SURRENDERING to peace is an effortless act. Yet the strategy of mind is make surrendering become something that requires constant maintenance. To make a move toward peace, is to go to war.

Unlike doing, being is about releasing what we're holding in our hands, in our mouth, in our minds. When what was held onto is released, being is what sets in... being is what takes place. Being is timeless. Being is highly alert, it's free of focus. Being is not necessarily "removed" from life, although that may seem the case sometimes. In general, "being" moves naturally through life, celebrating the human conditioning yet seeing through it and recognizing it for what it is - and is not.

Occasionally I receive a letter or two regarding the musical selections in this column. Generally they're letters of gratitude, kindly thanking me for mentioning a musician, or directing someone to a new experience. More often they have something to do with the art illustrations in the magazine. I must admit, I spend much more time on the art and photography at PLW, and this is my true passion. I often write this column quickly "from the hip" and just move on with my life. It's not unusual for me to forget the details of some of my writings. Words just aren't as important to me as imagery. Also, I communicate with many people about many things almost every single day of my life, and most all of these conversations have a very apparent spiritual foundation to them. So my point is that imagery feels to be more unique and original and words tend to feel rather contaminated, due to the repetitious nature of them.

Earlier this month I received a letter "out of the blue" about a comment I made in a previous column. It's not uncommon for me to have to resort to going back and researching what is being addressed, but in this case, for the life of me I could not figure out the dialogue being presented, nor it's application. The event, after a couple of hours left me a bit frustrated, but more so in a deep state of surrender. Why? My response emails were sent back to me due to a problem with the sender's e-mail address.

Over the course of the next few days I continued to receive two more emails from the same person, regarding the same conversation, but purely their own conversation, as I was unable to get my responses sent through to their server. My guess was that it had to do with software and spam settings rerouting my emails, but I can't be sure. It's something that rarely transpires and so I was left unsure.

What was most interesting in this dialogue sent to me was how the person so gently worked through their issues even without a word from "me"... and how compassionate they were with Self in the process. There was never even the slightest upset with the fact that they thought, "I had not written back a response"...there was only a desire to see their spiritual exercise through to its end. That was the sole focus of their committment and they were compassionate enough to allow it to take place, without concern of what it might "look like" in the external world.

Honesty is the most powerful tool in creation. Like our hands, honesty can lift and carry, it can carve and massage the most amazing things in life. The honesty that poured off the pages of the sender was a gift, much like a sunrise or a first meeting with a newborn child. The innocence at each discovery made was the very definition of "trusting in life's unfolding process".

On my third attempt to respond to the sender, and failing, I gave up. I smiled, and sent the clearest embrace through the ethers and surrendered. I let it go, and it fell through me like grains of sand will so easily pass through fingertips and return to earth.

A few days, perhaps a week, passed and suddenly again there's another letter from my unknowing friend. I opened it, and there was this note: "I can't be sure you've received my letters as I've had numerous problems with my email account. Several friends have been unable to contact me due to a spyware blocker I installed on my computer recently. What I can be sure of is this: I received an embrace from you. I know we've never spoken but I have had amazing insights come forth the moment I've sent my letters to you, and more recently I sense someone's presence enveloping me in a big bear hug."

Of all the things that could have happened this particular day, this was the one thing that brought me to my knees. I responded and guess what, yes, this time the email got through. The multitudinous gifts of surrender in life are equal to, if not greater than, attempting to grasp at any moment of life. This was not only my thought, but also the thought that was sent back to me by the most beautiful human being.

Though sometimes we might think it's highly important to get our message across...get our wisdom through, this is just another game of limitations created by the mind. May I challenge you to trust in the unseen world the next time you encounter resistance. Surrender in that precise moment and let go of all that you're holding in mind and hand.

Recognize the struggle in our lives comes not from existing itself, but from a thought of what we think our life should look like, and then trying to make our lives match that thought. Clearly creation does not require our participation as we often tend to "think" it does. Clearly, consciousness is much more creative at conveying truth than we often comprehend. Each of us benefits from working life out in our own time, on our own time, in our own way...(if there is such a thing).

In Gratitude,
Aven

Crystal Portal
Elivia Melodey and Amrita with Gene Passofaro

You may remember a few months ago I reviewed another work by Elivia, Journey to Wholeness. Some of you said you "had been searching for a quality crystal healing CD and were pleased to have finally found one." It received high ratings from several of you, and I'm pleased to announce that in collaboration with Amrita and Gene Passofaro, Elivia has released a new album and it's excellent - provided you enjoy transcendental crystal bowl exploration!

Crystal Portal, RECORDED LIVE, was produced during the Lunar Eclipse on the Harmonic Concordance (November, 8, 2003) when a powerful infusion of love energy became anchored within the core of Earth. The six-pointed planetary configuration that occurred signaled the manifestation of heaven on earth, through the human heart, for a new integration of the masculine and feminine energies in the mind. The integration, now well underway, marked a turning point for the destiny of all humanity. This recording is a celebration of our harmonic unification that goes on through today.

As the listener rides the sonic crystal waves crafted by this musically enlightened trio, there is undoubtedly clear cellular restructuring and physical rejuvenation taking place. The rich bell-like and low soothing tones are presented without vocals, yet one can almost sense the presence of angelic voices looming within the resonance. Over 20 singing crystal bowls, flutes and percussion instruments formed the ensemble used on this CD, creating a new musical art form. These exquisitely rich songs are the epitome of crystal bowl sound healing. Four songs, ranging from roughly 12 to 18 minutes, make this perfect for balancing, meditation, illumination and all avenues of healing. With joy, I give this future-ancient gift my highest rating!

 

 

Cristal Silence III: The Inner Voyage
Robert Haig Coxon

There is an almost continuous sense of "unseen presence" developing, entrancing, while listening to this ambient new age music. Synthesizer keyboards, windchimes, crystals and classic guitar provide a therapeutic space within the listener's eye. Robert draws on a broad range of personal and musical experience to create his music for meditation, used extensively in both holistic and traditional medicine, the stress management field and the personal growth seminars throughout the Americas and Europe.

As I've said before, I'm not fond of typical New Age music, and this borders on "dislike" for my own tastes. The saving grace perhaps for me is that there is emotional presence in this recording. While much New Age music comes across feeling thinly structured and even monotonous, there is an air of mystery in this recording that I enjoyed. While it's not something I would reach for to use in my own meditation, it is something that I would use for a backdrop to an experience. Its gentleness can easily mend any barriers that might be sensed in a "new" group setting, like a yoga class or satsang/meditation group. Some of you will find this incredibly soothing to relax to. Although it is not a "new" release, it was recently submitted and, I believe, very worthy of your attention.

 

© 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.