Music Therapy with Miss Moon

" To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

" Be what you are.  This is the first step toward becoming better than you are."
~ Julius Charles Hare

" Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you? "
~ Fanny Brice

I am never going to be an effortless beauty, like the women walking around SoHo everyday. Outfits I just throw together do not look like they could grace the cover of a magazine. They look like I just threw them together! LOL

This was a startling realization I made years ago that gave me a serious case of the bummers. While I have grown to accept the fact that I will always be a little too sophistiratchet to be considered polished, I can honestly say that until recently, I never embraced the fact or attempted to love it. And what's not to love? It's who I am.

It's easy to floss and strut about the things that ROCK about you: Your killer sense of humor, your dimples, your dance skills, etc. But the herp derp things about yourself are somewhat hard to embrace! LOL

For this week's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon, I hope that Ani Difranco's "Pick Yer Nose" will inspire you to embrace all that you are, the glamorous and the geeky.



How come I can pick my ears
but not my nose
who made up that rule anyway
how can you say that's the way it is
that's just the way it goes
why don't you decide for yourself
what you can do
and what you can say

how come I can pick my friends
but not my enemies
what is it about me that offends
what is it about me
'cause you know I'm only five foot two
and I'm giggly wiggly
tell me again, what did I do
why are you scared of me
I fight with love
and I laugh with rage
you've gotta live light enough
to see the humour
and long enough to see some change

I think shy is boring
I think depressed is too
I think pretty is nice
but I'd rather see something new
all these plastic people
got their plastic surgery
but we got a big big beautiful
we got it for free
who you gonna be
if you can't be yourself
you can't get it from t.v.
you can't force it on
anybody else

you know they come to clear cut
they come to strip mine
they come for some of my big butt
my big brain
or just a little time
they wanna take me out to dinner
think I'm a bitch if I don't go
seems like the people who actually like me
won't allow me to say no
your idea of a conversation
is the third degree
but I don't really know you
and I don't really want to talk about me

'cause I'm not going to pretend
that I don't pick my nose
that's just the way it is, my friends
that's just the way it goes
this is who I am
what I do
and what I say
if you like it, let it be
if you don't, please do the same
I fight with love
I laugh with rage
you gotta live light enough to see the humour
and long enough to see some change

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

“ Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.”
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

" You protect your being when you love yourself better. That's the secret. "
~ Isabelle Adjani

" You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."
~ Buddha

I used to be the kind of girl who HATED Valentine's Day when I was single. Back then, the day served as a  reminder of how painfully alone (I thought) I was... But as I got older, I realized that it could be a great opportunity to lavish myself with love, and what could be better than giving and getting love?

When you are your own personal Valentine... you know you'll be getting exactly what you want with no strings attached. And you know that the gift will be appreciated and valued with no regret or disappointment. For this year, some friends and I will be going to dinner and a movie. We've decided to make ourselves and each other our Valentines!

So this week's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon is a very special Valentine's Day shout out to all of us. Dedicate this song to yourself and sing along if you know you are loved!!! I hope you all will enjoy "Video" by India.Arie.



Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the
india arie

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion, it's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the
game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change
but,Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with
y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
'Cuz everything's gonna be all right

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need your silicone I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be india arie

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Happy Monday, y'all!! What better way to start the week with a bit of Music Therapy that inspires all of us to embrace our true natural beauty? Here's a song from Dead Prez reminding us all that it's the beauty within that really matters.





Dedicated, not to America's Top Model...
But to the natural girls right next door
How they say in avatar...?
I see you.

This hollywood world so pretentious
Every other girl got a perm or extensions.
But you dont even really wear lipstick
Still your beauty is a natural mystic.
Indigenous strong cheek bones from your lineage
Not what the main stream image is,
Natural hair is your heritage,
But to see it without chemicals is rare as the pyramids.
I was coming from the gym again
Bumping 2Pac never call you bitch again.
She crossed the street, melanin glistenin.
Felt the energy, something about you so interestin.
The prototype Eve from Genesis.
Ghetto empress Nefertiti resemblance.
So sweet, so street, and genuine
Real black girl I salute your existance.
I could see us just kickin it.
Buildin an intimate friendship more than just hittin it.
Down to earth like greens and corn bread.
She dont need no weaves or contacts.
Not judging other girls that got that,
Im just sayin you the truth, never doubt that...
Cuz you got that.

Beauty's within, not just on the surface.
The skin that your in,
You're already perfect.
They got nothing on you baby.
Nothin on you baby
Beautiful girls come in all types of flavors.
When you love yourself, its always gon be haters.
They got nothin on you baby
Just keep doin you baby.

This is going out to my African queen
Dark skin, light skin, everything between
Lookin so good when you step up on the scene
Smelling so sweet, so fresh, and so clean
Even though we dont see you on the flat screen
Aint no doubt about what you got in them genes
I dont mean denim its your family tree
Yea its all about red, black, and that green
For Chianisa, and Falina, and for all the pretty little girls
Goin out to my Mama, my favorite woman
And for all the women in the world
No they dont love you on the radio
And they try to play you in the video
But you so beautiful and natural....oh...ooh..

Beauty's within, not just on the surface.
The skin that your in,
You're already perfect.
They got nothing on you baby.
Nothin on you baby
Beautiful girls come in all types of flavors.
When you love yourself, its always gon be haters.
They got nothin on you baby
Just keep doin you baby.

Be Blessed: Be Your Own Valentine

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." -- Buddha

This quote really struck at me in a very profound way when I first read it several years ago. I was nursing the wounds of a rather bad break up and felt like I was doomed to spend my days alone and unloved and that was a fate far worse than death to me (I was in my early 20s...).

And I decided to take a hiatus from dating and work on myself. And I explored my spirituality, and devoured the works of Shakti Gawain, Iyanla Vanzant, and Marianne Williamson. I definitely considered that period in myself a spiritual hibernation, as I spent a lot of time working on myself and pretty much kept myself cloistered away.

I think the pinnacle for me was when I took myself out on a date for the first time. I went to the movies ("Hedwig & The Angry Inch") and went out to dinner. Alone. And it wasn't as crazy and awkward as I thought it would be. In that period of my life I learned that being alone does not mean lonely.

Now that I am in a relationship, I have learned that the work on yourself doesn't end because you have someone. I still make a point to do things for myself.. it's become a ritual for me. And I will continue to evolve and grow until I'm dead... because it's nourishing for me, and if it's good for me, it's bound to be good for my relationship.

This week, I will keep in mind this powerful affirmation by Louise Hay, and I hope that you will too. Happy Valentine's Day, Everybody!!!

I Love Myself Affirmation
Louise Hay


Deep at the centre of my being,
there is an infinite well of love.

I now allow this love to flow to the surface.
It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness,
my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions
and returns to me mutliplied.
The more love I use and give, the more I have to give.
The supply is endless.
The use of love makes me feel good,
it is an expression of my inner joy.

I love myself;
therefore, I take loving care of my body.
I lovingly feed it nourishing foods and beverages,
I lovingly groom it and dress it, and my body lovingly
responds to me with vibrant health and energy.

I love myself; therefore provide for myself
a comfortable home, one that fills
all my needs and is a pleasure to be in.
I fill the rooms with the vibration of love
so that all who enter, myself included,
will feel this love and be nourished by it.

I love myself; therefore I work at a job I truly enjoy
doing, one that uses my creative talents and abilities,
working with and for people I love and who love me,
and earning a good income.

I love myself; therefore, I behave and think in a loving
way to all people for I know that that which I give out
returns to me multiplied.
I only attract loving people in my world,
for they are a mirror of what I am.

I love myself; therefore I forgive and totally release
the past and all past experiences and I am free.

I love myself; therefore I live totally in the now,
experiencing each moment as good and knowing that
my future is bright and joyous and secure,
for I am a beloved child of the Universe
and the Universe lovingly takes care of me
now and forever more.

And so it is.

by Louise Hay, from "You Can Heal Your Life"