 Book ExcerptsIt's evident by studying the lives of
people like Martin Luther King and many other greats who had a dream, that if you want to have a dream come true, you must first have a dream. Geela's dream, which started as a quest for self-fulfillment to become a famous singer in a language that was neither her first or second, eventually has evolved into a profound need to help others while promoting a culture of peace and harmony in many ways including through her innovative non-profit organization, One Spirit, One World .
Part I of the book is "The Immigrant Story". It is primarily an autobiography and begins with Geela's birth in a small town in Iran under unusual circumstances. As a child, living in a small, isolated town in Israel , Geela's reality was anything but stimulating and exciting. Self-fulfillment was not a word in anyone's vocabulary in those days. Living in the shadow of constant terror and war, her experience of living there reminded Geela of the popular TV series "The Twilight Zone." It was a feeling of being trapped in another dimension with no way out. Geela could not, and would not, relate to the culture in which she was being raised. Worse, she always felt misunderstood and not genuinely accepted for who she really was. To cope with her reality, she read a lot and she dreamed a lot. Because of her habit of sharing her many vivid dreams with her family, she would be affectionately referred to as the biblical character of "Joseph, the dreamer," while all along her secret wish was to have the same fate as Joseph who ended up being in a prominent position by which she too could make a difference in people's lives.
Her childhood dream was to become a famous singer abroad. Music was for Geela "the fire within," the great passion of her life. As Geela grew older, she was fortunate to become the lead singer in her older brother's band. Her brother and her shared the same passion for music and a similar vision: to escape the Tel Mond Zone (named after the town they lived in) and become successful in music in a foreign land.
The following is an excerpt from "THE AMERICAN DREAM" :
And in the end, we will preserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.
- Baba Divum
The main purpose of this book is to share my life story with others. Although I was greatly inspired by the time-tested wisdom from the Scriptures, it is not my intention to sell organized religion, though certainly many ideals shared by different faiths are worthy of following. I am simply relating my personal experience for anyone who wants to understand the meaning of life beyond the conventional pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. By exploring new ways of thinking it is possible not only to transcend the pain of existence, but also to achieve any goal including global unity. I found that there are certain universal principles for achieving success in life. Once you embrace those principles, you will unleash a tremendous amount of power and literally "be all that you can be." You will go from making a living to making a difference and you will have a sense of prosperity and fulfillment that you might never have imagined possible.
My story is relevant and timely, now more than ever. Many people feel that the gods of technology have failed them, leaving them feeling lost in a cold and impersonal world with increasingly shallow and external values devoid of meaning and purpose. By keeping constantly in motion with the fast pace of modern life, we create the illusion of meaning. But as long as awareness is lacking, we will always feel a deep sense of loss and emptiness that no material achievement can fill.
It is, therefore, my sincere wish that by sharing my insights with others, I will not only increase awareness but also bring hope to those who suffer in silence, struggling with the pain and the challenges of living. We all need to realize that where there is life there is also hope.
I was born under very unusual circumstances, in a country half the way around the world from my current home in Los Angeles . It's hard to believe that anyone would choose to be born in a small town in the Iranian desert, but that's where it happened. If you can picture nowhere as a place, it would look like my birthplace.
Prior to my arrival, my father was told by his doctors that he had only a few months to live. My father was diagnosed with a life-threatening intestinal disorder that could not be treated due to the lack of advanced technology and proper treatment that is available today. Naturally, the news left my family extremely anxious and overshadowed the excitement of a new baby entering the world. After my birth, my father not only didn't die, but to everyone's surprise he …
That simple joy of life was in sharp contrast with the great upheaval of the political and social climate in Israel at the time. It didn't exactly inspire a sense of prosperity much less enable the pursuit of self-fulfillment. As a young nation, surrounded by many adversaries, citizens lived in the shadow of the constant threat of war. It felt like sitting on a time bomb or just waiting on death row. Also, our small town was located just a few short miles from the border which served as a daily reminder of our vulnerable situation that we had to either defeat or be defeated. So military people with guns were a natural part of the scenery. They were simply everywhere. This seemed like a grim destiny unfairly chosen for me without my consent.
In many ways, Tel Mond reminded me of the popular TV series "The Twilight Zone," where people were trapped in another dimension with no way out. I felt like a hostage, trying desperately to cope with my reality any way I could. To numb myself, I slept and read a lot.
Around the age of ten, I started exploring other ways of living and cultures. This was only natural since it agreed with my own way of thinking about the beauty in diversity and being "different". It was my way of defying all the social/cultural rules that I found to be restrictive and senseless. I felt a compelling, yet inexplicable, attraction to people who were different from me. Perhaps it was because I felt alienated from my family. As it turned out, most of my best friends and lovers throughout my life would be people of different colors, races, and religious backgrounds. These connections would enable me to experience more beauty and joy. As my father liked to say, "Why limit the color of your happiness to one if you can have the whole spectrum of the rainbow."
Having pen pals from around the world was my first attempt at a link to the world beyond Tel Mond. It provided me with a unique, global experience of seeing the world through a different set of eyes, exploring new ideas and concepts and developing an affinity for foreign languages. Up to the age of five I spoke Persian, since I was born in Iran . However, as soon as we moved to Israel , I had to switch to Hebrew. By the sixth grade I was introduced to different languages including English, French and Arabic. I loved the English language so much that I was actually more comfortable thinking, and even writing, in it. By the age of twelve, I actually began to dream in English and during my auditions for various bands I had much greater success when I was singing in English. I have no rational explanation for this phenomenon, except that perhaps this was my language in another lifetime. The contact with people outside Israel brought me great relief from my feelings of boredom and isolation. Although I didn't know it at the time, I was heading down a road that would eventually take me away from family, friends, and the culture and values I grew up with.
The whole concept of the American Dream as the ultimate answer to all of one's problems and everything your heart desires was glorified. In fact, to this date, when you visit Israel , even in the smallest towns, it's almost shocking to see how saturated and "Americanized" the society is, including subtle hints about the American Dream and its promise for sweet success and the good life. The message is constantly reinforced with flashing neon lights by the media (from popular movies, TV/radio shows, plays, publications, books and music to fashion, advertisements, billboards and even in schools and in business dealings). It's no wonder then that immigrants flock to America from all over the world. All in search of one thing " the American Dream.
Perhaps the reason I was born into this particular family system and environment - one which I felt I didn't belong to - was to provide me with the experience that would prepare me with the essential survival skills to last a lifetime, as well as a deep appreciation for family and life itself. As I look back I now have a greater understanding of, and an appreciation for, the transition I made from one value system to another. It was nothing short of a culture shock.
My father had a profound influence on my spiritual development, as well as my passion for music and joy of life. He was very spiritual and had more life wisdom than anyone I have ever known. He basically planted the seeds of spirituality in me early on. His vast wisdom, the principals of life he lived by and his unselfish love and dedication to his family and community made him a true mentor and a living legend to many.
My mother is the embodiment of a survivor. She endured a life of many traumas, suffering terrible lack in every way. She suffered in silence, yet surprisingly she was an eternal optimist with an amazing attitude of gratitude. "It could be worse. We are blessed" and "We'll see better days someday," were other sayings my mother would often use in an effort to focus on the good in every situation however grim. Of my four siblings, all of whom I cared for deeply, David had the most influence on my life by far.
One fateful night, years later, Geela and her brother announced that they would be leaving for America to make a life there as musicians. As Geela recounted it in her book " Those images of my parents' sad and teary eyes during our final goodbye in the airport is still very vivid in my memory. This was the beginning of the end of an era. My parents were painfully aware of that fact, from which they never fully recovered. In a culture where the emphasis is on family values, this kind of separation is equivalent to a death sentence, and the feeling is worse since you your loved ones are living somewhere you can't reach them easily. I personally never got over the separation. It created a terrible hole in my soul, with a deep sense of sadness. But if it was an end of one era, it was certainly the beginning of another " we were going to America ."
America is essentially a land of immigrants. However, the allure and attraction of America is not easily understood by someone who was born there. As Geela says in the book " For over two hundred years, America has been a magnet to people from every corner of the globe for one reason; namely, to be a part of The American Dream. This includes everything from political and religious freedom to the chance of being all that you can be. Immigrants are in essence, America 's true story. Each group of immigrants made a unique contribution to the fabric of the American life, helping shape the American identity and heritage, through extreme hard work and sacrifice. The American experience is filled with inspirational stories of extraordinary men and women who in every era faced enormous challenges and overcome them with a positive and strong spirit. Many risked their lives in order to get to America , the golden land, for the chance of building new and better lives there."
As an immigrant, Geela has to face the harsh realities of life that all immigrants face in pursuit of The American Dream. She not only has to overcome the many hardships and struggles of being an aspiring singer, but she has to do it as a woman and as a member of a minority group " with no support system whatsoever, poverty, discrimination, abuse, sexual harassment, isolation and loneliness.
For over two hundred years, America has been a magnet to people from every corner of the globe for one reason; namely, to be a part of the American Dream. This includes everything from political and religious freedom to the chance of being all that you can be. Immigrants are in essence America 's true story. In our country's history, each group of immigrants made a unique contribution to the fabric of the American life, helping shape the American identity and heritage through extremely hard work and sacrifice. The American experience is filled with inspirational stories of extraordinary men and women who in every era faced enormous challenges and overcame them with a positive and strong spirit. Many risked their lives in order to get to America , the golden land, for the chance of building new and better lives there.
All Americans " save for American Indians " are either immigrants or the children of immigrants. I am an immigrant, born in Iran , raised in Israel , and now an American by choice. That status offers great pride and solace since I can think of no greater country to call my own. I am living the American Dream. But that dream encompasses so much more than most people realize …
David and I arrived in Los Angeles with just a few suitcases containing what little belongings we had, but with pockets full of big dreams. The reality of Hollywood is brutal and merciless . Typically it's an either feast or famine kind of proposition. It is degrading to see how Hollywood toys not only with people's emotions but also with their dreams as well. One's fragile ego can be quickly ripped to shreds by people who take an almost sadistic and twisted pleasure in playing "God" when it came to the fate of your career. Hollywood plays by her own rules. In order to win, you had to know the rules and how to play the game. In a world where vanity is valued instead of virtue, the only things people respond to are power and success. It's never a win-win situation. If you win by any means, the more power to you. The unspoken rules they live by are: grab all that you can grab, defeat or be defeated and have a nice day!
I had lost my innocence and had lost my dream. The memory of this period of my life is a painful one. But little did I know then that what was to follow would be even more painful.
Geela talks about her many years of struggle and how they were ultimately rewarded by the success she had so long sought. The American Dream had become a reality. However, this immigrant story has a fascinating twist. As Geela remembers, she had lost her innocence and had lost her dream as well. She would have to somehow put the pieces of her life back together " but not before experiencing a life-changing event which she refers to as The Black Hole Experience.
I believe in a divine time and a divine plan, which are revealed to us through the phenomena known as synchronicity. Synchronicity is simply the expression of divine will through seemingly unrelated events that are usually perceived as coincidence. Such a coincidence was the turning point of my life.
This life-changing event set the stage for my ultimate experience in life - the creation of miracles and the manifestation of desires through divine revelation.
…. suddenly my life was derailed by a horrific car accident. To my shock, my car was completely totaled. The policemen of course were surprised that I was not only alive, but also uninjured. They just couldn't explain how I had walked away without a scratch. Shortly after the accident, my life became a big blur. It felt as if my life was shattering, only in slow motion. I felt increasingly vulnerable and tortured to the core of my being, feeling trapped with no way out. I was just going through the motion, completely detached from reality in some sort of parallel universe. It was a surreal sort of existence.
During this dark period, which I refer to as The Black Hole Experience, I felt like I was trapped in a large, enclosed area covered from top to bottom with mirrors and endless doors that led nowhere. Each turn presented me with signs and arrows that led to increasingly even more complex riddles, all related to the creation of the universe, the importance of living in harmony with the laws of the universe, the nature of God, the true nature of man, the meaning and purpose of life and finally the nature of miracles and how to manifest them in your own life.
Oddly enough it is in times of adversity that we are forced to dig deep for inner strength. In these unlikely moments when we are at the end of our rope and hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up. Only then we emerge with new and valuable insights. We also discover amazing things like ….
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The second part of the book is about miracles and how anyone can create practical miracles through her revolutionary system for achieving success and total prosperity, called Principles For Successful Living
TM , and spirituality and the quest for global peace.
For the faithful no miracle is necessary, for those who doubt no miracle is sufficient.
- Anonymous
Miracles have always been a source of great fascination to me. As a young child, my parents would tell us many stories about true miracles. I was told that miracles happen to those who believe. However, I was never quiet sold on the idea. If anything our humble life during my childhood, as well as my many unanswered prayers, only made me be more skeptical about miracles. I concluded that miracles happened only to the very few who were deserving, lucky or strong.
As a result of the Black Hole experience, I was able to gain some insight into miracles. Although I didn't understand exactly how the process worked, I was able to observe the cause and effect associated with them. It was only then that I realized that faith was the critical ingredient.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.
- Albert Einstein
Since the journey is written but not the destiny, I find life to be a never-ending drama. It is a drama about the evolution of the Self and about the discovery of the Self. Therefore… But in the end, there's only one true miracle, and that's the miracle of life.
I believe in a divine time and a divine plan, which are revealed to us through the phenomena known as synchronicity. Synchronicity is simply the expression of divine will through seemingly unrelated events which are usually perceived as coincidence. Such a "coincidence" was the turning point of my life.
This life-changing event set the stage for my ultimate experience in life " the creation of miracles and the manifestation of desires through divine revelation. It was a time of profound self-transformation as well as a cleansing experience. I would become a "born again" human being. It was more of an answer to a secret prayer than an accident in the true meaning of the word. Was it really an accident or more of a spiritual wish? I kept asking myself that even long after the incident.
I had come to America , and Los Angeles , in search of fame and fortune. But suddenly my life was derailed by a horrific car accident. My car was completely totaled and yet I walked away without a scratch. The policemen who came to the scene of the accident were surprised to discover that the occupant of the car, me, was not only alive but also uninjured. They just couldn't believe it.
After the accident my life suddenly became a big blur. It felt as if the shattering of my life was happening in slow motion. I felt vulnerable and tortured to the core of my being, trapped with no way out. I was going through the motion, completely detached from reality, in a "parallel universe" sort of existence. In some bizarre way, the past, present and the future all appeared to roll into one. I was there and not there at the same time.
Geela somehow survives the car crash. Sometime later, she has a strange vision and learns that the reason she didn't die was because it was not her time to go. She had a mission and a destiny to fulfill first. Fate had other plans for her. Geela goes on to recount the intense personal struggle which ensued with questions about life and her place in the universe. Her pleas to God are answered from the most unlikely place " from within. The secrets of the universe were suddenly revealed to her.
Geela's journey of self-discovery led her down the path less traveled. It was a path that required as Geela described it "Walking by faith and not by sight." There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. As Geela was to learn, faith was the key to manifesting her desires. As Geela put it "It's simply a state of mind. So if you change your perceptions, you can change your life."
Geela also talks about how she came to understand the process by which miracles are created and how she applied that understanding to her own life. She describes for the reader the miracles which occurred in her life and how they too can create miracles in their own life. Geela concludes the book by listing her Fundamental Principles For Successful Living, the principles which she lives by and the keys to true happiness. It is a step-by-step program for the reader to follow to be able to lead a richer and fuller life.
In order to better understand life and our unique place in the universe, it's necessary to see the big picture, just as an artist steps back from his canvas to gain perspective and see how everything is connected. A closer look at nature reveals order and love. Albert Einstein once observed that, "Nothing in the universe happens by chance. God does not play dice." So, it's important to recognize that life is not by accident. Things happen for a reason. Therefore, your level of awareness, as to what those reasons are, will make the difference in your life between conscious and unconscious living.
I found that there are certain universal principles for achieving success and fulfillment in life. Once you embrace those principles, you will unleash a tremendous amount of power and literally be all that you can be. You will go from making a living to making a difference, accompanied by a sense of prosperity and fulfillment like never imagined possible.
The Fundamental Principles For Successful Living are universal. They are not intended to replace your chosen creed, only to enhance it by increasing your awareness and stimulating your spiritual awakening so that you may experience the closeness, love and unity of God.
But turning on your inner power is very much like knowing how to turn on a switch - one must have directions. So here is my Fundamental Principles For Successful Living …
Music is your own experience, your thoughts and your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out your horns.
- Charlie Parker
Being a musician is like having a mix of curse and blessing. Music fans see the fame and glamour and think that musicians have an enviable lifestyle. It's probably best to describe it as the most dangerous job in the world - a life of torture by choice. Choosing this path is in many ways like choosing to be a monk because creativity demands the best part of you, including your undivided attention over many long and often lonely hours of solitude.
Since you never know when inspiration might strike, there aren't set hours to do composing and writing work, and that makes it very difficult to make any personal plans. For the most part, many musicians tend to put their personal lives on hold. Making the commitment is always a big gamble, where you virtually put everything on the line with no guarantees of any real financial rewards. You need to be a marathoner to be able to go the distance, with the ability to withstand a lot of heat while maintaining a good composure. To survive the jungles of the music industry is tough enough, but to succeed in them as well is indeed a tall order.
I vividly remember how throughout my entire career I always dreaded making plans for special occasions, even vacation times, for fear of missing out on something important such as a phone call from those who might have an impact on my career. In a way, your entire career is one big "work in progress," where timing has a definite bearing on your success. In fact, timing is everything in the entertainment business where there are many special projects with deadlines that never end. Last minute changes in promotional campaign dates inevitably collide with your plans. There was always something that demanded your full attention. The challenge became even greater when you had more than one endeavor or project on your plate. If you happened to be female and single, the scales of a ticking biological clock and your career ambitions always tipped in favor of your career ambition.
It's tough enough to pursue a musical career in a cutthroat and dynamic field such as the entertainment business. However, it's close to impossible to do it while you are pregnant, or a parent with family obligations, since there is so much emphasis on youth and good looks. This explains the phenomena of "late bloomers" " where people in the entertainment industry start families relatively late in life. There is so much pressure to be in top shape, not only physically but artistically as well, that women in particular feel they must sacrifice their dreams for a family of their own until they become more established. By the time you do get established, new pressures are added to perform and release more "product" as a way of capitalizing on your success.
Music has always been my link to a meaningful life, as well as to another form of consciousness. In that respect , music has the power to illuminate, transcend and unite people like nothing else. Music is a symbol of the profound expression of the human spirit and one's longing for harmony and the sacred within oneself and the world. For me, music has been so much more than just entertainment or something you listen to in the background. It has offered me a spiritual experience by enabling me to connect with something almost bigger than life itself. With such enormous power, I concluded it must be divine.
Only after many years of contemplation and self-education, could I finally solve the mystery of my intense passion for music and the power it had over me. I realized that the essence of life, the universe and God is essentially light and sound. Modern science can now explain the powerful effect of sound on matter. Music contains frequencies that have the ability to stimulate listeners on a deeper level than the conscious mind. Since music is such an intense emotional experience, it can either inspire creativity, heal or cause self-destructive behavior. It can even trigger forgotten memories of a different time and place. This can produce intense feelings of longing for something that is not of an earthly nature or origin. In those blissful moments when music causes a temporary vibratory awakening, a dim memory can come to one of their divine origin. Music then becomes a spiritual experience. Eventually, my passion for music led me to the greatest discovery of all, the God consciousness.
At some point, my passion for music was equaled by my passion for spiritual enlightenment and development. Music and spirituality then became one and the same. I had reached a point in my career where I wanted to use my music as a vehicle for my new message. I wanted to perform music that was both innovative and inspirational. I wanted to do music that was both an affirmation of our true spiritual nature and an invitation to the listener to venture down the path of self-discovery. In addition, I wanted to come up with a completely new concept in music too, namely, the fusion of different elements and styles, incorporating enchanting sounds from around the world.
My music is based upon my newfound insights into the human consciousness. The common thread in all of my songs is as follows:
Pain - The recognition and acceptance of pain as a necessary part of life (for the purpose of growth).
Loneliness " A profound and intense experience that is characterized by a longing for something beyond the earthly realm. It is the type of longing that can either become a driving force in your life that propels you to move forward with renewed spirits and greater passion for life, or simply drain your energy, crush your spirit, and make you miss out on the here and now.
Joy of life " Joy comes from the awareness of seeing the big picture and having the experiential understanding of the unity of life. It is the ability to see how everything is connected, the ability to see the wonder and magnificence in life itself. Joy of life, which is not dependent on external things, is found in simplicity and having a sense of sincere gratitude for everything we have no matter how little we think we have.
Hope and faith " The power of hope and faith can create miracles and make your dreams come true. In times of adversity, when you are at the end of your rope, hope and faith become your only reliable allies and lifelines. Therefore we must hold on to them, for if they die, life is like a broken-winged bird and cannot fly.
Healing " Only when we are able to let go and forgive can healing begin to help us break the chains of pain and suffering, and allow us to be free to spread our wings in joy.
Divinity - When we are able to see the divine in our earthly experiences, we can gain better perspective and appreciation for what we do have rather than what we wish we had. High awareness of divinity adds another dimension to our lives while giving it meaning and greater appreciation for the sanctity of life.
Celebration of diversity " Diversity is the mosaic of divine beauty and has a place in the scheme of all creation. When we recognize its relevance, we can conduct ourselves in ways that promote a culture of peace and harmony.
My songs were intentionally written in such a way so as to have a double meaning " much like in the scriptures. On the surface, the songs are about love and longing between a man and a woman. But beneath the surface there is another meaning- one having to do with our relationship with God.
For example, a song I wrote entitled "Sahara" was inspired by a chance meeting between a nomad and myself in the middle of a desert (in the Middle East ). The image of that nomad invoked in me an intense feeling of loneliness, yet connectedness to something larger than life itself. In a moment of instant enlightenment, I realized how joy and pain are both essential parts of the human experience.
Like life, peace is a process rather than a destination. Peace is not something which occurs overnight, nor even in a lifetime. Rather peace is a worthy goal that will provide a safe haven for like-minded people who are trying to find some measure of joy and happiness while trying to survive on the battlefields of life.
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The writing of this book was a labor of love for Geela " a burning desire to share her insights with others as part of her passion to make a meaningful difference. However, as Geela so aptly put it in the book:
"Ultimately, no one is truly an expert on the human experience since there is no absolute right or wrong. We have only the gift of sharing our perceptions that hopefully can help others on their own journey … In the face of adversity and uncertainty, we are reminded of our true essence while being introduced to our "other self", which is central and all-knowing. If we consciously choose life, we automatically set in motion a positive free flow of energy. This is, in essence, the seed of all true miracles."
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