Jyoshna - From Nothingness To Empowerment

Tumi Nikata Hayite, is a kiirtan song in Bengali from Prabhat Samgiit (no 181). Today I sing it again after a very long time and tell a story about it. 

Its the sixth session of the RAWA Global Movement online concert., that means it been going on for six month now since it began online, thanks to Ramon Sosa, aka Rajatakrishna, aka Dadao! Each event features artists from all over the globe and goes on all day, it's just brilliant. If you want to see humanity represented in all it colourful splendour, then come on the 24th for the next online event...

Harp Therapist, Animal Lover, Kiirtaniya - Vimukti - When we want to be close to another sentient being, to give them love and care, through massage and music. Thats what Vimukti does with animals of all shapes, sizes and temperaments, and they really respond- Listen to our interview! We end with a short Sanskrit bhajan, a golden oldie called 'Jai Baba, Parama Purusa, Taraka Brahma, sadguru.. &nbs...

Baul 'Mystic' songs permeates Rarh, 'Red Earth' in North East India. It is the foundation upon which Rarhii Kiirtan is built. Listen to an amazing field recording of Devi Das Baul from Purulia. 

Tonight I interview Mudita who has just returned from an Angelic Voices Retreat in Australia with Crow, an amazing artist and shaman. She shares a beautiful haunting North American Indian chant, a Baba Nam Kevalam Kiirtan and a Halelluya chant - all different expressions of the world's kiirtan traditions.      

Today there is kiirtan going on all around the wold on so many different online platforms in so many continents. So I talk briefly about how the mantra Baba Nam kevalam  came into being. It's a fascinating story and reminds me of how subtle our hearing can be, to be able to pick up the sound vibrations in nature, that are there already. 

Today I talk with Saskia about her creative life, growing up, her art, love of kiirtan and her herbalism.  Saskia is like Queen Bee to me, a central figure in our local community, a great networker, writer, singer and artist. 

Richard Nunns is a legendary figure in New Zealand music scene , a player of taonga puoro or 'sacred instruments of the Maori'. He is renowned for his seminal research work on the subject and unique playing of the instruments, both in NZ and overseas. He was also a very generous person with a love for the traditional ways of learning.  Here I play a track called 'Spirit Voices' where Richard...

Karun is a writer, a yogi and, as he says, a want to be architect. Tonight I am speaking with him about his vision of the future, his inspired writings,  and his conversations with friends in the park.  I include a comment sent by by Gaorii and end with a kiirtan I wrote while flatting together in Theobalds Road, London.  

121/365 Starlight kiirtan is the first track on Unity Hours III Kiirtan album, to be launched very soon. Here I give a brief account of where the idea came from for the kiirtan,  the chords and the different tunes inside that kiirtan. Theres also the MP3 of 'Starlight Kiirtan'. Be the first to review it! 

Brigunath who is an active supporter of Sunrise and a scientist talks briefly about his research into singing plants and trees, and how stinging nettle seems to be the loudest. I end out session with a song I wrote about NZ bush, called the Tree song.  .   

119/365 Tonight I talk briefly with Ratna Dyer - NZ Writer, Therapist, Mother and Musician - about her inspirational writings on Facebook. She shares with us one of her amazing poems. Listen here and you can find her on Facebook: Ratna-Dyer and Instagram:@ratnadyer. 

118/365 Tonight I talk briefly about Avarta Kiirtan,  a very unique and powerful spiritual practice, that can deeply transform your life..  

Jiivan and I talk about Sunrise Farm, a charity and a place run by women of Ananda Marga 'Path of Bliss'. The name is metaphorical  - as its where you can shin a light on life, uplift your spirits, and gain a sense of well being. Its where you can eat healthy organic food grown right here, take care of animals, and be supported in doing yoga, kiirtan, meditation and other spiritual practises....

116/365 Somehow the recordings of the Mount Shannon Culture Night didn't work out the first time, so we all went back to do it again. It was just as much a pleasure as the first time. So thanks to Stephen who organised it and to all the performers, on both nights. Listen to Denise (on fiddle) and Terence (guitar and vocals) and another great local singer, then Denise and I playing 'Dharma Amari sa...

A Woman of the Heart- Mother, Healer, Writer, Kiirtan Leader and much more . I was speaking briefly to Liila this morning while she is in Quarantine in Sydney,  and on her way to Tasmania. Liila is a woman with a revolutionary spirit and instrumental in bringing progressive women together worldwide. Listen here to what she says... 

Today I failed my spiritual test but after realising it, I will remember not to be overwhelmed by the pain of darkness but keep that deep inner light that exists inside of me and everyone,  always alight and effulgent! The I sing the song 'For Grace', written here at the farm in Ireland.. 

Singing today or Didi Ananda Mitra at Visao Fuuro, in Brazil, who is a legend, I was brought back not only to the amazing time I had there in 2011 but also to India when we were there together with Baba.. such deep feelings of indescribable bliss.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLPNyADV0T8 

Jemma - Our 'Workaway' volunteer shares a bit about her Creative life with us and her experience of Kiirtan  Jemma is a young woman from Belfast, has been a volunteer at Sunrise farm for a month. She's been working outside on the farm, planting, weeding, etc, and also doing kiirtan and meditation together. Jemma plays ukulele and also sings wonderfully. It's been great to have her join us, an...

Today I talk briefly with Shivanii Devi to congratulate her and the group called 'Australian Kiirtan for Connection' who have been playing kiirtan online every day for 6 months. Shivanii is a mother of three, a Coach for Women who are suffering from domestic violence, a writer and a Senior Leader for Tony Robbins and today she shares her message and sings a kiirtan for us.   

110/365 - Ini and I have known each other a long time - although we live in different countries. She has a wonderful deep voice and is a prolific composer of songs and kiirtans.  Today she talks about her inner world and her passionate drive to compose and perform. 

It's also the anniversary of my Personal Contact with Baba, the first time I sat with him, when he spoke to me, laughed with me, and gave me his blessing. It's a day I will remember for the rest of my life. .

Brendan left a message in response to the previous episode on struggle or effort being the essence of life. I respond to that through a song written in Vancouver, 'Child of Humanity' . 

Everyone has huge challenges in life but we can overcome them with a couple of very powerful tools.....  

Thanks to you all for being there with me over these 106 days! I am very grateful. I am singing a favourite Kiirtan tune that we sang today on the Beach at Strandhill in Sligo, Ireland. Thanks to  Graham Double for sharing his experiences in India with Baba, and the massage that this tune has attached to it.  Thanks to Ashrava for inspiring me with her beautiful music when I first embark...