"Fine music is a translated condensation of a higher, physically inaudible realm. It is a beautiful and moving way the Word may be expressed and sounded in the world. "
Sanford Baran: I’d like to take a moment to consider the following thought: Our job is to create the world.
While this might sound like a tall order, it really isn’t because it’s a job that gets done in consciousness.
Simply put, we create the world by experiencing whatever comes to us through the lens of spirit. And in doing this our experiences are transformed, uplifted, purified into forms that spirit can use for its purposes.
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"Be embraced ye millions!
This kiss to the whole world!
Brothers! Above the canopy of stars
Surely a loving father dwells."
Sir Georg Solti with the score of Beethoven's Symphony #9
Welcome all. It is terrific to gather again in friendship and agreement to joyfully sound the tone together.
As many of you are probably aware, our dear friend John Amey passed away on July the 6th. For those who knew John he had a deep spiritual core, giving selflessly to serve a higher purpose. I would like to read a poem of his that speaks of his large and gentle spirit. It is entitled In Attunement.
"To the extent that we are consciously rooted and identified in the tone, the possibilities of expanded personal and collective expression are vast."
Sanford Baran: Although I am the one who is officially scheduled to be the presenter for today’s teleconference, it’s actually a team of us who have come together, and this coming together has occurred quite organically over the last number of weeks. Joining me as co-presenters this morning are Jack and Brenda Jenkins from 108 Mile Ranch in British Columbia, Canada and Alex Bootzin in Pacifica, California.
It’s really been fun working together from our far-flung homes. Our status of working remotely notwithstanding, I’ve been impressed by what can occur as there is agreement, friendship and a joy to create. Although we are geographically separate, the fact is we are in one place together.
Continue reading…"I am certain that balance is intrinsically present throughout all of the cosmos."
An artist’s concept of Kepler-186f, the first validated Earth-size planet to orbit a distant star in the “habitable zone.”
Credit... T. Pyle/NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech
Here in the U.S. it’s been a fairly quiet week with not much really happening!
All kidding aside, apart from the national election, which has been all-consuming for many, I thought I would do a scan of the universe and see if anything else of note was going on.
As you might be aware, the universe is believed to be expanding—and has been since the Big Bang. I was curious—how much did the universe expand this last week? So, using what is known as the Hubble Constant I did a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation and estimated that the outer reaches of the universe expanded by 110 billion miles in all directions, just last week. Not bad for a measly seven days’ worth of work. And to my knowledge the universe didn’t break a sweat. Sounds like expanding the universe is a lot easier than counting ballots!
Continue reading…"Just the act of noticing what's right in an individual (and saying it out loud when the moment calls for it) is the single most important thing you can do with a child, or with anyone, to create that uplifting spirit where each one can grow into their greatest creative potential."
Photo by Nicola Pohl
Sanford Baran: To begin our time together I wanted to play for you an audio soundscape that I produced last week that provides a surround for Alan Hammond’s poem, The Eternal Presence.
Listen to the soundscape (12 and a half minutes)
Continue reading…“COME, said the Muse, sing me a song no poet yet has chanted, Sing me the Universal.”
The following meditation was created as a soundscape, an audio essay comprised of recorded music interspersed with some spoken words. It was presented during our May 24th, 2019 Tone of Life teleconference. I invite you to listen and touch the power and magic of spirit as it reveals its universal nature through musical form. I also invite you to sound that tone yourself, to sing the universal in all of your moments.
Listen to the soundscape (It runs about 36 minutes)
"With ears wide open to spirit we’ll venture forth into realms of musical experience that are transcendent, divine and that truly touch the soul."
VOCES8 Choral Ensemble
The following meditation is meant to be listened to, not read. I created it as a podcast, an audio essay comprised of music interspersed with some spoken words. I invite you to listen and touch the power and magic of spirit as it emerges in musical form.
Listen to the podcast (It runs about 45 minutes)
"How vital that we make room in consciousness to think about the things that are actually worthwhile, that are generative, creative and contribute positively to the well-being of the whole."
Photo by Simon Migaj on Unsplash
We are living in extraordinarily distracting times. For many there is an almost non-stop experience of interruption that can easily hijack one’s ability to focus and to think. Increasingly we are bombarded by emails, texts, smart phone notifications, social media feeds; not to mention a never-ending stream of sensational news headlines tailor-made to capture our attention. Is it any wonder that there is so little room in consciousness to think about the things that are actually worthwhile?
Continue reading…"Substance is meant to be shared, interconnected with other substance and ultimately subsumed and woven into a larger overall vibrational pattern."
Preparing to speak in a spiritually charged forum can be daunting. As my turn draws nearer, I often find that my mind is in the dark as to what I should talk about. The experience can be a bit intimidating, because starting with a blank slate can lead to the anxiety that nothing will be there—that this time around I’ll come up empty handed. But of course, that hasn’t happened yet. I’ve seen time and time again that what is needed does come to me and is abundantly available, reminding me to stay in position to let it be so. Over the years I have increasingly come to know that spirit can absolutely be trusted.
Continue reading…"Letting spirit move is our sacred responsibility, our primary reason for being here."
In this moment of stillness it is our greatest privilege to let Spirit move. As it does, something absolutely marvelous and unspeakable happens—the spark of creation is brought to the fore, uplifting, blessing and bringing vitality, richness and wonder to all that it touches. It is such a pleasure to let this be our own experience, allowing the power and magnificence of who we are to be known in everything that we do.
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