Rita Leonard received her education at Simmons College and The New England Conservatory of Music yet firmly believes the primary and sustaining gift of true learning had been seeded and cultivated within her spirit long before her formal education. Her love of music and verse she says was "born from intricate depth and nuance of Yiddish cradle songs lovingly sung to her in childhood". Thus, for over three decades she has chosen to guide children to seek the beauty of their purpose and the richness of their spiritual inheritance through such portals.

Opposing the premise underlying traditional institutions of education that at its core believes not in a child's innate curiosity and hunger for knowledge, but falsely, that all children born to humanity must be regulated and subjected by force and humiliation...must be 'tortured' into learning, RL counsels parents and teachers to:

"Strive to be the best guardian above all the roles you take. Take seriously your role as a guide, mentor and protector to the souls entrusted you. These children, nurtured in this way will surprise you, they will excel beyond your dreams for them, for their dreams are born from freedom that surpasses our limited projections that have imprisoned those of our generation by our own history of schooling, and the abuse embedded within the doctrines of its cruelty.

Children are unimpaired by these restraints, through Creative Reality, access the dreams of the Divine, and we as guardians (which I believe is a much fuller word and a more accurate one than 'parents' or 'teachers') can at best facilitate each bringing these dreams into our broken world. My own success with students and children (raised with awareness, who were homeschooled and are living proof of this) learn and continue to with lightning speed and with passion. Step out of the way of a child's purpose and keep her/him safe and free, open the door of information and just watch how the child runs happily towards it.

Once you create an environment that will defend the soul's right to self actualization; a place where there is wholehearted respect for the little-dreamer, and never falter at taking utmost care in watching your words, for harmful words can sear a tender soul to shreds, and, as well, determine to seek the world over to find and bring into the sphere of your charge the tools s/he is desiring (greatly illuminated while at play when the spirit loses track of time and place), you will be a real teacher and parent, y0u will be a Guardian deep within your heart of hearts.

I believe in future time out of the most fortunate souls, the ones their guardians know only as Gifts to Humanity, secure in their selfhood and purpose, will come evermore guardians of spirit: the true teachers and most adventurous of souls, souls hopeful enough to vision, strong in heart enough to challenge all manner of adversities, and capable enough to guide humanity towards healing itself.

About this website

Hawaii's most reclusive composer-songwriter's works; find the published writings for theatre & dance, children's books and compact discs, (cds) of folk, liturgical and rare world music fashioned to strengthen & empower the soul; works embedded with the healing philosophy of kabbalah, the Zohar, and Book of Razieil, merging into a living mystic music therapy.

And as well, to vitalize the spirit of all who suffer, this site is a portal of devotion to the beloved author and poet Robert Louis Stevenson who stood victorious over adversity.

Sailing always brought him happiness, he yearned for the right climate to suit his fragile health, thus he chartered a schooner, the Casco, to sail from San Francisco on a South Seas adventure (you can see the reigning of liberty of spirit he harbors within his frail body, on the back cover of Robert Louis Stevenson in Hawaii, History, Rare Photographs & Verse).

Once in Hawaii (1889) the lung ailments (which may have been from tuberculosis) and physical weaknesses he endured from childhood were considerably lessened and oftentimes abated. In Hawaii, beautiful friendships arose; with the last heiress-apparent to the throne, the child Princess Kaiulani just before she set sail for studies to his native land; and, he and his family found themselves lovingly embraced and accepted by King Kalakaua and the Ali'i, royalty, of the Hawaiian Islands.

Stevenson's hunger for adventure was a blessing, for awe banished his fear and the power of nature and spirit deflected his pain; the perception of limitation was eradicated by joy. Without the thrill under sail, the delight in exploring foreign lands, engaging in the realm of fantasy and imagination; without the healing salve of the respect and embracement of others it might have been that Stevenson would have lived his life out as an invalid. But, he had a passion for these. For there is bond between soul to soul and all humanity and the Source of All Creation, as the spiritual masters of the ancient tradition have taught, this bond resides within the beauty and majesty of creation and all that surrounds us in the temporal world.

But like R.L.S. we must yearn for it, we must desire to be in wonder at it all. I believe there is a restorative resonance, which R.L.S. as did the sages of old, understood might be accessed if we but dare to open beyond what we perceive as limitations, especially those we hold on to as our own.

You find yourself at the door, shalom, you are invited to enter the corridor of wonder.

Call 808-960-5447 or 808-896-4845 for more information. Or send email to: rebsender@hotmail.com