The Voice of Authenticity

That seed within each of us that is pure and ours alone.

I love writing about Authenticity.

Several years ago, I was cruising along on my bike by the river when Judy Garland came singing through my earbuds.

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” 🎵

Who doesn’t love that song?

But it wasn’t the movie version, it was an older Judy singing at Carnegie Hall to a live audience.

Her voice faltered a bit.

Still, it was Judy’s voice. No mistaking it.

I had full-on goosebumps.

I’m listening to it again now as I type.

More goosebumps.

When it ends with

“If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why, can’t I?”

the crowd is clapping, cheering, and shouting her name.

As the orchestra continues playing the song, the applause doesn’t die down; it only grows stronger. Louder.

The energy of her performance comes through my headphones, and I might as well be standing in the front row at Carnegie Hall. I’m sobbing.

On my bike, listening to the song, I thought about Authenticity.

Our original voice.

How important it is.

What a gift it is.

The Voice of Authenticity

It’s one of my favorite words.

To call me Authentic is perhaps the kindest thing you could say to me.

Sagittarians honor Authenticity and honesty above all else.

I have a built-in Authenticity meter. For myself and others. And I strive for it in my own life at all costs.

On my bike, I thought about singers whose voices seem Authentic. Genuine. Judy Garland, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Carole King, and last but not least, my dear friend and fellow Sag, Owen, whose voice fairly oozes Authenticity.

You hear their voice, and you immediately know it’s them.

Authenticity isn’t about being a star. You can hear someone singing karaoke and recognize it.

And, of course, this is not just about singing. Our gifts don’t all lie there. Although I secretly hope in another lifetime, I get to do more singing. :)

Some of the most creative and unique people I know don’t have degrees in whatever it is they’re doing. Making art. Writing. Cooking. Designing. Teaching. Building.

They have discovered their gift - a voice, an ability to put words together on a page and make them come alive or to please our palates with meals created by a passion for food.

I have a friend who’s a builder, and I’m awestruck watching him build a house, a home, for himself and his wife.

He’s fortunate to be living in his Authenticity. He is, after all, another Sagittarian. :)

I once took a writing course and found myself in the midst of some deeply poetic writers. My writing seemed, well, simple. Kind of like me.

I could try and emulate their writing styles, but I would know it was missing something.

Authenticity.

That’s not to say that we’re not influenced by what others do or say. Any artist who claims not to have been influenced by other artists is probably fibbing a little.

And, of course, being Authentic isn’t only about what we do but about how deeply we are able to access who we truly are.

There’s that seed within each of us that is pure us. Our special something.

One of the greatest accomplishments we can achieve in our lifetime is to recognize that seed, nurture it, and, when ready, bring it out into the world.

To recognize, honor, and use our Authentic gifts is, I believe, why we’re here.

When we put our Authentic voice out into the world, in whatever form it takes, we are sharing our creative vibration, which is a powerful kind of healing.

And it can last forever.

What a gift that I can listen to the voice of a singer, long gone, and be transported back to that moment in time. I can be part of the audience at Carnegie Hall.

I can feel the power of Judy’s Authentic voice move through me, tug at my heart, and bring forth a flood of tears.

So, don’t hold back. Let your own voice of Authenticity speak or sing or write or cook or build or teach or do whatever you were born to do.

The world is waiting.

For your Authentic self.

As the beloved Wayne Dyer said

“Don’t Die With Your Music Still Inside You”

All my love,
Barbara

P.S. You Are Stellar!