Music, Yoga & the Power of Sound

Music has the ability to transform. To inspire, awaken, soothe and captivate our humanly senses, to shift and bend perception, to bring us home to ourselves. Heavenly melodies inspire my heart, lyrics speak to my depths, the very essence of frequency helps shift energy; it awakens me.

To rest in the presence of sound is truly powerful. Music allows me to get out of my own way to experience true sweetness. It is my dearest love, greatest pleasure, and deepest healer. It is my teacher, my passion and my truest confidant.

For longer than I can remember I have found some of the purest moments of joy in the surrender of sound. When I let noise flow from my body as an offering in song or tone or as I listen with intention to the notes of others, the space between melody and rhythm, it is all here, this gift. Straight from the dazzling heart centre, made of a million pieces of universal beauty, lies the safe little offering of sound. Commanding my fullest presence I am able to witness my true nature, in this quiet place, where the music is.

This little song bird has been grateful to swim in the sea of sound. Whether I am singing or being bathed in sound, I have felt the power of all that she is. A full energetic immersion in the world of frequency, and the playful movement that has left lasting impressions. I have a decadent memory. I can recall events and tell colourful stories of adventure. But nothing in my memory is sharper than the needle that recorded the history of my musical awakening over the years.

Now, as a yoga teacher, a holder of space, a sharer of things…..I am able to let my inner songbird soar. In a 60 special minutes I spend with other voyagers of the earth, I guide yoga experiences, where students entrust me with their bodies, minds and hearts. It is you with whom I get the pleasure of serenading with sound, with whom I share my passions of music and nourishment as I offer you my voice and often make you uncomfortable finding yours :)

For those of us who dig a little deeper, we are afforded the pain and pleasure to get lost in the experience of ourselves, and guided by the hums of vibration, perhaps, dance ourselves to parts unknown. Whether it is through the practice of making sound with breath, chanting, or listening to the external soundtrack played, it is here, where the opportunity to surrender to sound exists. Music allows us to evoke emotion to heal pain and unlock pieces of ourselves as we come to life in the discovery of our own instruments of sound.

May you be free to dive deeply into the layers sound healing that move you toward greater balance. May you meet delight in your human experience, may you be open to trust in your inner wisdom and always revel in the harmony of your beating heart.

May we thank music for helping us all awaken to our sweetness, if only for a track, if only for a moment, may it move you.

Blessings,

Ashley

The Striking Rains of Spring...

It's been raining for a few days. New beginnings boasts spring charm, its fervent nature magnified. I have been sleeping for many hours. With this new season I leave behind so much of the past, of myself and start anew. It's funny, new beginnings, that is...exciting in the simplest of ways...bloody terrifying in another. What do I do when I shed layers, close the doors of past relationships, projects, jobs all abandoned in a dance my heart plays with the universe.
I sit an do nothing. Well....for now.
Humbled is my heart at the notion of the quiet warrior. This new place of surrender, there is so much I want to do and accomplish, directions to move towards. The jedi must quiet the mind. Reduce the chatter. Sit on the porch in the rain and practise stillness. It is only with the stillness that comes the ability to strike. To impact. To let the force flow and live in the becoming. The forever changing rains, these seasons coddle our variant nature and we bloom colourfully as guardians of this universe. Furiously untangling the thorns protecting this warriors wild heart. 

It sounds so good in make believe

Oh darling, say you'll come away with me again
To places where we'll meet in dreams but when
Oh but darling you are lost at sea
heavens to wait patiently for me
Oh darling sail away with me someday
Let's meet and see our faces play
In sights but sounds our ears may brood
For it's the first sight love captured
beyond this new lights mood
Your unknown tidal wave it sees
As I play dress up and make you believe

Write of make believe as a place

Oh darling say you'll marry me
And we can dream like lovers sing
Into a world of make believe
Oh lover sail and swing

The leaves of fall are dynamite
when Ravens fly and dance delights
The cool it helps to warm the night
Bt days are grey and often slight....ly
Raining.

He lights a smoke and drags his heels
The man who walked along
Concealing Stories
Trolly's cruise at will
Oh my love come hear me still
Arrive by the rivers edge and places by
This rivers song delicately waiting
tightly tucked in the stations corner
and the loftiest of ceilings
making space for light to fill.

Song Bird

A quiet heart
Where birds sing
Where smiles bloom
Unique Expression
Universal Dance
Born to exist
In inspiration
Golden reflection
For all to awaken
Be here.

when the essence of essential sleep essentially wakes the writers heart

When the rain comes
Let it flow.
Do not dwell upon the drops
For no dreams unheard the thunder
Roar.
Their round essence glow like the face to the sun
Warmed and dressed up
Like the thought of you
and Your dancing dreams.

The inspiration of mind waves
Gleam and poke
Speak truth again as the fade of the night
turns the hum of the day
Into visions of times difference
When our heads rest at mindful hours
Parted
and Straight to the heart.

A.Lord

A quiet 4:30am under the covers. The changing seasonal winds blow. Speaking of covers. I'm safe and warm. I am writing. I wonder what kind of pillow your head rests upon in the west.

I want to hear about your dreams. About the whispers of the heart that dance and turn. Yes, write them down, let them out. Sometimes the booze and weed get us out of our own way, a release perhaps not capable otherwise in this moment. Your words are beautiful. I like hearing your mind expand.

I thought of you tonight. On the walk home. How lovely it was to speak to you. How you make my heart smile. The essence of you.

It is most definitely late and you are most definitely passed out. I write anyway. I was sleeping just before this and was awoken by the voice "look at your phone". I listened. I am glad i did.

Here you are.

Dream in colour. The rich tapestry of vision lingers but for a moment, to be captured and woven together with new light.

Cheers mate. You're lovely. (British accent)

not a love letter

This may or may not be a love letter.
Sober, or less than, when someone tells you they kinda love you, not so easy to brush off. At least for me. With you.
For the record I was not angry. Upon further reflection...I was in fact frustrated at the very essence of being shaken and stirred. By no means angry. I wanted to tell you that. So you know.

I have thought similarly of you. This man, who admires me from a distance. Of whom fond thoughts have existed. Slightly removed, yet seemingly close, here we are, connected. Arguably.
So i write to you, for no other reason than i was compelled to do so.

And I shall write...and say hello. Send the tea. Proceed to carry onwards in my vision. I am building a dream.

For the people, the poets, I wish for us to seek and succumb to the deepest parts of the heart. To never settle. To know the pictures we paint are dreams worth craving. To trust we will live ourselves into the beautiful little imaginary world, suspended, if only for a moment, in it's hideaway. To be found. As life unfolds and we become. And as spoken poetically by a great, in a place where we dare to dream, where we dare to "live the questions now, to live everything".

One day, when our worlds collide in the realest of realness I shall meet this fascinating human. Until then I shall write. I shall dance into the future, of this beautiful life, with a happiness that burns. Showers blessings upon us. I shall wonder of you. From afar. Once removed from often. As you exist in the safe keeping of this heart, ringing fierce frequencies not intended for the moment. On a tilted horizon, where both sides of the sun set, and I may love you reasonably, removed of reason.

Be well. Write on. Drink tea.

Cracks in the Mirror

Basking in complexion
Flickering, boldness
of developed faces
Dimmed perception wanes
To raise truth at smoked mirrors
Catching glimpses of the unseen.
-A.Lord

fall off the page

Alas this poetess can't sleep
Seemingly silent
Speaking truths
Revealed and unspoken
Take yourself to the place where
Stories live
I'll write the words that fall off the page
and drop Rays of light
That turn a key to this moment
-A.Lord