Episode 58 Tahira Clayton, singer/songwriter, music teacher
Release Date: 02/11/2019
Episode 372 Release, Align, Rise
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I explain the triple nine portal of last Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The number nine invites us to close old cycles and prepare for a fresh start. Triple nine energy equals Release, Align, Rise. It’s not too late for you to focus on what you what to release, how you can forgive yourself and others with compassion and rise into a higher vibration. Reflect on what no longer serves you. Envision how you can show up more consciously and confidently for yourself, your relationships, your work and the proactive work needed in our country now. Let these three...
info_outline
Episode 371 Remembering Mom
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s podcast I remember my mother, Sylvia Sinclair Carr Berking, whose birthday was less than 2 weeks ago, on August 28th. It would have been Mom’s 96th birthday. She was 86 and a half when she died on February 7th, 2015. It’s nearly 11 years since my mom died and I think of my Mom on a regular basis. I am so grateful for my mother’s generosity, humor and her spiritual curiosity. In the last two years of her life, Mom articulated what she was living for and trusted that the Universe would help manifest that desire. Being confined to a wheel chair after her left...
info_outline
Episode 370 Happy Labor Day
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this Labor Day, as the summer comes to a close and you (hopefully) enjoy a day off, time with family and friends, before the school year starts, let’s not forget all those who have risked so much to protect our work force. May we advocate for even better working conditions that reflect social justice, decent work and the safety and health of all workers. Happy Labor Day! Enjoy the podcast. Links:
info_outline
Episode 369 Light As A Feather
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share my recent encounter with a hawk feather and all that brought up for me. What words, images and spiritual wisdom do you associate with a hawk feather? May the qualities of gentleness, softness, light, spirit, gliding and expansion bless you this week. May you feel the presence of the spiritual realm guiding you, watching over you and protecting you. May the hawk feather remind you that you have the strength to conquer any challenges that come your way. May you see things from a higher vantage point, sharpen your vision and have the clarity to make decisions...
info_outline
Episode 368 Remember and Reignite
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode I acknowledge how helpful it is to remember and reignite some of the meaningful experiences we’ve had, even if life tends to tuck them away on a shelf. Being with my cousin and her husband last week, and their genuine interest in my June trip to Vietnam, I remembered and reignited a deeply moving experience I had. My visit to the Tu Hieu Temple where Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was ordained at the age of 16 and where he returned to for the last 8 years of his life, was recalled and honored. I am so grateful to remember and reignite how important that visit to the...
info_outline
Episode 367 A Glimpse Of Heaven
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share my vision of what heaven entails and the magnificent glimpse of heaven I experienced at my niece’s wedding last week. The couple’s radiance of love, compassion, mindfulness and integrity raised the vibration for us all to break down the illusion of separation and show up with our best selves. This incredible couple, how they live their lives and their inspiring circle of friends, truly enlightened me. My soul was refreshed and nourished and I was infused with more hope than I have felt in a long time. I hope you, too, are enjoying some glimpses of...
info_outline
Episode 366 Humility Revisited
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode I revisit the power of humility. I had chosen the word HUMILITY for my word of 2025 and as we enter the 8th month of the year, it continues to be exactly the word I needed. Humility can be applied in any situation - casual interactions and intense interactions. Humility can be used for our own self talk or the way we approach people and situations. It’s humbling to recognize that I am only in charge of my own life. Humility helps me be honest about my strengths and weaknesses. Humility gives me the patience to listen to others, admit my mistakes, demonstrate...
info_outline
Episode 365 Honoring Joanna Macy
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I honor Joanna Macy, PH.D, author, teacher, a scholar of Buddhism, systems thinking and deep ecology. Joanna died last week at the age of 96, and I trust that her respected voice in movements for peace, justice and ecology will live on in my heart and in the world. Whether you know her rich contribution to our consciousness or she is new to you, I invite you to learn about Joanna Macy. See how she might touch your heart and inspire you to awaken, stretch, and live more fully. Check out the show notes for links to her website, interviews and books. Enjoy...
info_outline
Episode 364 May Kindness Prevail
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, the word that stands out from my 3 weeks away is KINDNESS. There were so many random acts of kindness that I experienced while traveling in Vietnam and Bali, from people I know and cherish, as well as from strangers. So today I pause, reflect and absorb how powerful it is to receive and give kindness. Our small acts of kindness are often returned with humility, gratitude and graciousness. Kindness generates more kindness. May you offer kindness to anyone you come in contact with. May you receive the gift of kindness, even from unexpected places. May the kindness we...
info_outline
Episode 363 For Presence
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, as I travel from Vietnam to Bali, I offer John O’Donohue’s blessing “For Presence”. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, may you take a moment to pause and tune into being present. Be present to your surroundings, to your body, to your thoughts, to your feelings. What a gift to pay attention, to open up to appreciation, gratitude and compassion. May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention. May you be present to the mystery of being alive. Enjoy the podcast!
info_outline My guest today is Tahira Clayton. Tahira is a soulful singer, songwriter, music teacher and conductor. Tahira’s name translates as purity of light and that she is! I see, hear and feel light when I am in Tahira’s presence - she is tuned in, gracious, open and compassionate - radiating light both on and off stage!
Growing up in Texas, Tahira explained that her family was one of 3 black families that lived in an otherwise white neighborhood. Tahira didn’t want to stick out, she didn’t want anything that was going to make her seem more different than she already was. She acknowledges the irony that she figured out who she was while denying the biggest part of her. Tahira remembers when that self consciousness of her race dissipated and she finally felt proud to be black, she began to confidently express herself as a strong black woman.
We recorded this conversation with Tahira in the fall of 2018, intentionally waiting to release this podcast so we could promote her album release show. However, in addition to waiting for the album release date, her beloved partner, Addison Frei (featured in Episode #43) pulled off a spectacular, romantic surprise marriage proposal (with her whole family sworn to secrecy) over Thanksgiving 2018. Blessings Tahira and Addison!!
In early December, Tahira came as my guest to see The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform at City Center (NYC), her first time seeing the company! We were both blown away, not only by the company’s signature dance “Revelations", but by the world premiere of Rennie Harris’ "Lazarus I and II", this piece is a MUST SEE!!
Please join me on Thursday February 28th, 2019 at 8pm to celebrate Tahira’s album release show at Nublu, 151 Ave C, New York City.
Check out the links below for the latest events in Tahira’s life, as well as her website where you can hear her music and find out about all her exciting projects. For our UK listeners, Tahira will be traveling to London on March 9th, 2019 to be part of a panel on systemic exclusion of women in jazz at the International Women in Music Leadership Conference. Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
tahiraclayton.com
FB: TahiraClaytonMusic
IG: @tee.clay
Twitter: T_ClaytonMusic
“Wait Till Now” album release show:
Thursday February 28th, 2019 at 8pm at
Nublu, 151 Ave C, New York City