Once upon a September 11th ago, I put together a similar event, previously enlisting the time, talent and generosity of my fellow actors and artists. We had an amazing night of musical theatre, inspiring readings and a silent art auction. The theatre was near capacity and we raised $4000 for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Once the earthquake(s) and tsunami tore through Japan, I was moved again to do something. I seem to have a gift (so I’m told) for joining together people in ways that, not only bring out the best in each of them, but, as a group, bring healing, harmony and joy to others. So, I used my  “gift” to gather some super cool bands and musicians from the Philly/SJ area and the stage was set. Song for Japan was born. And I had grand visions of standing room only and thousands of dollars raised to help our fellow humans…our brothers and sisters in need. Why not? I mean, where else could people see that much talent on one stage for only $10 AND have the chance to go home with a work of art – that normally goes for hundreds – for a minimun bid of only $20? Right?

But no one came. Before the show started…and there was, still, a show…I peeked out from behind the curtain and cocked my head like a confused puppy. I turned to a friend and said, “I don’t understand…” She looked at me and said, “Jenny. (she paused) It didn’t happen to US.” Which, naturally, only enhanced my confused puppy look. ??? What could she mean? Of course it happened to us. We’re all humans. We’re all connected. What happens to one, whether joyful or painful, ripples out and affects – – everyone. I know this. I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. We’ve all felt it. Yes. 9/11 happened to “us”. But it affected the world. The quakes and tsunami may have  happened to “them”… but it affects us. Globally. News flash! The earth is shifting. Rapidly. And we, as humans, have to find a way to honor ALL races and ALL cultures. Walls built in fear need to come down and we need to join together in love and compassion as one race if we’re to survive these massive shifts.

Okay. Now that my little flower child rant is over… I should clarify that a small handful of audience members did show up in support of the artists, musicians and the cause. That small crowd…of roughly 40 people…half of whom were band members…raised nearly $700. They laughed in all the right places. They cheered and applauded. They bought art. They stayed up way past their bedtime on a Thursday night. And I thank them. Their lights shone as bright as those performing.

That night made me proud to be an artist. Artists are always the first to step up and bring people together for the greater good…whether raising money or raising awareness…finding solutions or simply bringing joy to others. I am honored to be counted among them. An interesting thing happened that night. When it became apparent that our crowd was to be more of an – intimate gathering – my fears started creeping in. What if the bands decided to leave? What if 20 people wasn’t worth it to stay? There had been tornado warnings that day. It was a school night. A work night. What if…..

But they stayed. Every last one of them. Graciously. And we all played. And those lucky 20, in seats scattered throughout the theatre, were treated to an amazing show. You know, it’s a funny thing about musicians. We love what we do so much, that,  whether we play for a crowd of 2 or 20,000… we’ll always want to play one more song.

And this is why I love being a part of the artist community. Reason #567.

All You Need is Love

Thank you to all who came together for the evening. Artists, musicians, supporters…thank you. I know that our music and the intention with which we all came together sent powerful healing beyond what we could ever imagine.

~ J

A One Night Event to Benefit Victims of the Tsunami/Earthquake in Japan

A very zen Jen in Greece

Everyone has their little routines. Those little strings of little somethings we do each and every day to start us out on the “right” foot. For some, it’s as simple as a cup of coffee or tea that is savored over the morning paper, a song you listen to in the shower, or even a special phrase you may say to a loved one before you part ways each day. And as we head out into our world, whatever that may be, we are armed only with the clothes on our back, the thoughts in our head and the love in our hearts. As soon as we step into that world, we begin to take in all that it presents to us…both light and dark, joys and fears…and it stays with us as we continue about our day, whether we’re acutely aware of it or not. While some of these images, occurances, feelings and emotions may lift us up, unfortunately, a lot of it can weigh us down. And when we return home, we are no longer “alone”, but, instead, carrying all that we picked up along our way and throughout our day. It’s like we’re all giant Super Swiffers. How could mud and dirt resist? The brighter our light, the greater that magnet becomes. And while like certainly attracts like it, inevitably, can also attract the dreaded “dislike” and those who, because of their fear, wish to snuff your bright light. No worries though!  This first blog-a-licious dose of JenZen will help you learn how to strengthen and protect your light so that it may shine brightly, cutting through any darkness you may encounter and, effectively, transmute that darkness into new light. Think of it merely as a slight “tune up” to your daily routine.

Now, in the past month or so, I have had several people come to me wondering  how they could bring a little “Jen Zen” into their lives. And I wish I could say that I was the one who came up with the catchy moniker but…no. It was dubbed by a friend and when Louie and I started this blog I thought…hmmm.   So, in honor of those inquiring minds whom I already know (and love)….and to those inquiring minds I have yet to meet…may you take your first steps on the path to your own zen by embracing and beginning to put into practice the following meditation and visualization. And may I never have to type it out again!

Louie calls all meditation his “Meds” so we’ll call this our “Centering Meds”. It is a variation of an exercise given to me by my very first teacher of all things zen, Donna.  She has a special knack for guided meditations and this one, in particular, is a great way to ease into the world of meditation (especially for beginners). It  not only restores and strengthens your sense of center, but is very effective at helping you regain an inner calm whenever you feel scattered or, for seemingly no reason, “off”. It will give you the means of learning to surround your whole being with a protective glow of divine light and pure love. Sounds delicious, right?  Here goes…

Part I: Find a comfortable place to sit and make sure you will be undisturbed for a minimum of 15 minutes. As you become more familiar with this meditation and the visualization becomes easier, you may only need 5 minutes or so to “lock in” but in the beginning, especially for those who find it hard to grant themselves any quiet time, it will take a little getting used to. But hang in there! The benefits are well worth it!

Some people like to light a candle to set the mood or even put on soft music. Louie and I always joke that we’re such hippies because our TV is always on the Soundscapes music channel. Ultimately, whatever relaxes you and contributes to a distraction free environment is good. And while with some meditations, sitting or laying down doesn’t make a difference, with this one I tend to prefer sitting. You’ll see why.

So. Now that you’re comfortable. Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Your mind will want to wander and that’s perfectly normal, especially for first timers. Just allow the thoughts to come as they may. Acknowledge them, but let them go. Sometimes it helps me to imagine my mind as this big attic and as thoughts and/or worries creep in and accumulate, I open up the windows and toss them out. And as they fly out the windows, a gentle breeze blows the sheer, white curtains and they (the thoughts…in whatever form they’ve taken) transform into butterflies and fly away….until everything is clean and white in my little attic brain.  

As you start to relax and your head clears, imagine that there is a luminescent white cord stemming from the base of your spine (see why the sitting is good?). Now imagine that cord going straight down into Mother Earth. See it travel down through the earth…down through the core and crust…down…down…now imagine that you see, at the very center of the earth, a brilliantly beautiful crystalline grid…a sparkling array of whites, golds, pinks, blues…a rainbow of sparkling, irridescent crystal beauty. See your white cord connecting into that grid like roots of a tree. Feel your connection to the earth and begin to draw up her divine white light from within her crystalline grid…gently…softly. See that light come up and begin to fill every cell, every fiber, every aspect of and within your being. Allow the divine light, pure love and gentle power of Mother Earth and the Divine Feminine to wash through you….from your toes….up through your legs and torso…down each arm….and finally up through your neck and head. See yourself as a being of light. Feel that pure, unconditional love  fill your mind, body and soul.

Once this feels complete, as the earth energy reaches and fills the top of your crown, imagine that there is a luminescent white tube stemming from the top of your crown. Allow it to stretch all the way up in to heaven…whatever that means to you and however you choose to see it in your mind’s eye. Imagine, once again, that at heaven’s very core there is another amazingly brilliant and beautiful crystalline grid. Connect your white tube into this grid and, gently and softly, draw down the divine white light, pure love and gentle power of heaven and the Great Creator. See and feel that divine white light fill every cell, every fiber, every aspect of and within your being…as it travels down through your crown and into your torso….down each arm….each leg….down through each foot. Feel your connection to all that is divine and allow that knowing and pure, unconditional love to, again, fill your mind, body and soul.

Once you have connected to both Mother Earth and Father Sky (**Important**ALWAYS connect to Mother Earth FIRST**) , feel both of those divine energies coming together in perfect peace, balance and harmony and creating that same peace, balance and harmony within the whole of you. Affirm: “I am a clear, vertical channel between heaven and earth surrounded, protected, guided and loved on all sides, at all times, by all beings of light.” Set the intention that a white matrix of light remain around you as you go about your day, surrounding and protecting you with that same divine love and light.

To close the meditation, simply state: “And so it is, sealed in the divine white light, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Mother Spirit.”  Give thanks to the earth and to heaven and to the divine spark within. Take a few more deep, slow breaths….start to become aware of sounds in your immediate world again. Slowly open your eyes and gradually begin taking  in your surroundings. It should feel as if you are seeing with fresh eyes. The eyes of a child. Embrace that wonder. Feel your connection with all that is divine. Affirm (eyes open): “I am love. I am light. I am peace. I am joy. I am freedom. I am prosperity. I am hope. I am abundance.”  

Look out world! Here you come!

Love & Light

J

When Louie and I first decided that we were going to swap out everything….not just eat better, but bathe and pretty ourselves up better too…it was, without a doubt, very overwhelming. As I sat on the bathroom floor reading ingredients and emptying stuff out and recycling the bottles I thought…this isn’t going to be a pretty trip to the……wait….where do we even get organic and natural products? It’s not like CVS is an option anymore (no offense CVS…I did enjoy our time together…and your extensive supply of Wet-n-Wild cosmetics). So, through our trial and error, I thought I might share some of our favorite, and surprisingly affordable, products and where to get the best deals on all things good for you.

First, since, as I said before, making these life style changes can be overwhelming, we’ll take a few baby steps into food. There are three super simple switches that you can make in your fridge/pantry that will have a huge impact on overall health and well being and that can really put you on the path of making other mindful choices when shopping.

1. Earth Balance Buttery Spread (in place of butter and/or margerine)

2. Vegenaise (in place of mayo)

3. Agave (in place of sugar)

The Three Amigos

Now, I am almost entirely vegan (I do still eat cheese and seafood) but I am not here to tell anybody that everyone must eat as I do. I find that if you pay attention to your body, it’ll tell you what it needs and what it doesn’t need. And I am not a granola gal that has a “problem” with people who do eat meat. I would just put the wish out that we all be mindful and aware of where our food is coming from.  

Back to the Three Amigos. The above three staples are awesomeness for any household. The vegenaise is amazing! May mayo never touch your bread or tuna salad again. It is healthy and delicious (I would tell you if it was nasty…trust me. I’m Italian. We don’t lie about food!). It is more expensive but, as with most truly natural products and foods, you need less so one jar goes further than you may think. Besides, whenever I buy things that might be a little more expensive but way better for me I always hear Cybil Shephard in my head going, “You’re worth it!” as she tosses her shiny, silky hair. And you know what? I am. We all are.

On to the Earth Balance. Best. Buttery. Spread. Ever. Truly. It is delicious on bagels or toast by itself, you can saute with it  and it also subs brilliantly into ALL baking recipes. It rules. Plain and simple. The final Amigo is agave. It is so much better for you than the white sugar parade in most people’s cupboards. And, again, you use considerably less since agave is naturally sweeter than sugar. Baking with the agave can be a little tricky. When you use it in place of sugar, it will change the amount of all wet ingredients in the recipe; but, thanks to the interweb, you can easily find the adjusted ratios.

Other food favorites are Boca Crumbles (they make for a bangin’ chili that will even have self proclaimed carnivores coming back for seconds), Morning Star Farms anything, Annie’s Organic Mac-n-Cheese, Simply Orange OJ, Almond Breeze almond milk, EdenSoy rice/soy milk blend, Late July cookies, Barbara’s Back to Nature (cookies, crackers, cereals), Kashi anything, Cascadian Farms cereals. Most of these products are eco-friendly, organic and …..affordable. Usually only about a dollar more than your high fructose, enriched white flour counter-parts. Do you hear Cybil whispering in your ear yet? Totally worth it.

Now for Part B. We’ve touched on what to put in your body. Let’s move on to what to put on your body. Because, let’s be honest. What goes on it is, ultimately, going in it as well.

Mindful Beauty

The above are some of our favorite all/mostly natural and eco-friendly products. The beauty aspect of shopping with a conscience can, absolutely, get to be super expensive. This crew of bathroom staples stay in budget while maintaining their integrity to wellness, beauty and our planet. From left to right: Almond oil. This is like a super oil. You can use it to moisturize your whole body after a shower,  gently remove eye make up, for massage. And, again, a little stetches a looooong way. That small 4 oz bottle has been in our bathroom all year….literally.  Next in line is Everyday Shea Body Wash. This is my favorite body wash by far. Natural body washes can be pricey and often that is for tiny little 8oz bottles. With this, you get 32oz for $9.99. There are only about 5 ingredients (including raw shea butter and essential oils) and it is a certified fair trade company. A clean you can feel good about! Right beside the Everyday Shea we have the Burt’s Bees Radiance facial cleanser. I chose this because a. I like it and #2. Burts Bees really does a great job at keeping their products affordable while still using all natural, quality ingredients.  Moving on to the  Physician’s Formula Organic wear tube . This is an entirely organic tinted moisturizer. It’s the same price as most other foundations, cheaper than most facial moisturizers and it’s my favoritest ever. They also have a 100% organic mascara that I like as well.

The next two in the super group are my two favorite deodorants: Lavanilla (for the ladies) and Weleda Citrus (for all). The Lavanilla will run you about $18.00 but it is the best of the all natural deodorants as far as odor and wetness. Now, it is important to note that with natural deodorants, you are never going to be as dry as with the products that contain aluminum. Keep in mind that the body is meant to perspire….we just don’t need to stink while doing so!  I also like the Weleda and, in particular, the Citrus scent. I use it as pick me up on a particularly hot day, or if I have a gig I’ll throw it in my bag.  A great refresher, but also effective on its own.  They do have  other scents but they don’t seem to work as well as the citrus…from our experience anyway. Everybody’s body chemistry is different.

Finally, nestled between the amethyst and celestite stones (aren’t they purty!) are my favorite toothpaste: Jason’s Sea Fresh and my favorite blemish neutralizer: Desert Essence Tea Tree & Lavender Oil blend essential oil. Now, with the essential oils, a dab’ll do ya. Literally. A drop or two on a Q-tip and gently dab any problem area you may have. The tea tree is a natural antiseptic that will help draw out/dry the fluid in blemishes and the lavender naturally calms and reduces redness. Wonder Twin powers activate! Not pictured, but another good brand is Scott Naturals for all things paper. They use recycled materials without sacrificing “comfort” or….absorbability. In addition, for every tree they  use, they plant three. And considering what these paper products are used for…I think it’s the first place we can start making those mindful choices!

I have found that, when shopping for any of these products/foods, it’s best get certain products at certain places. More and more stores are carrying more and more environmentally friendly/organic products every day. Whole Foods, while the mother ship, is the most expensive of these places. To be fair, they are the dollar or two more because they research and stand behind every product on their shelves. Good to know. What I tend to do is scope out the awesomeness over there and then when I go to a Wegman’s (where it is cheaper) I know what to look for. Although there are some things that you can only get at Whole Foods and their selection is still the best. Wegman’s is one of my favorite places to go for one stop organic shopping. They have a lot of options (food & beauty/hygiene) and the prices are good. Target also carries a surprising amount of good for you products and, while the selection is decidedly smaller, what they do carry is priced better than anywhere else. The best thing to do is check out places in your area and do some comparitive shopping. Start to notice what foods and products  “jump out” at you now that your awareness is tuned in to the overall wellness of self and planet and try something new. You’ll start feeling better, inside and out. Promise. Just take it one day at a time. One organic apple a day… 

It’s all out there. All the  information you need… the where, the what, why and how. You just have to find what works best for you. All I ask is that within that choice, ask yourself what is best for our planet as well. Mother Earth nurtures us and we should nurture her as well. This natural give and take will keep humanity healthier and the planet we all share lush and abundant. And that equals a brighter future for all! One mindful choice at a time.

For a beginner’s guide to improving your health, home and planet – one room at a time, check out SuperNaturalHome.

Love & Light!

J

Hey everyone,

 While the recent events in Japan have certainly proved devastating for both country and people, as the earth has (literally) shifted…we all are feeling the affects. And as I send love and light in my own way, as we all are, I find that I want to do more. It is scientifically proven that subjects receiving love, even from a great distance, benefit far greater than those who do not receive that same love. And although we each can do a multitude of good individually, I feel that when large groups of like minded individuals unite towards a common good….that power is multiplied exponentially. And as artists, we all have these amazing gifts that we can give. We have the power to join people together as we share these gifts. So why not join together as an artist community for something bigger than us and do one night of music and art and joy. Imagine the vibration of pure love and light that would send out. So….on to what kept me up all night last night….

 I would like to gather my amazingly talented friends to do a Japan Relief Concert, all proceeds going to the Red Cross. I put together a concert like this for 9/11 with the help of The Ritz Theatre. It was an amazing night and we raised quite a bit of money. This time I would like to change it up a bit & simplify. The idea would be to have local bands/musicians do (roughly) a 10 minute set each. I’d love to have the cast of Hairspray open the nite with “You Can’t Stop the Beat” and perhaps intersperse another number from an upcoming show. In my mind, Jaclyn & Brandon tag-team host (cause they funny). And, as before, have an on-going (thru-out the nite) silent auction featuring local artists who would graciously donate a piece of artwork. The feel of the night would be joy. Uplifting. And my idea is to close with all performers sharing the stage together and singing “All You Need is Love”. This is the basic gist. I think it’s multi-faceted goodness-fest.

 So…let me know if y’all are in! I have a couple of ideas for spaces. I wanted to gather the troops as it were, first. I’d be looking at early April (idealy) for the show date and the time commitment would be minimal since we’re all self contained. One night to meet and discuss songs/flow and such and then one run thru before the show….which could even be the day of depending on schedules. Anyway….baby steps. Lol. I’d appreciate it if everyone could get back to me either way….and no pressure or worries. If it is meant to be, it’ll all flow seamlessly. So this is me throwing it out there….

 Love you guys!

Peace,

Jenny

– And this is how something great starts. Jenny sent this out today to her creative  friends in all corners of the Collingswood, New Jersey-Philadelphia community. She even went to the top and sent a request to the Mayor of C-wood! We will keep you updated for the Show date, time and venue, things are already happening fast! -L

There are many artists that I’m inspired by but only a few that I feel a real connection to. Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of those artists. His influence is almost unavoidable. So much so that I’ve lost count of how many paintings I covered with a coat of white paint just to start over. And now looking back, some I wish I hadn’t painted over. One night in the summer of 2004 his influence was there and wanted to be heard.

I’d just finished reading Jean-Michel’s biography and feeling inspired, I hit the art supply store. I thought about doing his portrait. As a tribute in a way, to give back a little, to thank him for all of the great art he’s given us and the inspiration he’s given me.

Driving and dreaming, I started to imagine flashes of black paint in the upper left corner of a canvas, the canvas I was on my way to buy. I couldn’t drive fast enough; it was like I was trying to keep up with the image that was developing before me. I found the perfect large canvas, ran home and set up in the studio as fast as I could. I grabbed a brush and started scratching black acrylic up in the left corner just like I’d seen. A tube of red jumped out and I outlined his face. By then, there were a few drips here and there, which I left alone. I began scratching in a bit of white into the black on the canvas for the gray. And then, I stood back for a minute. Most of the canvas was blank. My first thought was to fill it in but as soon as that thought entered my mind I accidentally knocked over the water. Brushes, paints, rags and the palette went flying all over the floor. There was water everywhere, paint all over my hands and clothes. And the paint that splashed on the painting, I tried to wipe off but quickly realized it left a nice mark on the right side. At that point I knew it was a sign to stop painting, it was finished.

It was a blur and over in about a half an hour. Blank canvas is a powerful thing. It’s like those empty spaces that we go to for inspiration. It’s the place I went to that night when I thought I was alone on the drive and in the studio. But I have a feeling there were other unseen forces involved helping me to tap into the well.

Thanks, Jean-Michel.

Do what you love and the rest will follow.