Jyoshna - From Nothingness To Empowerment

Listen to More amazing stories from Anandam about Vimal, Jai Uttala and others experiences with Baba in India. Anandam is a wonderful story teller and singer with his partner Kirana.  He tells the story about Vimal's clothes that Baba did some experiment with, about the boy who sang to Baba on the Fire escape, and Jai Uttal's first guru. 

My mother was a great inspiration and support to me in my life, and little did I know, she was also a poet. We only discovered her poetry book after she passed way. I loved this poem she wrote, it encapsulates her, so I put music to it. The song is called 'To Watch the Sky smiling' and it's on Unity Hours III. Please leave any comments about how your mother inspired you too, via a voice message. T...

Tonight I'm Singing the song 'Lightning in me' from Unity Hours III,  and kiirtan,  a song written at Bethells Beach  in NZ, to give an example of how I use metaphor for expressing feelings  that are difficult to express in other ways.  

In this episode I share a song I wrote in 2012 called 'Home is in the Heart',  when I was part of the 'Culture Clash performance project with other hugely enthusiastic performers. Based at Tapac, it was a community theatre project, showing the multicultural face of Auckland under the guidance of Kaye Hayes and Margaret Mary Hollins. I end with a kiirtan. For more info on the Kiirtan Academy c...

Shivanii is an incredibly vibrant and knowledgeable woman, who shares her experiences relating to attracting true love into her lIfe through journalling, confront past fears, intuitive healing,  and much more.  

Part I: Shivanii Devi is an inspiring woman who speaks about Kiirtan, her work as a Coach for Women's Empowerment (and Struggle against Domestic Violence) and Manifesting Love in Life . Contact Shivanii for Coaching, mentioning this podcast at:   https://www.facebook.com/shivanii.outstanding . To find out more about the Kiirtan Academy Course coming soon click the link below:   https://j...

 If so, listen to our brilliant researcher Liilamaya aka Luke Behan shares more of his findings on the medical science behind kiirtan and meditation. His stories are riveting and provides more impetus for us to do our spiritual practice with determination and devotion.  Check out his new venture here: www.noetichealth.co.uk . Click below for the link to join the Kiirtan Academy Kiirtan C...

When I was living in London I met Kari Grete-Alstad of NRK Norwegian TV when she came to film musicians auditioning for their Buskers License in the London Underground. Some years later May Holmes the producer from NRK asked me to write some music for a programme on Historical Towns in Norway.  'Sweet Longing' kiirtan started out as a short piece of music for this programme.  I included...

Its always a great inspiration to share the creative process with other creative people. It can be like working with a stream of consciousness or something that comes intact spontaneously, there are so many ways to be deliver your creative expression, whether it be in a song or piece of writing or sculpture or whatever. So if you relate to my experience around writing the song 'Wonderful' let me k...

Today is a bit of a catch up as I share some feedback by Gaorii on Ferron's music, and then continue with the song I shared with you on Sept 10th with a new or second version of it.  

Tonight I sing the song 'Dare I say' off Unity Hours III with kiirtan at the end because its been coming to my mind lately to share it.  Its a very personal song about a break up that happened more than 12 years ago now, and the chorus is about wanting to end the silence between us. As I have said before my songs are like a musical diary of my life, so it all goes into the music.  

Saint Francis of Assisi is the Saint that comes to my mind for his love and respect for all of creation especially animals and his compassion for people with leprosy and the poor. The Chorus of this song called 'Ray of Divine Light' came to me when I visited the cave just outside of Assisi where he slept and prayed. 

Ferron's song Testimony was so hauntingly beautiful it inspired me to put a kiirtan to it. I was fortunate enough to meet her in 1980 and she was a role model for me because she was such an amazing singer songwriter and a strong charismatic lesbian woman. Listen to her song and kiirtan here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynkuRxh5azk

The Dark and the Light - Tonight I talk briefly with Peneleapai from our local community around Scariff in Ireland, about the significance of Halloween or Samhain from her perspective. I then sing Diipavalli a song in Bengali from P.R.Sarkar, about the festival of light also sung in November, related to harvest and moving into the dark, wintery part of the year. 

Tonight Jiivan and I discuss his serendipitous experience of this song, at a time when Vimal was leaving this world. This song inspired him so much and brought back feelings of his deep connectedness with that Infinite One and reminders of his mission in life. We end by singing "You are Higher than the Mountain Peaks' by Vimal. Bon Voyage dear Vimal, the world will not forget you or your  Bea...

its not easy to put into words.. but I have shared a few experiences of blissful collective kiirtan to keep you inspired during these challenging days! I end with a Kiirtan melody from Rarh. 

Lead by Ramon Sosa, aks Rajatakrishna aka Dado, the RAWA Global Concert was live for 12 hours , with over 30 performers, musicians, poets, actors, DJ's, dancers and singers from all over the world. They came together to celebrate the art of service and spirituality.  that light that is within us all was lit with an effulgent flame and the darkness that sometimes threatens to engulf us, just v...

The Second Online Kiirtan Course is coming up in two weeks  Because the first one was so blissful we decided to have a second, starting Nov 9th. We want to invite anyone who wants to develop their kiirtan playing, singing, dance as well as appreciation of Kiirtan to join us.  Whatever issues you are having with your kirtan we are here to help you explore your deep musical potential, to i...

Film maker, Writer, Producer Arani Cuthbert, of Diva Productions is a very successful music, film and TV producer from Aotearoa New Zealand.  She also manages NZ's very own and much loved, Topp Twins. Listen to Arani's insightful perspective on whats been happening in Aotearoa New Zealand and life in general.  I end with 'Angel' a song, I wrote in the Topp Twins Caravan, in Grey Lynn, Au...

Bethells Beach on the West Coast of New Zealand, is one of my most Favourite places on Earth- this song was written there, but it also symbolises a soul wards journey of love and freedom and too. listen here. 

After a lovely visit with Brendan today before we go into lock down again, I am singing a few sutras from Ananda Sutram Part one - its all about the Cycle of Creation.  Click here to hear all of it with a video by Kavita Neumannova at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NcPFYc_gmU&t=23s

Tonight I interview Jayanta or Jonathan McCullumn , the initiator of the new Innersong Radio App that plays kiirtan from all over the globe 24 hours. His Journey began when he decided to leave college to follow his heart leading him to the yogic path and then to be a dedicated nurse and in his spare time create the Kiirtan Radio. Kiirtanyas get in touch with him.. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inn...

Tonight I start with a song "in the Early Morning" dedicated to Hambi aka Vimal, and then talk with Amal aka Anandam originally from Liverpool, who shares his experiences with Vimal and his own music with his partner Kiirana. Vimal was music loved and appreciated as someone who was always of service to others, and as a great singer/songwriters of devotional/social songs in Ananda Marga and worldwi...

My friend Amitabha- classical Pianist, Composer, Kiirtaniya, and I discuss his inspiring regime during this lockdown period - of exercise, healthy smoothies, creative expression and composing as well as promoting his new website. We touch on our favourite classical composers, Bach, Chopin, Scrabin as well as Prabhat Samgiit. His story is so empowering, I encourage everyone to listen to it.  

If so, listen here. In this podcast by the brilliant Liilamaya from Manchester aka Luke Behan, he talks about his personal transformation from rebelling against God to a complete turn around. Liilamaya shares his research on the medical science behind kiirtan and meditation. His explanation is fascinating and provides a great incentive to do it more each day and with gusto.  Check out his new...