WHY IS SILENCE UNQUIET? Silence contains the reality of truth. Silence contains the eternal song of love.

Regularly observing one day of the week as a day of fasting by silence, Mahatma Gandhi described it in his autobiography as one which filled him "with the vitality and strength necessary for him to generate Truth" to others. What do you think he meant by that? My sense is that he knew thoughts and words had nothing to do with generating truth.

During the latter part of August, while on vacation high in the mountains near the Canadian border I was clearly reminded, the silence within is not silent at all. Beyond the calamity of our rambling cycle of thoughts, there is a biological current pulsing through every breath. I describe this sound as I hear it, much like "crickets in the forest", and yet accompanying this is the heart's continual thumping drum. Feel it. Hear it?

There in the long slender afternoon shadows of an emerald forest miles from another person, I experienced once again the great contrast of life as a human. The contrast of the unquiet silence within, compared to the stillness of an almost deathly calm existing without. Silence permeating the vast lands of nature before a setting sun enveloped me and yet never ceased to interrupt the gorgeous song playing within. Truth is independent of us, and yet it is precisely who we are.

Without words, free of thought, have you ever consciously shared truth with another? How deeply have you explored the act of silence with another being?

Though we may routinely enter into a state of speechless silence while we practice meditation, making peace by way of personal reconciliation with inner conflicts; it is rare for us to be tranquility itself, wholly at rest, as human's "being" at the heart of truth with all that is, One.

And where else are we?

Lately I've been looking deeper at my life, wondering who in my circle can share the song of truth in silence with me? I've realized there are few, but that these are the beings that I feel the closest to, that I cherish spending the most time with. We seem to celebrate more joyfully in life's song, the resounding silence.

A season of gold, orange, red, draped across a living kiss, all for just one moment of silence in truth's song...and you; the music.
Autumn Wake,
Aven

LATE HARVEST
Serah

My first thought upon receiving Serah's seventh album, Late Harvest? "What gorgeous packaging!" From the tri-fold cover, poetic prose, the art and lyric book, anyone would agree that this is a stunning creation even before hearing a note of it. Serah's music is contemporary adult, showcasing her own unique folk-pop style. She is refined, highly spiritual, and offers the listener an invitation to a peaceful journey touching on many human emotions by way of some beautiful thought. The slight gruff edge of her vocal, coupled with soft acoustic accents have an almost tropical scent-uality to them in certain areas. Late Harvest contains nine original compositions, plus gentle interpretations of four classic tunes.

Listening to her rendition of "Sailing" by Christopher Cross, "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison, or the Carole King-penned Shirelles' hit "Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow" lifted some special memories for me. Serah's original music draws from her experiences around the world, clearly working with musicians all over the globe, which helps give her music an international flavor. All the musicians on Late Harvest have impressive credits. If you enjoy Adult Contemporary music then I would suggest you explore Serah's elegance.

 

Traveling The Sacred Sound Current:
Divine Chants & Sacred Tones for Healing & Meditation
Deborah Van Dyke

Sometimes in life when I'm faced with the experience of otherworldly beauty I am simply awestruck, - to the point of being left speechless. This is one of those moments.

Deborah Van Dyke has created one of the most glorious New Age recordings I can remember. Crafted through the use of some very natural textures, its poetic rhythms are sensual and astonishingly pure. There is a complexity to the CD that is as unique as each human life. The percussion segment in "Journey," is one of my favorite movements, followed by "Sound Current." The final song on the album is a twenty minute meditation, narrated by a gently soothing female voice, appropriately titled, "Ceremony of the Seven Rays."

In just the first few breaths of listening I could feel the sweetest altering of my physical body taking place. A shift in posture, an expansion of my senses, and a fluttering of excitement in my heart's heart. The naturalness, the eloquent harmony and echo, all come together to offer such a tremendous gift to creation. For centering, grounding, gifting, doing healing work with others, Traveling the Sacred Sound Current intuitively knows the listener's need and exceeds that requirement with a universal gift.

For those who fall as deeply in love with this CD as I have there is a companion book with the same title. It is the equivalent of a full course in vibrational healing with an exploration of the use of crystal singing bowls, Peruvian whistling vessels, and chant as “instruments for expanding awareness, healing and transformation.”

 

© 2003 Avenescent

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Avenescent Thomas is a masseur, reiki master, freelance artist 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 people, photography, 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 providing Outreach services for those in need, and counseling for abused gay and lesbian teenagers through a state funded program called Odyssey. He can be contacted here and welcomes correspondence.

If you have an album that you would like to submit for musical review please feel free to contact Aven. Submissions do not need to be limited to the "New Age" category to be accepted. Great music bridges humanity, crossing all barriers. Please keep in mind that any CD submitted for review must be first listed at Amazon.Com. We apologize but submitted materials cannot be returned to you.