Naked

Is there a way to rid myself of the looming guilt in being human?
Is there a time when I will be blind and not want to hide when I'm naked?
And the leaves fall off
when a bite is taken
I love my God
But I'm only human
And naked
I'm naked

Is there no shame in playing the game and living this life to the fullest?
I give and take and try to behave I'm out here and making a difference
But the leaves fall off
when a bite is taken
I love you God
And I'm only human
Here naked
I'm naked

So what is this just one big test?
I'm prone to run towards the dangling carrot
I sow I grow and give it all
I read I feed but still I need to feeeeeeeeel loved to feeeeeeel full and feeeeel that I am loved by you

When the leaves fall off
And a bite taken
I love you God
And I'm only human
Here naked
I'm naked
Naked before you
Naked after you
Naked and seeking truth
Fully dressed and over this
So why am I still feeling that I'm naked?

By shawna ray today
www.shawnaray.com

Diving Into Daydreams

Walking on cloud nine
Swirling around
Catching my breath and
Feeling weightless
Will water hold me?
Well just relax
Enjoy the journey
To lala land...

I'm diving into daydreams
Cutting the slack
Caller asked for dreamer
Answer, "Yes I am"
Diving into daydreams
Well now what's next?
Lost and I'm finding
What I want to be when I grow up
Been there done that
So I grow on and live it up

I thought I would be
Somewhere by now
Bloom where I'm planted
Leaving the ground
What if I miss it?
Has that ship sailed?
I can't go back so
I'll start with now

I'm diving into daydreams
Cutting the slack
Caller asked for dreamer
Answer, "Yes I am"
Diving into daydreams
Well now what's next?
Hopeful I'm finding
What I want to be when I grow up
Been there done that
So I grow on and live it up

Every little peak and valley
There is more to see
Loving as I'm learning
How to follow God's lead
It's all about the flow
And counting blessings

While diving into daydreams
Cutting the slack
Caller asked for dreamer
Answer, "Yes I am"
Diving into daydreams
Well now what's next?
Free and I am finding
All I want to be when I grow up
I'm over that
Now I grow on and live it up
Still diving into daydreams
Falling in love
Are you coming with me?
Ah now grow on and live it up
Live it up, live it up, live it up!

Shawna Ray
www.rhythmray.com
www.shawnaray.com

Out There

Thinking of the web world written 2/27/11...

Exposure, uncover
Who you are; it's all out there
Revealing, true feelings
shared on the internet well

Some of it informing
With resourceful news
Some of it bullshish
Lies disguised as truth

Out there
Its all out there
For the world to see
Embedded coding
Out there
We're out there
All I'm asking
Is that we pause and think out there

So thankful for knowledge
A global library
But remember, what you say
Can be felt instantly

Marketing a company
Networking with friends
Videos of rising stars
And voices for a cause

Out there
Its all out there
For the world to see
Embedded coding
Out there
We're out there
All I'm asking
Is that we pause and think out there

Where privacy is lost
And innocence exploited
Dark Addictions fed
And character is tested
Out there
Its all out there
Tracking cookies
Searching, spidering
Out there
We are out there
All I'm asking
Is that we pause and think out there
Its all out there
www.shawnaray.com

At a Loss

Lives are being torn apart
While I go through normal life
Wish there was a way that I
could help you today

Balling up this energy
Separate the heavy weight
How can something so far away
Affect me like this?

Every soul, we are connected
To this lifeforce energy
I don't know you but I feel you
Sending prayers and love your way
I am sorry for your loss
So sorry...

Knowing just how short life is
Changes how we all should live
Have to find a way to give
And reach to meet this need

Every moment counts each day
Nothing in material things
When a love is ripped away
We face priority

Every soul, we are connected
To this lifeforce energy
I don't know you, but I feel you
Sending prayers and love your way
I am sorry for your loss
So sorry

Healing in each grain of sand
The wake of tragedy
Giving, giving what I can
Sending light your way
I am sorry for your loss
So sorry, at a loss
I am sorry for your loss
So sorry
www.shawnaray.com

Collective, by Shawna Ray 3/11/11

When what we sow is what we reap
The energy will feed and seed
The whole, I am collective

We turn the darkness by receiving light
In understanding another's viewpoint
Asking why and listening
Talking less with heartfelt giving
What we sow is what we reap
The energy will feed and seed
The whole, I am collective

We break the cycle sharing ourselves
Staying connected to the Spiritual realm
Loving each other when we are in Love
Lifting our voices, laughing out loud
When what we sow is what we reap
The energy will feed and seed
The whole, I am collective

As we heal
As we grow
As we feel
And let it go

When what we sow is what we reap
The energy will feed and seed
The whole, we are collective
In peace
Collectively
In love
Collectively
We are one 
This energy will feed and seed
The whole, I am, collective

www.shawnaray.com

The Essence of Life

Not that I have it all figured out, but this song came to me today and I just like sharing in real time now that I've figured out the quick copyright for lyrics and don't fear so much anyway...

THE ESSENCE OF LIFE

You smile and now I'm smiling
You bring the best out of me
Suddenly captivated by a need
Wrapping me up in warm blankets of love...

The essence of life, I finally get it
And feel so alive; completely exhausted
Love multiplies; the sum is the total
I find the essence of life

You laugh and get me laughing
You cry and reach inside of
My soul; it blows my mind when
I look into your eyes
Wrapping me up in warm blankets of love...

The essence of life, I finally get it
And feel so alive, completely exhausted
Love multiplies; the sum is the total
I find the essence of life

Flash forward through your life
You're catching me in height
Asking hard questions
I have to make right
Moments in time
A balancing axis
So please understand
It's imperfectly perfect

The essence of life, I finally get it
And feel so alive, completely exhausted
Love multiplies; the sum is the total
I find the essence of life
Giving me up in the lessons of love...
Wrapping us up in warm blankets.

(I was thinking of my children when they were tiny babies and completely captivated me in love. I still don't understand how some people, including my kids' father- miss that! But then this song broadened and I can also picture any caregiver, lover and life traveler who reaches beyond self to discover the essence of life, even for just a moment) hmmmm 3/7/11 shawna ray
www.shawnaray.com

Expanding my horizon

I've been tumblr blogging this year and have felt safe and comforted there. I enjoy sharing pictures and music and surfing through random posts in that very creative community. But I really do want to stay OPEN and share my songs, lyrics, stories and writing ramblings to a wide audience, in the form of a sort of musical memoir. So, I am trying to figure out what’s next?
Possible rejection from agents, editors and publishers is so freakn scary! To avoid it, I started my own company; Rhythm Ray Inc. to self published my children's book, "Take a Trip to Diverse City" after one and only rejection letter from my unsolicited submission to Harper Collins. It was actually a very nice letter, first from the Children's Division president saying that she was passing my book on to the editor, followed by the Harper Collins editor’s letter saying that it just didn't fit in their program list at the time. Rather than keep trying, I published myself and have enjoyed sharing at schools, community festivals and churches. I figured I needed to build a platform as a first time author. First print of 1,000 with Winter’s Press sold, then Rhythm Ray printed a special edition of 5,000 sold with a CD music version of the book with Atlanta music group B5.
I thought my background in Public Relations would allow me to do it all myself, but I hadA LOT to learn. I absolutely HATE promoting myself is the first thing I learned real quick. As a single Mom, this has been an adventure and humbling poverty experiment. I did have the opportunity to share on The Today Show, nominated by my daughter Kaiya and chosen as one of the finalists on a CBS Special, "America's Favorite Mom" in 2008, sponsored by Teleflora. That seems like forever ago! Last year I self published my first album of original songs, "Open" with an inheritance gift from my Grandmother after she passed away. I had lost my job and have struggled to find work in this recession, moving in with my Mom. We about killed each other at first and writing was the one thing that got me through. I am not sure what I expect to come from all this, but it’s been pretty uneventful thus far. I released an album and only performed three shows this year. What the hell is wrong with me? Every time I got a new band together, the guys would move away to find work outside of Columbus, Ohio. This happened three times and since I have been petrified of being alone on stage, the music was OPEN but few people walked through the door. That’s what it feel like anyway. I mean, it has been out there on itunes and such, but I am still broke and undiscovered.
I feel like I have missed way too many steps for far too long. I also auditioned for Oprah’s OWN show, using my last dollars to fly to Atlanta. I didn’t receive a call back. I had started out in Broadcasting wanting to be like Oprah!!! The mantra of so many. Much like my interest in John Mayer’s music; just one of the millions of fans. My inner critic has a hayday with these pipedreams. It feels sort of like a myth and I am taunted by a looming fear and the reality of rejection as if I am still that 11 year old dreamer. I have been procrastinating while babbling and posting in hidden blogs; dabbling in facebook and twitter circus training. Meanwhile, retracing my misteps and mentoring my younger self while tracking this reinvention process in a sort of musical memoir. My book in process is now at 101, 001 words. It's about time I start searching for more outlets. I promised that young writer that I would help her finally follow through this time! I want to prove to my kids that dreams really do come true if you do not give up. Really? Is that true??? All I know is…IM OPEN.