Finding My Heart's Ease

Tonight is a time for me to sit in my room with kitties, to relax and to meditate. I don't do this often enough anymore, it used to be more of a habit in the evening after dinner to take some time to be quiet. Quiet is my soul's food. With so many things demanding my attention, it's nice to slow down and have a date with my soul. Even though I have listened to the album many times, I never thought to listen to Marc Gunn's Heart's Ease as a meditation CD. Not all the songs are super quiet or super slow, maybe that's why I never tried it before. But tonight it seemed like the thing to do. Accompanied by the cool breeze after a summer rain, it is the perfect way to end the day. The flame of a single votive and a small stick of Japanese incense complete the mood for me.

I really love this CD, it has a variety of moods. From sweet melancholy to joy among flowers, the tunes take me on a magical journey each time I listen to it. My intention was to bring a little bit more calm into my day, but I have found a smile as well as I contemplate while listening to Wildflowers of Party Field. There is a feeling that wells up from deep within that music can tap into for me, and this album tosses pebbles into that well until I feel the ripples calming the chaos and setting my mind at rest. Marc Gunn is really a wizard, and his magic dances from his fingers, through the strings of his autoharp and out into the world. There's no other way to adequately describe this album.

As an autoharpist, it is an inspiration. As a Reiki Master it is the perfect accompaniment to my practice. As a lover of fantasy, it ignites my imagination until my mind starts to travel to Hobbiton and beyond. It was a lovely addition to my CD collection, and one that I will surely treasure for years to come. It can be yours too, just buy Heart's Ease: Instrumental Autoharp Music by Marc Gunn from CD Baby. Do it, I dare ya.

Long Time Gone

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post! Time goes by so fast when you're having fun. Well, I survived my first week long camping trip, and had a wonderful time as well, even in the rain. Yes rain. Most nights brought rain and several misty mornings kept the instruments in their cases. I was able to pull them out to practice a bit on Monday, but not again until Friday evening. I had to re-tune the Autoharp both days due to the humidity, with my higher notes being between 1/2 and a whole note out of key!

So Friday evening I did play around the campfire the six songs I knew by heart on the Autoharp. It had to be the ones I knew by heart because it was too dark to see my chord sheets. It's a start at least, and they were well received. In fact if I go back next year I can have my own concert slot! :O I need to put them off for another year, because we have other plans that week for 2012. What can I say? I like to plan things in advance.

Back home under a real roof, I haven't picked up either instrument since. Scary, I know, I've been all about ATS bellydance again. But don't worry, I will get back into the groove again, I love it too much. To help me with my practicing habit I shall invest in music stands for my babies, that way they will be just sitting there looking pretty rather than shut away in their cases where I can ignore them. Also, the place I was going to do Open Mic night at has been shut down for repairs due to a tornado going through. They don't have a re-open date as of yet, no news in 3 weeks on their website or facebook page. It's too early for my next music party, but if we can at least pencil it in, that will give me enough time to concentrate on learning a few more songs by heart, and maybe even a couple on the mountain dulcimer.