Today's DailyOM Offerings...
September 22, 2015
Medicina
Iemanjo
2015
A truly unique fusion of South American shamanic music, Afro-Latin rhythms, soul-tinged vocals and electronic beats, Medicina is the brainchild of singer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Harris, who performs under the name Iemanjo (pron. yeh mahn JO). This name signifies a masculine embodiment of Iemanja, the Brazilian goddess of the sea to whom Harris feels connected.
From parading with the Samba blocos in Brazil's capitals to studying sacred plant medicines with shamans in the jungles of Colombia, Harris has soaked up the sonic universe that is Latin America and spun it into something completely his own. Medicina brings the ancient concept of music as medicine into the 21st century, and is designed to heal the soul as much as move the body.
Born in Berkeley, California, Ben Harris grew up in the cultural melting pot of the Bay Area, where he developed an insatiable musical appetite and a discriminating ear as he learned to play the trumpet and various Afro-Latin drums. A move to Seattle in 2007 led to Harris expanding his oeuvre, playing everything from Mariachi and Samba/Bossa Nova to orchestral rock, jazz and Balinese Gamelan music.
He was a member of soul singer Allen Stone's band and the famed Seattle Rock Orchestra and toured internationally with the NYC rock band Outernational, playing trumpet, keyboards and percussion. Harris is now based in Brooklyn but continues to travel and tour frequently.
The first seeds for Iemanjo were planted while Harris traveled through Colombia in 2013, absorbing not just the diverse music and culture he encountered on his journey, but the knowledge and teachings behind it. It's Harris' deep understanding of the history and intent behind the music that sets him apart from a cultural tourist and qualifies him to express and expand upon the traditions that continue to inspire him.
On Medicina's ten tracks, from the psychedelic soul of "Reality" to the Cumbia-inspired "Sol Y Luna", Harris sings in Spanish, Portuguese and English about hope and gratitude for life; he expresses a heartfelt intention to harmonize man's relationship with nature and himself -- simple, timeless tenets based in the traditions from which he draws inspiration. His masterful voice, trumpet, ukulele and percussion dance in perfect concert with contributions from a talented cast of guest musicians including Colombian flute and string master Juan Carlos Arevalo.
True to his vision and unique in his sound, Iemanjo's music has already drawn comparisons to such disparate artists as Manu Chao, Stevie Wonder and Beirut. Together with sought-after NYC producers Thornato and Srikalogy and Brazilian beatmaker Adriano Magalhaes, Harris recorded the tracks in New York City and Brazil throughout 2014. The album was mastered by respected Brazilian DJ/producer Sergio Brentan at Fluxfield Studio in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
September 22, 2015
The Allure of Possessions
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
Today may find you seduced by the allure of material objects, which could threaten to sweep you away into the temptation of possessing that which you desire. But you can appreciate beauty without having to own the object that inspires you. Your impulse may be to purchase the item on first sight, but by using the discernment of your intuition, you can decide if this is really the best choice for you. Aside from practical considerations of the affect on your finances and where the item will be kept, you want to identify the truth behind the compulsion. Without realizing it, you may have fallen into a cycle of trying to fill emotional or spiritual spaces with material objects. By examining the drive behind the temptation to possess something, you may discover that the item cannot give you what you truly crave.
As spiritual beings having a human experience, we are free to enjoy what the world has to offer. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with surrounding ourselves with material objects that help us feel good. In the best situation, our most prized possessions reflect ourselves back to us through memories and emotional associations. They can make our homes nurturing places that help us to experience prosperity and the fullness of life. But as with any investment of our energy, the intention behind the desire or the action is what is truly important. When you follow the guidance of your heart and intuitive wisdom combined, you are certain to make choices that support your balance and growth today.
September 22, 2015
The Greatness in Others
Recognizing Our Own Greatness
by Madisyn Taylor
We are all moved by greatness when we see it we know the feeling of it and have it within ourselves.
A person who is said to possess greatness stands apart from others in some way, usually by the size or originality of their vision and their ability to manifest that vision. And yet those who recognize that greatness, whether they display it themselves or not, also have greatness within them; otherwise, they could not see it in another. In many ways, the achievements of one person always belong to many people for we accomplish nothing alone in this world. People who display greatness rely upon others who are able to see as they do, to listen, encourage, and support. Without those people who recognize greatness and move in to support it, even the greatest ideas, works of art, and political movements would remain unborn.
We are all moved by greatness when we see it, and although the experience is to some degree subjective, we know the feeling of it. When we encounter it, it is as if something in us stirs, awakens, and comes forth to meet what was inside us all along. When we respond to someone else’s greatness, we feed our own. We may feel called to dedicate ourselves to their vision, or we may be inspired to follow a path we forge ourselves. Either way, we cannot lose when we recognize that the greatness we see in others belongs also to us. Our recognition of this is a call to action that, if heeded, will inspire others to see in us the greatness they also possess. This creates a chain reaction of greatness unfolding itself endlessly into the future.
Ultimately, greatness is simply the best of what humanity has to offer. Greatness does what has not been done before and inspires the same courage that it requires. When we see it in others, we know it, and when we trust its presence in ourselves, we embody it.
Medicina
Iemanjo
2015
A truly unique fusion of South American shamanic music, Afro-Latin rhythms, soul-tinged vocals and electronic beats, Medicina is the brainchild of singer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Harris, who performs under the name Iemanjo (pron. yeh mahn JO). This name signifies a masculine embodiment of Iemanja, the Brazilian goddess of the sea to whom Harris feels connected.
From parading with the Samba blocos in Brazil's capitals to studying sacred plant medicines with shamans in the jungles of Colombia, Harris has soaked up the sonic universe that is Latin America and spun it into something completely his own. Medicina brings the ancient concept of music as medicine into the 21st century, and is designed to heal the soul as much as move the body.
Born in Berkeley, California, Ben Harris grew up in the cultural melting pot of the Bay Area, where he developed an insatiable musical appetite and a discriminating ear as he learned to play the trumpet and various Afro-Latin drums. A move to Seattle in 2007 led to Harris expanding his oeuvre, playing everything from Mariachi and Samba/Bossa Nova to orchestral rock, jazz and Balinese Gamelan music.
He was a member of soul singer Allen Stone's band and the famed Seattle Rock Orchestra and toured internationally with the NYC rock band Outernational, playing trumpet, keyboards and percussion. Harris is now based in Brooklyn but continues to travel and tour frequently.
The first seeds for Iemanjo were planted while Harris traveled through Colombia in 2013, absorbing not just the diverse music and culture he encountered on his journey, but the knowledge and teachings behind it. It's Harris' deep understanding of the history and intent behind the music that sets him apart from a cultural tourist and qualifies him to express and expand upon the traditions that continue to inspire him.
On Medicina's ten tracks, from the psychedelic soul of "Reality" to the Cumbia-inspired "Sol Y Luna", Harris sings in Spanish, Portuguese and English about hope and gratitude for life; he expresses a heartfelt intention to harmonize man's relationship with nature and himself -- simple, timeless tenets based in the traditions from which he draws inspiration. His masterful voice, trumpet, ukulele and percussion dance in perfect concert with contributions from a talented cast of guest musicians including Colombian flute and string master Juan Carlos Arevalo.
True to his vision and unique in his sound, Iemanjo's music has already drawn comparisons to such disparate artists as Manu Chao, Stevie Wonder and Beirut. Together with sought-after NYC producers Thornato and Srikalogy and Brazilian beatmaker Adriano Magalhaes, Harris recorded the tracks in New York City and Brazil throughout 2014. The album was mastered by respected Brazilian DJ/producer Sergio Brentan at Fluxfield Studio in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
September 22, 2015
The Allure of Possessions
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
Today may find you seduced by the allure of material objects, which could threaten to sweep you away into the temptation of possessing that which you desire. But you can appreciate beauty without having to own the object that inspires you. Your impulse may be to purchase the item on first sight, but by using the discernment of your intuition, you can decide if this is really the best choice for you. Aside from practical considerations of the affect on your finances and where the item will be kept, you want to identify the truth behind the compulsion. Without realizing it, you may have fallen into a cycle of trying to fill emotional or spiritual spaces with material objects. By examining the drive behind the temptation to possess something, you may discover that the item cannot give you what you truly crave.
As spiritual beings having a human experience, we are free to enjoy what the world has to offer. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with surrounding ourselves with material objects that help us feel good. In the best situation, our most prized possessions reflect ourselves back to us through memories and emotional associations. They can make our homes nurturing places that help us to experience prosperity and the fullness of life. But as with any investment of our energy, the intention behind the desire or the action is what is truly important. When you follow the guidance of your heart and intuitive wisdom combined, you are certain to make choices that support your balance and growth today.
September 22, 2015
The Greatness in Others
Recognizing Our Own Greatness
by Madisyn Taylor
We are all moved by greatness when we see it we know the feeling of it and have it within ourselves.
A person who is said to possess greatness stands apart from others in some way, usually by the size or originality of their vision and their ability to manifest that vision. And yet those who recognize that greatness, whether they display it themselves or not, also have greatness within them; otherwise, they could not see it in another. In many ways, the achievements of one person always belong to many people for we accomplish nothing alone in this world. People who display greatness rely upon others who are able to see as they do, to listen, encourage, and support. Without those people who recognize greatness and move in to support it, even the greatest ideas, works of art, and political movements would remain unborn.
We are all moved by greatness when we see it, and although the experience is to some degree subjective, we know the feeling of it. When we encounter it, it is as if something in us stirs, awakens, and comes forth to meet what was inside us all along. When we respond to someone else’s greatness, we feed our own. We may feel called to dedicate ourselves to their vision, or we may be inspired to follow a path we forge ourselves. Either way, we cannot lose when we recognize that the greatness we see in others belongs also to us. Our recognition of this is a call to action that, if heeded, will inspire others to see in us the greatness they also possess. This creates a chain reaction of greatness unfolding itself endlessly into the future.
Ultimately, greatness is simply the best of what humanity has to offer. Greatness does what has not been done before and inspires the same courage that it requires. When we see it in others, we know it, and when we trust its presence in ourselves, we embody it.