|
 by Dr. Rita Louise
There have already been a number of vigils held for Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead, who passed away Wednesday, August 9, 1995. Tributes to him have extolled the greatness of his guitar playing, the longevity of the band the Grateful Dead, and his excessive drug use. What they say about him, Jerry Garcia, the man is true, however, when they speak of him and his contributions to the world, they overlook many parts of what he, and the Grateful Dead were really all about.
Their shows taught people lessons like trusting their neighbors, sharing what you have with those in need, and respect for other people's thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Their fans learned about "family", the sense of love and respect, and the sense of individual purity that people felt for each other. Many, many fans, were put onto a spiritual path, without recognizing it on conscious levels.
At first, when I heard the news about Jerry, I was surprised, saddened, and knew that I would miss the experiential opportunities that he had created. Concerts were always a wonderful place to be. Seeing the Grateful Dead wasn't just about the music they played, it was about the experience, your experience. Their shows started long before the first note was played, and lasted long after the applause died down. Imagine, you're at a show. There is total permission for you to be whoever and whatever you want in any moment, without judgment.
The band steps out on the stage, everyone stands up and starts to clap. Finally, the music starts. Energy begins to flow though out the amphitheater. Your body starts movin' and grovin' to the beat of the music, your life force energy working it's way from the inside of your body out, healing yourself, as well as your neighbors, experiencing a sense of beingness, oneness, as your life force energy flows in accord with the life force energy of those around, matching in love and perfect harmony.
I've had many, many magical experiences with the Grateful Dead, and as I think back over them, I can not imagine where on my own spiritual path I would be without them. At one concert that I attended, I had the opportunity to experience and watch a show from outside the amphitheater. I never could understand people's fascination for tie-died T-shirts until that day. As I stood there watching the this giant sea of tied died T-shirts, something snapped in me. I felt my 7th chakra open up wide. Universal life force energy started flowing through my body. The audience was no longer made up of individual people, but was now living breathing rainbow of beautiful colors that moved and swayed to the music, in an aura of golden light. It was the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced.
There is something else that make Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead so special. For a moment, think about the millions of people, all over the world that loved Jerry Garcia. Just think about it, all that love!
I did check in with Jerry on the astral. I had been told, at some point in time, that heroin temporarily frees the spirit from the physical body. Because of this, some people become addicted to it because life is easier when you leave the physical dimension behind. Well, Jerry is free now. He's where he wanted to be... he's in the light, and surrounded by love. Just know and remember that his love will not fade away...
|
