Sounds of Kind Rebirth: Turiya and Ramakrishna
There are too many moments in my life when words can’t carry the weight I feel. Sometimes language falls out of character and only vibrations and sounds and stillness can help express the deeper levels of transformation within. There isn’t a lot I come across that can match that energy, but there are some jazz standards that help me locate the balance. Occasionally, I would like to give you a view into that feeling. Today’s view introduces (or reintroduces to some) Alice Coltrane’s “Turiya and Ramakrishna.” It is one of those super rare compositions that absolutely hold the frequency of the kind rebirth measure. For me, it’s not simply a song; it is a testament to meditation, prayer and a soul’s awakening to its own personal journey and rhythm.
My vision for Kind Rebirths speaks to rebirth as an unfolding, a realization that returns us to our essence after the world has shown us conflict and anger. It wears us down, but our goal is not to follow that path. We choose peace and life filled with continual unfolding, if you will. Coltrane’s Turiya and Ramakrishna captures that stillness and awakening through her piano by channeling two spirits, or two divine concepts: Turiya – the state of pure consciousness beyond waking, dream or deep sleep states & Ramakrishna – an Indian mystic devoted to the divine love that permeates and unites all humans. Jointly, they symbolize surrender and emergence, both ingredients needed for a thriving rebirth.
When I listen to her piece, the air breathes differently. The notes are subtle and pronounced, but a deliberate wave that feels a connection to the infinite. This is why I love jazz music. In her piece, there is no rush to her climax, just a presence of being. It makes me remember who I am and where I am. It brings me to my inner temple. Her peaks let me know that I can do better once I make the effort to do so. It starts with changing my focus and intention.
In case this isn’t a well-known fact, she was wife to John Coltrane, another jazz pioneer, who was born not too far from where I reside now. Upon John’s passing, Alice’s grief didn’t collapse her into grief or depression – it transformed her. The path she soon charted rebirthed her music from entertaining performance to music to heal. This later transitioned her to become a spiritual teacher, blending the beauty and freedom of jazz with a higher more divine purpose, gapping bridges between varying cultures, faiths, and sounds. Her inspiration teaches us [me] that rebirth, while it is always an intentional choice one can make, it is sometimes born of pain, but sharpened when it meets head on with grace, love, and patience. Then we are left with the wisdom, the art, and light that has been created.
I have used Turiya and Ramakrishna as a further reminder of the cycles of rebirth. It does not matter if we are healing from the loss of a loved one, whether we are searching for meaning in a life that seems absent of one, or if we are learning how to love all over again, I hope Turiya and Ramakrishna breathe new life into your unfolding, into your becoming. Quiet moments carry significant revelations.
The type of frequency Kind Rebirths is created on, was discovered on – mindfulness, compassion, and awareness – transform our lives and our connections. Slow down to really listen and hear the divine rhythm guiding toward renewal. We are blessed to find songs from inspirational artists to help get us there. So that’s encouraging.
This week’s assignment: Find a quiet place to play the track (play it loud if you like or use headphones). Close your eyes for period. Allow your emotions to surface and simply observe them. Then let ponder how a kind rebirth in your life can change your entire trajectory.
Remember, the essence of a Kind Rebirth is to awaken through awareness. Alice Coltrane helped us as a community by showing that there is no escaping the world in a literal sense, but we are well within our ability to transform the way we move in it. Let this song be an offering and a gift that she has given to the world. I hope that it transforms you the way that it has me.
Stay tuned for more musical selection suggestions to help guide your rebirth.
Stay mindful…
Rebirth
INTRODUCING: Alice Coltrane – Turiya and Ramakrishna
