Let it Be

It is not a matter of letting go – you would if you could. Instead of ‘let it go’ we should say ‘let it be’. Jon Kabat Zinn

On this day in 1969 The Beatles released Abbey Road, their last-recorded album however they had previously recorded enough material for another. Behind the scenes the band was preparing to break up.  So Phil Spector was ‘given the shittiest load of badly recorded shit with a lousy feeling to it ever,’ which he transformed into the album Let It Be, released on May 8, 1970. The band officially broke up April 10, 1970.

Speaking words of wisdom let it be, let it be.

The Dalai Lama says,

If you can do something about a situation, why worry?

And if you can’t do something, why worry?

Easier said than done.  Let it Be is a song of surrender and accepting of the now. Gongs instantly connect you with the present.  On a physical level they evoke profound whole-body relaxation; on a mental level you slide into theta or lucid dream state and on a spiritual level you connect to the universal life force or Zero Point Field. The end result of which is a delicious state of suspended animation where time has no meaning, you are at one. Join us to let it go, to let it be.

Peace is in Our Hands

Twenty five years ago the UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration of Peace, establishing International Peace Day on September 21.  A gong sister in Slovenia has created a massive campaign to enlist gong players from around the world to play together in the name of peace. As of writing 84 countries are participating.  If you are a sound practitioner or meditator I encourage you to join by scanning the QR code below.  But first a few thoughts on peace.

 Peace means either a state or period in which there is no war or freedom from disturbance, or tranquillity. (Oxford Dictionary)

 Yet we make war so that we may live in peace. Aristotle.  

If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbours. If there is to be peace between neighbours, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart. Lao Tzu

Oh peace, there you are
Where have you been
All this time?
Right here inside you.
anon

John Lennon says, Peace is not something you wish for; it is something you make, something you do, something you are and something you give away. And Nobody can bring you peace but yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Michael Jackson says it begins by looking in the mirror, and Mother Teresa suggests, Peace begins with a smile. The wisdom of the ancients said Begin with a smile, then take one minute of patience, for one year of peace. Greek Proverb 

For me, as a gong player I am the light in the dark, the peace in a storm. Leo Tolstoy. Plato said rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul to transmute and uplift.

As a teacher of gong -  Just as one candle lights another, I light thousands of others. So one heart illuminates another, one can illuminate thousands of other hearts. Leo Tolstoy

If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.  Jimi Hendrix  Music is the message of peace, and only music brings peace.  Zubin Mehta

In 1984, Dr Robert Muller, Secretary General of the UN met my teacher Don Conreaux on a  Gandhi cross-country peace march. Since then he and now I have been inspired by his words.... “The day of world peace will come when people will gather in circles all over the world, join hands, give thanks for life and breath, and listen to all the gongs and bells ringing around the globe celebrating the first 24-hours of a world without war!”  This day is predicted as Wesak Day May 2025.

The gong players of the world are beginning NOW. We know that anything upon which we set our minds can be achieved.   We know that peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be kept by understanding. Albert Einstein  We know that  Peace comes from within and World peace begins with inner peace. Dalai Lama 

This week  we congregate together to create a world of peace and love, where music is the universal language. Henry David Thoreau  

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I am not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.  John Lennon

The Breakfast of Champions

People often ask me ‘why’? ‘why do you do what you do?’

My answer is simple– for the deep, profound satisfaction for having made a difference in the lives of my clients. How do I know? By their feedback. 

Good words are worth much, and cost little. George Herbert

Previously I taught feedback skills using the Whale Done approach by Ken Blanchard. He reiterates the powerful ratio of positive reinforcing feedback to constructive / negative feedback of 4:1. Unfortunately most feeback is ‘gotcha’ - when something is done ‘wrong’ not, ‘right’.

Take a moment to think of the last time you complimented someone. Or received a compliment. If it wasn’t today it is too long ago.

When someone does something good, applaud!  You will make two people happy. Samuel Goldwyn

 Positive feedback highlights what someone did well that you would like them to do again.  Giving it makes cents.

Employees who report receiving recognition and praise within the last seven days show increased productivity, get higher scores from customers, and have better safety records. They’re just more engaged. Tom Rath

Today is National Encouragement Day. I invite you to make a conscious effort to offer specific timely positive feedback to at least 5 people. You will be glad you did.

A Life that Matters

Intention derives from the Latin in- ‘towards’ + tendere ‘stretch’.  It means an aim, course of action or plan. It also refers to the healing process when the edges of a wound are brought together leaving minimal scaring.

Currently I am reading The Power of Eight by Lynne McTaggart who conducted years of research into the power of group intention. The phenomenal results for the intended as well as the intendees / senders is nothing less than gobsmacking. (future newsletter!)

Jonathan Goldman states that ‘sound + intention = impact’

As a gong player I always begin with an intention and invite the receivers to do so too.  This is the difference between a ho hum, pleasant experience vs deeply profound personal transformation. 

Wayne Dyer said,  Our intention creates our reality.

And Intention + action = outcomes

Intention without action passes the time.

Imagine for a moment if one person can inspire a second person to be intentional, and another. Those people can work together and can become a movement. They can make an impact. John C. Maxwell And if we intentionally use our everyday life to bring about positive change in the lives of others, you begin to live a life that matters. John C. Maxwell

Isn’t that our ultimate purpose on mother earth?

read the poem - https://www.poeticexpressions.co.uk/a-life-that-matters/

Awake in a dream

image of a human iris taken by Marc and Phoebe Aviles)

Dormiveglia is an Italian word that neatly describes the state when you are no longer awake but not completely asleep. It is a compound of dormi meaning ‘sleep’ and veglia meaning ‘wake’ and perfectly describes theta or lucid dream state.  Dormiveglia is the ‘magic time  between sleeping and waking (or vice versa)… when you grasp the tail-end of dreams with your fingertips and enjoy the warmth of your bed, content to just be. George Orwell’s Italian version of 1984  describes it as being suspended in a fantastic half-sleep that kept him from opening his eyes.

 During a gong relaxation the powerful vibrations of the gongs induce this state of nothingness. Some describe it as bliss, some feel as though they are floating outside or disconnected from their physical body, Theta is the most important sleep state for the rejuvenation of the brain, removal of its toxins and waste, and the deletion of unnecessary sensory input. It is like pressing RESET.

 We have >6M sensory receptors in the body, 70% are in the eyes.  The brain receives about 11M bits of information every second during our waking day however we can only pay attention to 70-80 BPS. It is no wonder so many suffer from sensory overload that manifests as autistic like symptoms when we are simply overwhelmed.

One of the best ways to rebalance or recalibrate is to elicit lucid dream state often. Even a short weekly power nap with the gongs will result in improved sleep, decreased stress and improved overall wellbeing in a just few weeks.  So what is stopping you? 

Altered States

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness. Lao Tsu

Altered States was a 1980’s movie featuring William Hurt as a pychopathologist who experiments on himself under the influence of hallucinogens in a sensory deprivation tank. He elicited altered states of consciousness with unexpected results. If you don’t have access to a SDT then you may induce ASC by any of the following means:

·       Pathological (Epilepsy, brain damage)

·       Pharmacological (psychoactive substances/hallucinogens)

·       Physical and physiological (infections, sleep deprivation, fasting and sex)

·       Psychological (music, meditation, hypnosis)

·       Spontaneous (day-dreaming and near death experience)

 At Red Doors rather than immersing ourselves in a water tank we bathe in a symphony of vibrations that entrain our brainwaves to shift us into various states -

·       Beta or awake state, slipping into a

·       Hypnagogic state (the transitional state between waking and sleeping)

·       Lucid dreaming (we say being ‘awake within a dream’) or Theta

·       Out-of-the-body experience (your conscious self is not bounded by your physical body)

·       Hypnopompic state (the transitional state between sleeping and waking)

·       Returning to Beta / awake

The rich mix of sounds creates a plasmic vibratory soup, resonating every molecule within the sonic envelope.  The intensity of sounds induces profound relaxation where you are hyper aware and receptive; our brain is entrained with the frequencies around us.

Some experience visions, memories, or feelings of profound interconnectedness with all of creation. Others, feel light, expansive, or deep peace and tranquillity. Each experience is unique to each participant. An element shared universally is a sense of being transported beyond the confines of the egoic mind into the boundless expanse of the soul. 

Now imagine combining the power of sound with the power of suggestion. To have a qualified guide to gently lead our subconscious to a personal goal using imagery, queries and intentions.  Next week on the eve of the full blue moon we are delighted to collaborate with Aldo Privileggi, Holistic Healer and Hypnotherapist.  Author and internationally sought after practitioner of 11 years who facilitates private and group events to release subconscious energetic blocks creating a sense of ease and wellness. This represents the first collaboration of its kind, combining two powerful practices to uplift, release and embrace the sense of oneness with oneself and the universe. We hope to see you.

Lion’s Gate - 8-8-8

Today is Lion's Gate, a yearly spiritual and astrological event when the star Sirius is halfway through the constellation of Leo.  Sirius is known as the 'spiritual sun' because it is the brightest star in the night sky and has the attributes of Jupiter being growth and wisdom, and of Mars, known for determination and ambition. 

On this day, the Sun, earth, Sirius and Orion's Belt align with the pyramids of Giza creating a cosmic portal for manifestation and change.  Orion is affiliated to the Egyptian God Osiris, and Sirius to the Goddess Isis, both creators of the universe and for whom the pyramids were built.  It's believed there are two lions sitting in front of the pyramids, at the entrance of this portal.

In numerology eight represents luck, prosperity and positive energy, strength and determination/ power - just like the lion. Turned on its side, the infinity symbol denotes the boundless disposition of the Universe. Repeated numbers magnify In this case 888 is associated with abundance, success, and financial prosperity. 

Coming in the same week as a new moon creates a perfect opportunity to set your intentions. This is a time for a re-birth of your true self. To align your actions to your heart's desires.  To choose a path and walk it. Go well.

Doing nothing

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
Gong experiences relax, renew, restore and rejuvenate.  But what do I do?  The Dali Lama says every year we should visit somewhere new.  I choose a yearly pilgrimage to my roots.

Imagine travelling to the far side of the world to stay in a rustic cabin built by my father on a lake where my family has visited for well over 100 years.  Walking beaches that appear magically when the tide recedes leaving miles of fine sand, listening to the refreshing summer rains pattering on the roof while nestled in front of a fire, reflecting on the haunting call of the loons in the middle of the night or getting one's hands dirty tending my pine grove are simple pleasures. Sometimes paradise is challenging - it is amazing how crafty a little mouse can be.  Fortunately they love peanut butter.  Following the circadian rhythms and playing my gong daily - what more could one ask for? I return content and at ease.
Sometimes it’s OK to do nothing. Izey Victoria Odiase

For the first time I had internet, both a blessing and a curse.  On the one hand I stayed connected without driving 20 miles and sitting in a Tim Horton's carpark while the challenges of running a studio were never far from mind.  Thank you to Kaman, Aimee, Stephanie, Yumi, Zi Hing, Dorothy and Dylan for ensuring continuity of classes in my absence.

Today I receive the new shipment of titanium gongs and the Paiste shipment as well as new rainsticks and gong bags. The power nap is back and the class tonight has a few free mats when we will welcome the new 38" titanium house gong called 'Rain'.

I look forward to seeing you all again and to a busy fall beginning with level 1 and 2 training in Sept.

Contradictions

Meet the newest gong in our collection, appropriately titled Rain, a magnificent 38" titanium gong crafted by Martin Blase.

I recently gave a talk to Svaram Sound Institute sharing thoughts on shifting global consciousness using sound.  In the course of my research I uncovered a number of contradictions and this week I wish to share them with you.

In 1930 John Maynard Keynes said that man would be faced with the problem of how to use his freedom given all the latest time saving inventions.  A century later Geoffrey West said that Rather than being bored to death, our actual challenge is to avoid anxiety attacks, psychotic breakdowns, heart attacks, and strokes resulting from being accelerated to death.

80% of workplace illness is stress related. And, mental health is the # 1 personal medical spend globally yet  < 2% of government medical budgets are allocated to mental health with 70% of that allocated to psychiatric institutions.

According to the Global Wellness Institute in 2023 the Global Wellness Industry was worth US$5.6T. The US market is the largest at US$1.8T but only 5% of that is spent on Mental Wellness. (including sound and meditation). Life expectancy increased in last 50 yrs (avg 73.4)  yet  > 50% is in less than optimal health and 12% in poor health.

We live longer, but not better.  We spend significant personal discretionary income on wellbeing but are not healthier.  Mental health is the root of most illnesses yet our time and resources are spent elsewhere.

The ancients believed a healthy mind meant a healthy body but in the 1800's modern medicine shifted from preventative to curative.  Since then physicians diagnose, treat and prescribe.  Rather than seek ways to restore energy flows and well being.

I invite you to share your thoughts as to why we choose to detract from leading lives of harmonious good health? I look forward to your comments.

Tipping Point

June 21 is summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer.  Starting tomorrow the days incrementally become shorter.  Consider it a tipping point in our calendar.

A Tipping Point is a threshold, critical mass, boiling point moment that leads to sudden, dramatic radical change.

Scientists identified 25 earth system tipping points some of which are critical including warm water coral reefs, permafrost, and the ice sheets.  

The 3% rule states a small but devoted group of people can bring about change through deliberate long-term effort.  But still, 3% is 3%.  I am starting with me, myself and I.

Derek Sivers in this short Ted talk illustrates how a lone nut becomes a leader of a movement in minutes.  The key is the first follower.

https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement?language=en&subtitle=en

For years Don Conreaux has shared the prophesy of Robert Mueller that the people of the world will gather in circles holding hands and world peace will be declared in 2025.  Given the state of the news it seems an impossible.  I believe otherwise. As sacred sound practitioners we have the capacity, skills and resources to elicit change on a global level – to shift consciousness towards peace and harmony.

I am currently preparing a speech for Svaram Sound Institute where I will be outlining my thoughts for radical social change through enlisting the talents of sound practitioners (bowls, gongs, voice, sacred instruments) and meditators. A first step is an invitation to consciously set the intention for ‘peace on earth’ for all full and new moon events.  As individuals we impact our immediate audience, our intentions impact the planet.

I invite you to take advantage of this month’s full moon and summer solstice to join me in beginning this practice. Share it with your associates and together we will elicit societal change for peace.

Hum, Ho, Hug

May is Mental Health Awareness month.

Since 2019 Mental Health has been the number one disease burden in the world.  50% of the world’s population will suffer from a mental disorder in their lifetime. Women twice as likely as men and the onset of depression starts in the teenage years.  We know sub-optimal mental health leads to poor physical health, increased medical spend and earlier deaths. Currently life expectancy globally has never been higher but 50% of our lifespan is now sub-optimal. 

Today I share a few simple techniques to pump those happy hormones. 

Humming to yourself stimulates the vagus nerve and the secretion of nitric oxide, endorphins and oxytocin.  It increases oxygen, melatonin, lowers BP and cortisol.

Ho ho ho - Laughter yoga is a fantastic way of stimulating the release of endorphins and “happy” hormones like dopamine and serotonin resulting in a better mood, reduced pain, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and lower stress levels and rates of depression.

Hugs – They say four hugs per day is an antidote for depression, eight hugs per day would achieve mental stability and twelve hugs per day would achieve real psychological growth.  Longer hugs of 20 sec are shown to reduce the effects of stress.  Disney has The Hug Rule – their characters may never let go of a child’s hug first.  Why? Walt said “You never know how much that child may need that hug.”

Human connection -  Originating from the the 7-Day Happiness Challenge from The New York Times Simon Sinek recently shared his 8 min rule.  He suggests having a code between you and your close network to indicate you need to talk.  It was shown that 8 min is the optimal time for sharing and caring.

A healthy mind is a healthy body. Juvenal

So today, lift your mood, share these practices and see if indeed we can make this world a better place if we can.

Lessons from the hive

The busy bee has no time for sorrow– William Blake

Monday was World Bee Day. These often overlooked insects are essential to our survival for their role in pollinating the vast proportion of our food crops. There are three types of bees - the queen who lays the eggs; the all female worker bees who collect pollen, build the hive and take care of the pupae. And the male drones which number about 200 per hive.  Lacking a stinger, their only role in life is to mate with the queen.

Their name describes the sound they make, a steady hum within a narrow bandwidth created by the rapid beating of their tiny wings. Some bees beat their wings a mind-blowing 230 times a second. It is no surprise that unmanned aircraft in the 1950's were named 'drones' and the verb 'to drone' means to go on and on without stopping.

As a musical style droning has been utilized by composers such as Purcell and J.S. Bach to evoke powerful emotions in the listener while more recently the development of synthesizers led to drone based music styles such as ambient and industrial music.  This genre continues to evolve with the advent of new technology to evoke a wide range of emotions.

Droning is one of my 'go to' gong techniques. Using one mallet I maintain a slow repetitive tone for an extended period of time to quickly induce a mesmerizing and meditative state. Listening to drones supports relaxation and stress relief, improves focus and increases creativity -  especially useful for stress, anxiety and depression.  Just another example of lessons learned from nature to help us maintain our inner peace.

The hum of bees is the voice of the garden– Elizabeth Lawrence

Anticipation

With building anticipation I waited impatiently for the last seven nights.  My Queen of the Night generated a small hairy bud as an appendage off the edge of a leaf a week ago and since then I have gone to bed each night on tenterhooks – so as to not miss this yearly event.  At 2200 last night a gentle perfume wafted into my lounge and I was presented with this flower in all its glory.

Sometimes referred to by its Chinese name, Tan Hua (as in Crazy Rich Asians) or in Vietnamese as “Da Quynh”, this epiphytic orchid cactus is reclusive only revealing its stunning flower at night once a year. In Vietnam it is common to invite all your neighbours to witness this fortuitous event.

The observance is an omen of happiness and because of its rarity, good luck.  Its short flowering is a metaphor for how good things don’t last. The flower emanates harmonizing energies to build relationships and heal discord. It attracts abundance and amplifies financial health and career success. (Just like a gong.) In many Asian cultures from India to Malaysia it is used to treat respiratory ailments, reducing pain and inflammation.

Gazing at a rare flower is just one of nature’s ways to share indescribable perfection. Who can’t help but feel a lifting in their heart? 

Nature’s Chorus

Before dawn the forest erupts in sound. With a half opened eye I ask ‘why’? 

Because it is the perfect time to sing. There is less background noise and the air is so still, sound carries around 20 times further than it would later in the day. This is important if you are looking for a mate or protecting your territory.  Some scientists believe that the high frequencies of bird songs stimulate the stomata on leaves to open wider allowing for a greater exchange of air, water and nutrients leading to faster growth.

Birds only sing when there are no predators.  When they sense danger, they fall silent. As humans evolved we subconsciously to relate bird songs with safety.  This is why we feel relaxed and at peace when we hear it.  Spiritually birds are totems for fresh beginnings and it is believed that their songs are a sign the universe is working to answer your prayers.

 Ok. It's possible that birds may sing just for the joy of it.  Kyo Maclear
A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. Chinese Proverb
This week I invite you to open your windows and listen to the sounds of nature before dawn and if you like, join in to. sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0hvfn-nkz0&ab_channel=WISDOMMUSIC

 I want to sing like birds sing, not worrying who listens or what they think. - Rumi
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.- Henry Van Dyke

Wishes do come true.

Wishes do come true. Walt Disney

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of playing, traveling and hosting. Events included opening and playing at the Healing Arts Festival at the Regala Hotel in HK to closing the incredible At One International Forum and Festival at the Sangha Retreat in Suzhou. A particular highlight was sharing a stage at the grand finale with the unforgettable classical guitarist Estas Tonne.

The diversity of offerings and superb organisation created a sense of community dedicated to taking the world into the future paradigm shift through collaboration, community and a shared consciousness.  A special thank you to my three amigos - Makin, Lear and Dylan as well as Fred, Esther, Kevin and the entire team at Octave.

Jens Zygar visiting from Germany led a week of experiential integral gong techniques with a group of enthusiastic cosmic octave voyagers. He shared his vast knowledge of gongs, sound, percussion and performance.  Everyone left feeling their skills had been enriched on all levels and look forward to seeing him again.

I am off to Bangkok this weekend to present to the senior management team of a major hotel group.  There is no doubt that gongs, sound and the raising of energy is catching the eyes and ears of key decision makers.  I live for the hope that they will embrace this technology and help popularise their use so that one day everyone in the world will have access to their transformative power thereby fulfilling the aspirations of all of us in the movie 'wealljustneedtogong' . Thank you to all that have helped me on the gong journey thus far.

4’33”

In my work, silence gives birth to all sound. We use silence judiciously in our performances as a transition, as a pregnant pause that draws listeners in, allowing integration, transformation and deep listening.  

Silence I discover is something you can actually hear. Haruki Murakami
It is defined as the absence of intentional sound. However researchers at John Hopkins have discovered that even during periods of 'silence' during a musical composition, the auditory cortex was still stimulated.  (watch here) Simply imagine a pause in a thriller movie soundtrack - you are held in suspended animated anticipation. 

Immersing yourself in a sensory deprivation chamber you will quickly hear two distinct sounds - the high pitched noise of your sensory system and the deep note of your circulatory system.  Thus we can never experience complete and absolute silence.

Yet, Silence is essential. We all need silence, just as much as we need air, just as much as plants need light.  Thich Nhat Hanh 

The only other style of music that attempts to go to the deeper place of  silence is the music of the New Age. John Michael Talbot

Regarded as 'noise music', the ambient random noises of the audience make each performance unique.  Cage was asked to explain the composition and said that unimpededness as "seeing that in all of space each thing and each human being is at the center", and interpenetration as  each one of the (things and humans at the center) is moving out in all directions penetrating and being penetrated by every other one no matter what the time or what the space", concluding that "each and every thing in all of time and space is related to each and every other thing in all of time and space".

We experience this in every gong bath. And remember in the Universal Peace Greeting 
We are one, let us work together.

Ostara

The sky is clear, the breeze is light, Nothing ever seems impossible in spring, you know. L.M. Montgomery
Spring is the time of plans and projects. Leo Tolstoy, of possibilities and new beginnings.
Audrey Hepburn said to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. 
Begin with a seed.
Happiness held is the seed.
And play it forward.
Happiness shared is the flower. John Harrigan
Happy first day of spring.

Today we celebrate the spring equinox, when day equals night. The ancients called it Ostara honouring the warmth and light of the sun awakening mother earth.  Balance, renewal and rebirth were symbolised by spring flowers, butterflies, rabbits and eggs.

Nine Years On

Red Doors was born in the year of the sheep nine years ago.  In numerology 9 symbolises transformation and completion or the conclusion of one phase to pave the way for the next.  New adventures, risk-taking and connections typify this digit. According to Hans Decoz the number 9 suggests selfless love, global consciousness, and harmony.
 
After 9 comes 1, coincidentally our birth date, March 17, 2015 reduces to 1 as well. One refers to a powerful force that produces results through leadership, independence, and individuality.  All traits that have served me well over the years turning ideas into reality, navigating obstacles with single minded determination endued with the simple philosophy of serving others.
 
Our anniversary this Sunday reduces to the single digit 2.  Two radiates the breadth and offerings through collaborations, exchanges and trainings.  On that note we are pleased to announce the upcoming visit of Jens Zygar, musician, sound healer, gong maestro and proponent of Integral Sound. This is his first visit since 2019 and we are delighted he will be back sharing his expertise, wisdom and skills with us. Details below.

On reflection, I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities. Whoopi Goldberg
The past nine years are filled with memories of people, awards, recognition, travel and experiences.  I am forever grateful for the talent and time of those who supported my initiatives thus far.  

Looking forward -
The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious. John Sculley
If you embrace that the things that you can do are limitless, you can put your ding in the universe. You can change the world. Tim Cook
And with your help I aspire to do just that.

World Sound Healing Day (Feb 14)

Sound is the medicine of the future - Edgar Cayce

Sound healing is ancient. Didgeridoos have been used for 40,000 years by the indigenous Australians. Pythagoras is credited with a structured approach using specific melodies to address psychological ailments. In Greece, Egypt, and India they introduced singing bowls, chanting, and tuning forks to promote a harmonious environment for the body to heal itself. 

The magic of “musical medicine’ will come into its own. The application of such healing potencies will not be limited just to man’s body and mind. It will be an agency for building and healing his soul as well. Corinne Heline
 
The counterculture movement of the 1960s and 70s laid the foundation for the modern sound bath creating immersive experiences to transport participants into a meditative state. Don Conreaux, my inspiration and teacher, is credited with hosting the first sound bath in San Francisco in 1975.

Music can minister to minds diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with its sweet oblivious antidote, cleanse the full bosom of all perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart. William Shakespeare

Last week students gathered from the Netherlands, India, Singapore, Macau and HK to learn, to share, laugh, and grow. On the final day of level 2 (playing for others) students had the rare opportunity to merge modalities to experience the ultimate gong bath. What a gift to give and receive selflessly, a truly memorable and transformative experience for players and receivers. The capable graduates are now empowered to go forth and share their skills with others.

One day he will recognise music as a vital factor in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual evolution of the whole human race. Corinne Heline

Eventually, musical therapists will compose prescriptions after the manner of a pharmacist. Dr. Ira Altschuler

As sound practitioners we take heed in wisdom from Mahatma Gandhi - we are the change we wish to see in the world. 

Destim

As the eve of Chinese New Year approaches there is a perceptible quickening in footsteps, of last minute grocery shopping and crowds thronging to the flower markets in the anticipation of finding a bargain.  The heightened sense of excitement and expectation forms a perceptible buzz.  Sometimes it's overwhelming. Time for a destim.

Destim - slang first used in 2005 means to calm down by avoiding overwhelming stimuli. What better way than to escape the bustle and join us for a gong relaxation. Let the sound of the gongs bathe you in their powerful harmonics, release tension with their overtones, leaving you at peace, ready and receptive for New Year's Eve and the predicted prosperity of year of the dragon. You have two opportunities both tonight and new moon tomorrow night to float into the new year with the gongs.

As we bid goodbye to year of the tiger we turn our sights towards the lucky dragon. Typically characterised by its energy and dynamism this dragon portends prosperity on all levels. I invite you to take a moment, express gratitude for your journey thus far, for the people, opportunities, experiences that have led you to this place here and now.  Then turn to the future with a peaceful heart and mind, receptive to the all blessings that will flow your way.

Best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous and healthy new year. Go well, be well and get gonged. 

Martha