Jyoshna - From Nothingness To Empowerment

Gaorii talks about how music has formed a part of her life from an early age, starting with her family background,  being in a Church choir followed by her love of kiirtan and bhajans over many decades. We also talk briefly about the state of the indigenous people in British Columbia and their homelessness which is tragic considering its their own land that has been stolen from them. In life....

Culture Night was a brilliant night, and gave me immense hope for the present and future situations in Ireland. I was playing so was only able to record a few segments of it.  However it will be on Clare TV and the podcast will also be available on the Mount Shannon Arts festival website.   https://www.mountshannonarts.net/

Tonight I speak with Eavan Brennan , an amazing writer, actor, and midwife from Mount Shannon, who is introducing Mount Shannon Arts Festival 'Culture Night' tomorrow. Eavan shares some deep insights into the situation in Ireland with Direct Provision ( asylum seekers in Ireland)  and other pertinent social topics.      

Tonight I am speaking with Latika about how its been for her in Italy over this period of time, and about her creative connections, her beautiful kiirtan, and her experience of the Kiirtan Academy. 

In our small community here in Mount Shannon we are having a Culture Night on Friday to uplift one and all. Tomorrow night Eaven Brennan is coming along to my podcast to talk about the Culture Night and also about Direct Provision in Ireland.  

Prabhat Samgiit are songs 'drawn with ink of the heart' says Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. They are so varied and deeply devotional, socially progressive and profound songs, covering a multitude of themes and incorporating many different genres. They are my medicine and my nourishment, always.  

This song I wrote for Isabel, says it all. "Don't cry for me, don't sigh for me, don't sing me songs of love, cos I will send them back to you, with ribbons and white doves. The birds that sing, the moon and stars, twinkling high above, they all can see that I am with the embodiment of love..."  

On the 14th September admirers and devotees of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar celebrate the anniversary of Prabhat Samgiit, a collection of over 5000 songs written and composed by P.R Sarkar between the years 1982- 1990.  Today I gave a short presentation on kiirtan and Prabhat Samgiit at the Midwest (USA) Regional Fall Seminar orgnaised by Dada Jyotiriishananda and team and then sing my favourite Kii...

I am really happy after tonights Kiirtan Academy Monthly session on Prabhat Samgiit songs and kiirtan. By the end of it, we were all laughing, even though there were some pretty awful technical issues...i have determined to make it work, and so am repeating the session next Friday night, same time. 

Tonight I visited Denise Glass and recorded the two of us playing Dharma Amari Sathe, 'Dharma is my friend' . I then recorded Alexanders interview with me, as I wanted to share information about kiirtan in case its still a mystery to anyone who doesn't know whats going on with the Kiirtan Academy.

Theres no pain greater than love. If I could swim the ocean, I would swim to your side, not a single motion, would be a waste of time, and I wont give in, like a gentle dove, cos theres no pain greater than love....

Its my Dads birthday today, he passed away in 1996. I owe him so much and I am remembering what he said to me, the last thing he said actually.... I love you Dad, and I miss eating  rice pudding with you.. but heres an Indian birthday song for you... Janma titiithe... by P.R Sarkar..     

Being and Teaching Teenagers is on the one hand very exciting, and on the other hand quite challenging, would you agree?  I am digging down deep now to  remember what it was like being a teenager again :)   

Jens is a musician friend of mine, living in Kilkenny. His enthusiasm for music is contagious and his willingness to play anything with anyone makes him the life of the party. Here we are having a chat about his background and his love of music. We end with a short jam on 'Starlight' kiirtan. 

Today I realised how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to share my experience, strength and intuition in my teaching practice. I also drove 5 hours in total to visit the Hot Seaweed Baths and walk around the coastline of Strandhill in Sligo, Ireland, and it was worth it. Overall I am feeling very tired but grateful!   https://www.kiirtanacademy.com/sales-pageup9kdkx2

Tonight I talk with my dear friend Jiivan about our mothers and what was their most memorable characteristic. For Jiivan it was his mothers service to others, the way she loved to make food for those in need and was always contributing, helping at funerals and hospitals for example. My Mum, Toni Latrobe as she liked to be called, was a mother of five children, four of which survived.  She was...

89/365 Tiny Green Island- One of the most popular songs at Yoga Gatherings around the world. On Prabhat Samgiita net you will find the original recorded versions of Prabhat Samgiita songs. But what do you do when here are two original versions?, as it is with 'Tiny Green Island', a beautiful  English song in Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar's Collection, recorded by Dada Priiyashivananda. . Here I sing...

Tonight I sing Raktim Kishalay or Reddish Leaf. My daughter has wanted to listen to the album 'Reddish Blossom' for the past six months. Shes only two and a half and she just loves Prabhat Samgiit songs. They seem to have a very soothing and uplifting effect on her. Click below to check out the Kiirtan Academy h ttps://www.kiirtanacademy.com/sales-pageup9kdkx2

I talk briefly about a few reasons from my experience why people exploit LBGT people and anyone who is more vulnerable in our society and then I sing a Bengali song called Manke Kono (Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar), which saved me from feeling overwhelmed by heavy energies in the London Underground when I was busking there in the past. I found it was really powerful in shifting that dark energy and bringi...

In this podcast I sing a song called 'We are Not alone',  a song dedicated to those of us who feel that 'different' through no fault of our own. Maybe we're Third gender, black, white, green, whatever it may be!, we know that diversity is the law of nature and in essence we are one universal family.    

Mudita and friends are holding the torch with their 'Australian Kiirtan for Connection' going every day for 5 months. In this interview Mudita shares her experiences as a sound therapist and kiiirtaniya in Australia with all the isolation during Covid 19. I end with a kiirtan recorded today at Fanora beach in the Burren, with the sound of lapping waves in front of us. Please click here to check ou...

During the Kiirtan Academy Course recently Sharala would always amaze us with her cat stories, so I thought i wold invite her to come and share them with you all. and her beautiful kiirtan. Actually, everyone who participated in the first Online Kiirtan Academy Course, sang beautifully, with heart and soul and had their very own unique style. Listen to  Sharala here: https://soundcloud.com/sa...

Tonight I talk briefly about a wonderful kiirtan session we had with just the three of us, we were sharing and then we really got down to the nuts and bolts of kiirtan practice. I then sing a little improv kiirtan just to relax at the end of a long week. Just a reminder, who not come and join us in the next Kiirtan Academy Session on Friday the 4th. I have no doubt that you will get plenty of info...

Tonight I was playing different songs and this one seemed to fit with my mood. Its E Gan Thamibe na by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, a song about social justice and equality, also called the Prout song, which stands for Progressive Utilisation Theory.  You can check Prout out on https://prout.info / and Wikipedia. 

 I am speaking to Vimukti Warr this evening, an old friend, musician and healer from Australia. As she talks about playing therapeutic music to animals I feel inspired to play outside more to the neighbours horses, as well as the domestic animals. on the farm. Vimukti speaks about her life, how she she started with little confidence and then developed musically so that now she plays harp and...