What is the nature of life? What is the essence of being human?
In my classes, I speak of the “breather”—the essence of life itself. It is a living, eternal flame within us, creating life. This breathing force sings, speaks, laughs, cries, and communicates life to everything around it. People refer to this force by many names: spirit, soul, essence, God, Goddess, life force, and more.
As a teacher, I listen to the voice of your nature. When you talk or sing, I listen for the limiting patterns of thought spoken, sounded, or felt that prevent this nature from rising through the body. By continually practising and engaging with music, we can reconnect with the true essence that we often bury, hide, or forget.
To uncover this nature, we must begin with our attitude—the impulse that drives our thoughts.
When I speak of attitude, I refer to the relationship one has with oneself—whether one treats oneself as a friend, an enemy, or both. This dynamic reveals whether a person is in harmony or disharmony with their true nature. Disharmony arises when the body, mind, or spirit are at odds with each other, for instance, when the inner self desires one thing while the external self pursues something else. Similarly, conflict occurs when the higher self wishes to move in one direction while the lower self seeks another.
There is a sacred, divine power hidden within the heart. The journey of seeking this inner nature marks the first step toward unravelling this unknown mystery. Along the way, you will encounter the parts of yourself that have hidden and obscured this essence, leading to body, mind, and spirit separation. To connect with these aspects of yourself, it is essential to offer kindness and compassion, being present with them as they are. This means removing the protective barriers you may have constructed and sitting with, listening to, and loving these parts, even when uncomfortable. This process can be challenging, especially given the distractions and influences around us. True strength lies in maintaining a steady attitude; a lack of steadiness can lead to failure and disappointment.
When you seek with this intention, the true nature (the God/Goddess force) within you begins to resonate internally and externally—revealing the truth of the divine flame/light within. Once this light has been reignited, it will radiate from your inner life into your outer life, helping you recognise that this force exists everywhere. And that what is created within is reflected and vibrates into the outside life. This manifests in service, kindness, forgiveness, and acceptance. It is essential to realise that you embody this force, just as all beings—humans, animals, trees, plants, water, wind, and earth—do. When you harm yourself, you harm others; when you harm others, you harm yourself. This understanding is the essence of goodness within all of us.
To nourish ourselves with this kindness - sweet melting honey, it will naturally flow into the outside world, and separation will cease to exist. Goodness is a wellspring that flows from deep within us, and often, in our lives, we either cover it up or let it go dry. When it flows freely, we can hear and feel the voice of our nature. It will sing, laugh, cry, and softly whisper, resonating from within. In that moment, the true teacher is revealed.
In Love and Song,
The Sound Weaver