Musical Midwinter Card

Dear Friend Musical Midwinter Card Thank you so much for tuning in and singing with me in 2016  - it's been a very special year and I'm looking forward to more singing in 2017! I hope you enjoy this special sonic card with all my warmest singing wishes to you and yours this Midwinter.  Featuring my arrangement of a wintry folk carol Drive The Cold Winter Away and highlights from my Year in Song with so many wonderful singers.

New Year Events Driving the Cold Winter Away with lots of gorgeous creative events for 2017... Caterham Community Choir - straight off the singing blocks from January 3rd Croydon Carers Choir - singing respite continues monthly from January 25th Croydon Community Choir - joyful monthly sessions continue with Catherine Pestano Crystal Palace Transition Town Choir - Weds from January 11th - put a singing zing in your Spring with empowering songs to celebrate people and planet. Heart of the City Choir - restarts 12th January - guest leading for Naamah Pinkerfield Dal'Or - Thursdays 7-9pm at beautiful St Botolph's Bishopgate, near Liverpool Street. Living a Heart Centric Life Retreat - 28th & 29th Jan lead by Yoga teacher Ciara Jean Roberts plus Soundbath with Katie Rose - 1 place left - www.whollyaligned.com DreamChoir Workshop now rescheduled to May 27th - a day of dreaming and improvising in the magical ambience of St Mary Abchurch Sing for Water 2017 - honoured to be co-directing at the 15th Anniversary event at The Thames Festival on 16th & 17th September Inside Story Radio Show - Rob and I continue to celebrate positive news on Croydon Radio One to One Sessions - Make your New Years Intentions a reality for 2017 with Creative Voice and Coaching Sessions. Tune Your Team? - If you'd like a special choir or singing workshop to help tune your team, office or workplace do get in touch - I'd be delighted to help Do contact me with any enquiries about these events - more info below. Wishing you a magical midwinter and sparkling start to 2017 www.therosewindow.org Twitter: @katierosewindow Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

Tuning In Together

Dear Friend Tuning In Together Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together. – Vesta M Kelly It is no surprise that many traditions evolved traditions of feasting, fire-making, singing, story-telling and devotion to keep their hearts and minds merry at midwinter. It's a natural instinct to draw close to loved ones to eat and recharge in warm places.  Here's a look at how tuning in together in winter can help us weather the storms. Togetherness has a Powerful Purpose A Definition of a team - 'a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.- The Wisdom of Teams - Katzenburg and Smith Santa knew what he was up to when he chose reindeers for his team - these incredible creatures bond their small herds into huge flocks of up to 100,000 to migrate as far as 1,600 miles together. They swim, run (up to 35 mph!) and clip clip their way together to find favourable conditions in some of the longest migrations of creatures on the planet.  When a wolf approaches, the herds draw together and move in circular motions to prevent individual reindeer being attacked.  Reindeer teach us that incredible feats can be achieved through togetherness. Togetherness Cares and Connects It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed – Napolean Hill The power of a choir, group or team is that everyone wins by being part of it.  We all help each other to create something - whether its a song, project, event or a community.   Western individualism and capitalism have been used to pitch individuals one against each other in hierarchical power struggles for centuries resulting in war, destruction and unequal and unsustainable use of natural resources.   This obscures the true power of collaboration to create lasting and sustainable change in society.  Darwin, wrongly attributed and misinterpreted as coining the concept 'survival of the fittest,' noticed that 'those communities which included the greatest number of the most sympathetic members would flourish best and rear the greatest number of offspring.'   One of the reason people enjoy singing together is because it releases the bonding hormone oxytocin which triggers the birth of babies and encourages the development of empathy, kindness, trust and togetherness.   Togetherness is diverse  Diversity - the art of thinking independently together - Malcolm Forbes Tuning in together allows us to discover ourselves.  When we sing in a choir, we learn to listen and receive the sounds of others whilst holding our own note and place within the whole. We relish the contribution that each voice brings - the warm bellied bass notes allow the soaring higher harmonies to ring and sing out.   Similarly we need the different skills that each person brings to a team - without a potwasher, the cook will be in a mess.  We all become strong by celebrating our differences together. Togetherness inspires Love Love is the force that ignites the spirit and binds teams together – Phil Jackson Togetherness allows us to express and discover our love for each other and our teams, groups and communities.   As our reindeer friends teach us, togetherness sparks creativity, motivates purposeful endeavours, inspires us to celebrate and take care of each other and fuels long term endurance towards the completion of long journeys across rocky terrain.  Tune Your Team? - If you'd like a special choir or singing workshop to help tune your team, office or workplace do get in touch - I'd be delighted to help Midwinter Singing Events Croydon Community Choir Midwinter Celebration Don your midwinter sparkles and come join the merry singing throng at Matthews Yard 5th December 7-8.30pm Winter Warmer Singing at Crystal Palace - all welcome to come and sing at Handmade Palace Craft Market at 2pm on 10th December at The Alma Sing Carols with London Mozart Players at their Carol Concert 16th December Crystal Palace Food Market at 12pm on 17th December Heart of the City Choir - restarts 12th January - after a magical end of term concert, I am looking forward to covering this wonderful choir again for Naamah Pinkerfield Dal'Or. The Choir meets Thursdays 7-9pm at beautiful St Botolph's Bishopgate, near Liverpool Street. Advance notice - DreamChoir Workshop 24th January   Mark your diaries for a delightful day of dreaming in the New Year with playful singing and improvising in the special ambience of St Mary Abchurch - all voices welcome.  Early bird bookings by 14th January - click here for more info Christmas Stocking Special - fill a loved ones stocking with special sounds - festive offer - 3 albums for £15 - click here. Do contact me with any enquiries about these events - more info below. Wishing you much tuneful togetherness this December www.therosewindow.org Twitter: @katierosewindow Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

The Voice of Calling

Dear Friend

The Voice of Calling
Follow your calling, not the crowd - proverb
Planning a voice session for female entrepreneurs at Yael Rose's networking group prompted me to think about how we can stay tuned to the Voice of our Business or Calling in life... Hoping that these musings serve to amplify the light of creative calling in each of us this November...

Calling comes from Within
Vocation is more about who you are than what you do 
Our Calling arises from within via our internal communication systems - dreams, visions, feelings, hunches, longings, senses.  Fortunately you don't have to call a BT engineer out and wait for a lifetime to get started - it simple requires a willingness to finetune our inner antennae.

Answering Calling
The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling - Fabienne Fredrickson 
No smoke without fire - our calling leaves smoke signals and calling cards.  Whatever we get fired up, het up or lit up about is an indicator of our values and potential creative contribution - so an animal lover sets up an animal sanctuary or the person with their nose always in a book pioneers a mobile library for the homeless.  

Calling Encourages
And her song called forth the courage in other hearts to sing their own song - Jane Lee Logan 
The great thing about answering our calling is it gives permission and inspiration for others.  In a choir, members who have more confidence encourage those around them.  Artists are constantly cross-pollinating and cross-referencing creative inspiration as naturally as plants do. I recently enjoyed the daily Creative Sprint challenge this October and loved seeing the shared inspiration and encouragement that happened online between fellow sprinters.  Recent research has shown that the health of our social networks can have as much impact on longevity as smoking or alcohol intake - so when we allow ourselves to grow, we encourage healthy growth in our social circles and loved ones.

Calling Is Big
To be a singer who truly inspires, we must throw our ego out of the show, show up and serve. That's when we truly change the world - Kerri Ho
Calling is always much bigger than our self-defeating concepts or images of ourselves.  It calls us to bigger platforms, wider connections and deeper engagement with life than we may have ever imagined possible.  That this is terrifying and will press all of our buttons goes without saying. Tuning into our calling often catalyses a deep rewiring and realignment of ourselves - as we answer the call, we commit to setting aside distractions and dramas, to listen to our own inner voice. The joy, fulfilment and delight that arises when we live out our calling brightens and lightens the world.



Autumnal Singing Events
Shining Your Light- In this month of fireworks and the lights of Diwali there's lots of wonderful singing events to lighten the longer nights...
Women in Business Group with Yael Rose - Join us for a morning of celebrating and empowering Wonderwomen in Biz - Friday Nov 4th 10am-1pm Free to attend, free coffee/tea with cake at delicious Dalhousie in Crystal Palace.
*NEW CHOIR* - Crystal Palace Transition Town- Celebrating Planet and People in Song - starting from Nov 2nd at the newly opened beautiful Paxton Centre, we'll be warbling and wassailing the winter nights in preparation for festive fun around Crystal Palace Triangle. All voices welcome.

Wishing you a truly sparkling November

www.therosewindow.org
Twitter: @katierosewindow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

Gathering Creative Treasure

Autumn Treasure - Tim Packer Dear <> Gathering Creative Treasure For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also - Matthew 6.21 The clonk of a conker on my head this afternoon, shaken by a conker hunting squirrel from a tree alerted me that Autumn is indeed here. Like my branch-hopping friend, I too sense the need to gather the resources that will keep my home, heart and hearth warm this coming winter. Hidden Treasure It is in men as in soils where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of, and in your nature, there lies hidden rich mines of thought and purpose awaiting your development - Jonathan Swift The prickly, protective conker shells prised away and discarded by my squirrel friend act as a great metaphor for the defenses, strategies and identities our creativity can become buried beneath.  Life can sometimes appear so prickly, frightening and threatening to our vulnerable creative selves that we bury our treasures - sometimes for a lifetime.  I regularly hear tales of people slowly recovering in later life from the words of teachers or parents they received in childhood about their singing voices.  They experience untold delight when discovering that their voice can be a vessel of vitality. All that glitters is not gold Buried underneath the negative feelings (or simply ignorant or misleading) interpretations of others, the glistening veins of our talents, dreams and aspirations must be actively sought to be found. Like miners we will dig for these secret lodes of riches.  We will pick out the nuggets of self we find hidden below our surface lives.  We will haul these treasures to light, clean them off and claim then. Each bit of authenticity we are able to own constitutes a part of our vein of gold.  Once uncovered the original self is vital and vibrant - not at all the colourless, lacklustre depressive so many of us have felt ourselves become! - Julia Cameron - The Vein of Gold Reclaiming our authentic selves often requires a process of both release and discovery. As we dig through the layers of life's identity parade we have to release that which no longer serves us in order to reach deeper realms. This requires willingness to discard false reflections, constricting stories and seductive offers that might lead us to trade our true gold for glitter. We need to sharpen our discernment and become vitally connected to our instincts and intuitions in order to sense what needs to be yielded to the fire to both kindle and purify our hearts desires. Simple Steps Yield Bounty It's often the tiny steps that define the big moments of our dreams - Chris Burkemann During October I am taking part in #CreativeSprint - a daily prompt to creative action. As sages have told us throughout time, all creative journeys begin with daily, committed actions which develop our trust in our inner resources. Through small steps we build resilient practices which sustain us through life's ups and downs and enable us to master our greatest dreams. Enlivening Creativity with a Light Touch It is through creating, not possessing that life is revealed - Vida D Scudder  Creativity is a fluid, dynamic process that connects us with the quick of life in ourselves and every living thing. Whilst it may yield beautiful outcomes, projects and products - it quickly, if freed will flow on to the next adventure. The joy of discovering our inner treasure is not dependent on externals such as hitting the jackpot/ our desired weight/ bank balance or getting hitched. It arises in all the beautiful moments where we feel truly alive - moments of every hue and shade, every shape and size. This is the true abundance we see in nature's bountiful diversity - reminding us that the treasure is there to be perceived rather than possessed. A light touch enables us to discover life's treasures and experience the delight creative encounters can bestow. Autumnal Singing Events Celebrating Black History Month- This month's choir sessions will celebrate the immense wealth of musical treasure in Afro-Caribbean Traditions with South African freedom songs, Gospel and Spirituals. Do check the Choir Corner below for a group near you. We'll also be celebrating Black History Month with our special guests on the next episode of Inside Story on Croydon Radio - tune in on October 14th 11am-1pm *NEW CHOIR* - Crystal Palace Transition Town- Celebrating Planet and People in Song - starting from Nov 2nd at the newly opened beautiful Paxton Centre, we'll be warbling and wassailing the winter nights in preparation for festive fun around Crystal Palace Triangle. All voices welcome. Wishing you a beautiful October www.therosewindow.org Twitter: @katierosewindow Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

Dreaming and Singing a More Peaceful World

Dear Friend
 

The BFG - Roald Dahl - highly recommended film to restore a sense of magic and innocence.

Dreaming and singing a more peaceful world
Dreams is full of mystery and magic . . . . Do not try to understand them. - The BFG, Roald Dahl
Many great leaders such as Ghandi or Martin Luther King were lead by a dream that did not seem possible in day-to-day reality. The strength of their passion, inspiration and commitment to follow through on their dreams allowed them to make a huge contribution to the world we now live in. When we follow the creative callings of our dreams they become real - so we too can sing, speak, write, dance a more peaceful world this September. Seeing The BFG was a magical treat during my summer Staycation, so in tribute to his gentle giant wisdom I will let his words, dreamt by Roald Dahl, lead the way.

Peace One Day
Human beans is the only animals that is killing their own kind - The BFG
World Peace Day on 21st September offers a chance to reflect on the world we live in and how we can play our part in making it more peaceful. One Day One Choir is a global movement of choirs, where any group can dedicate a concert, event, gathering or rehearsal to peace. There are a multitude of ways small and large in which people are daily making a difference to each other. Those in the Transition Town Network lovingly tending our community gardens and a hairdresser giving free haircuts to the homeless are just two examples I've been touched by recently. I dream of a world where we put the caring, positive aspects of our humanity centre stage and stop feeding and financing the warlike shadows.

Letting Go of Being Right
Meanings is not important, said the BFG. I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.
Dreams often look upside down from the way of the world. It can seem crazy to dream of peace in a wartorn world. Sometimes we have to let go of our logical minds in order to create something different. Sometimes we have to be brave enough to let go of the fear of being labelled crazy to share our dreams. Sometimes we have to let go of our need to be right to see that others are just doing their best. Sometimes we have let go of our attachment to identities, interpretations, words and meanings in order to reach new levels of understanding. This letting go makes space for something magical to happen.
 

Singing for Peace
So the music is saying something to them. It is sending a message. I do not think the human beans is knowing what that message is, but they is loving it just the same. - The BFG
Music is one of many artforms that can inspire us to think, feel and act differently. When we sing, every cell in our body begins to vibrate to a new tune. The power of singing to reclaim a sense of peaceful power is testified to by the stories of members of Rainbows Across Borders LGBT Asylum Seekers Choir who I recently interviewed and wrote about on Inside Story Radio Show and The Croydon Citizen. Singers who have experienced persecution in their countries of origin said that singing gives them the confidence to have a voice, to become leaders, to cope with challenging situations and to enjoy 'strutting their stuff', as they did with 3000 supporters at Croydon's first PrideFest. The dreams and campaigns of so many LGBT rights activists made it possible for us to walk the streets, whistling, waving flags and singing 'We Shall Overcome.' For many, this freedom of expression is not yet possible, which is why we must keep singing and dreaming a more peaceful world for everyone.


Peaceful Singing Events for September
This autumn I invite you to join me at the following peaceful events:
Sing for Water - choirs across the UK join together in song for WaterAid at the Thames Festival on September 11th.
Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary - At the invitation of by Raficq Abdulla, author of Reflecting Mercury, Dreaming Shakespeare's Sonnets I will be performing arrangements of Shakespeare's sonnets and songs with acapella group Anima on 16th Sept.
Creative Croydon Choirs - Caterham Community Choir restarts on 6th Sept, Croydon Community Choir restarts on 12th Sept and Croydon Carers Choir continues fortnightly from 21st September.
Heart of the City - delighted to have been invited to guest lead this wonderful choir at St Botolph's Bishopgate from September 22nd
Dream Choir - a play day of song and improvisation in the magical ambience of St Mary Abchurch on 24th September

Wishing you a powerfully peaceful September :)

www.therosewindow.org
Twitter: @katierosewindow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

At Croydon PrideFest with Catherine Pestano, Anne Crump & Gill Manly

The Power of Pausing

Dear Friend
 

A newly hatched little turtle pausing to admire its first sunset before heading into the ocean.
- Instagram @trex.photography 

The Power Of Pausing
Take a walk with a Turtle. A behold the world in pause. - Bruce Feiler
August in the City is a relief, even for those of us who aren't on holiday. Things slow down, schools are out and there's less people about. My personal aim this month is to turtle rather than hurtle about town and enjoy the power of pausing- here's why...

Pausing to Be Playfully Present
I like the pause that tea allows - Waris Ahluwahlia
I suspect that many of the world's best ideas have been brewed over tea. A pot of tea or coffee allows a pause to savour the flavour of a moment - whether that's with a friend, a notebook, a laptop or a window on the world passing by. Pausing allows us to infuse in our own presence and to come present to what is arising in our inner and outer worlds. Taking time out restores our sense of playfulness, adventure and curiosity about life.

Pausing to Ponder
Human freedom involves our capacity to pause, to choose the one response toward which we wish to throw our weight - Rollo May 
Pausing allows us to reflect, reset and redirect our pathway in life. Pausing allows new thoughts, perspectives and insights to arise. It clears the decks and allows us to shuffle and deal again. Past, present and future meet in a pause, as we take space to reflect on what has gone before, feel what we need now and set our intentions for that wish we wish to create. It allows the wise whispers of intuition to be heard and inklings of inspiration to arise on the next breath.

Pausing for Peace
In the heart of every human being is that one space which is free, which is filled with peace and which is filled with love - Prem Rawat
One of the world's leading speakers on peace, Prem Rawat, is sublimely gifted in the art of pausing. His speeches give space for the listener to connect within to their own source of peace and understanding. He points us towards the peace which is our natural birthright, an indwelling feeling of being loved, lovable and loving. Pausing gives us a moment to reclaim our essence, our innate stillness within the hustle bustle and find the turtle magic in each moment.

Pausing to Plan
During my Summer Pause I will be planning towards a beautiful Autumn Term of Song. I invite you to join me at forthcoming adventures include:
Sing for Water - choirs across the UK join together in song for WaterAid at the Thames Festival on September 11th.
Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary - I will be celebrating the Bard in song with the quartet Anima at the Ismali Centre on 16th September.
Creative Croydon New Term of Singing - choirs resume in September.
Heart of the City - delighted to have been invited to guest lead this wonderful choir at St Botolph's Bishopgate from September 22nd
Dream Choir - a play day of song and improvisation in the magical ambience of St Mary Abchurch on 24th September

Wishing you much playful, potent pausing this summer :)

www.therosewindow.org
Twitter: @katierosewindow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

Big Water Love Thank You

Big Water Love Thank You Gratitude is wine for the soul. Go on, get drunk... - Rumi Dear Friend This is a Big Thank You to all of you for being friends in song and sharing your beautiful selves and voices with me at Croydon Community - I really appreciate your contribution to my singing journey.  I'm so thankful for the way song has flowed through my 40 years on this planet as a source of life and love and I'm looking forward to following it's call for a good while yet... A special thanks to all those who supported my Water Love Fundraising Party this weekend - as you will see from the video below, it was a wonderful event.  Big Thanks to Rob Wilson Jnr of Fluid4Sight for his photo and video wizardry - click here to view the photo album. Big Thanks to everyone who donated- we collected £475 on JustGiving and £274.40 in buckets- making a grand total of £774.40 for WaterAid -WOW!  As it only costs £15 to give one person access to clean water for life, this will make a big difference to lifesaving projects in Ghana. You can view our fundraising and make any last minute donations here - https://www.justgiving.com/Katie-Rose17 Big Singing Love to the choirs and ensembles who performed - Trade Winds Choir, London Lucumi Choir, members of Creative Croydon Choirs, (Caterham, Croydon and Carers Choirs)  Joanna Foster/ Anima and special thanks to Sing for Water Founder Helen Chadwick for inspiring a global movement of singing and sharing powerful songs from her show War Correspondents with us.   Big Thanks to those who came to listen and sing along, those who were with us in spirit and those who helped spread the word. Big Thanks to Hoodoo's Music Venue for hosting us so generously and Leoni Descartes of Matthews Yard for co-ordinating the event with me. Thanks to Rebecca Parnell at WaterAid for her enthusiasm and support. Thanks to Ian and Greg for being noble Gate and Bucket Keepers. And finally to my wonderful Mum and Dad for always rocking up and supporting me for 40 years. Big Thanks for Life, Love and Singing Joy Wishing you much joy, love and laughter Katie x info@therosewindow.org www.therosewindow.org

Lion Hearted Diversity

Dear Friend   Lion Hearted Love of Diversity Diversity - the art of thinking independently together - Malcolm Forbes  Since I last blogged, the world feels a different place. An MP who stood for tolerance and inclusion has been murdered and the UK has voted for Brexit on the basis of false and frightening promises which have unleashed a wave of racist hate crime. A domino wave of separatism has been triggered as France, Scotland and even some Londoners are now considering independence. Politicians are resigning rather than remaining to face the far-reaching socio-economic consequences. Yet despite all of this, many of us remain committed to the daily business of building positive relationships in our families, communities and global family, relationships that honour our independence and our togetherness in vibrant diversity. Loving Diversity I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows stifled. I want all the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible - Ghandi I have always loved diversity and have sought out and been enriched by friends, adventures and artistic experiences of places far-flung from my 'white British' upbringing. I have always felt queasy about waving flags, national anthems and the pomp and paraphernalia of nationalism. So when my father recently traced his DNA and found that our ancestors spanned many continents, I 'came home' again to my feeling that I am not 'British' or any-ish - rather I am a citizen of the world and member of a global family connected by our humanity and shared breath on this diversely beautiful planet. Diversity, Warts n All One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general.  What happens in Darfur becomes an assault on my own community and on me as an individual. That's what the human family is all about.  - Wole Soyinka  Being part of the human family involves acknowledging the impact of its members behaviour, for better or worse. For me, the dangerously divisive, racist propaganda of Nigel Farage and far-right parties including Britain First is a violent assault on the diversity I hold dear and I will raise my voice to call for accountability in politics and the media. I will also refuse to allow the machinations of madmen divide me from any friends who voted Brexit because difference of opinion is a healthy part of society. The chasm in which we now find ourselves cannot be bridged by further division, nor can the divisions that have been forged be bridged by the whitewash of identity politics. Whilst some people may still hanker after a national identity manipulated by warring politicians for centuries, those of us living in diverse communities are left dressing the wounds it inflicts. The day of the referendum, I alighted at my usual bus stop to find it covered in paper hearts and this poster which reads 'To the people at the bus stop who had racist abuse hurled at them (from a London Highway Van) Big <3 em="" from="" me="" to="" you.=""> We are all inevitably impacted by destructive actions but that must not prevent us from responding creatively with a vision of a more loving world. Photos: Left: Jason Simms-Davis, Shaniqua Benjamin & Kyle Hylton on Inside Story Radio Show. Right: Croydon Carers Choir

A Legacy of Diversity It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and strength. - Maya Angelou  The inspirational young people who came to speak on Inside Story Radio Show the day of the referendum result already know the strength and beauty of their communities. Shaniqua Benjamin has founded Young People Insight, a Forum where young people can come and share their diverse views on themes from careers to knife crime. The two founders of Justified Kings were clear that politics would not be distracting them from their mission of bringing empowering tools, discussions and resources to young people. For today's young people and for their children, we must rise like lions to champion the diversity of our communities. Joining Together in Creativity We don't have to agree on anything to be kind to one another - Anon The humanising effects of the arts reminds us of our connectedness - to sing, paint, draw, dance or garden together does not require us to have the same beliefs, opinions, politics or backgrounds. I relish the peace that comes from singing in harmony with diverse voices. I wish that every political meeting could start with a stilling, connecting practice such as singing and was heartened to read that mindfulness is now being introduced in Parliament. I invite you to join me at a songful celebration of my 40th Birthday on 23rd July - we'll be sharing songs from around the globe and fundraising for WaterAid projects in the world's poorest communities. Do click here to find out more about WaterLove and help us support the flow of love in our global community. I will close with the words of beautiful Jo Cox While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us. Wishing you a Lion Hearted July www.therosewindow.org Twitter: @katierosewindow Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow

Hearing Heritage - Finding Vocal Treasure

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Dear Friend   Roots - Frida Kahlo 1943 Hearing Heritage - Finding Vocal Treasure A tree with strong roots laughs at storms - Malay Proverb  As Jubilant June comes into bloom, I'm looking forward to a feast of singing delights including a special workshop for Croydon Heritage Festival, Singing Croydon's Heritage Recent inspiring interviews on Inside Story Radio Show have underlined for me the crucial role arts and environmental projects have to play in building resilient roots in our communities. Humming at the heart of our sense of heritage is the desire to contribute, create and connect with the treasures in our societies. Communing in the roots of song Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots - Victor Hugo As the pace of life appears to speed up with ever increasing upgrades, technologies and social pressures, it can be hard to know what to hold on to. Living in London I have often felt disconnected from any sense of belonging, due to the transient pace of life here. However arriving in the historically rich creative soil of Crystal Palace has inspired me immensely, as has the commitment of the people I've met at Crystal Palace Transition Town who run over 30 projects including beekeeping, Food Not Waste community dinners and the wonderful Food Market where I've enjoyed busking with local singers. People with their hands in the earth and their hearts humming with a longing to contribute to their communities discover the roots of what connects them to each other in an otherwise anonymous city. Our natural, communal roots grow stronger when we sing, create, garden and dialogue together. Flexible Roots Build Togetherness You can have more than one home.  You can carry your roots with you and then decide where they grow - Henning Mankell  Roots are stabilising and they are also constantly growing, extending along new pathways. With transport and virtual networks growing globally, our interconnections are becoming increasingly evident in new ways. I was deeply moved by the Look Beyond Borders project where holding eye contact for 4 minutes is used to dissolve fears and barriers towards refugees. We can build lasting connections, form new roots and new neural pathways in minutes when we sing and create together. Being flexible with our own sense of heritage allows us to encounter and enrich each other. Photos: Singers at the Dream Choir Workshop at St Mary Abchurch, with Guest Saffron Saunders on Inside Story Radio Show, Croydon Radio photo Fluid4Sight Humming Treasures Our treasure lies in the beehive of our knowledge.  We are perpetually on the way thither, being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind - Nietzsche   As we grow individually, we contribute to the development of the great hive of humankind. Heritage is that which we hold dear and seek to pass on to future generations. Listening deeply enables us to hear the hum of our ancestral songs and stories resonating in the bones of our being. Open-hearted listening enables us to hear the hum of songs that are both different and innately connected with our own. Our sense of legacy and connection with past, present and future generations can empower us to contribute to the growth of our families, communities and societies. Sharing the Treasures of Heritage If we really wish to put an end to our ongoing international and social problems, we must eventually declare Earth and all of it's resources as the common heritage of all the world's people - Jacque Fresco To date we have lived in a world with vast disparity and inequality of access to resources. The resulting destruction of environments and cultures has devastating and long lasting consequences. There are however many projects seeking to redress the balance - from rainforest farmers reclaiming natural agriculture to the foodbank in our own neighbourhood - we can all do our bit to share the treasures of our communities. Sing for Water is a project that continues to inspire thousands of singers every year to sing songs from our global heritage and raise funds for WaterAid's projects in the world's poorest communities. I'm dedicating the occasion of my 40th birthday in July to this cause because it demonstrates the treasures that become available when we sing, share and enjoy the beauty of our natural and cultural heritages. I look towards a world where everyone can be enriched by a shared celebration of our creative heritage. Wishing you a Joyful Jubilant June www.therosewindow.org Twitter: @katierosewindow Facebook: www.facebook.com/therosewindow