Are We The Aquarian Generation Grown Up? Did We Forget? Did We Know?

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female rockers, Journey, Triumph Beatles Age of Aquarius Be The Light Gabrielle Bernstein Ross Valory Rock guitar 80's A Course In Miracles Styx

         The Age Of Aquarius. For a lot of us,that phrase brings in a lot of memories of childhood and youth. And for those who were born in the 70’s on,it brings up history,videos,and visions of tie-dye clothes,love beads,and headbands. 

    A couple of days ago,reminders of that era started coming in. Beginning with photos my Dad had purchased off eBay. He’s an aviation buff retired from a major airline,and he purchased a publicity photo from the 60’s featuring stewardesses showing their psychedelic uniforms-bright colorful, and a little mod. He had also picked up an 8×10 of the Monkees for me. As a kid,I adored both the Monkees and the Beatles. I loved the photo,and was wondering what the Universe was trying to tell me by receiving the photo. I hadn’t even mentioned 60’s or 70’s rock music in ages,tho my electric guitar & violin had been coming to mind lately-I’ve been busy in the acoustic instrument department of late. However,in the latest heat wave we’re having out here,I just set the thoughts aside and am focused on keeping both my cat and I cool and comfortable……and then the cues continue. The whole Age of Aquarius thing seems to have died to an age of consumerism and an obsession with self centeredness and cold heartedness in a lot of our youth….which disturbs me greatly. 

In saying that,I am reminded that the actual Age of Aquarius is far from over-it’s birthing was just announced in the 60’s when astrology and it’s interest in it was as strong as having the latest hand held gadget is today. Nearly everyone knew their sign,and in some cases had memorized their entire chart. “What’s your sign?” was as common a question as “how are you?” Those living in that era wanted,peace,love,spiritual depth,and a healthy planet. 

Sometimes those of us born in the early 60’s forget about what the whole coming of the Aquarian Age till you get an unexpected reminder. (I never forget the planet!) 

So here I am in a neighborhood in the oppressive heat at the yard sale fest that happens twice a year,covered in sunblock,wearing a hat,and a bottle of G2 at my side. I’m nearly done covering the neighborhood,it’s blazing hot,my clothes are damp with sweat,my thoughts are of trekking back to the car and getting home for a shower. I’ve been very selective in my shopping and picked up 2 CDS,clothes,and a framed quote needing a new frame.

     At any rate,an older guy pulls up in a 70’s car that is mostly restored. My Dad and he strike up a conversation about older cars and their restoration,when the guy (I never knew his name) asks me out of the blue: “Are you an Age of Aquarius person?” I was taken back by this but answered yes. I honestly thought everyone had forgotten about that. 

The question-and my response to it continue to resonate within me after I get home to a much cooler house and attend to my 16 yr old cat Lightning,who doesn’t seem to do well in hot weather like this. She’s missed us while we were gone,and of course is wanting to say hello and have her dose of lovies. 

Yet I continued to ponder the question as well as the answer I gave. It’s like being reminded of something you forgot. I look back at my brief involvement with hard rock & metal in the 80’s,and even tho I enjoyed a lot of the goofiness and creativity of that decade,it seemed to be missing a lot of heart,and there was no raising of consciousness or seeking to explore mystical frontiers in it. It was all about clothes,driving narrow minded adults nuts in harmless ways (which I enjoyed immensely!) and wanting to “belong”. I never did feel as tho I truly belonged tho I did try-to the point of denying to myself music I loved and the whole Age of Aquarius bit….which I felt was a mission…..

a mission of uplifting the consciousness of people thru music. To open the door that their spirit may ride a beam of sound ever upward and out of the three dimensional world so many exist in. To uplift humankind to a higher octave. To “be the light” as Gabrielle Bernstein puts it (as does A Course In Miracles) so that others would also want to be the light in their own unique way. Journey was a group whose songs did this for me-I felt like I was riding a wave of positive energy that harmonized with my own,and then elevated it. Some songs by Styx had the same effect,as did Triumph and some tunes by Mr. Big. It was pure magic. 

How many rockers seek to do this now thru music? It seems it’s gotten forgotten & lost somehow. I think one thing I loved about the Monkees & Beatles was they weren’t afraid to show a lighter side of themselves and didn’t take their stage personas so dang seriously. It was okay to be seen smiling,goofing around,and just being at times,silly-letting that inner child out. (which is why I adored Ross Valory as a young woman!) 

Playing What Makes You Radiant Inside

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Bad Company, bass playing, Beatles, CCR, challenges, hurdles, inner radiance, intention, Journey, kicking perfectionism in the rump, Led Zeppelin, motivation, only child, play from the heart, rock n roll, Wings

       I’ve been reading an awful lot lately- “Ing” and “Miracles Now” by Gabrielle Bernstein,along with “Quantum Success” by Sandra Anne Taylor. (That last one is answering why I’m having such a time lately!) 

       Self realizations have been bounding in as well as lane changes in my life,partially due to the grand cross astrological event that has been happening over this Spring season. Research has shown me to be a generation X-er,which is bliss to me cause I never fit in with the description of being a Boomer. Then it gets rich. 

       It’s walked me into the reality that I really am a bass player (ever notice you doubt your authenticity when you’re not “doing” what you feel a “true musician” should be doing?) and am happiest when playing rock music,tho I have a deep love of other genres and instruments. I’m no longer into metal and haven’t been in years. And to clarify,I’ve always consider Led Zeppelin rock,not metal.  So I decided to redo myself to reflect who I am now. In the past I’d learn tunes to show off my bass playin prowess-which made me feel like I was playing an intense video game that I was just trying to “get thru”. (I wasn’t having fun doing that) In essence,I realized my playing has centered for years on getting other musicians approval….I’d played to impress other musicians instead of playing tunes that made me feel radiant inside,because most of those tunes are simpler. This came from when I was playin in the 80’s and auditioning others as I felt that in being a chick and being petite I had to prove myself to the “big boys”. Bear in mind I was in my 20’s then but that mindset can follow you forever if you’re not aware of it. I finally had this realization whisper to me a couple of years ago….but it took a year or to for me to hear it loud & clear and actually comprehend it.  

    So a few days ago I decided to do a lane change. No more complicated tunes for the mere sake of showing that I can do it. I’m only playing tunes that make me feel radiant inside…..like Beatles,Journey,Wings,Led Zeppelin,etc. Another odd thing is that I notice when I play bass,I lose weight tho my eating habits are no different,and no,I’m not bouncing off walls or anything,I’m usually sitting as I’m going thru a tune book to see the chord changes,etc. And a half hour a night is OK. Whatever gets done,gets done. No more marathon playing just to show that I can,”even tho I’m a girl”. Making a drummer either screw up cause they couldn’t keep up with me or forcing them to take a break first seemed to be a mandatory ritual I’d have to do for a drummer to think I was worthy of playing next to. (I HATED doing that!)  

     Another source of inspiration is in listening to radio interviews of a drummer/vocalist who has been thru very similar life events as myself…….mine being an only child,divorcing,speed shift to taking care of mom during her final health crisis till her passing.( 24-7 caregiving for a year and a half) Orthopedic issues/repair work,other losses,pulling back to heal physically and soulfully,getting it together enough to begin walking forward again….and not just in the physical sense.

   I won’t mention names,but it gets to be uncanny. Only thing he didn’t go thru was the divorce…sad to say his relationship ended seemingly prematurely.  A one time member of one of those bands whose music made me feel radiant.(and still does)  And I don’t believe anyone understands an only child who’s walked this sort of path of personal loss and the inner chaos that comes with it as does one who is also an only child and has walked a similar path. A lot of those blessed with siblings have no idea how good they’ve got it. 

   Back to playing what makes you radiant inside. Is it bands or styles that you feel wouldn’t be readily accepted by others? Do it anyway. Nothing wrong with switching genres. I’ve found in recent years metal grinds on my nerves where I loved it when I was in my 20’s. So I’ve went back to the style of music that I dug before I went into the metal thing of my youth. That includes Bad Company,CCR,Free,and so on. And don’t feel you need to play “for hours” daily. Quality,not quantity,matter the most. If you get 30 min in a day or night,so be it. Enjoy it. Nurture that radiant self. Make a radiant to you songlist and ipod file. Learn those tunes that speak to you!