The Mindful Bard: A Call to Action by Wanda Waterman The Voice Magazine, Volume 22 Issue 31 2014-08-08 Book: A Call to Action Author: Jimmy Carter “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16 NIV “Violence against women is the most prevalent and the most hidden injustice in our world today.”– Jim Wallis, as quoted in A Call to Action One dilemma of North American voters is that elections are often little more than strategic popularity contests. Contests in which the prevailing beliefs of resistant … Continue reading There’s Still a Sweet Wind of Benevolent Wisdom Blowing in America, and It’s Actually Changing Things

The Mindful Bard by Wanda Waterman The Voice Magazine, Volume 22 Issue 28 2014-07-18 Album: Maître d’école(link) Artist: Papa Wemba “I said to myself, I don’t want to play music only for Zaireans anymore. I am going to play music for all humanity.” – Papa Wemba Papa Wemba (born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba) is a Tetela tribe member from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). He says that his mother, a professional mourner who sang at funerals, was his greatest musical influence. The oldest boy in his family, he was obliged to care for his siblings after … Continue reading Papa Wemba: The Son of a Professional Mourner Brings Joyful Affirmation to a Broken World

Sam Baker is a Texan singer-songwriter whose first CD, Mercy, in 2004 brought him an ardent and extensive following in North America and Europe. Two decades ago Sam survived a bomb blast perpetrated by Peru’s Shining Path rebels. For the Mindful Bard review of his latest CD, Pretty World, go here. Train to Machu Picchu It was 1986, and I was in Peru with some friends. We went to Lima and from there to Cuzco to catch the train to Machu Picchu. We were going there for the Inti Rami, which is a pretty big celebration there. The bomb was … Continue reading A Million Shining Things: The Sam Baker Interview