Tales from the Harp — Meadowlark Healing Harp

I have a new name for my harp endeavors: “Meadowlark Healing Harp” and a lovely business card now to boot. A brochure is in the works. Both have been designed by Jilat Artistry and I love them. There will soon be a website.  My baby harp and I continue work to create peaceful realms for people needing them. Over the last couple days we went first to a memory care unit and I played for two hospice patients. The first had a family member with her who was most appreciative. The resident didn’t change expression too much but did say she wanted me to come back and I received a smile or two and noticed her nodding to the music at one point.

I soon found a woman I played for a few weeks ago. She isn’t verbal but she is incredibly attentive to the harp and every time we made eye contact, I was rewarded with a lovely laugh that had me laughing along. She also appreciates a flourish at the end of a piece. I love playing for her, especially when she gazes and drifts into places of some sort of beauty that the music touches on. Another hospice patient shared the table with her, but I am afraid her forehead was resting on her juice glass and then on the table. She was wheeled away in a bit. I hope a note or two slipped in for her. As I played, another resident came by and told me how she loved to watch Mozart concerts on PBS because there was often a harp. I am humbled by these beautiful souls.

​Today I played for three hospice folks. One was an older man who nodded off as I played. He asked for Greensleeves and I was able to give that to him. A woman in another room was so gentle  — her hand went to her heart a number of times. She smiled and drifted and a deep calm pervaded her room. I gave her an origami peace dove and saw her holding it as I walked by later. The last was a woman rapidly going and surrounded by a large family. She looked like she had a strong spirit. Her family was full of jokes and ordering tacos, talking, laughing, having rare moments of quiet — they wanted me to play some and asked if I could do Metallica or the Doobie Brothers. But a sister requested Amazing Grace, which I could do. I didn’t stay too long as the din was louder than my little harp, but am glad to have given the sister her request. She told me it was their mother’s favorite song.

The meadowlark symbolizes a cheerful journey, as it is one of the few birds that can sing in flight. The black marking on the lark’s chest resembles the new moon, thus symbolizing an inward journey and new beginnings. Every visit I make is a journey to a timeless place, with the harp notes leading the way, as these transitioning people share a moment of grace with me.