SO THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS CALLING YOU to join in, but you'd prefer to stay indoors, engaged in your marriage to "spiritual bliss". You know what I'm talking about, we've all experienced it. Life demands that you face a challenge; finding a new job, ending a relationship, fighting out a custody battle for your child, burying a loved one, ...or simply going to the grocery store on the busiest day of the week for some of us can be traumatic. Suddenly, we can be overcome with anxiety and emotional turbulence sets in and takes hold of the body. We're frozen in the mind, polarized to one side of the story, resisting the natural flow of light.

I can't tell you how many times over the years I've listened to my peers say things like, "I want out of this physical body so I can experience the true me," or "I never want to come back to the Earth plane again, I want to go home after this life. I'm done." Oh I've even made these statements myself, until a few years ago, that is...until it finally dawned on me one day that this is home, and this is the place I'd been trying to "get to". Until it finally dawned on me one day that without life's challenges I'd be unable to recognize what spiritual bliss resembled, let alone truly felt like. Without the conflict, I'd not have the wisdom and awareness of love. Without the entire spectrum of life's beating heart, from joyous song to raging drum, not one of us would recognize what it is to be spiritual, and to know unconditional love.

There are many around me, including myself, having a very rough go of it right now. Most of us are experiecing momentary lapses in our day-to-day awareness, where we find ourselves riddled with feelings of fear. These fears often lead us into a space where our bodies sense that there might not be enough oxygen to breathe in the next moment. It's times like this, when we are bound to our emotions, that we must remember we're each walking across the protective hand of creation. We're each walking upon the open palm of creation itself and abundance is our birthright. Look at the amount of water and air in our world. All we have to do in our lives is "trust". The same energy that is sustaining you, pulsing through your veins this moment so you can have this experience, is the same energy that will escort you throughout your entire life, and keep you and I safe and sound for all eternity. It's impossible to veer out of the path of your life, and step outside creation.

Why should we embrace our challenges right now? Because now is when it counts. Because meeting these challenges in the very to key to ascension. Because without them we'd not know at all what it is to be spritual. Without them we'd not know what it is to recognize peace and to rest in peace right here, right now.

How do we find these vast fields of peace in the chaos of the world? We surrender our personal stories. Surrender is the easiest thing to do in the universe. The hardest thing to do is to "keep the story alive"... because it takes a continual feeding of energy to keep a story alive.

One of the most wonderful gifts creation has to offer us in support of our surrender is the gift of music. I have selected three very wonderful pieces for this month to share with you and I hope you enjoy them. Be well.

Namaste',
Aven

Journey To Wholeness
Elivia Melodey's Crystal Vibrations

Rich Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls provide the backdrop for this divinely crafted composition. Chimes rolling upon an endlessly unraveling symphony of tones, flutes, and world percussion exalt the spirit, separating the shadows of chaos into a universe of peaceful comforts. The heightened state of awareness I experienced after only a few moments of listening to Elivia was as special as any experience I've ever had while cradled in the arms of a talented musician. There is a surplus of caring energy present in the creation of this healing gem and even a bit of whimsy and spontaneity.

The opening, a 14-minute Chakra balancer, is extremely effective and qualifies this CD as a perfect accompanist to any healing session, complementing a very wide variety of modalities. I believe this type of music is a necessity for this day and age and I highly recommend this music for anyone who needs a serious break from the stress and strain of the mental body.

It's funny to me, as I know that sometimes I reach for a "guided meditation" or "visualization" recording to take me out of my story, and yet they often seem to do just the opposite, stimulating my mind and leading me to go on without having touched the cornerstone of peaceful balance I desired. My point is that they aren't always effective. This music, however, requires no doing in order to achieve balance. It's not structured in a linear form and, therefore, without a single word delivers one to the core of self. This is a tremendous gift to all who might receive it. I've listened to many recordings of this genre, but this by far is the best Crystal Bowl healing I've experienced to date.

 

Orchid I & Orchid II Shao Rong

A piano intro so sweet, safe, so sound... leading me gently into the mist of one of the most lovely botanical gardens. There, rising water within the third eye, tumbling to the vibrato of the pipa, a four-stringed lute. She is unmistakable. The rippling of Shao's strumming casts light upon human flesh here, where lillies float upon romantic dreams of life's every possible exploration. The talent of Shao is so perfect for this time in my life that I knew it would be appropriate to share both of these albums with you. Have a quick listen here if you like.

Chinese fiddles and bamboo flutes traipse gently as a summer breeze beneath the limbs and vines of love's garden, telling a story untold, each and every time I listen. And glistening to music with this Asian influence is so easy on my soul. Have you ever laid next to an open window and allowed an incoming breeze to caress you through the soft fluttering touch of the drapery? Sweetly evocative is the fragrance of each of these recordings. If you've ever toyed with the idea that you might need to visit a psychiatrist, perhaps you should consider reclining in your favorite sunny corner this afternoon and sharing some time with Shao Rong. She has a way of hitting the "reset" button... and wiping the chalkboard clear.

   

© Avenescent, 2004

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Avenescent Thomas is a freelance artist, photographer, masseur, reiki master and spiritual transformationalist native to southern California. He enjoys all forms of music, having grown up playing several instruments and singing for several musical groups. He loves working with sound, people, cameras, computers, glass, natural sculpture, exploring zen, non-dualism and every fiber of nature. Prior to being a healer he was a social worker for the state of Washington. He can be contacted here and welcomes correspondence.