A Set for the Dark Months

I didn’t intend to take two weeks away from writing but spending a week with the California family immersed in that regions still-picturesque natural wonders, It was clear that I was overdue for a serious break to reflect and rejuvenate myself.

No better place to do that then Marin county where the aroma of eucalyptus trees in the rain and the clouds of fog hugging the sides of Mount Tamalpais remind me of nature’s infinite wonders that Marinites are still fiercely protective of. While It’s really damp and chilly this time of year, there’s an unmistakeable earthy warmth to the place made all the more prominent in the insistent rain and fog.

My son Jaimeo and my daughter Marisha, are on the staff and faculty of The Branson School pictured above. Currently a 320-student independent school located in Ross, Ca., Branson is adding 20 additional students until enrollment reaches 420.

Full Disclosure: I was the director of Technology at TBS from 1996 until 2002.

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Located in West Marin, the Spirit Rock Meditation Center has been for more than 40 years, the metaphysical anchor for many in the worldwide community of faiths. It was my great honor to be return there at the invitation of Extraordinary fellow Iowan Teja Bell.

Teja, a longtime dharma teacher at Spirit Rock, offered my son Jaimeo and I the opportunity to bring in the new year with the Spirit Rock community. We took part in an evening of Music, meditations, Dharma talks, all with the intention of making the year ahead an affirmation of the light we carry in our hearts.

Jaimeo’s awesome setup for meditation and sound healing

Of course wherever you go there will be IOWANS. The Eldredge Bros. (Greg, Peter and Andrew) graduated from Dowling and Valley High School in the 90’s. Peter and Andrew are science and math teachers in Marin Co. while Greg is associated with Ritual Cafe in downtown Des Moines. I Met Mary Pat Eldredge, their mother, on an airplane flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco about 10 years ago and we’ve been fast friends ever since.

The 40-minute music mix presented above was created for YOU by the yours truly and percussionist, composer sound designer Jaimeo Brown.

My soundscape Basso Fundo opens this session but the piece eventually recedes, eclipsed by…

….Harlem Logic (featuring Jaimeo’s multi-dimensional approach to the drumkit aided and abetted by the late Kelvin Sholar Electric Piano and Ameen Saleem, acoustic bass.

The Third and final extended soundscape is an opportunity, an invitation to delve deeper, make yourself comfortable put on your headphones and add your voice. You can also just close your eyes and allow your breathing match the in-and-out flow of the music.

In these times we’re called on to be spiritual alchemists transforming division and rancor into love and connection. Happy New Year, it’s good to be back home in Des Moines but with Marin county, I’ll always have spiritual dual-citizenship.

Welcome to year number two of My Integrated Life.