Author Archives: Baja Rock Pat

Neurosurgeon Has A Near Death Experience Similar to Mine at a Rock Concert

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Ever since I had an OBE (out-of-body experience) in 2003 in the middle of Sammy Hagar’s rock concert, I’m noticing more and more people speaking out about having these types of experiences. Dr. Eben Alexander, respected neurosurgeon, describes an experience infinitely similar to mine, although his took place as he lay in a coma due to menigitis.

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear of these experiences–especially those of respected doctors and other professionals–and how we all describe the same thing: a sense of floating above one’s body, a loss of language and physical senses, a feeling of euphoria and oneness with something greater than ourselves accompanied by an immense feeling of acceptance, warmth, comfort, and an overwhelming knowledge that love is all that matters. Alexander describes it as a “warm awareness of the Divine.”

What also fascinates me is that Dr. Alexander describes “seeing” a melody spinning in front of him. I too, saw the words of the song Sammy Hagar was singing that night–they became tangible objects that literally lifted me up and out of my body.

Here is a video of Dr. Alexander describing his experience:

So what does it all mean? That there is an entire realm of consciousness available to all of us–and some of us become aware of it through meditation, or an OBE or an NDE (near-death experience), but it is nonetheless real. And magnificent. And when one encounters this consciousness, one is forever changed and so filled with joy that one cannot help but want to see others experience the same thing.

Bajarockpat.net Makes a Difference – Anthology Book Company

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This month’s free advertising goes to the good people at Anthology Book Company for their contribution in promoting local authors and artists. Do you have a product, service or organization you’d like to see promoted here? Contact me at info@bajarockpat.net.

 

422 E. 4th St. Loveland CO, 80537 970.667.0118 www.anthologybookcompany.com “Books are only the beginning”

 

 

Open early and late,  Anthology has become a community hub for creative thinkers, artistic makers, local leaders and discerning booklovers from all walks of life. With the best used book trade policies in Northern Colorado, as well as delectable coffee, tea, espresso, wine, local brews and specialty food and treats, Anthology is here to nourish you – mind, body and spirit!

Recommended Reading

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New Age:

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Teachings of Abraham)

Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue, books 1, 2, and 3 by Neale Donald Walsch

Diary of a Psychic: Shattering The Myths by Sonia Choquette, Ph.D.

I Had It All the Time: When Self-Improvement Gives Way to Ecstasy by Alan Cohen

Jesus And The Lost Goddess: The Lost Teachings of the Original Christians by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy

Many Lives, Many Masters: The true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives by Brian L. Weiss, M.D.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way by Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

The Psychic Pathway: A Workbook for Reawakening the Voice of Your Soul by Sonia Choquette, Ph.D.

Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman

 

Science and Spirituality:

Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality, edited by Charles T. Tart

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth, by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles, and Belief, by Gregg Braden

 

General Philosophy:

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life by Rick Fields, with Peggy Taylor, Rex Weyler, and Rick Ingrasci

In Search of the Miraculous by P.D. Ouspensky

Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

 

Music and Spirituality:

Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey Into the Spirit of Percussion by Mickey Hart with Jay Stevens

Spirit into Sound: The Magic of Music by Mickey Hart and Fredric Lieberman

The Mysticism of Sound; Music; The Power of the Word; Cosmic Language: The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan by Sufi Hazrat Inayat Khan

 

Native American Philosophy/Shamanism:

Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux by John G. Neihardt

God is Red by Vine Deloria, Jr.

Seven Arrows by Hyemeyohsts Storm

Touch the Earth: A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence compiled by T.C. McLuhan

Shamanism:

Any of the books by Carlos Castaneda

Mending the Past and Healing the Future with Soul Retrieval by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.

The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power, and Grace of the Earthkeepers by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.

 

Eastern Philosophy:

Buddhism:

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki

The Gospel According to Zen: Beyond the Death of God edited by Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

Zen Meditation in Plain English by John Daishin Buksbazen

Taoism:

365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

 

Martial Arts Philosophy:

Abundant Peace: The Biography of Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido by John Stevens

Seven Steps to Inner Power: A Martial Arts Master Reveals Her Secrets for Dynamic Living by Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim

The Magic of Conflict: Turning A Life of Work into a Work of Art by Thomas F. Crum with foreword and photographs by John Denver

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

Song List for “Dance of the Electric Hummingbird”

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Here are the songs mentioned in DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD and the links to purchase them:

“Dreams” – Van Halen

“Pages” – 3 Doors Down

“Nothing Else Matters”  – Metallica

“Crush” – Dave Matthews Band

“Love Walks In” – Van Halen

“Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” – Van Halen

“Rock Candy” – Montrose

“Looking For Your Face” – Jared Harris from “A Gift Of Love: Deepak & Friends Present Music Inspired By The Love Poems Of Rumi”

“Imagine” – John Lennon

“Eagles Fly” – Sammy Hagar

“Poundcake” – Van Halen

“Top of the World” – Van Halen

“Live: Right Here, Right Now” – Van Halen

“Open” – Sammy Hagar**

 

 

**This song was released only on iTunes as a single. It is no longer available, however, there may still be some videos of it on Youtube.

 

There But for the Grace of God, Go I…

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Last week I had a near-death-experience.

It had been a tough day. I was on my way home after twelve hours of babysitting my three granddaughters–whom I adore, by the way, but they’re all still in diapers and two of the three were fussy pretty much the entire day.

Anyway, I was driving home and it was dark. I was tired. My back hurt; my knees ached and I was looking forward to getting home and maybe taking a nice, long, relaxing soak in the tub.

For now though, I was stopped at a red light and I knew it would be a long light, so I reached down and inserted a new CD into the player: The Eagles’ “Desperado,” one of my all-time favorites–extraordinary vocal harmonies, and I just love that banjo in “Doolin-Dalton (Instrumental)”. That’s what I was thinking as I hit the play button, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark-colored minivan run up the embankment to my right (I was in the right lane), its headlights suddenly blasting into my windshield, the van itself tilted at such an angle that I was surprised it wasn’t tipping over onto its side and into the car ahead of me. My first thought was “What are they doing? I guess they must have overshot the turn!” (A silly thought to have at a time like that.) But I quickly realized that the minivan’s front panel was dangling from the car, the passenger side was all smashed in and smoke was billowing from under the hood.

Reaching for my cell phone, I quickly dialed 911 to report the accident. People were jumping out of their cars all around me and running to check on the occupants of the van. It was all happening so fast!

After completing my phone call, I got out of my car, walked toward the minivan and asked if everyone was okay. A middle-aged man said, “Yes, everyone’s okay.” So not wanting to get in the way, I got back into my car and proceeded to merge with the now-bunching-up traffic to my left. It felt like time was standing still. I could not even make myself turn my music back on. I needed it quiet. It was similar to how I felt when I got the phone call that my dad had died–but nowhere near the intensity of that moment–shock, I guess you’d call it and an attempt to process the reality of something unexpected and horrible.

By the time I was able to move and I passed through the intersection, that’s when I saw the other car–a silver sedan smashed up pretty bad and sitting diagonally in the middle of the intersection. I said a silent prayer for all those involved, hoping that no one was seriously hurt. From the looks of both cars, it could have gone either way.

As I proceeded home, I had to pull over several times in order to allow firetrucks, ambulances and police cars to get through, and as I waited for them to pass, I realized that my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. I was shook up for those who were involved in that wreck, and grateful that I was the third car back at that intersection, instead of the first. Had I been in the first car, I would have been hit. Maybe killed.

When I got home, I tried to pretend that it was just another day and that that accident didn’t really affect me, so I logged onto my computer and was instantly inundated with the problems of other people that had somehow suddenly become my responsibility. It was too much.

I got up, poured myself a glass of merlot, then closed my eyes and just breathed. And in that moment, all those problems and the 80 gazillion other critical things I needed to deal with RIGHT NOW suddenly became insignificant. I was alive. I was still breathing. What did it matter if so-and-so might think me rude because I’d forgotten to return his or her phone call or email? Or that that businessperson whom I had hoped would give me an interview turned me down because I was not a writer for People Magazine? And so what if there was still chocolate ground into the carpet from Halloween because I hadn’t had time to clean the house this week?

I sat back in my chair, and felt the wine slide down my throat–smooth and warm, and I thought about how lucky I was to have such beautiful grandchildren. Even though they’re fussy sometimes, I am so blessed to be able to see them often and to have a family and friends who love me, a roof over my head, food to eat and everything else I have. Because like life for those people involved in that accident, everything can change in an instant. You can be going about your day the way you’ve done for the past 20 years or more and all of a sudden something unexpected happens and changes everything in ways you never could have prepared for. What then? You deal with it. You have to. But maybe next time you’ll be a little more patient with that eldery woman who took forever to get through the line at the grocery store last week when you were in a hurry to get that special dinner on the table for your sweetie. Or maybe next time you won’t be quite so quick to judge your neighbor because he has tattooes or because he dresses differently than you, or has too many kids or not enough kids or believes in a different god or no god but is still doing his best to be a good person just the same.

Because maybe, just maybe, there won’t be a next time.

Today’s Guest Blogger: Mystery Writer Patricia Stoltey

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Patricia Stoltey

 

 

It is my pleasure to feature Patricia Stoltey as our guest blogger today. I hope you will post your comments or questions, as she is on hand and ready to reply to your comments. And thank you, Pat, for taking the time to interact with my readers today. Your professionalism and talent are an inspiration to many.

Paying Attention Might Change Your Life by Patricia Stoltey

Pat, thanks so much for inviting me to visit Voice of the Spirit. I’m especially honored to be here as I’m a big fan of your inspirational memoir Dance of the Electric Hummingbird and admire the commitment and the hard work it took to get your story published. Everything that happened for you indicates you’re someone who pays attention.

For me, paying attention means observe, notice, listen, and interpret. Instead of charging through my day as if I were in complete control, I need to feel the underlying message, test my interpretation, and then act with confidence.

A few years ago I stayed with my mom in Illinois after her knee replacement surgery. Over the years, I’d tried hard to convince her to move to Colorado to be closer to me, but she couldn’t decide. My brother and his wife lived nearby, and because of their health issues, it would have been harder for them to travel to Colorado than for me to visit Illinois.

Just before her surgery, however, my brother had to move to a town closer to health care providers and Mom was unable to make the move on her own. Now just out of the hospital and still on pain medicine, totally dependent on me, she was at her most vulnerable. I wanted to swoop in, take charge, and move her to Colorado.

It didn’t quite work out the way I wanted. As I watched and listened to what my mother and brother were not saying, which was far more revealing than what they were saying, I realized there had to be a better solution. I had ten days left in my two-week stay, and only seven of those days were weekdays. In that time, I rented the only available apartment in the same complex where my brother now lived, and it just happened to be a ground floor apartment which was critical because of Mom’s arthritis. I found a local mover who could transfer her furniture and possessions immediately. We got the house listed for sale, everything packed, the move completed, and a caregiver to visit each morning to finish Mom’s therapy from the surgery.

I believe nothing happens that fast, without a single hitch, unless I’m 100% doing the right thing. That conviction eased my disappointment and helped banish any regret I might have experienced later, especially during those inconvenient layovers in Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

And guess what. The force is still with me. As I got older and a little more creaky, Frontier suddenly added a direct flight to an airport only 45 minutes from where Mom (now age 93) lives, and there’s a convenient shuttle between the cities. No more all-day travel events with four hours to kill in O’Hare.

Serendipity is often seen as a mere surprise or accident, synchronicity as coincidence. I don’t believe that for a minute. I’ve experienced way too many surprises and coincidences in my lifetime. I think it’s because I look for them, I expect them, and I express my gratitude for every signal and every sign.

Here’s another little story for you. Not long ago, I received an e-mail through my website from a gentleman named Gary Sand who wrote a novel called In Dreams. Out of the blue, he contacted me and asked if he could send me a copy. He had figured out from photos, my website, and my blog that he’d written about my generation and that I now lived in the state where most of the novel is set. He had a feeling I might enjoy the read. Gary doesn’t aspire to be a writer of dozens of books, and he had no expectations for a review or publicity. Being the book lover I am, I of course said, Sure.”

I put the book on the bottom of the To Be Read stack on my coffee table (a stack that seems to grow taller every week), but that particular book kept drawing my attention—I couldn’t help but wonder, “Why me? Why did Gary send it to me?” Finally I pulled In Dreams out of the stack and read it almost straight through. I ended up in tears…twice.

Gary’s novel told of events in my own life experience, events Gary would have no way of knowing. The parallels are stunning. His story was almost like a rap on my head, a reminder that we are all connected and we should pay attention to our instincts as Gary did by asking to send me a book. And I paid attention to the signals that said, “Read Gary’s book now, because you need a reminder to count your blessings.”

There are a couple of books you might want to read if you’re interested in these topics. Rhonda Byrne’s The Magic focuses on gratitude. Alex Marcoux just released Lifesigns: Tapping the Power of Synchronicity, Serendipity and Miracles.

Now how about you? Do you pay attention?

Links:

In Dreams (http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Gary-Sand/dp/B005CHKIAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351028939&sr=1-1&keywords=In+Dreams+Gary+Sand)

Lifesigns (http://www.amazon.com/Lifesigns-Tapping-Synchronicity-Serendipity-Miracles/dp/0615627978/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351028775&sr=1-2&keywords=lifesigns)

The Magic  (http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Secret-Rhonda-Byrne/dp/1451673442/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351028863&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Magic)

 

Bio:

Patricia Stoltey lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and two-year old Katie Kitty. She is the author of two amateur sleuth mysteries in the Sylvia and Willie series published by Five Star and Harlequin Wordwide, and she has three standalone suspense manuscripts in the works. The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders are now available as e-books for Kindle and Nook.

You can find more about Patricia and her books at her website (http://patriciastoltey.com/) and blog (http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com/). She can also be found on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/patricia.stoltey) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/PStoltey).

Links:

Prairie Grass Murders: (http://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Murders-Sylvia-Mystery-ebook/dp/B004FGMT0Y/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1351031661&sr=1-1)

Desert Hedge Murders: ( http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Murders-Willie-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00960SI9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351031721&sr=1-1&keywords=the+desert+hedge+murders)

 

Coming this Wednesday!

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It is an honor and a pleasure to let you know that mystery writer and blogger Patricia Stoltey will be our featured guest here on Voice of the Spirit, bajarockpat.net this Wednesday, November 7, 2012. Pat has prepared an inspiring post to share with you, and she will be on hand to answer any questions or comments you may have, so please be sure to check back often.

Thank you for your input and continued support. See you Wednesday!

Pat’s website is http://patriciastoltey.com/

Sammy Hagar Gives Author Patricia Walker the Ultimate Shout-Out

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During his recent concert at Cabo Wabo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on October 9, 2012, Sammy Hagar talked about how important dreams are and how one must never give up on one’s dreams. He said that he wouldn’t be where he is today if he hadn’t held fast to that belief.

 

 

Joe Satriani performs with Sammy Hagar at Cabo Wabo

 

 

 

Then, to my complete surprise, he introduced me to the crowd, saying “I wanna bring up Pat.” (Video used with Sammy’s permission)

I didn’t know if he wanted me to get up onstage with him or if he just wanted to tell people about me. It happened so fast that all I could do was stand there in total disbelief as Sammy came over and grabbed my hand. Then he went on to tell the crowd that speaking of dreams, I was a perfect example of someone who had made her dreams come true. He said that I sent him poems many years ago, beautiful poems, and mentioned that I told him that I wanted to write a book someday about all my incredible experiences. Then he said that I went on to do just that. “She wrote this great book and people bought it…”

Sammy Hagar Cabo photo by Patricia Walker 2012

Sammy kept on talking and before I knew it, he was playing “Dreams” slow and low. “Dreams” was the song that started everything for me. It was the song he was playing when I had my out-of-body-experience during his concert back in 2003. I had never heard that song before that night.

By this time, tears were streaming down my face because my emotions were over-the-top. I felt like he was playing that song just for me although I knew he really wasn’t. Or was he? (After the show, a member of his road crew told me that “Dreams” wasn’t even on the setlist that night.) Then Vic Johnson, Sammy’s guitar player knelt down on one knee in front of me while playing his guitar. When I looked up at him, he too, had tears in his eyes…

What a night.

 

Sammy and his band The Wabos perform with Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) and Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver) at Cabo Wabo

 

Sammy also sells my book in the gift shop of his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Mexico:

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this incredible shout out, sales of DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD have skyrocketed. Yes, dreams DO come true. I am living proof. Thank you, Sammy!

Just in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to be a fan of Sammy Hagar or rock music to enjoy this book. It is for ANYONE who is looking for more out of life.

DRUMline Interview and Book Review

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Mike St. John of DRUMline with drummer Kenny Aronoff

 

 

In May, 2012, while waiting in St. Louis to interview Chickenfoot’s drummer Kenny Aronoff, Mike St. John of DRUMline interviewed me about my book DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD and Sammy Hagar.

St. John also wrote the following review about my book:

Music is transcendent – maybe it puts you in a better mood or reminds you of your past.   Good or Bad, music has the power to move us emotionally, spiritually…even into action.  In her book ‘Dance of the Electric Hummingbird’, Patricia Walker chronicles her spiritual journey to self realization sparked by a Sammy Hagar concert in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Walker, not familiar with Hagar at the time, is dramatically and spiritually moved during her visit to Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina while on vacation with her husband.  Maybe she leaves herself open to inspiration because the fun of being on vacation in a remote location and the power of music causes her to forget the rigors of daily life…being a wife and mother in Colorado.

Back in Colorado her life is consumed in the routine of preparing meals and getting the kids off to school…existing but not really living.  On her journey, Walker opens herself up to feelings and reinforcing signs that life can be enjoyed as well as lived.    Often the signs she receives are birds…symbolizing a spiritual presence accompanying her personal growth.

Walker’s transformation is extreme and she does encounter cynicism and questions the validity of what she has experienced.  Each chapter opens with inspirational quotes which help open the reader’s mind to the possibilities being explored…although it’s gonna take a journey for anyone to change.   One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

‘Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom.  If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.’                – Charlie Parker

Patricia Walker ultimately acknowledges the signs she repeatedly receives and decides to live a fuller more joyful existence.  She doesn’t progress in a bubble, however, and invites the reader to discover the possibilities of fulfillment and joy.  It’s an interesting and inspirational read (available on Amazon.com) and a challenge to live life to the fullest.  Hey Patricia, did you know Charlie Parker’s nickname is ‘Bird’?

A HUGE thank you to Mr. St. John for the great interview and book review and no, I did not know Charlie Parker’s nickname was “Bird.” But after all the magical and mystical things that have happened to me on this journey, that does not surprise me one bit.

Please visit http://www.drum-line.net/blogtwo.html and http://www.drum-line.net/home.html as this is a wonderful and informative site dedicated not only to drummers and professional musicians, but to those of us who are music lovers as well. I am deeply honored to be included alongside such incredible and inspiring artists.

 

 

Book Review: “Blinds, Patches, and Twine” by Bobby Hagar Harrell

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With foreword by Bobby Hagar Harrell’s brother—rock star Sammy Hagar—this is a memoir of how a young girl grew up amidst the rage and confusion (and wasted potential) of an alcoholic and abusive father who was once a great boxer—and how one family managed not only to survive, but to prosper in spite of the circumstances they were subjected to–primarily due to their mother’s love and indomitable spirit.

The oldest of four children, Harrell writes eloquently about her childhood memories. She doesn’t mention much about her brother Sammy, so if you’re expecting this to be a book about how it must have felt to grow up in the shadow of a man who went on to become a rock star, that is not the case. I applaud Harrell for that. I was wondering how she was going to pull it off but she did it splendidly. It is the story of Harrell’s  experiences, her courage, her perspective, her struggle, and her search for her identity.

In the early years, the Hagar family pretty much lived in campgrounds—moving from one to the other while their mother worked picking fruit to help put food on the table because their dad couldn’t stay away from the whiskey. Harrell writes about the many times when their father would come home drunk and belligerent at the end of the day, and how their mother would herd all the children out the window and to a pre-determined hiding place. There they’d cover themselves with blankets until their father passed out and it was safe for them to return to their beds. Wow. Talk about a traumatic experience for an impressionable child.

Harrell paints a beautiful picture with words; her prose alone is poetic but she also includes some of her poems in this book. My favorite is on page 138, which begins “I learned about God in a boysenberry patch…” I also loved “I Remember Me”. Great stuff.

It takes a brave soul to write a book of this nature, and Harrell is so honest here, she even includes a copy of her father’s autopsy report outlining the details of his death at age 51.

Families affected by alcoholism are, unfortunately, a common occurrence in many people’s lives, so I’m sure this book had to be cathartic for the author, and I’m sure it is her desire that it may also be cathartic to others who may have endured the pain of growing up under similar circumstances. Blinds, Patches, and Twine has a happy ending though—it serves as an example to the rest of us that no matter what situation one is born into, there is always hope. Harrell sums it up nicely on the last page:

…I celebrate and thank God every day for a mother who showed us, through time and effort, how to love, laugh, forgive and: How to look for Peace amidst chaos. How to pick the Beauty from the disarray. How to rescue Pride out of disappointment. How to siphon Knowledge out of ignorance. And—how to do it all with love.

Lots of great pictures here as well.

For ordering information, please visit http://sbpra.com/bobbyhagarharrell/