A Listening Practice for the Soul
Research has shown that of all our senses, hearing is the first to arrive - in utero at 24 weeks - and the last to go before we take our last breath. This suggests a primary relationship our listening can serve as a bridge to our essential nature, manifesting as a state of consciousness that is often called presence. The spoken word, when delivered from this state of presence, is an expression of our innate wisdom, deeply nourishing to the human spirit. The ability to express ourselves in this way is a capacity we are all infused with, the ability to communicate our deepest selves made possible through the vibratory phenomenon of speech. Music is also a powerful vibratory phenomenon, a language that emotionally touches us in profound ways. For more and more people, music is returning to its ancient roots, from being simply a form of entertainment to becoming much more: a delivery system which can offer greater meaning and connection to the Sacred. By combining music (which is experienced largely through the reptilian brain) with the spoken word (primarily processed through the higher brain functions), an alchemy of mind and heart is formed, offering subtle yet profoundly healing shifts in consciousness that defy explanation, both integrative and therapeutic for these fragmented, harried times. This aural alchemy, as featured in Wisdom of the World's acclaimed audio resource, Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying, has been referred to by experts in healthcare as "a groundreaking resource for psycho-spiritual healing". Presented by its co-creator, a veteran Emmy, ASCAP and CLIO award-winning composer, this workshop will enhance one's ability to listen with the heart rather than only the ears, leading to results that are exciting and as yet unexplored.
Outcomes:
This workshop will provide numerous opportunities to immerse oneself in a new form of contemplative speaking and listening, using the emotional language of music to tap into one's own innate access to a practical wisdom, helping us to assimilate necessary life information in new ways. Through direct experience, it will offer the possibility of a deeper connection that will enable us access our own innate wisdom and our authentic selves.