the ostinato oracle guidebook
TRANSCRIPT
Mellie Parkway
The Ostinato OracleGuidebook
A Companion Guide to The Ostinato Oracle Card Deck
The Ostinato Oracle Guidebook
Mellie ParkwayCopyright 2021 Alicia Frye
All rights reserved.
DEDICATIONTo Joe, Krystina, Katie, and Nashville, TN
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTSHolly & Esther, Ninah, and Emily
Welcome ............................................................................................................................ 1How to Use This Deck ........................................................................................................ 2Types of Readings ............................................................................................................... 4Ostinato Layering ............................................................................................................... 6The Moonlight Sonata Spread ............................................................................................. 7Quick Notes ....................................................................................................................... 8
The Octave | 8 Cards1. Stave .............................................................................................................................. 122. Time ............................................................................................................................... 133. Key ................................................................................................................................. 144. Treble ............................................................................................................................. 155. Bass ................................................................................................................................ 166. Note ............................................................................................................................... 177. Accolade ........................................................................................................................ 188. Bar ................................................................................................................................. 19
Harmonic Series | 24 Cards9. Sharp .............................................................................................................................. 2210. Flat ............................................................................................................................... 2311. Natural ......................................................................................................................... 2412. Fermata ........................................................................................................................ 2513. Staccato ........................................................................................................................ 2614. Tenuto .......................................................................................................................... 2715. Marcato ........................................................................................................................ 2816. Trill ............................................................................................................................... 2917. Turn .............................................................................................................................. 3018. Glissando ..................................................................................................................... 3119. Forte ............................................................................................................................. 3220. Piano ............................................................................................................................ 3321. Mezzo .......................................................................................................................... 3422. Crescendo .................................................................................................................... 3523. Diminuendo ................................................................................................................. 3624. Rest .............................................................................................................................. 3725. Repeat .......................................................................................................................... 3826. Tie ................................................................................................................................ 3927. Tacet ............................................................................................................................. 4028. Caesura ........................................................................................................................ 4129. Ottava bassa ................................................................................................................. 4230. Ottava alta .................................................................................................................... 4331. Coda ............................................................................................................................ 4432. Ostinato ....................................................................................................................... 45
Table of Contents
I’m so excited you’re here and that The Ostinato Oracle’s guidebook is before you in this very moment! Music has forever been a part of my life, as has spirituality in one form or another. As a creative person who finds so much inspiration and connection to a higher power through sound and music, it is only natural that this deck — the deepest expression of my soul, encompassing all the parts of me — be rooted in music. The symbols used in musical notation communicate a systematic, universal language that can
then be expressly understood by everyone.
My love for cartomancy (reading cards for guidance) emerged as a later life development, but ever since I held my very first oracle deck, which prompted me to conduct deep research on card reading, my whole world opened up with new realms of connection to be navigated, understood, and shared. That was why I started a tarot reading business in late 2019. As someone who is fascinated by the Circle of Fifths, with its divine geometric patterns and relationships to astrology, numerology, and other tools and truth systems available to us in this existence, I’ve subtly and naturally infused a lot of these elements into this deck. These elements may not necessarily be overtly highlighted within The Ostinato Oracle and its accompanying guidebook, but these other tools comprise layers of the internal lens through which this
deck’s creation took place, and they should be noted.
There is harmony in patterns, in symbols, and in how they relate to each of our own lives in connection with one another. My heart is overflowing with joy to know that your path and mine are able to intersect at this moment, with this deck. Thank you for your openness and curiosity to explore a new
tool as a means to tap into your own ever-present intuition.
Love, Mellie
A Note from Mellie
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The Ostinato OracleThe Ostinato Oracle welcomes you! With the deepest, purest love it has to give, this deck is here to bring you intuitive guidance from within, in accordance with symbols that have long withstood time. A curation of 32 symbols derived from musical notation, each card’s message references and honors each symbol’s literal name’s meaning, with a couple variations to convey the purposes of this deck, as well as applies a new layer of interpretation for how components derived from it can be embodied in a way that excites the mind, awakens the body, and guides the soul to new levels.
An ostinato in music is a musical phrase that is continually repeated throughout a piece of music. Though often done through rhythmic repetition, slight variations around pitch can occur as well. An ostinato can function as the foundational, propelling force of a compositional masterpiece.
An oracle is a higher power or spiritual guide that offers hidden knowledge or divine direction, a vessel through which wisdom beyond understanding can be accessed.
With these combined meanings, The Ostinato Oracle is meant to serve as an intuitive tool for underlying, ongoing guidance. The complexities of life can be broken down into tangible, repetitive themes. Through meditation and repetition, these themes have the potential to develop as we write our own symphonic, thematic life story through our daily actions over time.
The Ostinato Oracle is here to direct and help all who possess a drive to move forward through the harmonious and cacophonous elements of existence to live gorgeous masterpieces. It is designed to guide those who want to, in the end, share their life’s music as a chorus of joy in all its brilliant beauty.
Welcome
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How to Use This DeckMusic is for all, creativity is for all, and loving support and encouragement is for all. One does not need to be able to read music, have prior experience with cards, approach this experience through any particular spiritual belief, or meet any certain criteria to find this deck usable. The Ostinato Oracle invites any soul that reads it to see things in a new light, hear their inner voice, and find harmony along their progression in this world.
There is no wrong way to go about using the deck. Follow your intuition. If you are unsure how to start, here are a few starting points from which you can begin.
Set the MoodBefore you dive in, consider creating an atmosphere conducive to getting the most out of your time spent in working with this deck. A distraction-free environment is ideal so as to allow you to be fully present. Intention and acknowledgement of what it is important to you in the time you enter into this conceptual sanctuary is key. This space setup can be as elaborate or simplistic as you wish, for it matters not what your space looks like, only how it enables you to be open and receptive to whatever may be brought to light. A few, but by no means comprehensive or restrictive, ways to do this are to clear a surface (at least enough for you to lay out the cards and feel uninhibited), get comfortable, light a candle, and, as this is a musical deck, put on some non-distracting music.
Feel the MusicAs this is a music-inspired deck, it is only logical for it to have its own musical accompaniment. Whether that music comes from within or is defined by complete silence for you, here are some recommendations for what can potentially enhance a reading:
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, I. Prelude by Johann Sebastian BachCello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008, I. Prelude by Johann Sebastian BachPiano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27, Adagio Sustenuto (Moonlight Sonata) by Ludwig von Beethoven (note: see page 7 for a card spread inspired by this composition)Rêverie by Claude DebussyThe Planets, Op. 32, VII. Neptune, the Mystic by Gustav HolstLieder ohne Worte, Op. 19: No. 2 in A Minor (Andante Espressivo) MWV U 80 by Felix MendelssohnThe Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium by Camille Saint-SaënsKinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7 “Träumerei” (Scenes from Childhood: Dreaming) by Robert Schumann
How to Use This Deck
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Ask A Question, Receive Your AnswersFirst, determine a question to guide your reading. A few sample questions are included here as a starting point. Do your best to ask open-ended questions as opposed to specific yes or no ones, and remember that how you set up your question will frame the feedback shown by the cards. Once you have your question in mind, shuffle the deck. As you shuffle, focus only on the question(s) at hand and keep shuffling until the cards feel good and ready. There’s no prescribed shuffle limit; you can’t ever over- or under-shuffle. Once you are ready, start drawing your card(s).
Each card displays a symbol that is intended to prompt resonant meaning for you. To interpret, explore what the symbol means on its own and then combine that with the short line of text that accompanies it (refer to the quick reference guide card included with the deck). You can take the information gained from this step for what it is or explore what the lengthier explanations can offer as outlined in this guidebook. Then put your own storytelling abilities to work by building a narrative to relate what you know about each card with how it connects to your own personal situation.
Each in-depth card description holds three parts: 1) a main phrase that is associated with a symbol’s principles, 2) a paragraph that explores the general principles of the symbol, and 3) an elaborate exploration of some potential ways the specified symbolic definition can help or could relate to an inquiry.
Above all, this deck is intended to evoke personal resonance and honest revelations. Much like music, meanings and impressions can change based on different situational influences or points of view. Take what serves you and relates. Leave that which does not.
How to Use This DeckHow to Use This Deck
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Single Card ReadingThis reading works exactly how it sounds: draw one card and interpret (read) its meaning. This practice is the primary one around which this deck was formed, with one card delivering a simple message for the practitioner to focus on at some point in their present day. Some of the many questions you can ask:
• What’s a general blessing for me to keep in mind during my day?• What can I focus on during my workday?• How should I approach my conversations with my [family/friends/coworkers/
strangers] today?• Where can I most effectively channel my energy today?• What is a positive reminder I can apply to my current situation?• What do I need to think about that I’m not actively acknowledging right now?• What can I meditate on during my [run/yoga practice/walk/time
alone] today?
ExampleQuestion: What’s a general blessing to keep in mind for my day?Answer/Card: StaccatoInterpretation/Reading: I need to keep things short and sweet when situations arise where I notice there’s nothing more to be
Types of Readings
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said or addressed.
Three-Card SpreadA three-card spread is three cards all laid out (spread) to then be interpreted. A few common three-card spreads that can help get you started:
• The Past | The Present | The Future* • Person A’s Energy | Person B’s Energy | The Combined Energies of Persons A and B• Where You Are | Where You Want to Be | How You Can Get There• Choice/Path A | Choice/Path B | Advice to Help in the Decision-Making Process • Your Mental State | Your Emotional State | Your Spiritual State
ExampleQuestion: What’s my past in relation to my specific situation, where am I right now, and what does my future look like if I keep on this trajectory? Answer/Cards: Glissando (Past) | Crescendo (Present) | Bass Clef (Future)Interpretation/Reading: There was a specific event in my past where I embraced my sparkling climbs to higher levels of achievement (Glissando), I now get to gradually yet steadily grow louder into my voluminous power (Crescendo), and in doing so I will be able to access deeper parts of the self to further unlock and heal through my creative expression (Bass Clef).
Types of Readings
*Potential outcome (this is not set in stone, it’s speculative — much like weather forecasts, this is a reasonable guess based on what’s known at the present moment and what’s been seen in the past).
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Ostinato LayeringSince an ostinato is an underlying drive or theme, you can also draw a card to provide deeper context for a three-card spread such as the one above, or you can draw a card that can be used in harmony with other types of decks. For those who are no stranger to cards and already use systems such as tarot, Lenormand, or other forms of cartomancy, the ostinato card can add additional sonic resonance to a reading done in tandem with other decks (such as tarot).
We can add an ostinato to the past-present-future reading example.
ExampleQuestion: What’s the ostinato (underlying drive or theme) of this whole journey?Answer/Card: Natural. Interpretation/Reading: Throughout this three-card progression, the underlying purpose of the journey is to ultimately bring me restoration to a more natural state, unhindered by alterations that have been assigned or ascribed by the self or another. Only through restoration can I feel peace and honesty.
One fun way to do ostinato layering with The Ostinato Oracle is to flip the deck over to find the ostinato (underlying theme) after your card of the day or spread has been drawn. Though this particular naming may seem counterintuitive, reading the bottom card of the deck for additional context is not a new concept in card reading, and it’s a favored method used in many traditions.
One can dive as deeply or as surface level as you feel is correct in a reading, and therein lies the delightful freedom of interpretation and the ritual practice a card reading can provide.
Ostinato Layering
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The Moonlight Sonata Three-Card SpreadThis signature spread, inspired by Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, is a composition intrinsic to The Ostinato Oracle, as its deeply powerful impressions helped bring the deck to life. May you too be inspired by the works of other artists who harnessed their creative gifts as you step into yours, navigating your own inner world and manifesting your creative visions to their fullest.
Question 1: What evocative, intuitive message do I have to compose that others need to hear?Question 2: How can I harness my greatest obstacle as the source from which I can powerfully create?Question 3: Where will this hauntingly deep expression of creativity illuminate beauty for those who experience it?Question 4: What’s the ostinato (underlying drive or theme) of this whole journey?
The Inspiration for This SpreadBeethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is a movingly delightful composition which he completed during his early thirties soon after his hearing began to fade. A prolific and deaf artist who gifted the world numerous audible works, Beethoven is a shining example of how overcoming our most seemingly difficult impairments can be our greatest source of power. This can, as in Beethoven’s case, be the catalyst for the most impactful impression we can leave on the world.
The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor (Quasi una fantasia, Op. 27, No. 2), adagio sustenato —translated as slow and sustained — is said to have been nicknamed the Moonlight Sonata by an appreciator of the work once heard in a live performance long after Beethoven’s death. The admirer compared the listening experience of this first of the three movements to that of watching the moon’s reflection across a lake. A contemporary of Beethoven’s, composer Carl Czerny, called the movement “a nocturnal scene, in which a mournful ghostly voice sounds from the distance.” There is a pulsing ostinato to be heard — a repeated rhythmic drive from the lower register — throughout this movement that provokes forward motion from the depths, felt deep within the soul. The imagery of which it evokes could not ring more true of this hauntingly vivid interpretation.
The Moonlight Sonata Spread
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Likening the harmonic, sonic directive from the unified bass line and tripleted higher-level activity to an oracle as a source of elevated learning and divine guidance, the Moonlight Sonata shows us the complexities of life broken down into tangible, repetitive themes that develop together as we write our own symphonic, thematic life story through how we create and relate to the world around us. Through these cyclical movements over time that wax and wane, with moments of fullness and newness, we can gain clarity in times of darkness and our most luminous beauty. We can melodically flow under the glow of brilliant moon-like wonder and be guided by our intuition, from the harnessing of our dreams to the fullest embodiment of our greatest creative power.
Quick NotesIt’s imperative to cover a few introductory terms that do not have their own card, as they are but definitions without symbols, but they will be helpful to understand if you find yourself looking heavily toward the written interpretations for deeper information. These terms should help you in preparing to interpret the cards found within The Ostinato Oracle.
SoundA range of vibrations detected by the ear, that travel by air, ranging in aural frequency. Sound can stimulate and evoke a range of internal feelings, cognitive acknowledgment, and memory formation when meaning is ascribed by the listener, with factors such as duration, tone, speed, quality, pitch, intensity, and volume composing the formative experience.
PitchSound at a specific frequency which gives a distinct sonic (heard) character based on the frequency at which it’s heard.
Quick Notes
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Chosen Symbols and TermsThere are several other musical terms which could be touched on, but for this deck’s purposes we are exploring a set of terms and symbols that have been deliberately chosen for intuitive insight inspired by music. Two symbols in this deck — Key and Ostinato — were created as a way to convey musical principles where a direct symbol tied to their definition did not exist. For a more comprehensive study of music, or for a deeper dive into terms and how they technically come together in the language of music, consider learning music theory in a way that serves you. The world is full of resources, from musical instructors to written literature, podcasts, and videos — the internet and world around us are ready for your eager desire to learn. For those simply content with the primary objective of The Ostinato Oracle as a means to provoke intuitive introspection and life guidance, this external search may not be necessary. The right range of exploration for you is up to you to assess.
Card OrientationApplication of a two-way read based on whether a card’s orientation is right-side-up or upside-down can be found in other card systems, but no reverse meanings were incorporated into this deck. That said, one should use their intuition to know if perhaps an opposite or not-in-balance interpretation is to be incorporated.
Quick Notes
With a formulated question, the shuffled deck, laid out cards, and an open heart, harmonious interpretations in sync with
your intuition can now commence.
The Octave | 8 Cards
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The stave is five horizontal lines evenly spaced with four spaces between them. These lines and spaces are the canvas on which musical notation begins. It’s the basis of order, structure, and reason, and gives forth a world of possibilities. Because of its existence in the first place, layers of definition and meaning can come into play. Music, of course, does not require this visual beginning — much like a language can be learned by ear
and not by eye — but music literacy depends on the stave. Without it, chaos can ensue.
Listen to the tones, the clashes, the seas of sensitivity and voices of reason that fill you and the world around you. Do you have a system of order that can allow for reason to
develop, to form, to be led? A symphonic, euphonious world awaits the one who can not only hear but can conduct and orchestrate the soundtrack of their life.
Create Order
1. Stave
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Time, as indicated by a time signature, communicates a message of how sounds and pitches should be noted in the future, and they come in simple, compound, and
complex measurements. Within a piece of music, multiple time changes can occur, or none, and they shape the rhythmic flow. Time can seem straightforward as a forward-
driven concept, broken up by years down to seconds and so on. There are also moments wherein time seems to stands still, or time flies, or time is meaningless, or we see how
time isn’t necessarily linear. As you consider the fundamental agreements between people about basic time, let it not be forgotten that we can evaluate the greater sense of
time as a mere component of our existence.
Are the people you’re spending time with the ones who help you make the most of your time? Are you neglecting time you should spend on bringing your next idea to life, a
project to completion, a relationship that you don’t want to lose or gain? “Time is of the essence.” “There’s no time like the present.” “Time heals.” These are all common phrases
around time because at the end of the day, or wherever finality is found in the cadent current, you are responsible for how you spend your time, how you give to your past,
present, and future self. Waste not a moment more if you identify that something isn’t in sync with your highest good, and move to the harmonious rhythm in the moments that
are moving you toward it.
Feel the Rhythm
2. Time
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Key determines which specific set of pitches will be the basis of a musical composition. Specific spacing from one sound to another are predetermined, regardless of which pitch
is considered the starting point — the key. From one note to the next, there are larger and smaller steps of sonic distance between each one that help make up a melodic sense of home. Because of this set pattern, liberties can be applied as needed while knowing,
as one hears the various deviations and meanderings, a sense of home is yearned for and fulfilled, thus creating the tension and resolve — a familiar notion encountered within
and outside of music.
Home can be found in a physical place, with certain people or beings, or within. What does home look like to you? Have you neglected home? Are you spending too much
time at home? Are you looking to redefine what home can be? Whatever home may be for you, be it lost or found or under construction on your own terms, survived by but
glimpses of the longed-for, find internal moments of peace in the tension.
Find Your Home
3. Key
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The treble clef, placed at the beginning of the stave, indicates an upper register of specific notes to be read, seen in the inner curl at the symbol’s heart where it wraps
gently around a line in the stave (second from the bottom). Higher-pitched notes are read from the stave from this starting point, signaling that the direction of all to be heard will be in this higher register. The high road is not always the way the ego wants to travel, yet
it is the reference point on the map of evolution.
What circumstances face you that, despite what you may want to do, aren’t the right thing to do? There is power in the taming of emotions or inclinations and rising above
to hold command over the desire to operate out of mere impulse. Light and wispy, boisterous or powerful, your voice can and will be heard when you illuminate. Light up
yourself and all those around you.
Take the High Road
4. Treble
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The bass clef, placed at the beginning of the stave, designates where a lower register of specific notes is to be read, and by the hug of the symbol’s two dots around a particular line on the stave (second from the top), indicates how one is to know how to read the
notes to come. Lower notes are to be expected, clear into the deepest of sounds one can hear. Complex and heavy, airy or faint, the lowness and how the pitches are attained are of no particular matter, as each has its contributive, voluminous pulse to it. These depths
are accessible, even the ones well into the abyss of the sonic sea.
You may experience heartfelt sensations, encounter evocative topics, or face difficult concepts that stir up the depths of your soul. It is easy to want to avoid the depths
and escape to higher ground, but staying in the higher places of comfort is not always possible or advisable. It is in these deep places where some of the most important work
is to be done. Do not fear the low places, as this is where freedom and healing can be retrieved.
Sit in the Depths
5. Bass
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A note is a systematic marking that indicates pitch and duration of sound (or the absence thereof) that can then be layered or combined for added depth. It is notated along the
stave and influenced by key and time. When multiple notes are sequentially marked, and arranged around and in alignment with one another, each of specific and varied sound
and length, we begin to see music take shape. Value is defined. Purpose is clear. Intent is expressed. All in a single marking, be it visual or aural, a crafted note creates substance and instructs shape. A note can evoke a range of emotions and thoughts whether or not additional attributes get assigned to it — all of which cannot be achieved without the
first step of it existing in the first place. Just as it takes a letter to make up a word, which leads to more words which go to form sentences and so on, a note is where melodic,
harmonic, symphonic masterpieces begin to take shape.
Where can you begin to make a mark? What starter steps will add form to how you put yourself forth in definition? Be it in your work, your hobbies, your relationships with others, your place in this world, or your connection to yourself — what minor speck can you document (it doesn’t have to be much) as an intentional initiation to crafting something bigger? Potential is there when the note card appears, and how it begins to form begins with your active participation in formation. The smallest action lays the
groundwork for future growth.
Make a Mark
6. Note
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The accolade braces together the staves marked by the treble and bass clefs, a unifying of the simultaneous activity taking place on both levels. Notes overlap, intertwine, and
come together as the melodious, harmonic flow drives forth from beginning to inevitable end. Music becomes alive when the simple principles join in the creation of symphonic
wonder, with every intrinsic layer.
You are made up of many different pieces, as are all others with whom you are connected. We can all be broken down into smaller bits, knowing full well other
elements are very much alive and influence those bits. The good and unpleasant, the joyous and grave — there is divine order in all of it. Be gentle with yourself, and be
gentle with others. Embrace the flow and the fullness therein, however chaotic or never-ending it may feel at times, and know that security can be found in the all-encompassing
supreme force that holds everything together.
Embrace in Full
7. Accolade
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A bar, or bar line, breaks up the staff by segmenting a certain total of measured notes against the criteria as set by the defined timing for a musical score. The bar exists to
delineate boundaries for better legibility, communication, and consistency. It divides not to block but to contain as a means to clarify and improve the grander picture. A bar can
only hold so much before it is too full.
Where are bar lines well established and serving you well in life? Where could you benefit from drawing those lines? Time is measured, sound is notated, and great
achievements when these two parts combine are wonderful, and they serve best when parameters give space for them to do what’s required within a specific span. Boundaries
are essential to maintaining well-being, preventing burnout, protecting the self, and knowing limits. They mustn’t be neglected; they must be drawn.
8. Bar
Define Boundaries
Harmonic Series | 24 Cards
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The sharp symbol indicates a specific pitch needs to shift up by a specific, narrow sonic distance (measured by what’s called a half step) and, unless notated otherwise, it will
need to stay at that level throughout a specified measure of time. It is a minor shift, but it is potent and can alter the character of a segment. It is an intentional marking and, given every work has an indicated key notating what pitches should be heard, it changes the
way a familiar sound is to be expressed.
Elevating even one piece of the entire collection of what you’re facing can completely modify the mood, the direction, the harmonic balance of any situation. Where can you make even the slightest adjustment to help uplift a certain social or inner dynamic, easy
as it may be to miss or ignore? Where can you identify one minor step you can take? Your momentary elevation can uplift you and, by extension, other contributing elements of a specific situation. Shifts in the seemingly mundane moments are still heard and their
subtle rise adds new color and interesting new elements to the musical experience of simply living. And it can all start with you. Shifts will be heard through measurable rise
in the subtlest of ways.
9. Sharp
Elevate
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The flat symbol marks where a specific pitch needs to shift down by a specific, narrow sonic distance (measured by what’s called a half step) and, unless indicated otherwise, it will need to stay at that level throughout a specified measure of time. This lowering of what’s expressed and then heard provides a colorful alteration of what’s inherently
anticipated as a means to convey the intended musical flow of creative storytelling heard within a passage. Intentional and strategic, the flat is added from a deliberate position where lowering is essential to the integrity of a work. This shift downward of one of
many notes heard among others can be felt, be it consciously or unconsciously, but it exists nonetheless. Its step back from where we expect it to be adds a new dimension of
processing what’s being taken in by the ear and soul.
The lowering of a note — this shift one step back — can make some or all the difference for those who are listening. When one takes a step back, it can be a beneficial or
detrimental move. On one hand, if perhaps efforts were made to advance a little too aggressively, resulting in an imbalance, it may be best to shift back a step into the place you are meant to be. On another hand, fear can be a motivator to move back to a place
of comfortable familiarity, but it may not be where one should be. What particular aspect of your life comes to mind when contemplating this flattening? It needn’t be major life arches but rather encapsulated areas. Recognize if the step back is a regression on your part or an illumination that the other party may be stuck in a harmonic place that now clashes with where you should be. Take steps back, but remember this is only to survey and assess if it’s best to do so, and don’t stay there for too long, as life, like music, is to
continue on.
10. Flat
Take a Step Back
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The natural symbol indicates a one half-step modification is to be made, adjusting from either a sharp or flat mark back to the original level at which the note was originally
meant to be heard under a work’s initial specifications of pitch assignment. There is no elevation or lowering — the note is to be heard as it is to be heard. If modifications were
made, the natural negates such tweaks upon entry to the scene in a restorative action. Pure and unadulterated in its essence, a pitch in its natural harmonic position is at home
with itself in relation to all that surrounds it.
There are circumstances which call for a shift in pitch, be they to elevate our life in the meaningful or mundane or to shift back for perspective before adjusting to a new normal
state. Either way, there is something to be said for the restoration of the natural state. Calmness and authenticity await, a state in which those who give ear to your life will
recognize you for you. You are not always going to be at your heightened best, nor will you forever be thriving when you’re shifted down and back. Find people who celebrate you and love you for you with realness and respect. Connect with objects or activities that can help restore your natural state when you feel lost or the process feels difficult.
Surround yourself with familiar scents or experiences that can center you and neutralize your shifts if you need to move back or up to regain a natural state. Be conscious to return, to not get too elevated or too far back from your central, home base. Respect
that one mustn’t be away from home for too long; a return is necessary. If not meant to return, a change in key will show what your new natural is to be. Regardless of where you
may be seen and heard, the natural you from where you came and where you can be is threaded and embedded in your vibrational composition.
11. Natural
Return to Center
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The fermata is placed above a note when, regardless of the originally ascribed time its symbol shows it should be played, the note should continue for an unbound length of time. Thus, the fermata prolongs the life of the sound. This is not a break, but does
indicate a type of pause, as when it is strategically used, it can enrapture and conjure a longing to hear every last part, with no defined end from an auditory perspective. This end is known only by those in synchronization with when it will be time to progress.
This discretion-led tool can be powerful and provokes anticipatory wonder.
A moment can be simultaneously still and profound in action. When something goes on for so long, at some point, the ears will perk up to attend to that which needs to be heard. Rather than stagnation, the fermata holds to that which must be shared. Sound is not stuck; it is determined to fill sonic space, and not through variated movement
but through pure, sustained persistence of presence. When without an ear to hear the message that’s to be received, the fermata enters. It serves not to hinder advancement
but to ensure the fullness of that which was to be experienced has resonated on such a vivid, unmistakable level, that the lesson is absorbed and advancement can then begin.
Where can you identify where you should be listening to something that has been patiently held, waiting for your attention and absorption? Who around you could benefit
from your acknowledgement of their own fermata experiences? What do you hear or see in circumstances that suggest it is time to move forward but yet nothing is changing?
Embrace the fermata and all the longing and lessons it can defiantly, lovingly offer to those who listen.
12. Fermata
Listen
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Staccato, a modest marking of but a simple dot, holds great might in where it is placed. When a note has a set duration for which it is to be heard or expressed, and the staccato symbol is placed above or below it, it means the sound needs to be distinctly detached from sounds that follow it. This is the “short and sweet,” though not necessarily sweet, way of the staccato. There is something to be articulated, and as soon as the point is
expressed, it is done. Separation with a rather definitive exit can apply beyond sound. Some things are meant to milk the fullness of the allotted time, and other situations call
for one to get out and get moving. Actions are to be made clear.
How and where can succinctness and near-percussive endings be made? In a day-to-day context, this could simply relate to speaking up in a meeting that is going over its time, to cutting short a conversation that needs to end, to being efficient during a store errand
that won’t benefit from browsing additional aisles during the trip. There’s no need for long-winded, time-consuming, drawn-out, run-on time dominators to take over. Keep
things short and sweet, and move along — on your terms.
13. Staccato
Favor Brevity
27
Tenuto is indicated by a short line placed above or below a note, and with its thin horizontal state, it adds a fullness to the sound being played. It is a call to ensure that
every last bit of a note’s designated length value is heard. Not a clip too short and near almost too long, the tenuto brings forth a fullness that allows the sound to fill its entire
allotted moment and be fully heard before transitioning to the next note. This expansive filling of space creates a more fluid move from one tone to the next, creating a sense of enmeshment not otherwise experienced if not for this simple dash making it possible.
Value is synonymous with worth and esteem, relating to admiration and greatness. Valuing your own self is not something to ever cut short. Consider how you regard
yourself, aside from whatever outside voices or your inner insecurities fight to diminish. You are whole, you are full, and no part of you should be glanced over or not given due
attention. Similarly, consider the wholeness and fullness of others and their abundant value. Be the person who lets others be heard. Do not cut others off when they are
speaking, as they deserve to express their entire statement. Do not let others suspend your time when you know you were granted the opportunity of specific proportions —
no one should take that away from you.
14. Tenuto
Allow for Full Value
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The marcato symbol, a distinguished chevron, is assigned as an instructional attribute for a particular pitch, demanding an attack-like boldness when it comes time for it to
be heard. Near percussive in nature, the mercato summons forcefulness and presence, rich in intention and declaration. Intense and voluminous at first strike, freedom is then
granted in a rapid tapering of the sound.
Intentions signify commitment and are action-oriented in purpose. When intensity is channeled into specific outcome-oriented goals, powerful waves are produced and
emerge from conception to actualization. Wishes need direction, shape, and form, and actualization comes after ignition of awareness. What is it you want? Write it down,
placed metaphorically over what it is you want to see in your life score. This step needn’t be grandiose; it is a small yet mighty assignment of foundational understanding, yet it is the first in manifestation. Turn dreams into reality, the unheard-of made known by
making your intentions heard within and outside of yourself.
15. Marcato
Be Intentional
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The trill, a chevronic wave led off by a tr that’s assigned over a single pitch, indicates a rapid oscillation of the starting pitch and the one just above it. The effect relies on some
pacing interpretation as it can begin slowly and increase in speed over its evolution. There is a frenetic energy to the trill, yet it is fluidly controlled by the one creating the
intentional, alternating wave. With a near sense of nervousness in its pulse, the trill provides a taste of uncertainty as it jumps between two notes so rapidly, all the while
letting us know there should and will be an eventual end to it. Ornate in obsession as it may be, it is never meant to override or altercate the sonic shape of a harmonic work,
nor is it to be eternal.
Moments of excitement and anticipation are part of human nature, but to stay in a constant trill-like state can turn into or feed anxiety and worry if not managed. For some,
the inner frenzy can dominate and drowns out the harmonic stability that is meant to come forth as the primary foundation of security. Do you find yourself in a regularly
obsessive, frantic state of mind? This isn’t meant to be a place for you to stay forever. Find ways to help relax and reduce the agitation. You are not stuck or destined to reside in
instability. Calmness is near and welcomes you.
16. Trill
Calm Down
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A turn, swirled in its visual depiction, is an ornamental attribute that cues a brief flirtation between pitches in a specific pattern, and gives just short enough a tease without abandoning its ascribed placement. It never finds itself crossing over to
definitively land on another pitch, though the implication of transition is present. A turn adds playful flourishment, touching just above and below in a predictable yet never dull
pattern. It’s unexpected, fast, and delicate, and offers a taste of delightful sonic flavor when properly played.
A delicate spin on otherwise ordinary expectations is what the turn offers. Within the shortest span of time, breadth of excitement is demonstrated, its subtleties meant to be heard and enjoyed. This dance, when in our favor and for our betterment of self-
understanding, gives promise of potential. When working against us, it can alert us to step into a place that will be better for harmonic advancement. Do you find yourself in a flirtatious dynamic or situation? Consider whether it is healthy or potentially harmful
and what you intend to do after the inevitable prospect of action can no longer be delayed. Do you feel as if you’re trapped in the steps of a turn? The momentary thrill of possibilities is but a device that will yield an inevitable shift, and the direction can be in your hands. Don’t let the dance sweep you off your feet. Sense where the turn is
headed in how you feel mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to lead the fiery, beautiful dance of exploration.
17. Turn
Sense the Dance
31
The glissando, a wavy line connecting one note to another, indicates several pitches are to be touched on in a sparkling glide in a directional drive, either upward or downward, from start to finish. It glistens in its artistic motion and undeniably sparkles throughout its
glimmery articulation of sound. Its effectiveness shines through transitional radiance.
The showstopping sweeps the glissando lends itself to remind us that there are indicators that call for shimmering moments. Through passages and cycles of time, a well-executed, sweeping asseveration in a life’s composition adds texture and zeal. Do you feel as if you
don’t deserve to be where you are, as though you don’t deserve to be seen and heard? The adjustment is where the thrill is found; do not ever discount your ability to shine.
The stage is ready for you — it’s set, complete with the ecstatic audience of the universe, prepared to enjoy every ambiguously clear, heartfelt, radiant sound you have to emit.
18. Glissando
Shine
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Forte, abbreviated with an f, indicates voluminous, loud sound. There is nothing subtle about the intensity of aural perception; every single sound wave emitted comes together
in grandness of statement when forte is the assignment. The dynamic extremism is countered by piano, and there is definition found in their distinct volume levels, only ever existing because of the other. The acknowledgment of duality, existence of loud because there is quiet to be found, breathes boisterous life into forte and its power.
Forte does not hold back. It is loud and proud to share what must be heard. This is not a passive process; it is active and vocal. Who are you? Let it be known. How do you feel? Scream it from the rooftops. What do you think? Share with confidence and assertion. What do you want? Speak up. It is time for you to be loud, to be heard in your fullest
and without reservation.
19. Forte
Get Loud
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Piano, or p as it is notated, calls for a quietness. Restraint of volume, but not necessarily of meaning, is the well-hushed character ascribed when this symbol appears. The
dynamic extremism is countered by forte, and there is definition found in piano’s distinct volume levels, only ever existing because of forte. Existence of quiet thrives because
there is loudness as its alternative, a duality that highlights the mellifluous tranquility that sound holds in muted expression.
Piano is about reservation and resonance in the softness. What do you want to share? It doesn’t need to be thundering to be fully heard. How will the world perceive what you need to say? The ears that are meant to hear will do so. Do not confuse quietness with ineffectiveness. Subdued and muted tones are impactful. Now is an instance for you to
lean into uttering from a place of gentleness.
20. Piano
Be Gentle
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Mezzo, or simply m in notation, means to successfully attempt a modified variation of what would normally exist in fullness, without adjustment. The element of somewhat, yet not quite fully, is in the mix when mezzo appears in front of indicators of range or volume. Dynamics and sonic range can be grandly loud or soft, vibrationally high or low, and mezzo calls to tame and bring back a middle ground from which to stand.
Rationale, withholding, and that extra bit of effort or restraint from any side of an extreme is where differences become less decipherable and balance is found.
Moderation is not always an instinctive inclination, yet it must be included in the grand scheme of harmonic composition. Excessiveness, lavishness, indulgence, and other
extremes have their place, but it is from a tempered position that one can make balanced decisions, create room for open discourse, and maintain an alchemic blend of what’s
on either side of you. Such a position invites equilibrium into the flux, perspective from opposing alternatives, peace, and unity. Where can you better your internal mezzo
state? Are you taking in too much or putting out too little? How can you adjust to invite moderation into your relationships, work, or creative ventures? Find moderation and
benefit from all that flows there.
Find Moderation
21. Mezzo
35
The crescendo, a thin v-like shape where the distance between the two lines that help it take shape steadily increases from left to right, visually depicts its objective: for the
sound being made to grow in volume over a certain span of time. The progressive build takes on its largest form once the ends of the two divergent lines conclude their linear
direction. Sound blossoms and intensity grows in voluminous might for a gradual, pinnacle culmination of harmonic formation.
Graceful in its growth, a crescendo entertains every moment from its start to its apex, not once jumping from one volume to the next. The blend of sound richens as it develops,
a reminder that grandiose achievement need not be done immediately. Are you impatiently trying to grow? Patience and a steady eye on the present and knowing what’s to come are what will get you where you want to be. Are you taking each moment in its fullness along the way? Every bit counts in waxing motion, each portion an essential step
as you approach the place of thunderous glory where your greatness will surely be heard.
Blossom in Fullness
22. Crescendo
36
Diminuendo is identified by its tapering v shape, an angle that gradually tapers from left to right as two lines draw near before the convergence at a single point. Unhurriedly yet surely, the volume known at its beginning is to retreat, diminishing to a lessened
level over a designated period. The duration does not encourage the elimination of any harmonic segments, yet there is a definitive dwindling of sonancy. Graceful in its exit,
there is sufficiency and meaning that emerges in the waning dissolution of sound.
Profound in motion, diminuendo recedes from the obvious and hearkens attentiveness and focus to discern what is being heard and what is eventually inaudible. Softened
in volume, but not in meaning, it calls for attention in its own withering. Are you someplace that requires you to withdraw from the forefront? Enjoy the development toward conclusion. Do you find you’ve felt the potency of a project or relationship?
There is virtue in the subtlety and release in the wistful wane.
Fade with Grace
23. Diminuendo
37
A rest is inserted to indicate the needed absence of sound. It is assigned an interval of time where nothing should be heard nor uttered until the designated period of silence is complete. This does not mean other sounds outside that particular spot
cannot simultaneously take place, but in the master orchestration, there is power in the restfulness, as it is an integral part of the entirety of any passage, big or small.
Moving through this earthly existence can often falsely suggest that one must always express, do, and be heard. The orchestration of harmonic flow consists of several
components. It mustn’t be forgotten that in all of the activity, a moment to rest is not only necessary but adds to the movement and direction of the full passage. In life,
incidents of pain, joy, losses, wins may invite us to pause, and as we go about creating and making music, in order to thrive, we need rest. Rest is not hibernation, but it can be a brief time — a just-enough break — that accentuates the flow, restoring not only the
self but all within the world. Do not forget to find even the slightest moments of stillness, however long time dictates you do so, and hear what’s being sent to you in the quiet,
in the moments of rest. Have you been rushing through the call for silence, mistaking it as optional? Time is allotted for breaks. Have you been skipping breaks, certain that the next note must be played? This impacts not only your state but disrupts the vibrational
flow all around you. There is melodic direction and harmonious creation. Do not discount the restoration and imperative functionality of the quiet breaks, the refreshing
revival found in the stillness of time.
Find Stillness
24. Rest
38
The repeat symbol is clear in its name and function: it calls for a melodic passage of any length to be repeated. With a double dot set coupled against a thicker line, a revisiting to the start of a harmonic cycle is to be made. This repetition touches on every rhythm,
articulation, sound, and combination thereof verbatim, offering ears another listen to the musical thought from beginning to end.
Be they pleasurable or painful, joyful or unbearable, themes of lines through life inevitably find themselves making another appearance. These emergences of that which was perceived to be in the past confront, sometimes clear as day, as a hearkening back
for present immersion into that which was assumed to be concluded. Cyclical in nature, repeated themes of our lives come up in our choices, are found in how we manage our
personal decisions, address behavioral patterns, and connect us with other souls on their own harmonic journey. Where can you think back to a cycle you couldn’t seem
to break? Remember how you were able to overcome it. Are you able to spot cycles in your present that are new iterations of old ways? You have an opportunity — and you
are strong enough — to end the repeating theme, learn the lesson, and progress forward. And remember to support others who may be going through their own repeating
situations. In some form or another, at any given time, we’re all in the midst of one as we progress through the master composition of human existence.
Identify Cycles
25. Repeat
39
A tie connects two notes of the same pitch to allow for a prolonged duration of sound at the same frequency. What was once distinguished in separation coalesces in smoothness,
eliminating any contrast in definition for a sustained, seamless, carried on connection of sound.
Ties bond us, connect us. And when tied to a pitch the same as our own, we accept that this exact frequency we’re at must continue in the same manner in this moment, giving greater length to that bond as an extension of definitive value we ascribe to be our own. When healthy, ties give us additional bandwidth to go further, to do more, to become the best versions of ourselves. When toxic or unnecessary, they alter our course by hindering our ability to advance to new levels. We can find ties to people with our friends, family,
and every relationship with others, and to conceptual and functional components of existence as a human here on this earth. What are you tied to? Are those connections sustaining you for good or do they restrict needed movement? Where do you need to
sever or add ties? At face value, an arc gives dimension, direction, and comprehension. Look deeper. You know when it’s time to let go or stay. Listen to your intuition.
Evaluate Connections
26. Tie
40
Tacet, a bookended and bold horizontal line, calls for silence. When a tacet appears, one knows they are not to be involved in any way other than to wait for when it is their time to reenter to hold their part. From the Latin, “be silent,” the tacet usually designates that in a work involving multiple elements, one certain element included in the entire
work must sit out for at least part of it, and for a rather sizable amount of time. It does not mean that it is any less important to the work but merely that its unique
contributions to the entirety of specific moments are not required in the larger picture of harmonic communication.
Silence is not always easy, particularly when strictly forbidden. There is a natural desire in the call and response of human interaction to play your part in the grander scheme of events throughout life. There are times when silence will not do, and then there are
times when engaging in discourse will do no good. Sparring through emotional, verbal, physical, and psychological battles is not always necessary. There are times to speak your
truth, but power and integrity can also be exercised by sitting a round out. Where can you identify areas you allow yourself to be provoked, knowing that your best call would be to not engage — to not indulge in what will yield nothing, as if you’re staring into the void? Silence does not mean there is a lack of listening and waiting for when it will be your time to enter. Sit one out, paying attention all the while to everyone else around
you, and when your time comes, you’ll be ready and be heard.
Do Not Engage
27. Tacet
41
The caesura, with its two thick parallel lines, calls for an immediate halt to any passage of music, and is often found in musical scores that consist of many contributors under
the leadership of a conductor. Such an abrupt halt does not end a work but merely pauses it, and is a punctuatory means to interrupt flow for the greater impact of
a harmonic direction.
The caesura is an unmistakable tool to inspire or exact alertness. In the midst of a buildup, it has a pinnacle essence yet is not the final stop. Effectiveness lies in a caesura’s targeted timing. It can be a wakeup call, an attention grabber, or an awareness alert. The universe can send caesuras when you’re in the midst of the commotion of life, or when you’re ignoring of matters that need to be addressed, which climatically makes it feel
like time has stopped and life as it was previously known is over. Are you in the middle of a caesura break now? Find comfort in knowing it is but for a moment; the music will continue on after you sit into the abrupt silence. Are you building up to what feels like
an intervening caesura will be inevitable? Wake up and brace yourself for the pause. The master orchestrator not only sees the lead-up and the midst, but the advancement and
melodic magic of what comes after the cease.
Wake Up
28. Caesura
42
Ottava bassa, meaning “octave below,” and written as simply 8vb, is an indication to musically adjust whatever pitch is noted to the lower register, cutting the frequency to a lower yet consonant level. Here is where low waves are rooted and pulsate to give depth
and stability, a support for the sonic current.
The pulsation of the ottava bassa gives a grounded sense to the audible stream of sound. In the range of simultaneous harmonies, this undercurrent grants steadiness to the ear and soul. When varied activity is seemingly chaotic across multiple streams of vibrational threads, it is the grounded establishment that is heard far more deeply than all other expressions, indicating that there’s a drive to know where to find the
solid line. Are you finding yourself flowing in the mainstream current? Look for ways to ground yourself and be unaffected by external stimuli outside your own line of musical assignment. It is upon a rooted and stable foundation that the vibrant layers of colorful
accord can rest and be heard in the composition of life.
Get Grounded
29. Ottava bassa
43
Ottava alta, “octave above,” and written as 8va, indicates that the immediate register at which all sound is being heard is to be raised up in vibration to a higher harmonious place of expression. The waves of sound, when tuned in at a doubled frequency rate,
take that which registers as heard to a familiar yet transcendent tier wherein new sounds from a level above can be heard, felt, and experienced.
The flow of ottava alta is an acknowledgement of what is beyond any state previously known and requires active adjustments to express heightened sonic waves of
symphonious wonder. When the mind and soul are inundated with noise or require perspective when operating alongside other simultaneous expressions, the raising of
the vibration to create the same pitch from a new vantage point offers perspective. This raising requires receptivity and adjustment in order to be expressed and heard, and when those are achieved, it operates in such colorful, radiant grandeur. Where can you tune in and discover what it means for you to embrace the higher attunement levels of life? What
steps can you take to adjust your state in order to set into a greater expression of your higher self? Explore your truest of intentions and discover ways to begin to modulate the mode in which you reside. When the mind, body, and soul are connected to universal principles of the beyond and above, so then can consciousness be raised in the divine
orchestration of your part in and of the whole.
Raise Your Vibration
30. Ottava alta
44
The coda, an elongated circle with perpendicular lines intersecting in and extending beyond it, marks with precision the time when a work must come to an end, directing to the final passage for the inevitable conclusion. This closing expression can vary in
duration, complexity, participation, and content, yet regardless of variation, the end will ultimately occur. The significance of this signaling allows for preparation, alteration, and
propulsion ahead from the moment of awareness to the end.
Events of great importance and small magnitude make up the moments of time in our individual songs, painting a masterpiece of interwoven instances so beautiful and meaningful. Endings are inevitable but in them is offered a space for new beginnings.
Projects, relationships, jobs, activities, lessons, and more make up the grandest parts of our own cosmic iteration — in how we live life on this earth, in the here and now. What are you holding onto where it’s time to let go? What seems to have been taken from you when you were not ready? Where do you see endings and how can you prepare for that
process? Endings can be experienced on a spectrum, eliciting a myriad of responses and reactions. Whatever your internal emotions and intellect may dictate, recognize
the fleeting significance of all things, celebrate the richness of what can be gained from having experienced the good or the bad, and know that new beginnings await. Perceived
sound may end, but music’s vibrations that were brought to life shall forever hold resonance, transformable and impactful because they ever once were heard.
Accept Endings
31. Coda
45
An ostinato in music is a musical phrase that is continually repeated throughout a piece of music. Though often done through rhythmic repetition, slight variations around pitch can occur as well. An ostinato can function as the foundational, propelling force of your
life’s compositional masterpiece.
The complexities of life can be broken down into tangible, repetitive themes and, over time, honed in on through meditation and repetition. These themes develop as we
write our own symphonic, thematic life story in our daily actions over time. What is present can be whittled down to but a few components. Everything can be broken down
into pieces, further refined to but mere singularities, and often connect to thematic oscillations and recurrent baselines that influence everything that rests atop. Sensory
reception can be overwhelming at times. Seek guidance when you need it, be a vessel for those who need to receive it, and stay open to unearthing hidden knowledge or
receiving divine direction where wisdom beyond understanding can be accessed as you move through spans of life and the fullest found therein.
Remain Open
32. Ostinato
Mellie Parkway (she/her/hers), or Alicia Frye as she is known by friends and family, is a lifelong creator, empath, communicator, and lover of higher knowledge, people, and life. Her music lessons in piano from a young age and studies of French horn beginning at age twelve laid the foundation for her future musical collegiate learnings and focus for years to come. These deep disciplines and artistic expressions landed her an unconventional career of various
entrepreneurial endeavors, where her creativity and her love for other people — figuring out what she could offer them for their own life journey — are her ever-central focus. Mellie is a marketing professional, rusty musician, tarot reader, aspiring astrologer, spiritual practitioner, occult enthusiast, and friend to all. Originally from California, Mellie currently resides in Nashville, TN, with her boyfriend Joe and their two cats, Pickle and Tobias.
WEBwww.melliesterrace.com
INSTAGRAM & TWITTER@melliesterrace
About the Author
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