Today's DailyOM Offerings...
December 28, 2009
Ama
Yungchen Lhamo
2006
Yungchen Lhamo (or "Divine Chant") fled the Chinese occupation of her native Tibet and eventually settled in the United States where she began a recording and touring career with the blessing of the Dalai Lama. This is her third album, eight years in the making, and the first to feature original tunes and expansive production courtesy of master world-fusion musician Jamshied Sharifi. Violins, pounding drums, distorted shocks of electric guitar, and an array of global instrumentation are lovingly, brilliantly recorded by Sharifi; you feel the drums along the nerves in your skin like a gentle but powerful massage. Such studio mastery makes this an album of the world, but Ama stays true to Lhamo's homeland in the album's top-of-the-world majesty and humble spiritual power. Ama means mother; Lhamo dedicates the album to hers, and you can feel her selfless devotion in every beautiful note.
"Ranzen" works around a repetitive, monklike chant, with booming Tibetan drums and pangs of electrified strings. Annie Lennox makes a guest appearance, lending a sudden surge of modern vocalizing on the poppish "Fade Away," but what haunts the senses most on this beautiful gift of an album are the simple, prayerlike tracks, where Lhamo is accompanied by only a cello or erhu (a mournful-sounding, Chinese stringed instrument). The devastating "9/11" is a fine example, with Lhamo holding and twisting long, intensely tragic, clear notes in such an open, heartfelt style that unprepared listeners just might find themselves reduced to tears. As a multitracked chorus of her voice repeats a ghostly chant in the distance, chimes, a cello, and silence gradually take the anguish away. "Tara" is another of these. Lhamo's extended breath control brings the notes out like huge swaths of chanting, merging with a violin playing on the same pitched note, each sliding in and out of each! other on a wing of love.
The purity of these songs makes the unimportant, small stuff in your mind melt away until all that's left is your heart, her voice, and the light that connects them. Everything else is-for the blissful length of her breath-nonexistent. We all get caught up in our lives and forget what really matters. Ama is the sort of album that causes everyone within earshot to stop what they're doing and slowly gather around the speakers with a mute, stunned reverence, the beauty of her voice speaking clear in any language.
December 28, 2009
Satisfaction in Selflessness
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may feel selfless and have a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others today. You might be thinking about local charitable organizations that could use your help on a volunteer basis or sorting through items in your home that you can donate. If you can motivate others to join you in your efforts, you can pool your resources and make a bigger impact. You might consider organizing a neighborhood food or clothing drive or forming a volunteer club that works together on important causes in your community. If you want to make a more powerful difference to those in need today, you can come up with creative ways to give anonymously and allow your feelings of accomplishment to inspire you in your efforts.
Giving to others anonymously results in a sense of genuine satisfaction and the realization that our selfless acts are often their own best rewards. While it’s nice to be acknowledged for our good deeds, choosing to remain anonymous ensures that our efforts are truly selfless in nature. If we focus only on the good feelings we get from making a positive difference in the world, we can watch with satisfaction as our efforts put forth a wave of positive energy that will enhance the lives of others. By focusing on the satisfaction you get from helping others anonymously today, you will encourage the universe to reflect that goodness back to you in a myriad of forms, now and in the future.
December 28, 2009
Magical Things
Tangible Enchantment
Though the universe as a whole is imbued with an undeniable aura of magic, we can further fill our lives with magic by creating a collection of magical things. More than being simply beautiful, such objects can potentially play an active role in the shaping of our experience as each magical object serves a unique and multifaceted purpose. Some inspire us to reflect while some have the power to positively influence our moods. Others take us back in time, capturing in their essence memories locked in history or helping us reaffirm our connection with the universe. Magical objects can be found almost anywhere and can be practically anything, from gifts of nature to manmade artifacts. You’ll know an object is truly magical when it touches you deeply, awakening some primal part of yourself that is more profoundly connected to the ethereal.
There is no right or wrong way to introduce a magical object into your life-the collection you create can be large or small, kept in private or publicly displayed. You may already be in possession of such objects. Perhaps you keep a smooth river stone next to your bed because its presence is soothing. Or you find yourself intensely drawn to certain antique items that seem to radiate light and energy. Whatever the nature of the objects you deem magical, there are many ways to utilize them. Those that help you reach a contemplative and relaxed state may best serve their purpose on your personal altar or in some special place in your home. Objects that bring you comfort can be kept in a small pouch and carried throughout the day. Or you may feel compelled to infuse your collection with beauty by making it into a collage that naturally draws your eye and stimulates your soul.
Everyone can benefit from surrounding themselves with magical objects. Our lives are made just a little more light and fun when having magical things in our presence. If you feel you don’t have anything magical in your life, ask the universe for help, and it will not be long before a meaningful artifact, a simple feather, a special stone, or another powerful item reveals itself to you and fills your life with enchantment.
December 28, 2009
Soul Flash Cards, Celtic Lounge II, Be Happy!
Gift Of The Week
Soul Flash Cards - These flash cards are a great tool to help you release your limiting or negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. One side of the card represents your shadow side, when you flip it you will find the colorful more conscious side. As you flip back and forth you consciously choose what you want to experience. They are fun, portable and can improve your outlook in a matter of minutes.
View Soul Flash Cards
The Celtic Lounge II (CD) - In the tradition of the Buddha Bar and chill-out discs comes the moody northern flow of The Celtic Lounge II, a collection of lilting, heartrending ballads from the likes of Tina Malia, Gary Stadler, Stephanie Stadler, and Sharon Knight. These artists are frequent openers on chill-out discs, but it's quite a different experience to have them all assembled together, like a calling of the very mellowest of Celtic tribes for a postfeast dance and loll amidst the rolling moss and mist. If you are new to the world of Celtic chill-out, then this is a great place to start.
Listen To Sound Clips
Be Happy! (hardcover book) - Be Happy! is the follow-up to Robert Holden’s best-selling Happiness NOW! In this book, Robert gives you a front-row seat on his 8-week happiness program-famously tested by independent scientists for the BBC-TV documentary called How to Be Happy. Step-by-step he introduces you to a set of proven techniques, principles, meditations, and insights that will help you be happy now!
Read Excerpt
For more information visit DailyOM Gift Shop
Ama
Yungchen Lhamo
2006
Yungchen Lhamo (or "Divine Chant") fled the Chinese occupation of her native Tibet and eventually settled in the United States where she began a recording and touring career with the blessing of the Dalai Lama. This is her third album, eight years in the making, and the first to feature original tunes and expansive production courtesy of master world-fusion musician Jamshied Sharifi. Violins, pounding drums, distorted shocks of electric guitar, and an array of global instrumentation are lovingly, brilliantly recorded by Sharifi; you feel the drums along the nerves in your skin like a gentle but powerful massage. Such studio mastery makes this an album of the world, but Ama stays true to Lhamo's homeland in the album's top-of-the-world majesty and humble spiritual power. Ama means mother; Lhamo dedicates the album to hers, and you can feel her selfless devotion in every beautiful note.
"Ranzen" works around a repetitive, monklike chant, with booming Tibetan drums and pangs of electrified strings. Annie Lennox makes a guest appearance, lending a sudden surge of modern vocalizing on the poppish "Fade Away," but what haunts the senses most on this beautiful gift of an album are the simple, prayerlike tracks, where Lhamo is accompanied by only a cello or erhu (a mournful-sounding, Chinese stringed instrument). The devastating "9/11" is a fine example, with Lhamo holding and twisting long, intensely tragic, clear notes in such an open, heartfelt style that unprepared listeners just might find themselves reduced to tears. As a multitracked chorus of her voice repeats a ghostly chant in the distance, chimes, a cello, and silence gradually take the anguish away. "Tara" is another of these. Lhamo's extended breath control brings the notes out like huge swaths of chanting, merging with a violin playing on the same pitched note, each sliding in and out of each! other on a wing of love.
The purity of these songs makes the unimportant, small stuff in your mind melt away until all that's left is your heart, her voice, and the light that connects them. Everything else is-for the blissful length of her breath-nonexistent. We all get caught up in our lives and forget what really matters. Ama is the sort of album that causes everyone within earshot to stop what they're doing and slowly gather around the speakers with a mute, stunned reverence, the beauty of her voice speaking clear in any language.
December 28, 2009
Satisfaction in Selflessness
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may feel selfless and have a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others today. You might be thinking about local charitable organizations that could use your help on a volunteer basis or sorting through items in your home that you can donate. If you can motivate others to join you in your efforts, you can pool your resources and make a bigger impact. You might consider organizing a neighborhood food or clothing drive or forming a volunteer club that works together on important causes in your community. If you want to make a more powerful difference to those in need today, you can come up with creative ways to give anonymously and allow your feelings of accomplishment to inspire you in your efforts.
Giving to others anonymously results in a sense of genuine satisfaction and the realization that our selfless acts are often their own best rewards. While it’s nice to be acknowledged for our good deeds, choosing to remain anonymous ensures that our efforts are truly selfless in nature. If we focus only on the good feelings we get from making a positive difference in the world, we can watch with satisfaction as our efforts put forth a wave of positive energy that will enhance the lives of others. By focusing on the satisfaction you get from helping others anonymously today, you will encourage the universe to reflect that goodness back to you in a myriad of forms, now and in the future.
December 28, 2009
Magical Things
Tangible Enchantment
Though the universe as a whole is imbued with an undeniable aura of magic, we can further fill our lives with magic by creating a collection of magical things. More than being simply beautiful, such objects can potentially play an active role in the shaping of our experience as each magical object serves a unique and multifaceted purpose. Some inspire us to reflect while some have the power to positively influence our moods. Others take us back in time, capturing in their essence memories locked in history or helping us reaffirm our connection with the universe. Magical objects can be found almost anywhere and can be practically anything, from gifts of nature to manmade artifacts. You’ll know an object is truly magical when it touches you deeply, awakening some primal part of yourself that is more profoundly connected to the ethereal.
There is no right or wrong way to introduce a magical object into your life-the collection you create can be large or small, kept in private or publicly displayed. You may already be in possession of such objects. Perhaps you keep a smooth river stone next to your bed because its presence is soothing. Or you find yourself intensely drawn to certain antique items that seem to radiate light and energy. Whatever the nature of the objects you deem magical, there are many ways to utilize them. Those that help you reach a contemplative and relaxed state may best serve their purpose on your personal altar or in some special place in your home. Objects that bring you comfort can be kept in a small pouch and carried throughout the day. Or you may feel compelled to infuse your collection with beauty by making it into a collage that naturally draws your eye and stimulates your soul.
Everyone can benefit from surrounding themselves with magical objects. Our lives are made just a little more light and fun when having magical things in our presence. If you feel you don’t have anything magical in your life, ask the universe for help, and it will not be long before a meaningful artifact, a simple feather, a special stone, or another powerful item reveals itself to you and fills your life with enchantment.
December 28, 2009
Soul Flash Cards, Celtic Lounge II, Be Happy!
Gift Of The Week
Soul Flash Cards - These flash cards are a great tool to help you release your limiting or negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. One side of the card represents your shadow side, when you flip it you will find the colorful more conscious side. As you flip back and forth you consciously choose what you want to experience. They are fun, portable and can improve your outlook in a matter of minutes.
View Soul Flash Cards
The Celtic Lounge II (CD) - In the tradition of the Buddha Bar and chill-out discs comes the moody northern flow of The Celtic Lounge II, a collection of lilting, heartrending ballads from the likes of Tina Malia, Gary Stadler, Stephanie Stadler, and Sharon Knight. These artists are frequent openers on chill-out discs, but it's quite a different experience to have them all assembled together, like a calling of the very mellowest of Celtic tribes for a postfeast dance and loll amidst the rolling moss and mist. If you are new to the world of Celtic chill-out, then this is a great place to start.
Listen To Sound Clips
Be Happy! (hardcover book) - Be Happy! is the follow-up to Robert Holden’s best-selling Happiness NOW! In this book, Robert gives you a front-row seat on his 8-week happiness program-famously tested by independent scientists for the BBC-TV documentary called How to Be Happy. Step-by-step he introduces you to a set of proven techniques, principles, meditations, and insights that will help you be happy now!
Read Excerpt
For more information visit DailyOM Gift Shop