Wandering Infinity; afloat on an ancient paradise

Summer has seemingly slipped through my hands once again, and it feels all too familiar to be chasing a waning sun. This season has been a ripe and juicy one indeed!

After an inspiring and creative spring in Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, I was BC-bound and ready for the magic of a west coast summer. That was back in May. LOL! Here we are on the verge of September and I find myself a much closer to the equator than Canada could be. My humble home & studio on Cortes Island packed up, I thoroughly enjoyed one last good frolic across the mystical landscapes. Explorations of Vancouver Island ensued with my new Beau, and summer had indeed begun! From Victoria to Campbell River, and down again. Inspired by ancient music at Nhemamusasa North, I dove deep into awe for the Shona culture and the potent power music has to offer us all. Whisked away into Tututopia, we had a brilliant time playing in ruffle patches with Kelsey Faery and Sheila Munro at BC's own Basscoast! We laughed, we smiled, and oh boy did we ever DANCE!

One thing led to another, and despite my "not wanting a summer full of festivals", we synchronistically manifested not one, two or three, but four tickets to Beloved Festival in Oregon! WOW am I ever overflowing with gratitude for that experience! Even my Mom came down! If you ever have the calling or chance to go to I HIGHLY recommend you do! It could be the life changing experience that aligns you with your very own waking dream. Stay tuned I'll get another post up soon, exclusively on my Basscoast to Beloved experience.

Departing the Beloved grounds in Tidewater Falls, I was so full of gratitude, inspiration, light and seemingly limitless love. Our journey brought us into the the homes of fabulous new friends, who I now graciously, and lovingly call family! Portland loved us indeed! I had a an incredible week in the weird city, exploring mouth watering eats, cool dips in the beautiful waterways, epic music, and heart warming people. SWOON* 

In a wink, I found myself in Seattle, the city ablaze with pride as thousands filed into the downtown for the first Seahawks game of the season. I awoke in our hotel room, a restless night once again, belly full of butterflies very much ready to be let out. I can never seem to sleep the night before a flight.

<Space/Time Continuum Disruption>

Lihue, Hawaii>Kiluaea>Wainiha

I think I've been here like a week now, and it feels like my mind and spirit just finally caught up with my body. What a whirlwind this summer has been indeed! Needed a moment to ground in and grab my bearings.

Lol. I've only been here a week and I feel like I have three focused posts I want to write, but I think I'll keep it short and save them for a little later.

I'm in paradise, how can I complain about anything!? I forage fruit, do my best to try one new fruit a day. Swim in oceans, rivers and streams, sing with the wind and walk around mouth a-jar, gawking at all the ridiculously beautiful flowers and birds. I think my mantra this summer (though a bit more of a reprogramming) has been "I can't believe this is my life! WAIT!! I TOTALLY BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE!!"

Beaming gratitude and working on a wicked tan as I catch up on my big list of cyber work :P

Til the next one, heres some photos! Enjoy!

Crazy mall in Singapore

Erawan Museum, Bangkok

Inside the belly of the Erawan elephant, Bangkok

Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

Slay Bay, Basscoast Festival Photo by Cody Puckett

Pyramid art installation, Basscoast Photo by Cody Puckett

Amana from Anna Fi Allah, Beloved Photo by Zippy

Beloved Festival Photo by Teddyaphoto

Beloved, Photo by Kyer Wiltshire

Beloved, Photo by Kyer Wiltshire

The view from NoniLand, Kiluaea, Kauai

Epic drive by sunset, Kauai

Breathtaking secret spot, Kauai

Sun kissed beach bliss, Kauai

Winds relaying a message to a Bird I know.

Kauai

Magical succulent raised lily pad, Kauai

Volcanic teeth, and ocean blow holes, Kauai

Strange Succulents, Kauai

Where earth meets Sea, Kauai

Always a good moment for Yoga, Kauai

Land of infinite EPIC timelapses, Kauai

One new fruit a day! ULU a.k.a. Breadfruit




Aloha!

The sound of a thousand years of Life

Day 5/5  - O.U.R Eco-village, Shawnigan Lake, BC

Moyo in the foreground of Evelyn's afternoon mbira class

I find myself resting upon a lovingly sculpted cob bench, tucked away in a quiet corner of the Chillage, reflecting on my slightly, over saturated brain-full of melodies, rhythms, lyrics and an assortment of songs. The last day of Nhemamusasa North is upon me, and I am speechlessly in awe.

Having arrived here on Wednesday knowing only three Mbira songs, and a creeping curiosity of what the Shona Culture was about, I can't help but smile at the infinitely profound depths of what this music has to offer the world.

I picked up an Mbira for the first time this spring whilst in Bali, Indonesia. The guardian of the instrument looked down at my hands, plucked at my long thumb nail and decreed
"You're an Mbira player"

And so the passion was seeded.....

After learning 13 mbira songs it can be
hard to see anything but the music.

I feel these ancient rhythms blossoming into a profound and personal connection with the Divine. Most my life I have yearned to play some kind of instrument, ANY instrument! But as time passed the only musical thing to really stick close had been my voice. 
So you can imagine my excitement to finally have something to play!!! And what an instrument indeed!

Traditionally played in Zimbabwe by the Shona people, mbira has been used in every day musical endeavours, sacred ceremonies and even as a spirit medium to channel the ancestors long past. My time at Nhema has thrown me head first into the depths of this culture. 
A culture where the people and the music are not easily separated. Where circles of song, dance and music are a constantly present in a community, as a means of communication, creative expression, meditation, and sacred act. Songs of old that tell stories and morals, that can yet easily be woven with the problems of an individual in the present moment. Imagine a world where we just sing our frustrations out in humorous way with our family or community! Releasing emotions of grief, anger, happiness, joy, excitement all through song and dance.

From left to right, Memory, Evelyn and Paul

We were blessed to be taught by Zimbabwean musicians who came in from as close as down the road, and as far as Toronto. One of my personal favourite groups that came out from Ontario to share their traditions and songs were Nhapitapi Mbira [find the on Facebook here]. The trio consisting of Evelyn, Memory and Moyo are amazing teachers and were just beaming with love and excitement to be out on our beautiful BC coast to play with us!

Amidst 5 days of workshops, jam sessions, delicious organics meals and new friends, the highlight of this entire experience would have to be the evenings around the fire. I can only imagine how profoundly amazing it must feel for all the Zimbabweans to be able to come together and play music all night long around a fire, under the star speckled sky and waxing moon. A nourishing taste of home I bet ;-)

So if you haven'y yet waded into the depths of African music, here's your chance to take a dip into the vast and ancient waters of mbira, marimba, drumming, song and dance! I hope you do! Here are a couple videos to break the ice, and a few of our audio recordings from camp! 

Check out the fabulous list of teachers and guest artists Here

Moyo & Carolina dancing the afternoon away!

Drum Class 

Nhapitapi on stage with Tich on guitar

The last Marimba jam

Even for the best of us, Mbira songs can totally stump the mind

Lunch by the garden

Sometimes you have to take a minute with a new friend to figure a song out

Fireweed and bees along a fence

O.U.R Ecovillage is definitely a step out of time

Everyone can make music

Tailgate Mbira maker Curtis

5 days of non stop music and you could fall asleep beside Marimba band too!

Our last night under the stars together

Fire faeries come out to join us

Full moon rising

Thank you all!

Musical Moments From Around the World, GO!

Surrender to the Sounds

{Part I}

"Through meditation I've programmed my heart to beat breakbeats and hum bass lines in exhalation."

-Saul Williams

One thing I can never manage to leave home without is Music. There is something so grounding and comforting about knowing that you can have the soundtrack to your life on hand at any moment, where ever you end up.

So I've decided to centre this post around the incredible world of music that has swallowed me up. If you have a moment sometime I would love some feedback on this post. I'm contemplating bringing focus to my writing through the music and food I encounter while traversing this great world of ours ;)

This week in Ubud has been a never ending party! The Bali Spirit Festival brings in yogis, gurus, teachers, students, artists and musicians from around the world. One of my favourite groups had come all the way from Hawaii to headline their second Spirit Fest here in Bali, and wow did they ever put on a show last night!

Nahko & Medicine For The People create sounds straight from the belly of Mama Gaia herself. Self described as 

"Spirited thump-hop storytelling. Earth-based-spirit-
inspired. Working for social and environmental justice. Musical medicine. "

These guys continually send shivers down my spine, and over the last couple weeks I have seen Spirit/God/Divine light blaze through the heavens with great force to set their hearts on fire as they sing their songs. From concert venues, bars, to playing for children, and sharing songs of prayer they are inspiring a love filled conscious paradigm shift through the sounds they belt out into our world. With words like 

"Don't waste your hate, only gather and create... be of service...be a sensible person. Use your words and don't be nervous! You can do this you've got purpose, find you medicine and use it!"

How can you not start singing along in the highest bliss filled vibes! 

An up and coming star, Dustin Thomas, was on tour with Medicine for the People through the Asian Pacific. I've been blessed to hang with this mind boggling crew of musicians and they continually impress me with their infinite well of high vibes! Throwing down beat boxing with thoughtful soul searching lyrics he is taking the world by the horns. Teamed up with Medicine they are unstoppable. Dustin has just released his first album, and keep your eyes out for Medicine's new album! I've been lucky enough to sneak some peeks of their album artwork and WOW is it inspiring! Also Medicine's drummer Hope is currently recording a solo album! I'll be on set for her first music video this Sunday! Big Love!

Medicine was joined by an incredible array of world music. Oka came up from Australia to share there amazing tribal fusions of their indigenous resonance. Blasting the sound of didgeridoo into our souls with amazing beats that sent my being into a total trance.

Some local talent at the show included the body shaking noise of Afronesia and Susu Ibu.

Check it out! Expand your musical consciousness and rock out to some of these body banging sounds! Until next time beautiful people!

Signing off from Ubud, Bali!

Your World Wandering Yoshi!

xxox

A Spotless Future In The Web of Life

“May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it's beauty all the days of your life.”

― Apache Blessing

When one door closes, there is always another opening somewhere not too far off.

The world always has so much to offer us. Sometimes in the moment we don't see beyond the hills we are approaching. Our imagination makes up the mystery of infinite potential in that land over the crest. However the world out of sight is so much more extraordinary than we could ever grasp.

Around every corner, there are miracles available to us. Beyond every hill lays a paradise world no mortal can comprehend.


My world cascades into the ebb and flow of an infinite cycle of death and rebirth. I find myself lodged in a threshold, portal way of epic proportions.

 All spring I'd been dreaming up my potential future endeavours. Filling my heart with inexhaustible excitement for epicurean alchemical undertakings.
Multiple concepts had popped up all spring, planning ensued, but as I prepared to take off nothing was quite sticking as it should.

why?..... only the Universe knows.

And now I've found myself in the Garden Of Eden, presented with opportunities to pursue dreams I'd forgotten I had.

From being cast as the lead in a film trailer, to helping open a store front. Collaborating, mingling and dreaming with some of the most talented beings on this Planet. My mind just continues to get blown every moment of every day.

Bliss. 

So....

YES! 

Universe, I would love to keep acting. Star in a film, Why not?
Fly around the world filming breath taking, enlightening moments? 

YES!

Jump in next deep designing spectacular jewellery?

YES!

CoCreating with some of the brilliant artists on the face of this Earth?

YES!

What ever you wanna throw at me Universe, I'm here, listening, watching, feeling. Ready and waiting for your cues.

YES!


And so like the meditative and divine process of the spider, I patiently dream the mandala I wish to live in. May it be spun strong, true, catch every drop of sparkling due, and every glimmering ray of sunshine. Let all the nightmares fall through its holes, and may every lucid dream be caught to shine in the glory of this world.

Flow vs. Force...... Dream your world

Flow vs. Force

Surrender

to the Golden thread that propels & pulls us towards our Dharma. Engulfed in the perfection of time, catapulted into the world of serendipitous synchronicity. Let your life be an infinite cycle of Miraculous events unfolding before your eyes.

Having always felt like a reasonably decisive and to the point woman, this concept of Force & Flow feels ever present in my life. A constant virtue to keep in balance. 

When do I step back and allow things to manifest?

When do I step forward and catalyze that which I am called to?

Patience is a facet of myself I am continually working on. I've come a long ways, but the path of change is an infinite one. A friend once told me that

"True change is like hiking a mountain. Backwards and blindfolded. It takes a great deal of commitment and effort, but the rewards of reaching the top are incomparable."

I dont always deal well with sitting idle, not that I should, but it does, on occasion, feel like I am putting in more effort than is always necessary. 

Bali feels like a land lost in the flow........

(runs off in a hurry to feed her gurgling belly..........6 hours later.....)

Well, talk about Flow! 

I found myself amidst amazing company and deliciously cheap delectables. I gave this whole day to the flow, and boy oh' boy did she ever engulf me in her swirling, magical abyss. Instantaneous manifestations abound; fleeting thoughts materializing before my eyes. 

I nonchalantly mentioned to a friend the other day, that I would love to do more acting/performance. 

TA DA! Casting call for actors here in Ubud! Coincidence, I think not. 

Thought it would be neat to participate in more story telling via film.

TA DA! World class documentary film maker sits down at our table. 

Would love to meet/interview a particular band here in Ubud.

TA DA! Neighbour is from the same hometown as them, and in fact has invited them to the casting.

The list goes on and on today. And the day isn't even over!

Now I just need to manifest that house!

Today's Lesson:

Your phone died for a reason. Forget about your long list of "To Do's" and breathe in the present moment with excitement, bliss, and gratitude. You never know what tomorrow will bring.... or so you thought. Living a dream is as simple as Dreaming.