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Radhe!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/symphony-of-the-soul/id687462665 Yesterday I had lunch with my father, who is celebrating his 87th birthday. (He was old when he had me, so don’t go trying to calculate my own age based on his.) Anyway, at lunch, we reminisced about our family camping trips. I was reminded that I actually had my first paid singing gig when I was about five or six years old, when our family was camping in New Hampshire. Apparently a friend and I walked from site to site, singing “Joy to the World” to the happy campers. (That would be the “Three Dog Night” version). One audience member paid us a quarter. What a thrill! I guess that was my first taste of being paid to sing…
But mostly, I am thrilled to realize that there was a point in my life when I wasn’t shy about singing in front of others. It’s so nice to be back into that place of non-shyness again. Joy to the world indeed! “Different letters affect different parts of the body. Our body is like a garland of letters, it is called akshara maalika (garland of letters). You are a mala or rosary yourself; different letters affect different centers. Sanskrit, the oldest of languages, is organized in such a way that it fits Darwin’s theory of Evolution. The first letter of Sanskrit language is A, which is what every child says. The last of the vowels is Aha. What is the sound that comes when you laugh? Aha ha ha! So, in laughter, the entire language is present, from A to Aha. In Sanskrit, Aha is used for wonder and for laughter. You cannot laugh without Aa and Ha in it, even if you try. If you observe the Sanskrit vowels, which are A, Aa, E, Eee, Oo, Oou; observe how the sound is generated. The soundA comes at the root of the throat, Aa comes more outward. E comes from the palate, and Eee is more outward. Oo comes to the lips, and Ruu, the tongue rolls. The rest of the letters are I, Ai, O, Au, An, Am, Aha. If you move to consonants, they start with Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha, Na and they start from the throat. Then Ca, Cha, Ja, Jha, Nna, the sound move towards the mouth. Then come Ta, Tha, Da, Dha, Na, these come with the help of the dental movement. The last few come from the lips Pa, Pha, Ba, Bha, Ma. Amphibians like frogs, make sounds that sound like Ta, Tha or Tra. Mammals like cows, sheep, goats, horses, etc., use Pa, Pha, Ba, Bha, Ma, or the next set of consonants. Lastly come all the other alphabets like Ya, Ra, La, Va, She, Sha. Therefore, the alphabets and sounds are arranged in the same order as the theory of evolution, i.e., birds, animals, mammals and humans. Isn’t that interesting? It is absolutely fascinating. There was some research done in England; scientists found that Sanskrit language is very suitable for neurolinguistic functions. For about ten years, scientists were trying to understand why people with a base in Sanskrit are very sharp at mathematics and calculations. Do you know about 60% of the English language follows Sanskrit? If you see the roots of the English words, most of them are Sanskrit based. Svasa is sister, Brata is brother, Pitha is father and Mata is Mother. If you draw parallels like these, you will realize that the base of English is Sanskrit language.” || Jai Guru Dev || Several years ago I hosted a dashing young filmmaker named James Ponsoldt, who stayed at my house in Woodstock during the “Woodstock Film Festival.” (This is one of the many, many cool things about living in Woodstock, NY. We treat everyone who visits like family–whether it’s Gabriel Byrne, David Byrne, or just some visiting parks official from the DEP.) Thus, I had the honor of spending a few days with director James Ponsolt and producer Scott Macauley while they stayed at my house in 2006. Yes, I’m name dropping. But why not? I’m proud of them and am always happy to promote my fellow artists. It was clear that these two men were not only immensely talented, but also caring and kind. My dog Chloe, by the way, adored them too. Anyway, it’s been thrilling to watch Jame’s rapidly rising career in Hollywood. It was even more of a thrill to read the spectacular review in The New Yorker of his latest movie, “The Spectacular Now.” Critic David Denby loved the flim and called James “someone to watch.” I’m so proud of you, James! I encourage everyone to see this tender, beautiful movie!
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2013/08/05/130805crci_cinema_denby NICOLAS RAPOLD of The New York Times also lauded the movie:
It was very disturbing to find the Dog Who Can Open Doors waiting outside for me when I returned home from the library this morning. My previous dog Wallace (of “Rex and the City” fame) probably would have chased the car all the way to the
 library. Chloe, fortunately, was curled up on the front lawn, waiting.I’m also fortunate that we have a huge lawn far from the road.We don’t lock our doors in the country, but I guess it’s time to do so! Several years ago, someone I love (and someone who has had a great influence on my life and development) told me, quote: “No one wants to know what you are thinking or feeling. We want to know what you are doing.” I think she told me this in 2004 or 2005. If I did my research I could find the exact date. But that’s not important. What matters is that I never realized until quite recent But I must take responsibility for the fact that a) I believed this statement and b) I have let those words, and that person’s opinion rule my life. I’ve been acting like a coward, like a fearful child. Whereas what I actually am–what we all are–is a child of Divine Source. A Creation of the Creator; and a Creator myself. We all are. And as Creators, our duties are to express–with as much dignity and truth and grace as possible–what it is that we think and feel. Otherwise we are blocking that creative force, that Divine Flow. I believe that those forces are actually divine messages, aching to flow through us and out into the world. Artists are the first messengers, the Winged Mercuries. Yes, people (as in critics, flamers, politicians) often shoot the messengers, but that’s the risk we must take. Do I claim to be the most interesting person on the planet? Do I claim that my thoughts and feelings are essential to the workings of the world? Well, no. And yes. If something I write can be of benefit to at least one person on this planet; if something I sing can benefit at least one person, or plant, or dog; then yes, it is important. Can you see that? There’s a quote I love which says something to the effect of: “You exist. Therefore you belong.” (I’d love it if someone could remind me of the source of the quote and of the correct precise quotation) So I suppose when I heard my loved one tell me that no one wants to know what I think or feel, I took that to mean: You Don’t Deserve To Exist.” That’s my warped mind talking. And I don’t need to listen to voices like that anymore. From now on I’m going to try to write the way I used to write. From the heart. Without fear about what others might say about it. Hey, if I sound crazy, I sound crazy. At least the other crazies, odd balls, and hippie peace freaks will know what I mean. Sending love and hugs to you all. And thank you for all the support you’ve given me throughout the years. I love the fact that you read and that you care. ~ “That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” To all you spiritual seekers and students of sacred sound: I encourage you to read and subscribe to Eileen O’Hare’s blog. Eileen is a shaman, a teacher, a healer and–in my mind–an embodiment of the Divine Feminine. Soon she’ll be releasing her first sacred chant CD. I’ve heard it’s magnificent!
http://eileenohare.com/2013/07/17/music-for-the-soul/ I had a wonderful recording session at Karl Berger’s studio in Woodstock yesterday. We’re arranging the backup vocals for my gospel choir. I can’t wait to hear them sing the chorus to Govinda Hare, a song I am recording in honor of Shyamdas.
Today’s goal is to NOT let my critical mind step in and judge everything I created. My inner critic can be so harsh and ruthless. It scares me sometimes.
I have a new blog post on how to use mantras, sacred music, and Agni Hotra ash to strengthen, purify and beautify your gardens. http:// |
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