“GRATITUDE is SO VERY therapeutic .The world changes around you…” This month’s composer’s choice is called Gratitude. Im just about to start a practise-led Masters of Philosophy at Notre Dame University Sydney. A practise led masters is based on, in my case, a 50% practical component which will culminate in an exhibition of works and/or a musical performance and recording. Of course I have to come up with an idea/theme to pursue which will sustain a whole lot of investigation and nuts and bolts work. My mind has been racing : Will I investigate the negative space or the “void” in western and eastern art ? Or what about delving into the world of western and eastern mystics and how prayer and meditation have been explored ? What about cymatics, musical frequency and sacred geometry… Just a few topics out of many that are knocking on my brain door… In our live broadcast a few weeks ago ( go here to listen to the precession chat ) I discussed a dream I had where there was a little black spot on my right eye which I could not remove. Being a big Jung fan I knew that my subconscious was sending aThe Gift of Gratitude – by Stephen Fearnley
A Meditation In D Minor – by Stephen Fearnley
We are so overstimulated by our technologies that we are not getting enough deep thinking time A lot of people associate minor music with sadness and they’d be right. But the tempo of a minor tune if raised, can sound happy like REM’s “Losing My Religion” – the structure and lyrics are sad but you dance along all the same. Its when you bring the tempo down and stretch the notes and repeat interlocking phrases with instruments such as strings and doleful angelic-voices and guitars that you get a weaving of sounds that can deliver what seems clearly more soul-searching and even melancholic. I like the word melancholy. I’ve never associated it with real sadness. It’s like what Victor Hugo says about it: Melancholy is the happiness of being sad. Its the pleasure and soothing quality of slow or minor key music that creates a deeper expansive place for contemplation. Of course the last thing I want to do is plop our One Mind Live members into a nose dive of misery ! I hope in this case “ Meditation in D minor ” I have the mix right… The repeating guitar riff is always climbing – so thats theA Meditation In D Minor – by Stephen Fearnley
Slow Light in A – by Stephen Fearnley
For this months composer’s choice, Slow Light in A , I’ve once again returned to the Australian landscape for my inspiration: The south-east coastline of Tasmania , Australia, is windswept and wild and even when the sea is being whipped-up into a freezing-spray, one can still see the coastline for miles… Far-sight and long plateaus of purples with swells of blue and highlights in ochre. Calming, unwinding and horizontal landforms- the biggest skies you ever did see. ‘Slow-light’ because even with a gale blowing the clouds and shafts of sun are somehow moving slo-mo in this vast panorama. View from Cape Bruny Lighthouse, Tasmania– photo by Stephen Fearnley, June 2016 The sheer size of this landscape also sets the tempo for the music: A slow unfolding, up and down the scale of A major with 10 instruments interweaving at random intervals over a 40 minute cycle at 52 beats per minute. Each interaction never repeating – always slightly different, like a biosphere made of sound waves which you sit inside off and simply, easily, relax. ‘A’ is traditionally regarded as the key for stimulating the third eye. Slow Light in A will assist you in softening your tensions and bringing downSlow Light in A – by Stephen Fearnley
The Illusion Of Balance – Pre-Session
This episode was originally broadcast Aug 28, 2015 We all strive for balance – and that place of peace we’re promised when we achieve it – even though most of us, most of the time, have trouble “finding that balance”. If that describes you, you might be relieved to hear of another way to look at the whole issue. In this pre-session chat we explore the idea that perhaps the journey itself – back and forth between the opposites of light and dark, masculine and feminine, happy and sad to which we are all so accustomed – can get us to exactly the same place. Listen to find out how… About our Pre-Sessions: Every week, for 15 minutes or so before we began our group meditation broadcast, we opened the mics so that our members tuning in for the session could listen in while we talked about what was going on for us personally and spiritually, and what trends we were noticing. It was a fun way to get everyone settled and prepared for the journey to come, as well as a way to connect with us energetically. To listen to the One Mind Live meditation that followed, go toThe Illusion Of Balance – Pre-Session