Harlepolis said:

Oh wow and bass also...wow thats amazing...only known her to be a vocalist, wow.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yes, I'm talking guest spots on other people's albums and soundtracks. Too numerous for me to name. It took me years but I collected just about all of those CDs. A few I found MP3's for because they are so rare. There used to be a site called Chaka Khan Music Website that listed all of her guest spots but I'm not sure if it's up and running anymore. Just based off of the guest appearances alone, the average person would be shocked at how much musical ground this woman has covered. I even have her doing a background vocal on a song where she is singing the lyrics in German!
[Edited 12/18/09 21:07pm]

For someone who grew up Catholic, she sure knows how to sing some gospel

kitbradley said:

http://members.casema.nl/...icwebsite/

, revelations come when we least expect it i think but when we most need it.

love M

I've been touched by your beautiful souls for years, Supa...

I love Chaka and I love you too. I always will.

I buried this article with my Aunt Bell. I folded it such that the Chaka Mouth would face outward and I placed the article by her side. The gift she gave me is with her to guide her way to healing. She is buried with my cousin Lisa who died 3/15/2006. Baby Anthony is with them as well.

I can't believe how beautiful and meaningful a little gift given 30 years ago, and which broke the very first day, has become. The levels of this gift and the discovery and healing that have come with it is OUTERSPACE ASTOUNDING I mean it is just GALACTIC. How can so much come from something so simple?

It just goes to show the power of love and how truly it's the thought that counts. It wasn't a fancy toy. It wasn't expensive. It wasn't even something you could play with. But My GOD, how priceless it turned out to be.

Saturday, I met with my father to tell him about my treasure experience. I wanted to speak with both him and my mom before sharing this with anybody else. I told him the FULL story, including my very first memory in life of him beating up my mom.

My dad and I have been talking for a while now and so many things that I've needed to say have been said. But I've never spoken of this first memory and how much it marked me and started me on the path that led to my own participation in an abusive relationship.

I began the conversation by saying that I was not coming from a place of anger, or a place of blame. I told my dad that I was going to be very honest about my memories and my experience and that the point of me sharing was not to hurt him but to let him know how far I have come from that time and the way that I have healed from it. I told him that the first memory I was going to share was painful but that I recognize that he is a different person and that he and my mom get along and are friends. So I acknowledged the current reality as well.

Before the conversation, I imagined that I would have to stop my dad from interrupting and explaining his side of the story. When I told him about the first memory and how it affected me, he just sat there and heard me out. He didn't interrupt and so instead of it being an interruptive experience, it was very easy and very smooth. Matter of fact, I had zero fear going into this. That is so unlike the past. In the past I would have been practically throwing up all the way to my grandma's house

But it was so EASY. This is the "hardest" conversation I've ever had with him, and yet it was the easiest. When it came time for my dad to chime in, he took complete responsibility and didn't make excuses. I have been knowing him to be responsible for his actions but I thought that maybe this one memory might set him back but it didn't. He was very present with me through the whole thing and I didn't have to explain a lot. He just knew.

I even thought that maybe he might not remember that day. But he did. And he explained how things were for him at the time. I acknowledged my dad and told him that the thing that brought me into a place of acceptance and of making peace with the past was becoming an adult myself and having my own experience where I realized that sometimes there is no good choice. That sometimes in life you are left with bad and worse and you just got to make the best of what is.

I told my dad that I understood how much he was affected by the Vietnam war. He went there when he was 16 (fake ID) and he was there for 4 years. He came back home from the most violent place on earth and at that time there was no such thing as post traumatic stress disorder and as we have seen as a society, many of the vets from Vietnam were shunned, discarded and dismissed. I understand TOTALLY why he turned to drugs and alcohol. His experience was only compounded by the fact that he too grew up with a violent father.

I told my dad of a memory where he took us to this park and me and my sister and he threw basketball hoops. I hated sports growing up, still do. My sister wasn't that interested and I remember at the time just kind of being silent and going through the motions. There wasn't a lot of joy in that experience but I did tell my dad that when I remember that day I am filled with so much love because I understand that he was trying the best he could. For that I LOVE that memory and that experience.

My dad said many things that he needed to say. It was wonderful for me to be present for him as he shared his perspective and his side of the story. I told my dad about the gift, both in the way that I gave it to my child and how I gave it to my 23 year old self. I told my dad that my FAVORITE MEMORIES with him were the music.

So crazy because on the way to go speak to my dad, I called my friend Vanessa from school for support and she told me I don't know why but I feel like I need to tell you that I'm listening to Elton John's "Benny and the Jets". I practically fainted on the street I told her that if I could pick ONE SONG as the theme song for my time with my dad when I was a kid and would visit on the weekends, it would be. THAT SONG

When I was explaining how surprised I was to find Chaka in the "R" section, before I could finish the thought, he chuckled Yeah, she was with Rufus at the time. I just can never explain fully HOW IMPORTANT MUSIC IS IN MY LIFE. It has always been my salvation and for my dad to be on that boat and for me not to have to explain it, is just so amazing.

I told my dad how my friend told me on the way about listening to Benny and the Jets and how important the memories of us sitting and listening to music were. My dad started reflecting and he told me how hard those times were for him and how the music was his escape. How fucking BEAUTIFUL that his escape into music was my escape too. Chaka (Rufus) was one of the artists that were the soundtrack of such a difficult and sad time of my life. The absolute miracle of music is that it can change the darkest of times into an absolute WONDERLAND.

We talked about my Aunt Bell and what a good woman she was. We remembered her with so much love. We also remembered my cousin Lisa. I told my dad about how the path that I am on is going to lead me into bringing healing light to those in the darkness. I told my dad about my abuse and he connected to me as someone who too, had been abused. We had been victims in the past and it was incredible to be survivors together.

He told me this experience with my cousin Lisa that broke my heart but made it swell with so much love for her and for him and for my clan. He was on the bus and he saw her come on and told her to come sit with her. When she sat down she started crying and telling my dad that her boyfriend told her she was fat and useless. This broke my heart to hear, however my dad told me about the advice he gave her and the comfort and love that he had given her. It made me feel so much peace to know that she was being loved in the times that I lost touch with her. She struggled through those years, but she was loved. I can't tell you how IMPORTANT knowing that my dad sat with her and loved her in that time, instructing her on a better way of being.....how important this is for me to know.

My cousin Lisa was a strong woman. She was hardcore as a child and even more so as an adult. She has that stubborn streak that can be our family's worst enemy. But she also had that trait that is our biggest asset: HUMOR. My memories of her all involve laughter. She had me cracking up always. Even though the circumstances of her death were so tragic sad and dark, we remembered her with SO. MUCH. LIGHT. AND. LOVE

I cannot even begin to put down in words how HUGE this conversation is for me and how much healing took place. My dad called my mom the next day to tell her that we had sat down and talked and he told her it was the best day of his life....



.
[Edited 2/5/10 11:51am]

got me sitting here at work crying...

butterfli25 said:

Think how I feel!

So interesting because I thought I would be flipping out crying through the whole thing but I was very serene and calm. I did tear up when we talked about Lisa but for the most part I felt very peaceful.

This new way of feeling is gonna take some getting used to After the funeral, my dad, grandfather and I went to breakfast. We talked more about the past and about my sister and my dad said how wonderful that I had found my calling in life and that my past experiences are going to help me and he was so encouraging with regards to my finding someone to share my life with.


WHAT. WHAT. WHAT?! I mean I go from never telling him I'm gay to he's totally caring about that I'm not alone and finding a partner to share my life with? This is such a switch from the way it was growing up. I never told him all this time because of all that machismo Latin crap. But now he loves me for who I am..... his son. He wants me to be happy

I love you baby
.
[Edited 12/23/09 12:37pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I love you too

I waited about 2 hours before viewing my aunts body at the wake. I spent that time talking and connecting with my family and friends. During that time, people were viewing the body and having their experience and I just observed the loving essence of each individual that was paying their respects and reflecting on my aunts passing.

Before going up, I asked my cousin if I could bury this article with her (my parts of the thread) and she said I could. I went up after everyone had paid their respects. I wanted to be alone.

I had folded the article so that the mouth was facing outward and I placed it on the side of my aunt so that the gift of voice would be speaking to her always.

So I was staring at the mouth, then at my aunt and thanking her for this most miraculous gift. I cried so deeply as I reflected on this death and how connected I am to her because of the most beautiful gift I've ever received.

My cousin Sonya's daughters, Ashley (17) and Alex (12), and my cousin Lisa's (who died) daughter Vicenta (9) all approached and stood with me as I grieved. They were behind me but I noticed their presence from my peripheral vision.

They are all drawn to me and I really respect and honor that so even though I wanted to be alone, I didn't stop my grieving. I continued to cry and honored the fact that they wanted to comfort me. It was the sweetest thing

Finally I dried my tears and I turned and just put my arms around them and hugged them and brought us together in a little half circle as they cried and then we remembered my aunt (their grandmother) and it was just the most beautiful, precious, sweet healing moment. They comforted me and I comforted them.

My cousin Lisa has 4 kids that are in the system, and I am going to put information on a registry so that the kids can find us when they turn 18 if they ever decide to look. I want them to know that their mom loved them and I hope that our family has the chance to bring them into the fold and can give them the love we so deeply want to give.

There is so much healing happening. It's not immediately visible in some cases, in others it's obvious. My school believes in ancestral healing, even in the spirit realm. I am open to be a vessel of this miracle for my family. I am absolutely blessed and I receive the blessings of this most sacred of duties.....

My Aunt Bell and Uncle Ronny when they were first married:

My Aunt Bell with one of her infamous wigs:





It was so cute to hear my cousin's childhood friends reminisce on playing dress up with the wigs. I wonder how long it took my aunt to whip them back into shape after playtime

.
[Edited 2/5/10 11:53am]

.

My Aunt Bell as a little girl, standing on the fender of their car:



Imagine at one time that was a new car!

.



It's blurry but here is a picture of me, my cousin Sonya (middle) and my cousin Lisa who died



It warms my heart infinitely to see these memories

I love seeing a smile on my cousin Lisa's face God I miss her

I have zero idea why she split from them or they from her. But they are just ruthless here:



IMO, leaving with the idea of pursuing some kind of blues career was a mistake. She is straight out funk/soul. I didn't much care for Classikhan but dayum, you give her a spoon full of funk and she'll return the dose Ocean style!
[Edited 6/10/10 16:10pm]

.



This version of Stay is EPIC (The original video disappeared Replaced with another ruthless video)




and then there's THIS




[Edited 5/14/13 11:59am]

I just came out of my 4th weekend at school and my God. I had a revelation during one of our exercises. If the treasure experience stopped where I last spoke of, I would be the happiest person on the planet. But there is more. First I need to start with the dream I had on Friday night after class....



When I woke from this dream, I was filled with this sense of fear because the dream was so overwhelming and impossible and I didn't know what it meant and therefore had all kinds of questions and doubts. But I felt this dream inside me like I couldn't shake it and I was unsettled.





Sunday we moved into an exercise of self counseling. This exercise was desinged to get us in touch with the loving part of ourselves that have no doubt, or fear or judgments. That pure sense of ourselves that knows the best in us because it is that essence. This is the inner counselor.

So we go into a meditation where we were to see rainbow colors. The teacher walked us through each color and this is how it was for me:





I was filled with such beautiful peace from this vision. It was after this that we moved into the exercise of connecting with our inner counselor.

My small self began the conversation by talking about feeling some levels of fear and pain and judgment against myself. I expressed the things that fear was trying to tell me and that it was telling me I wasn't able and that taking risks would end in failure. I told my counselor that I was seeing glimpses of my abilities but that I haven't stepped into the fullness of my power.



My inner counselor replied telling me that these feelings are part of being human and that there was nothing wrong in connecting to my humanity. He told me:

Fear is a four letter word. SO IS LOVE.

My inner counselor acknowledged me for the job I've done thus far.



My small self replied that I feel simultaneously good and bad at the same time about some of my choices and I expressed my confusion in being love but sometimes not making choices based on love and I asked my counselor his insight.



Up to this point, I had differentiated my small self and my counselor by drawing a line next to the things my small self wrote and a heart next to the things my inner counselor wrote. My inner counselor encouraged me to change the line to a heart for that is who I am: LOVE, completely and totally. He told me this:

Because you spill brown paint on a green slab of slate, does not mean that what lies underneath has been changed. You are truly a miracle and no amount of humanity changes the truth of your divinity



I thanked my inner counselor for helping me to see the truth and that I felt comfort in that analogy. I realized I am in the process of cleaning and clearing all the labels and spillage and that this is a process that doesn't happen all at once. I thanked my counselor for her clear vision of us.



My inner counselor acknowledged that I have shifted and moved into truth and that truth will always be there for me when I need to see, feel and know it. My counselor told me this:

You can call that truth: I, me, us, myself, Richard Corona, Pops, brother, father, mother, son, aunt, uncle, sister, friend, lover, soulmate, GOD. They are all you and you are them. You are truth and that never changes.



I sought reassurance from my inner counselor that I would always be guided through this incredible process and that I will always be able to tap into knowledge. I asked my counselor to assist me in exploring and uncovering those hidden keys from the dream.



Then my Inner Counselor revealed this dream and a mystery from my 2nd guided meditation where I healed the memory of my boyfriend choking and slapping me. In that vision, I was 39, 23, and 4 years of age. I (39) and I (4) sat on either side of myself (23) on the bed and gave the gift and played Walking in the Sun. While all this was happening I was a fourth person between the foot of the bed and the bedroom wall, watching this act of healing. That fourth person was my Inner Counselor

My counselor told me You did this. All I did was watch you in truth....our truth.

Then my inner counselor revealed the meaning of the dream. I was allowed to see the very beginning of this miracle. This dream of the giant room and the keys, this is the start of this Treasure experience and goes back in time to the very beginning of my life.




I did not experience anything past the confusion and fear in the dream but my Inner Counselor played the rest of the dream for me. In this dream, there are 4 people. In the dream I did not see who they were but I felt their presence. My Inner Counselor showed me the other three people and they were Pops (4), Olivia (23) Inner Counselor (eternal). I (39) was the leader of this expedition in this giant water filled room and I achieved the impossible.

My Inner Counselor showed me that I led the hurt parts of myself one by one to their keys. My 4 year old Pops, took his key and unlocked one of the walls. Once free he made his way back to his pain and unlocked the Treasure chest by the shore. This is how the gift appeared in that first vision.

Then my Inner Counselor showed me that I led Olivia to her key and that she unlocked another wall and made her way back to her pain, ready to receive the gift from Pops.

Then my Inner Counselor showed me that I found the key to unlock another wall and then the key to unlock the last wall which was on my heart and which allowed the river to flow from it to create this perfect beach paradise where I (39) would discover this gift and the ABSOLUTE MAGIC of this experience and revelations.

My Inner Counselor told me:

All your truths were given by you and to you. YOU. DID. IT.. YOU. We put the gift in the chest but you gave us the keys to find it wherever we were in the experiences of the pain. The treasure has been moving with you all along.






It's Amazing how the cards can tell so many stories. This card came up for me in one of my readings for myself:



Myself in pain, being rescued by Pops, Olivia and My Inner Counselor.



As if this experience couldn't be more wonderful. Dear God, thank you THANK YOU for allowing me to behold such beauty and thank you to myself for being open enough to receive it

What is the next 18 months going to hold in store!???!

You know I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT!


.
[Edited 2/5/10 11:58am]
[Edited 12/5/10 15:00pm]

Ok, all videos are removed due to terms of use violation. What did I do wrong?!

Ok, it wasn't my violation but the violation of the user

BUT. STILL! :pisssed:

Vintage Rufus. She was just 21 or 22 here. The thing I love about their early days is that this is like a coal miner's band meets preachers daugther for straight up revival






[Edited 8/30/10 18:11pm]

I'm looking for Love, Dear Lord, and I'm searching Hi and Looooowwww.
[Edited 6/28/10 16:03pm]