The Fragrance of Bhakti 4.30.11

In Miami right now at the Airport Marriott. Wide awake after an amazing kirtan by Jai Uttal in this incredibly beautiful Episcopal cathedral in Miami. At one point I was very consciously breathing in the sound, the beautiful chanting- poignant, wistful and deeply hearfelt and I thought "Ah... this is what is meant by the fragrance of bhakti." I really felt like I was inhaling the fragrance of love and devotion.

Tomorrow is a six-hour workshop on Awakening Bhakti through the practice of chanting kirtan. There is a beautiful description of Bhakti on the web page for the event. It reads thusly..."Bhakti Yoga is the path of personal relationship with Spirit, with God, with Goddess; a relationship that includes all the flavors and moods of the human heart. In the journey of Bhakti our emotions become the fuel to reconnect us with the Divine and to find healing and wholeness within us. Through singing Kirtan we explore, express and share the deepest caverns of our souls and ultimately find the eternal spring of love." It works for me.

Music and the Emotions 4.20.11

I have a particular fascination with the fact that certain music can evoke such a powerful emotional response- part of what makes it such a powerful healing modality... that it can assist us in accessing deep places within ourselves of joy, angst or ecstasy- sometimes taking us on a white water raft trip and sometimes a gentle sail on a balmy sea and ultimately deposit us back on the shore feeling soothed, peaceful and whole once again.

Daniel Levitin, author of Your Brain on Music, psychologist and researcher has been exploring this curious power that music has over us for many years. As more and more study is being done in the field of psychoacoustics- the effect of music on the mind- scientists are beginning to get clues about this phenomenon. Yesterday there was a fascinating article in the New York Times Science Section which actually followed up one written several years ago specifically about Mr. Levitin's works and his book. This latest article has some very interesting input from a number of musicians as well, including Paul Simon and Bobby McFerrin.

Enjoy the read. This may actually open up to an interactive page where you can listen to different pieces of music and then enter your response. If the link doesn't work (I couldn't find hte "embed" code) then just cut and paste the url. It's worth it if this topic is even mildy interesting to you.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/04/18/science/20110419-music-expression.html?src=me&ref=science

Walking Meditation 4.12.11

This morning I took a walk in the park near our house.

My mind was yak yak yakking...

so finally I decided to stop and listen...
to all the sounds around me as I walked.

I was walking on the grass next to a cement path by the bay
but the water was so still that I never I heard it.

I first notice the sound of my footsteps on the grass.
And all the different sounds my footsteps make
as the greenery changes under foot...
St. Augustine grass- slightly dry and crunchy,
areas of dried oak leaves- crunchier still,
wide patches of clover with white blossoms- a soft brushing sound,
short delicate ground covers with tiny yellow blossoms- near silence.
The wind blowing gently past my ears...
a soothing sound
very different
than the sound of the wind blowing through palm fronds-
or through the oak trees.
The fisherman scraping the
metal handle
of his net on the seawall as he adjusts it.
A steady multitude of birdsongs,
none of which I could name
other than the seagulls.
A lawn mower in the distance,
gradually louder as I come closer...
slowly fading to a quiet hum as I pass by.
The curiosity of how many sounds I would actually remember.
The sense of the air...
nearer the water,
in the sun,
under the trees...
and wondering
if the different qualities of air
are different frequencies.
A young man jogs passed me on the walking path,
his sneakers padding rhythmically on the cement.
A woman jogs past.
Her step is light...
and quiet.
A steady stream of cars
far enough away to simply create a gentle whooshing sound as they pass.

The awareness at a certain point that I have fallen into my thinking again and am no longer listening- and then... the most beautiful voice of a young woman greeting me as she and her husband and child pass by me on their walk.

That's all I remember...

Playing for Change 4.7.11

You all know about it, right? The foundation that brought you "Stand By Me" played by musicians all around the world- and much more. But do you know who they really are,how they got started and how they are affecting positive change and connecting hearts? This is a wonderful video that exemplifies music and musicians in action inspiring and changing the world- one note, one song, one person, one village at a time.

A Virtual Joyful Noise! 4.6.11

Every day I am writing, thinking, listening and exploring sound and music. I get many emails with great links to all kinds of wonderful things. I have brilliant musical vibratory friends and connections. Today I received a beautiful inspiring email from one those beings who resonates on a frequency that is very harmonious with my own and she sent me this fantastic video. To see people joined globally via the Internet but connected through music and sound brings such joy to my heart. This project is thrilling to me. Enjoy another piece of wholistic sound...