New World Kirtan > Calming Chants for a Crazy World

Bhakti Fest Day 2, another Bhav-filled day in the desert of Joshua Tree. I'm happy to say the new sound equipment is sounding stellar, and the music today was outstanding. There were so many great musical moments, but Deva Premal & Miten's set was the highlight for me. Their music combined with the desert is nothing short of magical. Enjoy, dear ones. Namaste.

I'm trying something new with this live podcast, as it's Jaya Lakshmi & Ananda's entire set from Bhakti Fest. If you like this format please let me know & I'll repeat it. Just back from Jai Jai Jai! I love Jai Uttal, he's so down-to-earth & funny. The whole place was dancing  -- Jai is always a party. SO glad we have three more days of this!

Bhakti Fest Day 1. Vendors setting up, people arriving, the energy starting to ramp up. It always feels like I'm coming home when I come to Bhakti Fest. Home to the kirtan community, home to my Bhakti buddies. It is so great to be here. Please enjoy the music, we'll bringing it too you all weekend. Namaste, my friends. P.S. Forgot to mention the order of the set: Ena Vie, Prajna Viera and Ben Leinbach, Sri Kirtan, Marti Walker.

I found this week's set to be inspiring, because the featured music brings us fresh, new interpretations of chant & kirtan. From Ian Boccio's resonant voice in Lahari, Nirinjan Kaur's serene offering, featured in the new 40-Day Sadhana from Spirit Voyage, and the rambunctious spirit MC Yogi brings to the party it's a smorgasbord of new music for your late summer enjoyment. Next week we'll be coming to you from Bhakti Fest!!! Can you tell I'm excited? Until then, be well my friends. Namaste. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om Breath Control MC Yogi Pilgrimage Nataraj Leelah Kali’s Fire Shiva Carry Me Home Tim Chalice Devotional Heart Bhaj Man Mere Nirinjan Kaur Prem Siri Temple Light MC Yogi Pilgrimage Lahari Blue Spirit Wheel Adi Ong Namo Martyrs of Sound Mantra Chill  

The first Fresh Tracks set was in 2010, and they have been opportunities to bring you new tracks from the world of kirtan. This is the first of those sets, filled with chants & artists that deserve another chance to be heard. And so we have a new series -- I'll now be bringing back the Fresh Tracks sets periodically for another listen. I'm feeling the need to retreat inside for awhile -- my children will be here and Mom's anniversary is coming up fast. It's time to get present & be with family. I'll be back soon with a brand new Fresh Tracks Set -- it will be Fresh Tracks XIV! Then the adventure of Bhakti Fest awaits. I can't wait. Until next time my friends, Namaste. 8/18/2010 Fresh Tracks Putting the podcast together is a miraculous process--I'm always curious to see what Spirit has planned for the show.   This week, the perfect CD showed up right on schedule and the new songs seemed to reflect what I was thinking but didn't have the words to say.  The set is all new music, offerings from the CDs that have arrived in my mailbox over the last several weeks.  Enjoy!   Namaste. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om Ilumina Deva Premal Into Light; The Meditation Music of Deva Premal Shanti (Radio Mix) Wah! Maa Om Shri Lakshmi Robin Renee Live Devotion Aadi Shakti Snatam Kaur Divine Birth Shanti Puja Tulku & Krishna Das A Universe to Come Pavan Guru Sat Jot Singh Breath Of Love Sri Ram Jim Gelcer Bhagavan Maha Lakshmi Brenda McMorrow & Ben Leinbach Off the Mat, Into the World Om Mani Padme Hum (in the moment) Spring Changing ILUMINA Ó, grandioso sol, sol central Ó, grandiosa lua no céu Ó, grandiosa estrela no céu Ó, grandiosa rainha da floresta Ilumina, ilumina, ilumina, ilumina   Oh, great sun, central sun Oh, great moon in the sky Oh, great star in the sky Oh, great queen of the forest Enlighten, enlighten, enlighten (Guilherme Henrique Mendonça da Silva)

The podcast this week is a listener requested re-run. Enjoy! The chant "Hare Krishna" has gotten a bad rap. Since the 1960s the chant has become well known outside of India, mostly due to the efforts of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as the Hare Krishnas. In the late '60s the chant became associated with the hippie subculture, but this was an incorrect association as the goals of these two groups are very different. A member of the Hare Krishnas would be expected to strictly abstain from all intoxicants, including marijuana -- not really a goal of the hippies! Krishna consciousness is said to be the original energy of all of us, and when we hear or chant the mantra this consciousness is revived. The sound vibration is said to transcend all the lower strata of consciousness bringing us into a realization of our true, blissful nature. Far out, man. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om Krishna Gayatri Swaha Bolo Sri Krishna Ena Vie Heart of Devotion Hari Krishna Masood Ali Khan The Yoga Sessions: Masood Ali Khan Sri Krishna Chaitanya Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe Reaching In Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari Dave Stringer Joyride Sri Krishna Govinda Mukti Light of the Sun Song to Krishna Indiajiva Om Spiritus – Music for a Peaceful Planet        

Grieving is a process. I must keep reminding myself of this as I move through its seasons in my life. "This time last year" is very much up, and as I move toward the anniversary of my mother's death I again find myself drawn to kirtan. It helps me to process & release the emotion, to get to the place where I know what Eternal Life really means. I'm trying to honor & move through this with the spirit of "This Is the Day", burning it in the fire & emerging to a new life. I count each day as a blessing toward that goal. Namaste, dearest friends. Fascinating explanations of the Kirtan Kriya here and here. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om This is The Day Jaya Lakshmi & Ananda Yogiji Live At The Altar of Love Jai Ma Devi 2000 KumKum SaTaNaMa Guru Prem Singh Khalsa Tantric SaTaNaMa  

What a day here in Madison! A stellar kirtan lineup, some wonderful fellowship within the community, and a rockin', funky "Hey Shiva Shankara" from Dave Stringer. Interviews with Mike Cohen, Joni Allen, Brenda McMorrow, Luna Ray & Ragani! A feast -- enjoy! Until next time, dear hearts -- Namaste.

Saturday at the very first Bhakti Fest in the Midwest! In this special edition of the podcast we have an interview with Sridhar Silberfein, a fun chant from David Newman's set and Krishna Das' opening prayer & chant. Enjoy, dear ones-- wish you were here! Namaste. P.S. Please accept my apologies for the sound quality. I have a new recorder, and I'm still learning its secrets.

The "Let's Play Kirtan" sets are designed for those of you who like to sing kirtan & accompany yourself on an instrument. They're also for those of you who are thinking of forming a kirtan band. The New World Kirtan Band plays covers of the chants in this set, and we're having a fine time! It's really fun to play with a group of friends, for us it's a combination Bhakti Yoga practice & jam fest. We have a monthly gig at a local Yoga studio, and it's also fun to play & sing with others. Here's a link to the last "Let's Play Kirtan" set, between them both you'll have an entire playlist. Give it a try, you might find you have a whole new hobby! Next week we'll be doing live updates from Bhakti Fest Midwest, so look for that. Until then, dear friends -- Namaste. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om Ong Namo Guru Dayvaa Jai Jagdeesh I Am Thine Ganeshaya Brenda McMorrow Ameya Jaya Shambho Shantala The Love Window – Sacred Chants of Devotion Narayana/For Your Love Krishna Das Heart As Wide As The World Ganesha Kristin Luna Ray One Shared Heart Rama Rama Ragani Best of Both Worlds

I love the Fresh Tracks sets, as they're my opportunity to introduce you to artists who are either new to the podcast or who have newly released CDs.  This week's offering is mostly from artists I saw at Shakti Fest last month. There are some stellar artistic accomplishments on display this week, dear listeners -- sweet nectar all for you. Namaste. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om Guided Meditation for Conscious Breathing Ramdesh Kaur Journey Into Stillness Om, Shanti, Halleluja Mandala Bhakti Om Gum Ganapataye Namah Deepak & the Breath Of Life Tribe Live at Kula Santa Monica – Journey into the Vishuddha Tirukathakai Amritakripa Dancing Lotus Hari Om Prajna Vieira Amrita Funky Divinity Aykanna Mantra Mala Ram Freedom and Leela Ru: Healing Sacred Mantras of India Song of Jai Martyrs Of Sound Radhe’s Dream  

Festivals like Shakti Fest have a curious effect on those who go -- after every festival it feels as though we've been somehow re-wired, and it's hard to come back from that blissful place. The trick is to not come back, but to stay in the bliss through living ordinary life -- the work of a lifetime. I could use many superlatives about the music at Shakti Fest, but let's just say it was really, really good. So many performers who were tentative last year owned the stage this year, and it was exciting to see their growth. The chant I'm including this week is by one of the artists who broke through for me, their set at Shakti Fest was electrifying. I'm so looking forward to my next excursion into the Bhav. I'll be taking you with me to Bhakti Fest Midwest at the end of next month my friends, so stay tuned. Namaste. SONG ARTIST CD Om Mercury Max The Eternal Om Jaya Jaya Shiva Shambo Deepak And The Breath Of Life Tribe Live at Kula Santa Monica - Journey into the Vishuddha  

Back In The Bhav: Saturday At Shakti Fest 2

Back In The Bhav: Saturday at Shakti Fest

Friday at Shakti Fest.