Thursday, October 13, 2011
Being in the moment----really
OK so I always stop halfway through my Sierra tour at the Sierraville hotsprings. It is a fabulous, funky but very lovely spot on 900 acres of pristine wooded hills and praries. The springs themselves present in several forms... a beautiful outdoor warm pool built into a deck and natural hot tub in a wooden dome overlooking the valley peppered with cows and surrounded by mountains; claw footed bathtubs all over the property with tubes of hot mineral water running into them,; a silence only meditation pool in the woods that is a sandy bottomed stone encircled hole in the ground! It is all great and I stay there in exchange for presenting a short tibetan bowls sound healing workshop and mini-concert. So it is now evening and the event is about to begin only there is no way to dim the lights in the room. I suggest that people (who are all on their backs ready for the concert) cover their eyes with something. The next time I look up, one young woman has taken my message to heart of 'being totally in present moment and available to life as it comes." She has nothing to cover her eyes with and simply removes her dress to do so and remains comfortably sprawled out on the floor totally naked. I can only smile.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Traveling with a Tibetan Bowl Sound Healer
My concert tours are always a combination of wonder, delight, humor, frustration and exhaustion. People have a romantic idea of what it is like to tour.. So in these next days I will attempt to offer a few snapshots into life on the road from my most recent trip into the Sierra Nevada's. This is a circut I take in May and October because the weather is usually gorgeous then and it is delightful to be in the small northern mountain towns. Of course in the past it has always managed to snow at least one day..enough for me to be forced to purchase chains for my tires so I could get over the mountain near Tahoe....
After months of calling around, confirming, then changing and reconfirming dates and venues the sound healing tour is finally set.
Day One of a twelve day concert tour really begins several weeks before with middle of the night thoughts of 'what I must remember to take with me" for 12 concerts, several private sessions, a house clearing, sleeping gear, sales items, data collecting items, visa machine, food, computers, chains for the car in case of snow, down time items (ie books, paints, folding bike), schedule of where to be when to set up, venue phone numbers and about a million more items. Of course I have a check list but that seems to always be changing so a pad of paper by the bed is vital!
Then I must make sure the car is ready with the oil changed, tires ready, books on cd, gas tank full for the nearly 2,000 mile trip. It is no fun to have car problems on the road with all the equipment, money, cd's and other sales items stuffed into the back. And all this between clients, attending to my students and the general work of maintaining my small business.
When the day actually arrives, I normally get in my car at 4:30 am in order to make the 9 hour drive north to my first destination and miss sitting in traffic in L.A. Timing is important as I need to get to my destination in enough time to get in a short bike ride, food and a nap or I will not be totally out of it for my first evening concert. A celebratory Frappachino on the road is always part of the ritual.. and yes, with a bit of whipped cream because day one is a special day and I have been doing green smoothies religiously so I can do this!
But this tour is different. My first stop is only a few hours away in Ojai. I have never performed singing bowls and gongs at this place before and am looking forward to being in that beautiful town. Healing in America is a lovely wooden and spacious building with cathedral ceilings that offers a variety of modalities. The owner is British and very pleasant. A small group of three help me to move chairs out of the way and reorganize the room to set up my equipment.We have to figure out a way to position the light show and manage to do it by tacking up some sheets. It is hot hot hot but I then take off on my little bike for a couple of hours of revitalization and in search of some good nourishment. I manage to always find a sweet bike path, even in the most remote of towns. Biking is much better than walking on a path because often bike paths are homes to the homeless and I feel safer on my bike than walking past groups of guys under a bridge or something.
Evening: the room fills up, the concert works perfectly, people are delighted and ask a lot of questions. They linger and their curiosity is refreshing. It has been a long day and I am very tired. The lovely British owner says this has been 'exceptional' and hands me an envelope with a check. Great! Later when I look at it I see that it contains only 1/2 of the evenings proceeds. But this is much less than my normal fee. No matter. He has gone home and I will leave him a nice note saying that there must be a mistake because in the 'logistics' on my press packet the split of the door is clearly stated... I hate having to run after money. It dampens the whole experience for me and brings in a smallness that is uncomfortable. But this is my life.. so .... End result. Nope. He thinks that is fair. No compromise, no acknowledgement of the original email... So.. I will not be going back there as beautiful as it was. Maybe another space or another town.
After months of calling around, confirming, then changing and reconfirming dates and venues the sound healing tour is finally set.
Day One of a twelve day concert tour really begins several weeks before with middle of the night thoughts of 'what I must remember to take with me" for 12 concerts, several private sessions, a house clearing, sleeping gear, sales items, data collecting items, visa machine, food, computers, chains for the car in case of snow, down time items (ie books, paints, folding bike), schedule of where to be when to set up, venue phone numbers and about a million more items. Of course I have a check list but that seems to always be changing so a pad of paper by the bed is vital!
Then I must make sure the car is ready with the oil changed, tires ready, books on cd, gas tank full for the nearly 2,000 mile trip. It is no fun to have car problems on the road with all the equipment, money, cd's and other sales items stuffed into the back. And all this between clients, attending to my students and the general work of maintaining my small business.
When the day actually arrives, I normally get in my car at 4:30 am in order to make the 9 hour drive north to my first destination and miss sitting in traffic in L.A. Timing is important as I need to get to my destination in enough time to get in a short bike ride, food and a nap or I will not be totally out of it for my first evening concert. A celebratory Frappachino on the road is always part of the ritual.. and yes, with a bit of whipped cream because day one is a special day and I have been doing green smoothies religiously so I can do this!
But this tour is different. My first stop is only a few hours away in Ojai. I have never performed singing bowls and gongs at this place before and am looking forward to being in that beautiful town. Healing in America is a lovely wooden and spacious building with cathedral ceilings that offers a variety of modalities. The owner is British and very pleasant. A small group of three help me to move chairs out of the way and reorganize the room to set up my equipment.We have to figure out a way to position the light show and manage to do it by tacking up some sheets. It is hot hot hot but I then take off on my little bike for a couple of hours of revitalization and in search of some good nourishment. I manage to always find a sweet bike path, even in the most remote of towns. Biking is much better than walking on a path because often bike paths are homes to the homeless and I feel safer on my bike than walking past groups of guys under a bridge or something.
Evening: the room fills up, the concert works perfectly, people are delighted and ask a lot of questions. They linger and their curiosity is refreshing. It has been a long day and I am very tired. The lovely British owner says this has been 'exceptional' and hands me an envelope with a check. Great! Later when I look at it I see that it contains only 1/2 of the evenings proceeds. But this is much less than my normal fee. No matter. He has gone home and I will leave him a nice note saying that there must be a mistake because in the 'logistics' on my press packet the split of the door is clearly stated... I hate having to run after money. It dampens the whole experience for me and brings in a smallness that is uncomfortable. But this is my life.. so .... End result. Nope. He thinks that is fair. No compromise, no acknowledgement of the original email... So.. I will not be going back there as beautiful as it was. Maybe another space or another town.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Contentment
A few nights ago I went to hear Sogyal Ripoche speak. He is a well known Tibetan Buddhist teacher who wrote the Tibetan Book of Living and Dieing. The lecture was about controlling the mind and was fascinating and simple at the same time. That seems to be true of many Buddhist teachings..He said that to transform the mind we had to understand its true nature.. Well- what the heck is that?? It is a mind free from grasping, endless thoughts, emotions and stories; those things that create Samsara where we are lost in the projections of the mind.
The true nature of the mind, he said, is Nirvana- the mind turned inward; a state of non-distraction. The absence of "I" within actions taken.
In thinking about this I realized that this is exactly the state of mind I speak of to my Tibetan bowl sound healing students when I describe "Presencing". Presencing is the ability to be with a client with no agenda, with full attention towards them. Most of us can relate to the notion of "holding the space", for something. The true nature of the mind then must be like holding the space for oneself. Just being present to what is without attachment, projection, or stories. This state of non distraction can also be described as meditation-- active or passive. Either way it is a good place to be.
The true nature of the mind, he said, is Nirvana- the mind turned inward; a state of non-distraction. The absence of "I" within actions taken.
In thinking about this I realized that this is exactly the state of mind I speak of to my Tibetan bowl sound healing students when I describe "Presencing". Presencing is the ability to be with a client with no agenda, with full attention towards them. Most of us can relate to the notion of "holding the space", for something. The true nature of the mind then must be like holding the space for oneself. Just being present to what is without attachment, projection, or stories. This state of non distraction can also be described as meditation-- active or passive. Either way it is a good place to be.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Diane Mandle on Blog Talk Radio
Please join Diane Mandle on a Blog Talk Radio interview with Dr Karen Vizer. Diane discusses sound healing with tibetan bowls, it's healing properties, value in meditation and deep relaxation and more. Tune in to:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dr_karen_vizer/2010/11/23/the-dr-karen-show-with-diane-mandle-certified-tibetan-bowl-teacher-and-healerbowl
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dr_karen_vizer/2010/11/23/the-dr-karen-show-with-diane-mandle-certified-tibetan-bowl-teacher-and-healerbowl
Monday, November 8, 2010
Consciousness Transformation
Sound healing with Tibetan bowls is a powerful way to transform ones own and the collective consciousness of the planet. Every time we meditate on our own or participate in a group meditation, we also change the energetic imprint we are creating. I recently came across this great website that offers another means of making a difference on the planet. Please look at the website and sign up to participate on 11/11 at: http://www.newrealitytransmission.com/
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Playing For Change | The Journey
Playing For Change | The Journey
Here is one of my favorite groups. Talk about Sound Healing. Sound has always been the ambassador of Peace.. It defies class, economic status, race, religion.... it calls to the best part of us all and opens hearts. Listen, donate, meditate and pass on the good vibes to all your friends.
Here is one of my favorite groups. Talk about Sound Healing. Sound has always been the ambassador of Peace.. It defies class, economic status, race, religion.... it calls to the best part of us all and opens hearts. Listen, donate, meditate and pass on the good vibes to all your friends.
Friday, September 17, 2010
We Are What We Believe
Really, it is so simple to change a circumstance. We need to change our attitude and thoughts about it. That is not to say it is easy. Changing our thoughts from habitual to chosen is something we have the opportunity to practice over and over throughout our lifetime. Every challenging situation, every person we have trouble with, every circumstance we experience as negative is such an opportunity. One way to think about this is to recognize that any relationship is really a reflection of the part of you that shows up in that relationship. This includes our relationship with ourselves. This morning a quote from Beliefnet came across my desk and seemed reflect this issue.
"Whatever attitudes we habitually use toward ourselves, we will use on others, and whatever attitutes we habitually use on others, we will use on ourselves. This situation is comparable to serving food to ourselves and to other people from the same bowl. Everyone ends up eating the same thing-we must examine carefully what we are dishing out. "
-Bhante Heneopla GUnaratana- Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness"
Fortunately, we have support: Positive people, books and activities that help to shift our thinking patterns from rote to chosen train us. Sound healing sessions and meditations with the Tibetan Singing Bowls are effective in helping us to become conscious of our belief systems and actions, and to reawaken us to our true essence, which is always compassionate and loving. This is their purpose, to transform consciousness and create healing.
"Whatever attitudes we habitually use toward ourselves, we will use on others, and whatever attitutes we habitually use on others, we will use on ourselves. This situation is comparable to serving food to ourselves and to other people from the same bowl. Everyone ends up eating the same thing-we must examine carefully what we are dishing out. "
-Bhante Heneopla GUnaratana- Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness"
Fortunately, we have support: Positive people, books and activities that help to shift our thinking patterns from rote to chosen train us. Sound healing sessions and meditations with the Tibetan Singing Bowls are effective in helping us to become conscious of our belief systems and actions, and to reawaken us to our true essence, which is always compassionate and loving. This is their purpose, to transform consciousness and create healing.
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