Shaman's Vision Journey Music Album Review by Matt Murphy

Rejuvenating and expressive best describe the Shaman's Vision Journey album. It is a high point for healing music. I put on the album and began yoga and then transitioned harmoniously into a meditation session. When the music ended, I was shocked to see that over an hour had passed by!

David and Steve Gordon have made me realize the potency of shamanic beats and now I'm very interested to learn more. The sound is different from modern day healing music, because it intuitively feels as though the beats, the ethereal flute, and the chants are all something I have heard before. The familiarity of the music is primitive and fundamental to my being. My regular meditation music calms me whereas this just brought me to a place that felt like home.

I was also impressed with the knowledge of aboriginal beats that was expressed on the album. Each song had a distinct rhythm and an authentic feel to it. I remember at one point in my yoga routine, my mind stopped chattering. The group chanting carried my body away across centuries and over vast distances. I have never quite had the feeling of literally exploring a world within myself until I got to the midpoint of this album.

West Wind Receiving Sun Blessing is an incredible display of acoustic harmony—incorporating nature sounds, guitar, flute, and voice. It is my favorite song of the album. You can feel the solitude without being lonely, the nature without having to analyze, and the spirit of the artists without knowing them. Keep up the great work!

Meditainment has come on the scene in a big way. The series offers an immersive meditation experience using natural sounds and a soothing voice. They currently have 18 amazing guided meditations. And two of them are absolutely free! Sample the sounds and be prepared to be blown away.

The first free guided meditation is Island Paradise and, from the beginning, it feels as though you are entering a vast space. The calm voice of the narrator fills the space with a great sense of peace and relaxation. This sample is a case of painting a picture with words. And then there is the second free guided meditation, Secret Garden. It starts off with a similar magical effect of making you feel as though you are in a vast space, but somehow the qualities in here are different from Island Paradise. And again, the mellifluously voiced narrator creates a wonderful scene.  

The Meditainment site is beautifully presented. The flow of the tabs caringly walks you through an acoustic experience that leaves you feeling as refreshed as after an intense yoga session. It is clear that they have spared no expense in execution for this potent service. When you listen to the two free guided meditations, you will understand why their tag line is “Meditation that takes you places”.

Island Paradise - FREE Guided Meditation

The Secret Garden - FREE Guided Meditation

Review by Patricia Gale

If you want to change the world, you must first change yourself. This is the guiding principle of Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple: Your Guide to Finding True Inner Peace (Paradigm Press), by mindfulness meditation expert Charles A. Francis, who shares a concise, easy-to- follow, 12-Step approach that anyone can learn and practice right away.

Francis is one of the world’s leading proponents and teachers of mindfulness meditation. As the cofounder and director of the Mindfulness Meditation Institute and a mindfulness meditation practitioner for over 18 years, he has gained an international audience of more than 11,000 Twitter followers and more than 65,000 followers of his Mindfulness Meditation Institute.

In the book, Francis explains his own spiritual journey that began in his early 20s. He was a frightened young man with low self-esteem, unable to form meaningful relationships. His quest to grow, change, and be more present in the world began with reading books about spirituality and becoming involved in different groups. Francis intuitively discovered he could relieve stress by quieting his mind in nature or through silence.

After many years of practice and a transcendent spiritual experience, he sought a higher level of spirituality. He read books on meditation and began learning how to implement the practice. Experimenting with different forms of meditation, he discovered mindfulness meditation, a secular form of meditation that has its roots in Vipassana—the oldest form of meditation the Buddha originally taught over 2,500 years ago.

The practice boosted his self-confidence, dissipated his fear and anger, released emotional pain, decreased stress and anxiety, and improved his relationships and even his mental ability. Francis believes that the benefits of meditation are almost limitless for those who are willing to put in the effort. By dwelling in the three main sources of spiritual nourishment—our True Nature, the spiritual principles, and our spiritual community—we learn to live mindfully in the present moment.

Those of us searching for an antidote to the craziness of our lives today—and wanting to decrease the mind-agitating background noise caused by our addiction to technology—will appreciate Francis’s fresh approach to finding a new and transformed life using the practice of mindfulness meditation.

Francis shows readers not only how to do mindfulness mediation, but why. He explores the psychology behind the practice, and presents the many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits practitioners enjoy.

Francis’s 12-Step approach debunks the myth that it takes years of meditation to find inner peace. In fact, he’s a major proponent of DIY meditation; in other words, you don’t have to be an expert to form a meditation group. He encourages readers to form their own groups, and offers a companion website with many free downloadable tools, such as the meditation group starter kit, and a unique writing meditation. For people like me who can’t sit still, he even has a meditation one can do while walking!

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to develop mental discipline, deepen their insights, and acquire a sense of inner peace. Francis says all of this is within our reach.

101 Relaxing Meditation with Nature from Spa Maestro brings you over seven and a half hours of relaxing music.

This magical album contains pure nature sounds. As it goes it brings You Zen tracks and Asian music inspired by ancient oriental tones. Listen to the melody, take a deep breath, remember a golden sunset and the serenity of the evening, hear the bells and enjoy positive affirmations. Fell the lulling effect they have on the listener.

This music will relax the body and mind. Also, it has the power of healing the spirit.

Try 101 Relaxing Meditation with Nature and take part in a long and effective music therapy.

As many as one in three people will suffer from insomnia at some point in their lives. Lying in bed, staring at the clock, while tossing and turning until the wee hours of the morning is the reality for some people afflicted with this sleep stealing disorder.  Some insomnia sufferers resort to prescription sleep medications which can cause residual morning sleepiness as well as other side effects.

If you’re looking for a drug free option to the frustrating problem of insomnia, you may want to consider use of a white noise maker. White noise makers are machines that produce a blend of the full range of sound frequencies. Playing this blend of sound frequencies in the background may help to mask distracting sounds that might keep a person from drifting off to sleep at night. Insomniacs are often extremely sensitive to background sounds and a white noise maker can make these sounds less distracting.

White noise makers are particularly useful when sleep is made difficult by a partner who snores or by sounds that come from activity in the house after bed time. It can also be helpful if you work the night shift and are forced to sleep during the day when there are many sound distractions that make sleep difficult.

White noise makers make a repetitive, monotonous sound when played that’s similar to the sound of radio static or rushing air. It’s generally not obtrusive enough to disturb you if you should choose to read a book in bed but is effective enough to block unwanted noises that could be a distraction to sleep. The white machines are usually small enough to be portable and can be conveniently plugged into an electrical wall socket. Some models allow you to adjust the volume of the white noise to the exact level you want.

Do white noise makers work for insomnia? If your insomnia is related to ambient noise, white noise makers may help you eliminate background sound that may be contributing to your sleeplessness. If your insomnia is unrelated to noise levels in your home, it’s less likely that white noise makers will work for you. These devices can be purchased online for around $50.00 which is not cost prohibitive for most people.

If you travel a lot and sleep in hotel rooms, your white noise machine will fit into your suitcase for easy transport. Hotel rooms can often be a source for distracting noises which can be moderated by using your white noise maker.

If your insomnia is made worse by surrounding noise, a white noise machine may very well provide the relief you’re looking for so you can get a good night’s sleep. If your insomnia is persistent and doesn’t respond to treatment, be sure to see your doctor.

If you are thinking of buying a white noise machine, then I recommend the DOHM-DS Natural White Noise Sound Machine as a good alternative. Click here to read all the positive reviews that the DOHM-DS Natural White Noise Sound Machine is receiving on Amazon.com

                                                               www.omharmonics.com

The 6 Phase Meditation, created by Vishen Lakhiani, is a daily affirmation for manifesting abundance in every aspect of your life. Vishen says:

"When I was 14, I discovered meditation and since then I've made it a part of my life. In fact, when I lived in New York, I was a meditation instructor for 5 years. Now that I've been working in personal growth and spirituality for over a decade, I've had the chance to experiment with a wide variety of meditation techniques, creative visualizations, and mind exercises.

"This one is a very personal 6-phase dynamic meditation technique that I developed myself and use on a daily basis. I shared this with friends and family and people truly love this and they all loved it."

Below are the 6 phases. Mix this meditation with any background sound or music you like and listen daily to manifest the best results.

HERE ARE THE 6 PHASES:

- Connection
- Gratitude
- Freedom from negative charges
- Creative visualization
- Intentions for the day
- Blessing

Enjoy your journey and definitely click on the link below to read more about this dynamic meditation technique.

The background music is called the OmLife.Balance and is available on www.omharmonics.com

The sounds rise and fall adjusting to your breaths. Your breaths come and go in time with the music. Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Hold… With every intake of breath you stretch further and further. Don't think, just be conscious of your breathing. The Yoga will come to you.

Believe me, with the right melodies your exercises will be more efficient, your experience deeper, and your focus sharper. Discover the empowering effect of the compulsory attuned sounds.

Listen to the music and hear the rain – feel it removing every trace of your fatigue. When the flute comes notice that only your strength remained. Keep going. There is so much more you can do today. Do you feel how the power grows inside you? How it fills your body, traveling through the chakra pathways, leaving you whole and centered? You feel Healthier, Stronger, Calmer and Relaxed.

Rest in the sounds of water splashing on the shore. Relax every particle of your being, every part of your body. Inhale the sounds of nature and exhale what clutters your attention. There is just you, your Yoga and the Music.

Try Healing Yoga Practice and find a totally new experience in your everyday exercises.

When you’re feeling stressed, nothing is more relaxing than retreating to a quiet room and listening to the sounds of soft music. So effective is the power of music to transform the mood that an entire therapy has arisen around the concept of music for relaxation known as music therapy. The concept of music therapy centers around the idea that music can be used to enhance the health of people who suffer from mental or physical disorders. Even some hospitals and medical clinics have adopted a music therapy program as a way to make their patients feel better.

Studies have shown that music can alter brain wave patterns as well as heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. No wonder music for stress and relaxation is believed to be so effective. But what type of music is best? Do certain types of music work better than others when it comes to stress relief?

What’s the Best Type of Music for Stress and Relaxation?

It’s obvious if you want to relax the best songs for relaxation won’t be hard rock tunes or fast paced dance music. Fast paced music can actually increase the heart rate and blood pressure and make relaxation more difficult. This type of music is more suitable for raising energy levels when you’re feeling tired and unmotivated. If you want to relax and de-stress, choose tunes that will slow the heart rate, breathing pattern, and reduce blood pressure levels.

I recommend that you listen to relaxation music mixed with nature sounds as  this music tends to give the listener a deep experience of calmness and serenity. If you choose this method, then the following album is an excellent choice: Best Of Meditation With Music & Nature

Songs for Relaxation: The Power of the Classics

One of the best types of music to listen to for stress and relaxation is classical music. Studies have shown that when people listen to slow, classical melodies, their heart rate and breathing synchronizes with the pace of the music. Brain wave changes also occur that alter neurotransmitter levels leading to relaxation and a reduction in stress levels. Although slow, classical music has a proven record for relieving stress, new age music and soft jazz can have a similar effect. The key is to select slow tunes that will encourage the heart and breathing rate to adjust downwards to meet the tempo of the music.

The following album collects a large number of well-known classical titles performed by orchestras and ensembles from around the world. The music provides a peaceful background for activities that do or do not require concentration, or it can be a focal point for a more meditative state: Classical Music for Relaxation

Songs for Relaxation: Create Your Own Personal Library

To enhance the effects of music for stress and relaxation, be sure to select tunes that you like. If classical music isn’t your preference, choose another type of slow music to help your mind and body unwind. Your brain will respond more positively to sounds it interprets as pleasing. Try creating your own personal library of songs for relaxation and listen to it after a long, hard day. Preview a variety of songs and keep a record of how each one makes you feel to determine if it’s a good candidate for inclusion in your relaxation music library.

The best music for stress and relaxation may be different for you than for someone else. Once you have your selections, keep them handy and listen to them after a long, hard day at work. It’s one of the best forms of therapy.

It’s been nearly thirty years since the world was introduced to Enya Brennan, who was popularized in the late 80s with the pivotal ‘Watermark’ record. In the years following, Enya has released seven full studio endeavors to varying degrees of success. At her best, the iconic Irish songwriter and composer is deeply emotional, sonically spectacular, and hauntingly beautiful. At her worst, she’s mundane, repetitive, and stuck in a sound that’s never grown or evolved. After quite a break, she’s back this year with Dark Sky Island an album that’s probably in the middle of that spectrum.

The introduction to Dark Sky Island, ‘The Humming...’ is very telling of the rest of the eleven track experience. Enya is still Enya. Sweeping string orchestration, copious reverb, vocal layering, and tinges of Irish traditional folk music are all present. The first two tracks of the album, ‘The Humming...’ and ‘So I Could Find My Way’ feel very “safe.” Enya doesn’t venture into any new territory you aren’t already comfortable with her being in. The lyricism is equally safe, not particularly expressing any new themes, just building on some basic love ideas that she attempts to flesh out in ‘So I Could Find My Way.’

‘Even In The Shadows’ is a high point for the album early on. Enya has always had an excellent knack for the self-creation of harmonies. This track capitalizes on that talent, creating a tune that breaks Enya out of her bubble a tiny bit more. She remains out of that bubble in the following track, too. ‘The Forge Of The Angels’ is a stunning experience, essentially creating a minimalistic opera landscape for Enya to softly croon throughout. The composition is well organized, harnessing the finest of what Enya brings to the table in her releases: great string sections.

‘Echoes In Rain’ is a compelling effort, perhaps because it breaks the established tempo of Dark Sky Island (Yes, it has one tempo that it does tend to meander within). This spices up the experience, but the string stylings are sorely repetitive. That is a problem Enya faces with her tunes; she seems to move toward those finger plucked string pieces in lieu of percussion. My point, is that she’s recycled this a thousand times over. Regardless, the piano solo in the piece does offer some sonic variation that amends the repetition, somewhat.

‘I Could Never Say Goodbye’ is likely the most well written endeavor on Dark Sky Island. It’s a heartbreakingly personal song, really pulling on Enya’s ability to harness those poignant emotions with tact. The titular track follows, basically extending on the established sound of ‘I Could Never Say Goodbye.’ As a result, ‘Dark Sky Island,’ the song, is somewhat forgettable.

‘Sancta Maria’ is interesting, if not only because I’m fairly positive that lead instrumentation is synthesized, or mastered to sound like it. I actually really like this; it forces Enya to leave the confines of that repetitive string plucking she’s all too happy to write into every song. That plucking does introduce itself around that main riff, but to hear such a bright piece of instrumentation grounding ‘Sancta Maria’ is refreshing. ‘Astra Et Luna’ is entirely skippable for its heavy reliance on Enya’s formulaic aethstetic.

‘The Loxian Gate’ continues Enya’s jaunt through vocal layering, adding an extra layer of reverb over a sparse usage of a gong. It’s nothing particularly invigorating, but it is soothing, as is ‘Diamonds On The Water,’ the finale. If you’re seeking a purely “Enya sound,” this record delivers that in spades. It doesn’t, however, deliver on the creative promise of a matured artist 28 years into their career.

I can’t imagine listening to the Deluxe version of this album. It’s not a bad album, and it has its moments, but Enya seems all too content in territory she’s occupied for many years without any real change. I adore some of her work, and in my opinion, her emotion is what makes the ending of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ so tear jerking. She did the same with ‘Gladiator;’ ‘Now We Are Free’ completes the film. As such a talented composer, however, she’s failed to exhibit any real sense of variety or creativity in the last decade. Dark Sky Island perpetuates that cycle. That said, ‘Even In The Shadows,’ ‘I Could Never Say Goodbye,’ and ‘Sancta Maria’ are admirably good songs.