Ananda Nidra : Blissful Sleep was created by renowned Tantra teachers and authors Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson. It is inspired by a traditional Tantric practice known as Yoga Nidra. These two innovative, spoken-word meditations rely on pleasurable images and sensations to induce feelings of relaxation and refreshment coupled with a profound sense of satisfaction. Presented for the first time on compact disc, the 44 minute meditations are read by Michaels (accompanied by a minimalist ambient track from darkwave legends Black Tape For A Blue Girl) and Johnson (accompanied by a floating soundscape from prominent electronic-ambient pioneer Steve Roach). Each CD in this 2-CD set contains one meditation, followed by an additional 16 minutes of music for continued reflection and intregration of the experience.
: Disc 1 :
1 Ananda Nidra 1 : Mark A. Michaels : 44:00 :
(with the music of Black Tape For A Blue Girl)
MP3 Excerpt 1 : MP3 Excerpt 2
2 The Passage : Black Tape For A Blue Girl : 16:00 : MP3 Excerpt :
: Disc 2 :
1 Ananda Nidra 2 : Patricia Johnson : 44:00 :
(with the music of Steve Roach)
MP3 Excerpt 1 : MP3 Excerpt 2
2 First Light (Excerpt) : Steve Roach : 16:00 : MP3 Excerpt :
In Stores : August 9 2011
http://tantrapm.com
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Music by Black Tape for a Blue Girl & Steve Roach
Purchase for $17.98 at Projekt
Sam writes: I first met Mark & Patricia a few years ago when I took a seminar they were leading. It was intriquing stuff about chakras & energy. Things got much more serious the next year, when I attended their ANANDA NIDRA meditation each day over the course of four days. During one of the sessions, something outstanding happened. My mind quieted, and I heard a voice - that was mine but not me thinking the thought - give me a short piece of advice that was relevant to the moment.
I was hooked. I wanted others to hear this! That's what my Projekt label is all about: releases that I love and want people to hear!
I talked with Mark & Patricia about a CD release of ANANDA NIDRA. We discussed ideas and decided to have music behind the spoken-word meditations. I recorded them reading the guidance tracks here at my studio, and then set to work: editing, and creating my backing track.
I took the 16 minute ambient piece "The Passage" off 1999's Blacktape CD As one aflame laid bare by desire, and reworked it into a 44 minute score. It is quite different from my As lonely as Dave Bowman POD release (which is more active and churning). I would say it is somewhere between the the quiet Alio Die releases and Steve Roach's single-disc immersive titles. It's textural, slowly flowing, morphing, at times low-fi in that you can hear some of the electronics doing its processing. Violinist Vicki Richards makes an appearance at the point in the track where Mark says "Go into the mental screen behind the eyes. In that dark space behind the eyes, you will see a small, glowing, golden flame. Take that flame and make it grow, stronger, brighter, golden. Until your entire body is glowing, bathed in warm, delightful, golden light."
Over the last few weeks, I have been doing ANANDA NIDRA regularly. It has been great. For me, it serves the very beneficial purpose of cutting down the noise and mental interference in my life. This weekend, I experienced something incredible. While talking intensely with a friend, I was able to have JUST ONE THOUGHT AT A TIME. No competing thoughts popping up to distract me. It was one thought with emptiness surrounding it. Amazing; I would love to keep that. New York adds so much noise and chaos around every thought.
Personally, I was sort of reluctant to start meditating. I never thought I could sit quietly for an hour. When I tried, too many thoughts kept coming up and distrurbing me. Having the voices of the guided meditation gives me something to focus on. I find that after a bit, I drift into the "Blissful Sleep" state. I am emptied of thoughts. I highly recommend this CD.
You can purchase ANANDA NIDRA from Projekt or iTunes.
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