Grateful Dead

and all acts of love are Her rituals. (izzie's a Witch, in case you couldn't tell.)

This forum sounds like it's right up my alley. The Dead have been a huge part of my spiritual life for over 20 years. I am the son of a fundamentalist Christian preacher and at one point came close to becoming an Episcopal priest myself. Over the years there is less and less about which I am certain. I do believe in God, but have few preconceptions at this point about exactly what that means. I also believe that whether or not we believe in God is not important to God. The important thing is that we are growing as human beings and being kind to each other along the way. I do know that I have experienced what I call God numerous times at Dead shows and while listening to their recorded music. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." Actually the experience has been far more frequent than just once in a while! I recently talked to the church I attend about my spiritual life related to the Grateful Dead and have actually generated much interest in their music among my fellow parishoners. Anyway, I'm excited about this forum and look forward to the exchange of views and experiences.

I am a Christian and a deadhead. For me the beauty of the Grateful Dead at it's best is that it points away from itself to something transcendent, just like seeing a sunset or forest or the night sky. Just like recieving a letter from someone you love, the paper and the ink are not the end in themselves but it's the person, the mind behind the letter the love in the relationship that really counts. For me when I hear songs like Dark Star and the way Jerry plays guitar, it points to the goodness of the creator. Love to Y'all p.s great forum topic.

I think a lot of people confuse God with religion. Or, to put it another way, they look to religion to define God. I know I did for a long time. I was unwilling to believe in God until I could find a religion that I thought adequately defined God. I never found one.I now think I know why. God did not invent religion, as we know it. Man did. When I stopped trying to tell God who he ought to be and asked him to show me who he IS, he did. I believe the word Christian comes closest to describing my beliefs about who God is. But I have lots of debates/discussions with my christian friends about what that means. As for religion, the apostle James said "The only religion that is true and pleasing to God is to care for orphans and widows (in other words, people who really need our help) and to keep ourselves from being polluted by this world." Now that is a religion I can get with. Peace, Richard

Here is a "snip-it" of a article I wrote and read for my congragation. God and Gratitude I have always been a musical person. The earliest time I can remember that this was part of my life was right after the Beatles broke up. I had an older Sears or Montgomery Wards record player and my dad owned copies of Abbey Road and The White Album. I played them until they had scratches on them. When you’re 5 years old record care is right up there with making your bed and cleaning your room. My parents, seeing that I was hooked on Lennon/McCartney, gave me my first guitar around this time. I learned how to play most of The Beatles repertoire and moved onto listening to the radio for more stuff to soak up. I remember realizing that there was a spiritual side of music early on. I was adopted as a baby, and grew up in a home that was filled with artistic opportunities. My mom was raised in the Jewish faith, and her side of the family did all the holidays, and we attended many. My best friend from 3rd grade on was also of the Jewish faith, and I was allowed to go to temple with him on many occasions. So before I was 10, I had the chance to dance and sing under Gods roof. I couldn’t understand Hebrew, but dancing and singing was alright with me. I also had friends in school who were Baptist. I can vividly remember getting up, singing and dancing at church with them. This time I could understand the words too. My dad and his side of the family was protestant, but there was tension between my folks in this area, and I was never really sure which path was for me…. As it goes, I hit the teens and the troubled youth stage. God’s grace would have to wait. I kept playing guitar during these times…. however now that I look back, it kept me out of some serious trouble. As one decade ended and another began, I found The Grateful Dead. (or they found me) This was my first experience of “church” in some ways….it was through the people I met at the concerts (and the lyrics) that I found acceptance and the freedom to be whoever I was. There was something deeply spiritual about this for me, and I think there always will be. I was free to be me….apart from my family, apart from expectations….in this community I was able to figure who I was as an individual. Music brought us together across different backgrounds and life experiences….music unified us all. Life is filled with ironies, and my life is no exception to this….after working for AT & T for many years and being transferred from state to state, I happened to move to Oregon. During this time, something strange happened. I met a woman who was a United Methodist Minister….what a trip! As things unfolded, we began a relationship and things continued to become interesting in a way I never imagined. At first, I was curious about church, but mainly on the sidelines. I attended church events when necessary, but wasn’t into participating on a regular basis. I believed in God, but I wasn’t sure how all that worked out when it came to “religion”. It goes on into some other personal tidbits, but in all I have been married to Denise for 7 years, we have 2 wonderful children, and I look forward to playing guitar on sundays for all..... Eric PS I would love Hunter write something about this....lol...

Obviously NOT Southern Baptist. They would have stoned you in the parking lot. heehee

Are you kind? Some great stuff there! Stoned me to my soul! Yep, I agree with Richard on that point, well, that whole post really! The thing is, religions ARE man made. As are political parties. There not so different really. Sure, maybe there are religions around that mean well but I believe most are out to confuse the people in an effort to gain power and wealth. That is the way of the world, like it or not. You see it in any kind of organization. Not many people who have really examined a political parties manifesto would claim they agree 100% with every policy. I'm sure it's the same with religion. Why bother going through other mortals (which can't be possible)? Connect with God directly! Who needs an intermediary? I think a lot of folks just like the company they get from a crowd and like someone to just tell them what to believe. People don't want to make an effort, it's the way it is these days, everything is pre-packaged!

Baptized a Christian, and I believe in the holy trinity, however:Church is just as boring now as a 40 year old as it was as a 14 year old. So I found that my soul and spirit received energy through my Other experiences. From The Warfield Theatre to Three Rivers Stadium and all points in between....that was church for me. I live my life in the most basics of principles....an honest and soulful life where kindness dominates and tolerance is a continual process. As Garcia said, "Uncluttered", if you will. “The Omnipotent Grateful Dead!”

The whole Baptist thing went down when I was elementry age so I cant remember much more than getting up,singing, sitting down, etc... They got into it (dancin) more than us Methodists... lol.. BTW...I did get stoned in the parking lot...of the shows that is...hehe...

...people who believe in Christ, and "think" that their way is OK- Matt. 7:21-23

Hackster,I agree that what we do carries more weight than what we say or think. James 1:19-27

Yup I have to agree richard. "those who don't care for their needy have denied the faith..." paraphrase of verses in timothy I think. Although how we think/believe will determin how we act.pax.

As a Christian / head, I thought I was about the only one. I grew up in a Christian household as a son of a pastor. I was never completely happy with the organizational side of things. As many heads, I went through my wild years (with no regrets), and came out of them, but the one thing that remained was the love for the music and the community. One thing I love is that God gave man the ability to create (or channel as Phil might say) such beautiful music.

Actually, I am a solid Catholic, who really gets into the transcendent mysteries of the Christian faith. I find myself getting lost sometimes in the far reaches of God Almighty. Theology can be pretty deep and wild at times. I think ever since I heard the first live radio broadcast of the GD on WNEW, I fell in love with it for similar reasons. I guess I am drawn to ocean deep mystical things. The GD music in a sense opens up for me the depths of my mind, and sort of plays and interacts with my faith, playing notes common to both. How can a Dead-head not appreciate many of Jerry's solo shows which at times expressed Jerry's love for filling up that empty spot he had for the King. Greg SC

Abob like you I thought I was probably the only Christian/Deadhead, it's great to see other posts on this forum.Greg I can totally relate to your thoughts on Theology. pax

I converted after our daughter was born - my wife and I decided it was important for our daughter to be raised in one faith and tradition. A Catholic priest was very important to our daughter's recovery when she was in the hospital (she was born prematurely), and it seemed very natural for me to convert.We attend Mass most Sundays, are sending our daughter to Catholic school in the fall, and I see no incompatibility at all with our faith and our quest for musical adventure. Catholicism works for us - not for everybody, of course - and we don't impose it on anyone. I'm far pushier in my zeal to turn people on to the music I love! My wife and I are also trained reiki practitioners as well as yoga, meditation, and guided imagery enthusiasts. It all works for us. The way I look at it is, you gotta keep an open mind, because you really don't know what happens when you die until ... you die. Meanwhile, you gotta live, and live for the greater good of all. "Folk rock for groovin families!" myspace.com/chipwithrow chipwithrow.com

We Deadheads shouldn't forget that the very concept of "the Grateful Dead" derives from a Medieval Christian fable. But we can also follow many paths in our seeking. As someone once put it, "there's a seeker born every minute".

...of the puzzle! The Dude Abides!

.....One. The Dude Abides!

Although I am a cheerful agnostic, I thought you all might find this article interesting: "Pastor finds message in Grateful Dead music" http://www.religionnewsblog.com/17106/pastor-finds-message-in-grateful-… Yo Soy Boricua!

tj crowleyand no mater what the walk or choice is i ask...imagine if everyone practice's their religion/philkosopy kore than one hour a week, imagine'

I've always been uncertain and confused when it comes to faith and religion. So much so that I think uncertainty and skeptisism are my religious beliefs sometimes. There has always been a real disconnect for me between what many popular religions preach, and what they actually practice. There's so much talk of faith, discipline, scriptures, laws, and God's will, and yet there has never been a day in human history without a war raging somewhere on this planet. Humans continue to screw each other over, sometimes for the most petty of things, and for what? Where is God in all this? Thinking about this for several years has unfortunately left me with a bit of a negative view of most organized religions. Except for Buddhism. When I was younger I took an interest in Buddhism, and for me, it seemed to make the most sense out of any of the religious doctrines I had learned about. I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for the Dalai Lama, probably more then any other human I know of. He actually did practice what he preached. But even though I had developed a strong interest in Buddhism, I would not call myself a Buddhist. I know myself too well, and I'm too lazy to be disciplined enough to become a Buddhist. I also developed an interest in paganism and wicca because of the respect they give to the earth and nature. But again, I'm too undisciplined to dedicate myself to either one. Dispite all my confusion, the idea of God has always been in the back of my mind. Not a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim God. Not a God according to any religion. Not a male or female God. But just a God, a higher power, a natural force that exists in the universe that works in ways that we are not meant to understand. God can not be defined, only experienced. And that experience is different for every human being. Some people get it, and some people never experience God at all. When I look into the face of my son, I see God. When I stand amongst the paeceful towering Redwoods, I see God. When I create something with my own two hands, I experience God. And when I danced with 20 thousand other people while the Grateful Dead played, I experienced God. I have never felt such a feeling of complete peace and joy with so many people as when I was at a Dead show. It wasn't just a concert, it was a spiritual event. For me, it was like going to church. And if it wasn't for the Grateful Dead, I never would have meet all the people that are my good friends, or meet my wonderful wife, or had a beautiful son. God truly does work in mysterious ways. I still haven't made up my mind about religion, but I know there is a higher power that exists.

Ummm.....I think that the Grateful Dead WAS my religion. That may sound strange to some, but it's true. I didn't worhship the band and I didn't think that Jerry was God or anything. Not like that. But the shows were my church. The Heads were my congregation. Dance was my prayer. Spinning was my rapture. Yes, I was a spinner. Spinning took me straight to God, Goddess, the Universe, whatever. No matter what happened during the week, everything always unraveled while I danced. Life became seamless, things took shape, problems worked themselves out, solutions offered themselves to me. The more I danced, the more I Understood. The more I Understood, the more peaceful my spirit became. I'm having a hard time writing this post because I'm not sure there's any good way to describe what religion does to your soul. All I know is that I learned more about forgiveness and prayer at Dead shows than anywhere else. So, I guess I lost my religion. It happens. No other music, no other band has been able to take me to the same place. I've tried on many different religions, none of them have clicked. For more than a decade now, I'm not sure what I believe in. Not sure how to get back to that place where the angels are dancing there with me. I'm sure I'll find it again. Maybe I'll be an old lady someday, spinning out in a meadow, dancing to the music in my memory, talking with God. Maybe I'll find it sooner than that. Maybe when Uncle John comes to take this child Home, there'll be Dead shows in Heaven. I'll be in the Phil Zone.....spinning.......

Hi Sunny,If you take a long walk outside in the mountains or the forest or near the ocean maybe you will see another church or the same church in another form. And maybe the birds singing are also a Band Beyond Description. Not the same but what is? Nothing lasts and that's the hard part. I got that feeling that you talk about when I saw Ratdog this summer. I felt like I was back home and had been away for a couple of years. The ecstasy and oneness of the dance of the Dead is one I treasure and gives me great joy and bliss and peace and love. I still find it at jam band shows, listening to Dead CDs and just dancing around the house as I do the daily chores. But there truly is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert. I'm just glad I was at a certain place and time on this planet to take part. And I still have nature and the birds to put a smile on my face and all those tapes and CDs and memories. I'm going around in circles here, just spinning away. It's a good day, send me this post when I am having a bad one to remind me to smell the roses and hear the songs. Hal Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Walt Whitman-Song of Myself

yeah Hal, that's all true. thanks for that. sometimes I need reminding too. You're right, life is change. I thank God that I had that time too. It was a whirlwind trip, it was wonderful and then it was gone. But it's here in me and it's here in you and that means that it must be out there somewhere still. We will get by....... I'm in my 30's now. It's a trippy decade of life. I don't know if it's the same for everyone, but for me it's raising a pre-teen, it's feeding the relationship with my SO, it's a 40 hr per week job, it's being on community and work committees, it's building a house, it's homework and soccer games, it's meetings and deadlines, it's cooking and cleaning, and it's laundry......oh the laundry.......it never stops. Busy, busy, busy all the time. Faster, faster, faster everyday. Harder, harder, harder to sniff the roses. Since everything is a schedule now (which is incredibly hard for me in itself, not to mention following it), it's hard to fit in "meadow" time or "ocean" time and make it "church". Ironcially, it's almost like I need a scheduled show to plan for and go to; now more than ever. I do find it here and there. A hummingbird that comes to visit when I'm drinking my morning coffee. The sunset with beams of light shooting up from the hills as I drive home, the chit-chats with my daughter on the way to soccer games, finding a spider web strung all the way from the top of the garage to the concrete floor (my god, that spider had tenacity!), making my friends' baby smile. Those little moments are all there, sprinkled in amongst the hurry. Moments that remind me of God. I went to that show in Shoreline a few years back where the GD played with Joan Osborne. It just reminded me of......everything. I should find more shows to go to. I need to dance. BTW....I'm with you on this: the ONLY way I can get the house clean is to throw a GD CD in, crank up the stereo, and vacuum my heart out. You're words are comforting.......please keep them coming. And I'll do my best to do the same.

Enjoyment is my religion. I think doing the simple things we enjoy on a daily basis is what I would call religion. Anything that brings each individual inner peace is religion. That's all I have to say about that!!

loud and clear! You have written exactly my feelings and questions that I have had for several years now. Daily life as an adult makes it harder to find moments of pure peace and bliss, but like Guru Hal says, you gotta make time for that. One thing that helps me alot, in between being able to find joyful moments, is a simple phrase that a friend told me once. He said that he had just read in a book that the only people who are truly happy and balanced are those who can accept responsibility for their lives being as they are. That we have all made the choices that led us to where we are now, and that life hasn't just led us down a random bummer path. Was kind of hard to learn how to do this accepting, but now, in really bad moments, is like a prayer almost. I sit down and reflect on the choices that I made that got me to whatever bad thing I am experiencing. Brings me more inner peace to do this, and after practise, is easier than blaming the world for my shit. Then I look for any small thing to be happy about or proud of, and go on.

I like it! Who would've ever thought that responsibility could be so sexy? "Wait, you mean that I'M responsible for all this? That I have and I make choices that effect my life? And if I claim ownership, then the stress and the guilt and the frustration falls away?" Yeah, I get it. I am responsible for my happiness and my happiness is a choice.....it's lovely actually. Still wish that I coulda gotten that message through dance........am I killing that topic yet? :) But glad as heck that I've got you and Hal to remind me.......thanks......

Hal is a treasure, have seen that over and over. And you got it loud and clear what I was saying. An example: have had some really rough days since I moved to Germany many years ago. Is a very hard, harsh and dull country spiriatually, after experiencing American shows. Had my moments of tending to wallow in this shitty life I landed in, until I got that info. about making choices and accepting responsibility. Remembering that I CHOSE to come here, and nobody held a gun to my head, helped me a whole lot, and find ways to still be what I am. You are soo right about one thing. I miss the dancing at a show too, and the feelings of peace and pure joy that it brought. Too bad we can't dance online-but we can pretend, if you want! Am sure Hal would join us too!

It's funny how we have to be reminded of this stuff so much. I had a friend.....well she was more my best friend, my sister, my hero and my mentor.....she had breast cancer for five years. She was the first one to teach me that happiness is a choice. She taught it to me, by example, while she was terminal. She taught it right up til the day she died. She was the most amazing soul I've ever known. She's been gone for seven years now, so I tend to forget her lessons. When you have someone in your life who has CANCER and is reminding you to be happy, you tend to get the message loud and clear, you know? It's sooo easy to forget and wallow around. But I think that mucking in your own shit has it's place too? Sometimes you gotta muck just so that you can figure out how to get out of it? Life is SO great that way. So, a virtual Dead show? Now wouldn't THAT be a trip......hee hee......I'll pretend with you, I'm pretending right now. Let's see, they're playing Ripple.......and i've got this huge, goofy smile spread across my face (ripples my fav)......and my hands are floating out there around my body and my dusty, bare feet are sweeping, sweeping, sweeping the concrete. There's a breeze blowing my hair round my neck and across my shoulders and my dress is just trying to keep up with my body.......there's an amazing heaviness in my body contrasting sharply with the way it feels like it's gonna just lift off the planet and fly.....my eyes are closed but I've got a light show going on between my eyeballs and my lids.....and it's beautiful.....I open them......and I see you....... There is at least one fine and admirable quality in every person. Find it.

''' NO JESUS, NO PEACE ''' ~~~ ''' KNOW JESUS, KNOW PEACE '''

i really didnt know this thread existed!..good to see you tigerlilly and hal!..sunny g mentioned something about that show at shorline..that was the first show of anykind that i had been to since 7 9 95..and sunny ,your so right about bieng right back home again!..even though it was different with joan oz and all..and that set was smokin with loose lucy, rubin and cherise and st steven and all..i really was in tears,because i was overwhelmed with the joy of letting my spirit surf with the music waves of the dead again..i was really speachless,so i just smiled the whole show through,and spun in circles...and all the family that showed up..jane and the cleanup crew was there,so i got my old job back,and we marched into the show just like we did years before,...and yes!!i got to somersalt down the hill at the end of the show!!hey now!..i knew right then i had to turn on,tune in,and drop out again!!then i went to prison pretty much after that,,but hey now, i didnt let that stop me,because i had a tv i bought for my cell..and once a month on pbs they hosted dead shows,for the fundraiser..and being the only deadhead there and whiteboy too (it was all mexican)so hey now!i told all the border brothers,hey jerry garcias on!!..they were like seemon!garcia!..i had a cell full of border brothers eatin chips and salsa,while i was educating them what hippies and deadheads are..and i tell ya..thats how i earned the nickname "loco blanco covaio"..i kinda liked it to tell you the truth...ok im babblin too much here...anyways,,ill post again soon on the subject at hand..i got carried away again:D...."somewhere in sanfrancisco on a back pourch in july,just lookin up at this cresent in the sky...in the sky --moondrop

paintedmandolin - we have had some good talks over on this forum. I wonder where SuunyG has been. Did she just do the virtual Dead dance and move on the next virtual space? If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. Wiliam Blake

with her, she will come back, Hal. Paintedmandolin would join us too, am sure. SunnyG-am dancin' now! ********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

up for a good dance!!your right hal,pop in a good show and all chores get done in harmony..i had the best time choppin wood today..it was all about crazy fingers and the tao of choppin wood!!heres a goood one for all to ponder... To know that you do not know is highest.. To not know,but think you know is flawed.. Only when one recognizes the fault as a fault, can one be without fault.. Therefore the sages are without fault, because they recognize the fault as a fault... That is why they are without fault:D have a grate day all!!and prosper!!.......--Moondrop

The Tao Te Ching...verse 71

just came across this topic.what a way to end a beutiful day.i enjoyed reading what everyone posted,thank you all for sharing your truths ,your inner beings. when i was growing upmy mums family would go to 'long house ceremonies up in new york.im turtle clan mohawk so as a kid i learned that the creator is in all.it was to me a way of life,you lived balenced,harmonious.giving.respectful.so.on.i also on my dads side had the catholic'dogma side.then my mumstudied 'variouse'things on spirituality.the simple things i could embrace.i journyed off as i got little older,,always confused about god.music weather it was the dead or others held me together.i learned from friends to play instruments/ it connected me to somthing.life to its shape things ,got more confussing.then god saw it fit that i would again reach out to him.my own experiences have taught me it is not a belief or an ideal.that is dogma to me.it is always a journey of learning humility.helping others,of service.tolerance,forgivness"NO MATTER WHAT",that gives me such peace and freedom.as i continue to grow up,i have found a power greater than myself,that loves me,forgives me and that i can turn to in all my afaires.i cannot try to understand this age old perplexity.nor do i wish to.it does not matter.if i as a human being can live a life being principled,and when i cause harms,take an action to do somthing different and make it right w/another.to me thats love,thats peace.thats goodness.as long as i have unity w my god on a daily baisis i will continue to grow ,and change and experience all that im suppose to.its a leap of faith i have taken and it evolves its not eclussive. prayer and meditation is what also helps rearange my soul.thanks for letting me share,on this topic w/out being judge on my beliefs.peace heathaafeathaa

I thought I might be the only Christian deadhead on the planet. Right now I look to God and the bible for spiritual truth and wisdom; I look to the Dead for entertainment. Sure I see parallels between the 2 sometimes, but the Dead never claimed to be God. God has never let me down, and, as entertainment, the Dead haven't either.

To me, "God", or "The Tao that can be named", or whatever you choose to call the higher energy of the universe is a VERB not a NOUN and that makes all the difference. Even the bible says the name of The Lord is "I am" - a process of being. When you see it like this, it is easy to see how religions are all talking about the same process, even using similar stories, when you see the content as symbolic. Unfortunately, many people that tie themselves to organized religions get so caught up in the content - man's interpretation of it all, that they exclude other perspectives and argue over details. To try to know the dynamics of such a huge force, we must listen to and respect the perspectives of others. It is like a hologram - the more points of light focused on the one truth, the more clearly we can see. Knowing this, all ritual serves the same purpose, to connect us to a higher energy level, whatever you choose to call it. Going to a Grateful Dead show was spiritual in this sense. Energy came through the band, to us, and we increased it and gave it back, creating an energy loop that lifted ALL of us up - band members included - to a higher level. Spinning was one way to focus and build that energy, but there were others. When you consider the archetypal symbolism in the songs as well, there is no doubt that we created our own form of church, "living myth" as Joseph Campbell called it. But that ability to connect to the flow of energy didn't end at shows. Showing thanks and connecting with the small but meaningful moments in life is another way we express our connection to the higher energy. When we come together to practice gratitude and ritual the energy increases. It is important to me that we remember that a Grateful Dead show was more of an experience, often spiritual, than it was a concert, and we were lucky to have been able to participate in it. It connects us in an important way and we should remember and foster that connection.

Yeah, there was something going on at the shows. I only saw them 6 times when Jerry was alive and once since, but one show in particular, Nov. 10, of '73 at Winterland, comes to mind. I got in line at 7AM in the rain, which eventually stopped, but there were already 20 or so people there. They let us in at 4PM, show started at 7:30, played for 3 1/2 hours plus break time, plus at Winterland the stage was 4-5 feet above the floor so I'm standing up for the whole show, so it's a pretty long day. But when I got out of the show I felt "energized" somehow. I smoked whatever pot was passed to me and drank some beer, but no chemicals, yet I stayed up until 3AM, no coffee, nothing, just this energy buzz. At the time I wrote it off as a "contact high" but something was definitely up. I now believe that whatever it was came from interaction between the Dead and the crowd. The time I saw them without Jerry was in '04. I noticed that they didn't jam on their songs as much and no space (not at THAT show, anyway), but the crowd got into it the same way as before, lots of swells of applause with no pattern, neat atmosphere. But I think the energy flowed from both directions; from the band to the crowd, back and forth for the whole show. The band lit the fuse, but without the crowd, THAT crowd, not the same effect. That line in 'The Music Never Stopped' comes to mind....while the music played the band, Lord, they're setting us on fire...the "music" is referring to the crowd. I've seen other bands and gotten a good feeling, but nowhere near as consistently as the Dead. Something definitely was going on at their shows that seemed beyond the natural.

Very well said. Thank you.Hal If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. Wiliam Blake

the dead and deaheads are and always have been proponents of freeform expression. I must strongly encourage all of you to not repress you expressions of joy, extasy, spirituality and any other of your feelings or emotions. The consequences could be disastrous, you my cease to be you! I love you, the capt

was a real verbal gem, capt tapes! Short, to the point, and Dead on target!!!!!!!!!!********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

I AM A LOVER OF THE DEAD AND THE HEALING UPLIFTING TRIBAL EFFECT...of the deads music...it definetly nurtures my spirit..when pschedelics are added it has been mind blowing...i am a initiate in the kagyu tradition of budhism and also in the kashmir shaivite siddha yoga and ashtanga yoga traditions...i beleive in humility respect and service being simple and giving...i love the Divine Mother who has become all forms in the universe and dances as my life in total love and delight!!!..as i watched amazed to be a participant in the love story of God!! How beautiful and awesome I love Ammachi a incarnation of the Mother and a living saint..i love my elder teachers..in particular Ram Dass, Bhagavan Das and Baba Hari Dass...my favorate holy books to contemplate th YOGA VASHISTA AND RAMAYANA...i love mantra and chanting....as a method to tune into the sacred space.....for me being a deadhead and spirituality go hand n hand....wake now discover you are the song that the morning brings!!!!!

I couldn't agree more garystar. Being a Deadhead is an integral part of my spiritual life. You quoted my favorite line from the song that first made me aware of this aspect of the Dead's music. We each truly are "the eyes of the world".

ALL THINGS are POSSIBLE with GOD.

..wasnt "keep the faith" a sentence by Bon Jovi?:-)(-:

''Keep the faith'' is part of the song,My Sisters and Brothers,By , JGB, way long before,''Bon Jovi... PEACE..

an Fight the Good FightI too am happy to know i'm not the only "Christian Deadhead". Have been labeled too many times to think of it any other way. People assume i'm a liberal democrat rather than a registered independent, people assume i dont get jazz, people assume i dont bathe because i'm a Deadhead...people assume a lot of things. I do know that religion and being a Christian are two very different things. I know that the feeling of a Dead Show, the feeling of playing music, the feeling of rejoicing in my son's simple day to day triumphs, the feeling of fully connecting with a friend dealing with or celebrating a failure or conquest or illness...these things are Church. Walking in Founders Grove, watching the sunrise over the ocean here on the east coast no matter how homesick i am for northern Cal, being grateful to have three days to go fishing with my dad on the river he grew up on, these things are Church. The play of the reflection of the sunlight on the river...its all church, man, if you take the time to see it, hear it, feel it...and thats what Dude was saying all along if you take the time to read his words. Jeh, i may drink a few beers, i am with out a doubt not the 'perfect example' of a Christian...but maybe i am...because i try to always be kind, and honest, and real, and to stay in tune with Hope, no matter what. Keep on rockin in the free world

Just beautiful, wolfsong! One of the lovliest expressions of personal belief that I have read in a while.********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens