again and again, often through tears, already having realized that acquiring spiritual wisdom or holding on to one's heart and soul in spite of the darkness that can be found on earth...well, this would definitely require something very profound in the way of âGraceâ or âinner strength,â something "more" than what different âtechniques, beliefs or doctrinesâ seemed to offer, at least among those which I had thus far encountered in my journey.

To love and forgive consistently⦠well, as human beings, I considered that we just might need something very powerful which could enable us, not only to learn how to relax or think in a positive manner...in order to live healthier lives; but I began to wonder, if by some form of Godly help, we could possibly overcome or transcend the very limitations of âhuman nature," to be able to learn to love and co-exist in peace, each soul helping the other. I certainly had read about "transformation" (aka: nirvana, samadhi, etc.) as the goal of most every religious culture in the world; however, discussing this eventual condition was one thing, but knowing how to access this level of consciousness on a consistent basis...was clearly another.

Taking a tour

Though Jesus and His teachings of mercy remained at the forefront of my awareness all throughout my long journey, I did eventually find my way to Him, to ask Him to be the Shepherd of my soul; and so, I would be honored at this point, to offer to you, what I have discovered about Him and share with you what some of the answers to my questions turned out to be.

Thus, you will find an assortment of Songs which tell of my passion for God and my love for Jesus and all He has done to teach us "The Way of Mercy and Grace." The song, "Remember Me" was written from the perspective of Jesus, sharing with us from the table of the Last Supper. The song, "By Your Love" was written from the perspective of Jesus sharing from His position as the Ascended Christ, yet through the Cross of Mercy, encouraging us to care for one another, yet move by the leading of the Spirit.

I sincerely pray that these songs will perhaps provide some comfort and support as you experience your spiritual journey.

For more, please visit us at: Message of the Lighthouse ....www.messageofthelighthouse.org
Most sincerely,

Your friend for the journey of the soul,

Ann M. Wolf