Shirley and I have been sharing as The Peregrinnatti, Harp and Story traveling ministry for 20 years now. Shirley is the storyteller and teacher, as well as author. I am the harpist presenting my work with the music of the Psalms. I have CDs and mp3 files to share my music and Shirley has written and published books to share her teaching and stories.
Shirley’s third book in her “Timeless Treasures” series just became available for purchase. The first three books in the series are about the birth of Yeshua/Jesus from 3 different perspectives – The Shepherd’s, Mary’s Story, and Joseph’s Story. The first Harp and Story presentation we ever did was “The Shepherd’s Story” and Shirley decided that putting it into a children’s book would be a great way to preserve and share that story.
These books are designed for a parent or grandparent to sit down and read with their children and share this wonderful story. The artwork is spectacular, and we have had the blessing of the same artist providing the artwork for all three books. Another feature is found in the back of the book which presents some additional detail of events and situations that surrounded the advent of our Savior.
What got Shirley interested in producing these books was an observation that as we traveled the country meeting with different people and assemblies, we found that some children were not familiar with the story of Yeshua/Jesus’ birth. Shirley wanted to help kids learn about Jesus, so she began putting her stories in illustrated books for their education and enjoyment. She especially encourages parents and grandparents to read these stories to their children and grandchildren and use the “Additional Thoughts” at the end of the book to help answer questions that young people may ask and/or use to help stimulate conversations about the birth of our Savior.
We appreciate your interest and ask that you would spread the word to your friends and family. They are also available on Kindle if you prefer the electronic version.
I wanted to take a moment to introduce you all to my friends, Lenny and Varda. We have had the privilege of ministering with them at several worship events through the years and this past Feast of Succot or Feast of Tabernacles, we got to spend some time more with them and get to know them better.
I can remember a conference we did with them several years back and they presented a view of Yashua/Jesus as our Bridegroom. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so strong through that worship that you could almost reach out and touch Him. The Father has gifted them with a special anointing that leads people through worship into the throne room of The King of the Universe.
Born in Liverpool England, Lenny was raised in an orthodox Jewish home. After graduating, Lenny joined a music group that entertained all over England and Europe. Lenny is talented in several instruments as well as vocals. I think his favorite instrument is bouzouki, but he is usually playing the guitar. I watch with amazement as his fingers fly over the strings and frets.
Varda is a native-born Israeli who grew up in Tel-Aviv and was raised in a Jewish home. After high school she served in the Israeli Army and then worked for a property development company. Varda is gifted in vocals and she and Lenny harmonize beautifully presenting a beautiful picture of Yashua the bridegroom, and his treasured bride, the church. Sometimes they dance on stage during one of the songs and their visible intimacy in the dance leaves a lasting impression.
It was while visiting Israel Lenny met Varda-his bride to be. After Lenny and Varda were married, they started working professionally on cruise ships as a musical duo. I am told that they had quite a secular repertoire that could keep an audience entertained for hours.
While visiting the United States they came to know Yeshua as their Messiah – And a new chapter in their lives began. They soon began to write songs about their love for Yashua/Jesus and since they both had a Hebrew Roots/Israeli background, their music carried a very mid-eastern flavor. Soon they began to be invited to lead worship at conferences and churches, traveling around the US and internationally for many years.
In fact, the first time we met them was in Israel. They had been invited to a conference as we had, and during the socializing time, we got to be introduced and talk about some of our similar ideas, music, and presentations.
As of 2024 Lenny and Varda have produced and recorded 11 CDs of original songs that have become iconic in the Hebrew Roots Movements worldwide. They can be found on their website: www.lennyandvarda.com They also have a YouTube channel by the same name: https://www.youtube.com/@lennyandvarda
Their unique style of music has a distinct Israeli flair and is arrayed in fresh anointing and I invite you to go to their website and YouTube channel and experience their unique style. I also invite you to share their information to as many as you know who would be blessed by inviting them in to lead a worship session in your church, fellowship, or congregation.
They lead Praise and Worship at Conferences and Congregations that meet for GOD’s Appointed Times: Shabbat – Rosh Chodesh Passover – Unleavened Bread – First Fruits – Shavuot – Feast of Trumpets – Day of Atonement and Sukkot.
Lenny and Varda invite you to contact them to schedule your next event. www.lennyandvarda.com
A friend of mine sent me a link to a Facebook article, thinking that I might be interested because of the work I have been doing with frequencies. The article mentioned a geneticist in California who had been working on discovering the link between the genetic code found in our DNA and musical notes that could form compositions as they followed the genetic sequences of the DNA coding.
The article didn’t mention the name of the geneticist, so I did a little digging and found this article: “Scientist Discovers Genetic Formula for Music” by Delthia Ricks – Scientist Discovers Genetic Formula for Music – Los Angeles Times. The article states, “Susumu Ohno, who holds the title of distinguished scientist at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, claims to have discovered what he calls “the primordial secret,” a link between music and the chemistry of genes.”
In another article written by Mark Temple, he explains how the marriage of genetic sequences to musical notes is determined. “DNA acts as a template for the production of proteins in our bodies. A DNA sequence is a long, continuous chain of only four chemical bases labeled G, A, T, or C. They repeat in various defined patterns to make up a gene. Many genes are identical in sequence within a species; that is, from person to person, or from virus to virus.” https://theconversation.com/what-does-dna-sound-like-using-music-to-unlock-the-secrets-of-genetic-code-78767
Another article gave more detailed information first on the nucleotides contained in the DNA molecules. “The Basics of DNA: A Blueprint for Life – DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the fundamental blueprint of life for nearly every living organism. It consists of a sequence of four nucleotides: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). These nucleotides pair together (A with T, and C with G) to form the famous double helix structure. The order in which they appear encodes the genetic instructions for creating proteins, which are the building blocks of life.”
This article continued by describing which notes were linked with which nucleotides. “This method is one of the simplest, where each nucleotide (A, C, G, T) is mapped to a specific musical note. For instance:
Adenine (A) might correspond to C (the note).
Cytosine (C) might correspond to D.
Guanine (G) might correspond to E.
Thymine (T) might correspond to F.
Using this system, a DNA sequence like AGTC would translate to a sequence of notes like C-E-D-F. The sequence of notes could then be organized into rhythms, harmonies, and instrumental arrangements, creating a unique piece of music based on the DNA code.”
This concept has been utilized for quite some time.” As advanced as this technology may sound, translating DNA code into listenable frequencies has been around since the 1970s. In the beginning, geneticists would assign musical pitches to different genes to save time when reading and comparing long strands of DNA. Geneticists would also use this process as a way of detecting mutations by analyzing extreme shifts in the rhythmic tone of the gene sequence.” https://blog.abclonal.com/blog/the-symphony-of-life-turning-genetic-coding-into-music
Daniel Bouzas writes in the above article about how this concept has since been greatly expanded. “As time passed, more scientists began taking an interest in further developing the technology involved, and one of the first pioneers in helping to push the potential of this technology was American biologist David W. Deamer and composer Susan Alexander. David began taking an interest in this area of DNA music when Susan asked him-
“Is our biology harmonically ordered in any way? If we could hear the body, delve into its rhythms and frequencies, what might it sound like?”
David would go on to use a spectrophotometer to analyze the different nucleotides and determine their light wavelengths. These were then converted into actual music notes expressed in hertz. Nest, they were programmed into a synthesizer so that actual music could be played using the genetic code sequencing.
Susan Alexander has compiled quite a library of DNA music:
As I searched through the internet with the query “DNA music” I found quite a lot of sites that offer examples of the work being done by many scientists/musicians. Here is one example to listen to:
Not long ago, I received an email from one of my listeners who asked me if I had ever studied the healing qualities of the sound that bees make as they labor at their honey-making tasks. They enclosed a small article that highlighted some of the work that John Stewart-Reed had done with his CymaScope to record the sound of bees and be able to see what that sound looked like. As a result, the images are nothing short of amazing.
John said, “In all my years of working with the CymaScope instrument and making sound visible, I have never seen such an extraordinary CymaGlyph. It is elliptical rather than the usual circular shape containing four distinct vortices focusing on a central nodal point, perhaps indicating zero-point energy. And the regions left and right of the central ellipse, are the dual wings of a Mayan Melipona bee, frozen in this sublime holographic moment. Bee sounds contain many healing frequencies, and when made visible by the CymaScope instrument, those frequencies are transformed into geometries that engender healing through photo biomodulation principles.” (Photo biomodulation uses various sources of light to stimulate cellular processes – i.e. infrared light therapy.)
This is a reproduction of what John observed.
Of great interest to me is the understanding that the bee’s frequency settles in between 250 and 300 Hertz. This varies with activity and excitement levels. The middle C note in the music scale, when tuned to the 444 Hz = A-note calibration, is 264 Hz. This is the octave below 528 Hz that I have written about in other articles. This makes their hum a harmonic resonance with this all-important Frequency of Life.
An article by Jen Fitschen in the e-zine Ginko Farms relays the actual benefits of the sound of bees.
“Nature is full of wonders and mysteries, and the tiny creatures known as bees are no exception. Beyond their vital role in pollination and honey production, bees possess a unique and awe-inspiring ability—the power to emit a healing vibrational frequency through their harmonious buzzing. We’ll delve into the enchanting world of bees, exploring the science behind their harmonious buzz, how their buzzing energy can heal humans, and the intriguing ways bees communicate with us.”
https://www.gfadk.com/blog/buzzing-bees-emit-a-healing-vibrational-frequency
“Not all bee species buzz at the same frequency. Different species produce their distinct harmonious frequencies. For instance, honeybees have a frequency range of 250-300 Hz, while bumblebees typically buzz around 200-250 Hz.”
This healing ability of the bee’s humming sound has been developed into retreat centers that specialize in providing rooms that have beehives in close by so that their frequencies can be heard and appreciated.
Laura Sampson wrote an article in the Seatle Times:
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/vibrational-healing-through-bees-is-it-just-a-lot-of-buzz/
“Sound healing is simple: Certain sounds and vibrations can positively affect the body’s cells and nervous system, reducing stress and encouraging healing. Techniques such as sound baths, where participants are enveloped in soothing sounds from instruments like gongs, singing bowls, and tuning forks, are becoming increasingly mainstream.
Honeybees offer another intriguing method of vibroacoustic healing. In Europe and the United States bee huts provide a unique form of sound therapy, utilizing the gentle buzzing of bees to create a calming, healing environment for bee therapy participants.”
Laura went on to describe the “Bee Huts” that are being offered at some of the retreats.
“A bee hut is a small cabin or outbuilding that houses one or several bee hives on one side while offering a small healing area for humans. The two areas are separated by a screen to keep bees and humans safe from each other. While the bees go about their day, humans can experience the healing buzz and breath of the colony. The constant, low-frequency vibrations from the buzzing bees profoundly affect the nervous system, similar to the effects experienced in traditional sound baths.”
Another site described the benefits: “The air in the house has high humidity, contains etheric oils, liquid wax particles, aerosol from flavonoids and propolis, enzymes, choline, and herbal hormones, produced by bees. It is usually about 36 [degrees Celsius] in the house. The bee therapy cures a weak immunity system, problems with high blood pressure, allergies, asthma, eczema, and in particular, diseases caused by stress.”
https://www.sylviavillamusic.com/blog/bee-frequency
Another interesting observation was noted in John Stewart-Reeds article about how the Rosslyn Chapel was constructed.
“Note; regarding the sacred bees of Rosslyn Chapel In Medieval times, bees were considered to be sacred messengers of God, and in the roof of Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh, Scotland, stonemasons created an opening in an intricately carved flower, to create a beehive within a stone roof pinnacle, a protected place where no one could see or reach; for centuries no one knew of its existence. The stonemasons also created mysterious cymatic patterns in stone cubes within the Lady Chapel. Centuries of visitors were unaware that the beautiful ceiling cubes contained music, but the ‘music of the cubes,’ was finally decoded and played by father and son team, Thomas and Stuart Mitchell. They named the music: The Rosslyn Motet.”
You can listen to the music they produced at this link:
One of the interesting notes from this video is that some of the stones were carved with patterns that closely resemble the patterns obtained by different musical notes played on a sand plate. It causes us to think that maybe earlier studies were being done on the nature of sound centuries before we originally thought.
In case you can’t find any beehives close to where you live or work, I found a YouTube video that allows you to listen in to an active hive.
Another article from the Ginko Farm site explored reasons why beekeepers live longer.
https://www.gfadk.com/blog/why-do-beekeepers-live-longer-
Among the reasons was the fact that they are exposed to these wonderful sound frequencies on a regular basis. Also mentioned was the fact that they usually eat the honey fresh without processing as well as other bee products such as propolis and royal jelly. They are also involved in regular physical exertion and normally live in a more natural healthy environment. And finally, even an occasional bee sting has been shown to be beneficial.
I also found a YouTube video that offers: Healing Bee’s – Sound Meditation From Inside A Beehive With Binaural Beats:
https://insighttimer.com/lebenvertiefen/guided-meditations/healing-bees-meditation-sound-from-inside-a-beehive-with-binaural-beats
We have always known that bees are our friends as far as they provide honey and pollinate our food sources. We know that we would probably starve without them. Now, evidence shows that bees benefit us by providing relaxing and healing sounds as they hum along. Take some time out to listen to their wonderful symphony.
A significant percentage of my nursing career in hemodialysis involved caring for people with advanced age—not everyone, but a significant percentage of them. As I played the harp during many of their treatments and noted positive physiological changes, I began to wonder about what mechanisms were at work to produce these positive results.
Recently, I came across an article about how music affects the cognitive health of older adults. I studied the article to see if the research supported some of my suspicions.
The article was first published in Network Neuroscience, Volume 7, Issue 4, 2023: Lead author – Sarah E. M. Faber – conducting research out of Simon Fraser University
https://direct.mit.edu/netn/article/7/4/1404/117283/Age-related-variability-in-network-engagement
“Listening to music benefits older adults’ cognitive health, even if it’s music they haven’t heard before or don’t enjoy very much. The study discovered that listening to music activates brain regions linked to reward in older adults, regardless of their familiarity with the music.”
“Hearing music engages multiple networks across our brains,” says Faber. “On top of the physical properties of sounds we hear; several additional factors help form the whole-brain picture. Have you heard the song before? Do you like it? Does it bring back memories?”
The study was conducted with the methodology consisting of the researchers monitoring brain activity across two groups of participants listening to music: “a younger group of adults with an average age of 19 and a second group of older adults with an average age of 67. Participants listened to 24 samples of music, including songs they selected themselves and popular and recognizable music intentionally chosen by researchers. Also included were ambiguous songs composed specifically for the study.”
“We found that the brain structures responsible for processing physiological and cognitive reward—also known as the reward network—are activated in younger adults while they listen to music they like or are familiar with. However, older adults’ reward networks are stimulated by music even when it is brand new to them, or if they report not liking it very much,” says Faber.
She went on to say, “Understanding how music works in the brain is highly complex, especially given that our brains are constantly evolving with age,”
“With training, the auditory reward network can become even more engaged across all types of music. But even when the music is not familiar to them, it still has the ability to make their body move, and to help calibrate or balance their emotions by activating those regions in the brain.”
One of her comments centered around the benefits of using music in Alzheimer patients. I have had several real-life experiences with these benefits. One time, I was asked to come into a locked unit for Alzheimer or memory care people. As I stepped through the door, there was chaos all around, screaming and restlessness on every side. I just sat down and started playing my harp with a slow beat music and within 15 minutes, everything had quieted down dramatically.
I played for about an hour and then told them I had another appointment I had to get on to. They were insistent that I couldn’t leave as everything was so much better. I gave them several CDs so they could play them whenever they needed it and went on to my next appointment. A couple of weeks later, I received a note from the director. She wrote, “I want to thank you for the music you left with us. Ever since then we have been playing it almost non-stop and the transformation of this unit has been none other than a miracle. Thank you.”
A recent survey on music and brain health conducted by AARP revealed some interesting findings about the impact of music on cognitive and emotional well-being:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-music-good-for-the-brain-2020100721062
The author Andrew E. Budson, MD, lists out the main benefits that music has to offer:
Music listeners had higher scores for mental well-being and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression compared to people overall.
Of survey respondents who currently go to musical performances, 69% rated their brain health as “excellent” or “very good,” compared to 58% for those who went in the past and 52% for those who never attended.
Of those who reported often being exposed to music as a child, 68% rated their ability to learn new things as “excellent” or “very good,” compared to 50% of those who were not exposed to music.
Active musical engagement, including those over age 50, was associated with higher rates of happiness and good cognitive function.
Adults with no early music exposure but who currently engage in some music appreciation show above average mental well-being scores.
“So just how does music promote well-being, enhance learning, stimulate cognitive function, improve quality of life, and even induce happiness? The answer is, because music can activate almost all brain regions and networks, it can help to keep a myriad of brain pathways and networks strong, including those networks that are involved in well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and happiness. In fact, there is only one other situation in which you can activate so many brain networks all at once, and that is when you participate in social activities.”
There have been multiple studies performed and I don’t have room to list them, but a query through the internet will turn up many. Music is a very important addition to our well-being and improved health, no matter how old we are. However, there seems to be an added benefit when the older generations are exposed to its beneficial effects. Our neural networks are activated, and the evolution of our brain’s capacity is improved. There does not appear to be any downside to the exposure of music in our lives. Since I have passed the 70-year mark, I am particularly interested in these benefits and intend to expose myself to them as often as possible.
