Shining Light - The Reincarnation Song

We are the sum of the atoms of our universe. What passes through our bodies every nanosecond is the beginning of all time and the entire existence of humans. This has led me to believe that if these atoms carry the souls of all peoples, perhaps it is possible to tune into that energy and reveal them in certain sacred and profound places.

One of those sacred places is Goat Rock Beach, located near the coastal town of Jenner By The Sea, on the Sonoma Coast. The air here is filled with negative charged ions from the clash of the river and ocean waves, altering the energy field to create a heightened sense of awareness. As I walked my dog on Goat Rock one evening, I encountered and energy force that engulfed my body with the sensations of intense oneness and love. This euphoric effect lasted for hours, drawing me into a lucid dream where I heard the mysterious sounds of an angel's harp. When I awoke, I picked up my guitar and tuned it to the harp like sound I heard in my dream. (To hear the altered tuning of D# – A# – D – G – G – D click the link below)

As I explored the unique note patterns on my guitar, the song “Shining Light” came to me in one pass. It was as if something or, someone was guiding me. (Click link below to hear the song)

When I read back the Shining Light lyrics I wrote in my diary, I found that they told the story of losing my mother to an aneurism in the prime of her life. I began to ponder, was it her spirit that came to me on the beach the evening I encountered that mysterious energy force?

Shining Light Lyrics

Mother can you hear the sound of children laughing

Children laughing at your feet

And if you gather them around, into a circle

The story starts where we will meet

For the days are passing by

They’re numbered by a time

When the sun sets on us all

We’ll join you in this rhyme

Father can you see the light

A silent memory, a silent memory in your mind

Your children gather around and feel your sorrow

A fallen tree lies on the ground

For the days are passing by

They’re numbered by a time

When the sun sets on us all

We’ll join you in this rhyme

Rest your soul we're doing fine

We miss your smile, but it's alright

We sing this song for you tonight

Your memory lingers in our minds

Brother can you hear these words

These words we borrow

From the fables of our lives

For, in the end, we find

A place of knowing

Knowing that our fears are blind

For the days are passing by

They’re numbered by a time

When the sun sets on us all

We’ll join you in this rhyme

And all the love that we share

Comes from knowing that you're there

It guides our dreams in the night

Your stars shining light

For the days are passing by

They’re numbered by a time

When the sun sets on us all

We’ll join you in this rhyme

Death is profound in its beauty and understanding of the impermanence of all things. I was studying Buddhist philosophy at the time of my encounter and its connection to the oneness of music. This experience opened my eyes to the "note behind the note" and the healing power of music and its ability to bridge the spirit and natural world as accomplished in this unique one-of-a-kind guitar tuning.

Music is the great connector. It permeates through our physical bodies as energy that merges our mind with the elements of the earth (our instruments) to give a voice to nature and the alchemy that offers healing energy to our planet. It functions in a similar construct of the “three characteristics” of existence Buddhism teaches us. The “Anicca”, - the observation that everything is always in a constant flux of energy, (hence, the atonal sounds of this unique guitar tuning). The “Dukha”, - where the mind is always in states of dissatisfaction, (hence, the tension created by the abstract sounds of this tuning). The “Anatta”, - the realization that if we observe our behaviors closely, there is no “I” to be found, (hence, the magical discovery of melodic sensibilities from the chaotic non-tempered sounds of this tuning that guides the soul to an egoless meaningful way towards enlightenment.)

Can the dead speak? We can only speculate until we enter the twilight world. Until then, I find comfort knowing that the ones we love live through us in the grand beauty of music under the watchful eyes of the cosmos.

To read more about the mystical powers of music creativity and its connection to a rich spiritual life, visit the following links for interviews with forward-thinking musicians on how their spiritual beliefs inspires their art.

For Indian tabla-electronica musician/philanthropist, Robin Sukhadia, click here,

For Persian Nu-Flamenco musician, Farzad Arjmand, click here.

For Zen New Age guitarist/composer, Shambhu Vineberg, click here.