Today's DailyOM Offerings...
May 7, 2008
Heart to Heart
Nadama
1995
A spiritual pianist and composer, Nadama sums up his approach to music as his need to create "a space where the listener can relax into his being and experience his own love and inner silence. Musical goals get no more compassionate or humble than that, and Nadama clearly plays from the heart. Nadama isn't playing games or acting cool or avoiding any melodic combination just because it's emotionally naked; he's all-forgiving, all-consuming. Celtic, English, and American influences melt into him and disappear into the white froth of his unabashedly romantic waves.
Opener "Mystic Rose" plunges right into the mystic, with a haunting piano refrain echoed by a wash of melancholy synthesizer. Close your eyes and you can imagine the peaceful woods and invigorating waterfalls, innocence and childhood. "Scorpio Rising" starts out with whale song, slow and mysterious and deep. That feeling of timeless presence has a sadness price tag, one which Nadama pays in full with a melancholy tune that straddles soft melodies and the cavernous basso of the humpback whales. He creates something immediate and dripping with heart.
As the album rolls along, Nadama moves toward classical motifs as in the almost Chopin-like moments of "Calling," which contrast so gorgeously with the Celtic refrains, refrains that would be right at home on an Enya album. Recorded in 1995, this enduring classic is, simply put, piano magic. Nadama feels every passage deeply, and it's clear to anyone who approaches this with an open heart or a penchant for gazing at moon reflections in quiet ponds. Listen to the purity of piano melody when it’s purged of pretense and abstraction, when it's meant simply to increase your ability to love, to feel relaxed and connected. Putting this on for massage, romance, or simply for resting under open windows, with the spring afternoon air washing all of winter's ashes from your room and mind, is akin to soul surrender.
May 7, 2008
Timely Persuasion
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
A strong need to see your agenda carried out today could cause you to act aggressively. Others may react negatively if you come on too strongly. You may have greater success in inducing people to accept your proposals or understand your ideas simply by being more moderate in your delivery and giving others time to think about what you have said. Allowing others to formulate their reactions over the course of an hour or even a day could help them focus on the substance of your ideas rather than their reaction to your presentation. Being patient today could inspire people to give credence to your thoughts and feelings.
Letting others take time to consider your ideas gives them the opportunity to mull over what you’re suggesting without feeling forced to accept your viewpoint. They won’t feel pressured to come to an immediate conclusion and will appreciate your willingness to be patient. The thoughts you share will make a more favorable impression when your manner is gentler. Because others have been afforded the time to mull over everything you have said, they will be more likely to reflect upon each point you have made before coming to a conclusion. When you give others time to think about your ideas today, they will be more likely to give you their complete consideration.
May 7, 2008
Fulfilling Energetic Investments
Focusing Our Energy
As modern life makes a wealth of information and opportunities available to us, we may find ourselves torn between a wide variety of interests and projects. Our excitement may entice us to try all of them at once, but doing so only diffuses our energy, leaving us unable to fully experience any of them. Like an electrical socket with too many things plugged into it, we may be in danger of overheating and burning out. But if we can choose one thing at a time to focus all of our attention upon, we can make the most of our life-force energy, engaging ourselves fully in the moment so that it can nurture us in return.
Our attention can be pulled in many directions, not only in our own lives, but by advertising, media, and the hustle and bustle of our surroundings. But when we take the time to listen to our inner guidance and focus our thoughts on the goals that resonate the most strongly within us, the rest of the world will fade away. This may mean focusing the spotlight of our attention upon developing one aspect of our work, one course of study, or one hobby to pursue in our free time, but it doesn’t mean that we have to stay focused on only one thing forever. We may never know which of our interests is best suited to our abilities and heart’s desires unless we give it a proper chance. By being fully present with all that we are and all that we have, we can experience each choice fully and make the most fulfilling choices for our energetic investments.
Because we are multi-faceted beings, we are perpetually involved in many aspects of life in every moment. Our work in the world is necessary to attend to our physical needs, and our relationships are important for our emotional needs, but when we engage our spirit as well, we can choose the area that will nurture body, mind and soul. Staying focused in each moment allows us move with the rhythmic flow of the universe and harmonize all aspects of our being into balanced whole.
Heart to Heart
Nadama
1995
A spiritual pianist and composer, Nadama sums up his approach to music as his need to create "a space where the listener can relax into his being and experience his own love and inner silence. Musical goals get no more compassionate or humble than that, and Nadama clearly plays from the heart. Nadama isn't playing games or acting cool or avoiding any melodic combination just because it's emotionally naked; he's all-forgiving, all-consuming. Celtic, English, and American influences melt into him and disappear into the white froth of his unabashedly romantic waves.
Opener "Mystic Rose" plunges right into the mystic, with a haunting piano refrain echoed by a wash of melancholy synthesizer. Close your eyes and you can imagine the peaceful woods and invigorating waterfalls, innocence and childhood. "Scorpio Rising" starts out with whale song, slow and mysterious and deep. That feeling of timeless presence has a sadness price tag, one which Nadama pays in full with a melancholy tune that straddles soft melodies and the cavernous basso of the humpback whales. He creates something immediate and dripping with heart.
As the album rolls along, Nadama moves toward classical motifs as in the almost Chopin-like moments of "Calling," which contrast so gorgeously with the Celtic refrains, refrains that would be right at home on an Enya album. Recorded in 1995, this enduring classic is, simply put, piano magic. Nadama feels every passage deeply, and it's clear to anyone who approaches this with an open heart or a penchant for gazing at moon reflections in quiet ponds. Listen to the purity of piano melody when it’s purged of pretense and abstraction, when it's meant simply to increase your ability to love, to feel relaxed and connected. Putting this on for massage, romance, or simply for resting under open windows, with the spring afternoon air washing all of winter's ashes from your room and mind, is akin to soul surrender.
May 7, 2008
Timely Persuasion
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
A strong need to see your agenda carried out today could cause you to act aggressively. Others may react negatively if you come on too strongly. You may have greater success in inducing people to accept your proposals or understand your ideas simply by being more moderate in your delivery and giving others time to think about what you have said. Allowing others to formulate their reactions over the course of an hour or even a day could help them focus on the substance of your ideas rather than their reaction to your presentation. Being patient today could inspire people to give credence to your thoughts and feelings.
Letting others take time to consider your ideas gives them the opportunity to mull over what you’re suggesting without feeling forced to accept your viewpoint. They won’t feel pressured to come to an immediate conclusion and will appreciate your willingness to be patient. The thoughts you share will make a more favorable impression when your manner is gentler. Because others have been afforded the time to mull over everything you have said, they will be more likely to reflect upon each point you have made before coming to a conclusion. When you give others time to think about your ideas today, they will be more likely to give you their complete consideration.
May 7, 2008
Fulfilling Energetic Investments
Focusing Our Energy
As modern life makes a wealth of information and opportunities available to us, we may find ourselves torn between a wide variety of interests and projects. Our excitement may entice us to try all of them at once, but doing so only diffuses our energy, leaving us unable to fully experience any of them. Like an electrical socket with too many things plugged into it, we may be in danger of overheating and burning out. But if we can choose one thing at a time to focus all of our attention upon, we can make the most of our life-force energy, engaging ourselves fully in the moment so that it can nurture us in return.
Our attention can be pulled in many directions, not only in our own lives, but by advertising, media, and the hustle and bustle of our surroundings. But when we take the time to listen to our inner guidance and focus our thoughts on the goals that resonate the most strongly within us, the rest of the world will fade away. This may mean focusing the spotlight of our attention upon developing one aspect of our work, one course of study, or one hobby to pursue in our free time, but it doesn’t mean that we have to stay focused on only one thing forever. We may never know which of our interests is best suited to our abilities and heart’s desires unless we give it a proper chance. By being fully present with all that we are and all that we have, we can experience each choice fully and make the most fulfilling choices for our energetic investments.
Because we are multi-faceted beings, we are perpetually involved in many aspects of life in every moment. Our work in the world is necessary to attend to our physical needs, and our relationships are important for our emotional needs, but when we engage our spirit as well, we can choose the area that will nurture body, mind and soul. Staying focused in each moment allows us move with the rhythmic flow of the universe and harmonize all aspects of our being into balanced whole.