Ironically, at the end of savasana in the zoom yoga class I took this morning, my MacBook Pro had a completely black screen. After initially freaking out, I laughed at how the universe often presents us with these learning opportunities. I knew I would be working on this topic today. I let myself relax for a moment, searched around google for an answer and realized it was time to call an expert. A very patient person at Apple helped me get my computer working again. She gave me some stern advice about backing up my data and presented me with choices about how to proceed. It was a wonderful lesson for this card.
A few years back, I read “When Things Fall Apart” by the buddhist nun Pema Chödrön. It’s a short read that I highly recommend. She offers advice about how loss presents important lessons. Don’t avoid the pain, move towards it. I like the metaphor of the water soluble glue used to hold the violin’s various pieces of wood together, allowing it to survive changing environmental conditions. As painful as it can be, there is strength and purpose in letting things fall apart. The potential of transformation can be an ending, a beginning, or both. I’m also thinking of the elision of phrases in the unaccompanied violin sonatas by J.S. Bach which present us with endings that are also beginnings.
Endings are inevitable whether or not we are ready for them. How do we react when things don’t go as planned? Loss and disappointment are hard to take but, as mentioned before, are important learning opportunities. Expectation and anticipation are powerful energies that can be all-consuming and even addictive.
During this pandemic, we are experiencing the loss of life as well as loss of employment, wealth, human contact, safety and comfort. When I created this card, I was thinking about certain situations such as not winning an audition or missing out on a performance opportunity. I had no idea it would be the card for circumstances worldwide now lasting over a year. A lot has fallen apart since 2019. However, we humans are capable of beautiful creations even during quarantine and social distancing. Please share your beautiful creations…
Singing bowl reflections
I’m most familiar with metal singing bowls that are played with a mallet, beater or striker. I have a small Tibetan singing bowl that is approximately 100 years old. It plays by being struck like a bell as well as moving the wooden striker gently around its rim. I really love the sound from the rim which produces a low flute sound, C#4 277 Hz. The striker creates an F#4 370 Hz. Together they create a perfect 4th. I’ve also heard singing bowls tuned to the chakras. The heart chakra is supposedly tuned to approximately C5 523 Hz. Chanting the syllable om at 110 hz seems to be ideal for theta brainwave meditation and healing.