Turning Pain Into Purpose:
The Story Behind Jazz for Peace
“Discover how Jazz for Peace founder Rick DellaRatta transformed personal tragedy into a global movement for healing and higher consciousness. Explore the spiritual power of music, self-awareness, and divine purpose to heal yourself and the world.” On September 11, 2001, as the world watched in horror. A quiet seed of healing was being planted on a rooftop near Ground Zero. For Rick DellaRatta, founder of Jazz for Peace, that unimaginable day became not only a moment of personal trauma. But also a divine catalyst for something much greater.
In our recent Life Made Easier podcast conversation, Rick shared how music, spirituality, and higher consciousness converged to help him process grief, transform pain, and ultimately birth a global movement for healing and unity.
The Day That Changed Everything
Like so many others, Rick woke up on 9/11 completely unaware that the world was about to shift. Having just completed a photoshoot for his latest CD Jazz for Peace the night before, he received a call early that morning from his photographer near Wall Street. “Something crazy is happening,” he was told.
Rick climbed to the rooftop of his building, just a short distance from the Twin Towers. Yet, what he witnessed next was like watching a scene unfold on a movie screen, but this was horrifyingly real. In the shock and heartbreak of those moments, something unexpected happened. Words began to form in his mind a poem, titled Jazz for Peace, which poured out of him. It was as if God Himself was speaking through the pain.
Rather than allow trauma to define him, Rick leaned into this inspired moment. The poem became the spark that ignited his life’s mission.
The Healing Power of Music
From that day forward, Rick’s vision expanded beyond simply performing jazz. He saw firsthand how music could bridge divides, soothe broken spirits, and foster deep human connection. Whether traveling across continents or performing for people of vastly different backgrounds, Rick discovered a universal truth: music transcends language, nationality, and ideology.
In Uganda, he met people who cherished his music, inviting him to swim in the Nile River and share in their culture. Across the globe, music became a tool for unity, healing, and raising the collective vibration of humanity.
As Rick explains, music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a spiritual force. When we allow ourselves to feel its depth, we open doors to self-awareness, emotional release, and divine alignment.
The Journey Into Higher Consciousness
At the core of Rick’s story is the journey toward higher consciousness, what some might call divine wisdom, soul awareness, or spiritual elevation.
Through his music, Rick unknowingly raised his state of consciousness to extraordinary levels. A consciousness expert once evaluated his live performance at a 540 level, just below the energy frequency often associated with world peace (600). By comparison, most of humanity operates at levels below 200, where fear, anger, jealousy, and division dominate.
Rick’s message is clear:
“Elevating our consciousness is not only possible, it’s essential.”
True healing, both individually and globally, comes from an inner journey. It’s about recognizing when we’re being pulled into lower states, judgment, greed, or negativity, and choosing instead to observe, release, and grow.
As Rick beautifully puts it:
“Observe negative emotions without reacting. Use them as teachers, not as masters.”
From Billionaires to Visionaries
A striking part of our conversation was Rick’s vision for humanity. He proposes that what the world needs isn’t more billionaires, it’s millions of visionaries.
For generations, wealth and power have been concentrated in the hands of a few, often at the expense of true creativity, healing, and unity. But when individuals are free to follow their God-given passion without the burden of survival alone, miracles happen. I shared with Rick.
“We each have a unique divine purpose, an offering meant to serve others.”
When we align with that inner calling, we not only experience personal fulfillment, but we also contribute to the healing and restoration of the world.
Rick’s work with Jazz for Peace which has hosted over 850 benefit concerts worldwide, brought together Israeli, Palestinian, and American musicians at the United Nations, and supported countless grassroots organizations, proves that one person, guided by inner truth and divine purpose, can create ripples of change far beyond their own life.
Participate: The Invitation For Us All
As Rick shared, the solution isn’t complicated. It begins with each of us making the conscious choice to participate.
- To choose healing over division.
- To pursue higher consciousness over fear.
- To live in alignment with God’s unique design for our lives.
- To create, serve, and share with others from a place of love and truth.
“The world does not need more people striving for external validation; it needs more hearts willing to follow divine guidance, elevate human consciousness, and heal together.”
If you feel inspired to participate or learn more about Rick’s mission, visit https://jazzforpeace.wordpress.com/about or email info@jazzforpeace.org
And as always, thank you for joining me on this Life Made Easier podcast journey. If this conversation blessed you, please like, subscribe, and visit lesleypazdzioch.com for more resources on healing, purpose, and spiritual growth.
In grace and gratitude,
Lesley Pazdzioch
BA in Sociology & Psychology | Speaker | Spiritual Guide
Helping you heal, align, and live from the inside out.
🌐 www.lesleypazdzioch.com
📧 lesley@lesleypazdzioch.com
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