Nick Zano, Jes Macallan, Caity Lotz, Dominic Purcell, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Matt Ryan, Tala AshePhoto: Jeff Weddell (The CW) TV ReviewsAll of our TV reviews in one convenient place.

Last week we ran down some of the greatest hits of the Legends repertoire. Two major items were missing from that list, but perhaps it was fate (or the Fates) because both popped up this week. First, theres the obligatory physical-manifestation-of-Gideon episode, a rare but reliably entertaining occurrence. If Gideon shows up, the episode in question is bound to be something of an event. And then theres the Legends episode that seems like a rompand is, in fact, at least sort of a rompbut which is also an exploration of a rich, complex theme. Some, if not all, of the shows best hours do exactly this, and I Am Legends, a promising, thoughtful, bonkers part one of an episode in the vein of Hello No, Dolly! and Guest Starring John Noble, does it very, very well. The theme, naturally, is death.

And actually, theres a third greatest-hit to add to the list: Sara Lance dying. Nobody does it betteror more frequently.

Sure, these deathsor most of them, at leastwont be permanent. (Gary will make it through, if only because no one else would remember to feed Gary Jr. II his fabricator veggies.) But I Am Legends, credited to Ray Utarnachitt, Leah Poulliot, and Emily Cheever (Cheever and Poulliot each making their TV writing debut) does an impeccable job of making those losses feel real and shocking. Some of that is down to sheer cleverness: The episode hinges on that chalice-granted immortality, which means they cant be killedsuper-zombies, if you will. It allows them to take risks they might not otherwise survive; thats heightened by a few other near-death experiences without the immortal touch. But its not all broad strokes, and the writers thread the needle gently. When Avas not popping up after being shot in the head and Mick isnt throwing himself out of the back of a moving car without even attempting to tuck and roll, the characters spend their time talking about memory, remorse, loss, and loveyou know, death stuffand thus the hijinks and more delicate thematic elements all emerge from the same place.

Theres also a very simple trick that I Am Legends pulls, and its essential to the success of this strong hour. Its that shot to the head that Ava takes, a shocking jolt, brutal and violent and comically impermanent. The Legends, Sara tells Ava, are all about improvisation; a solution inevitability arises even when there seems to be no way out. (Get in losers, were going Looming.) But Sara spends the episode in a state of ominous calm, and when Ava finally asks her about it, the tone shifts immediately. Up to that point, with the possible exception of Zaris slightly delayed return to the land of the living, its all Ava popping back up and ejecting the bullet from her body. But once that scene happens, once the Time Team starts to get sentimental as they wait for their one great hope to charge up, theres a definite shift. Its there before Zaris timer ever runs all the way out. They all know it. Eventually, even for time-travelers, death comes calling.

G/O Media may get a commission

Legends Of Tomorrow has nearly always** done a better job of exploring big ideas thematically than all of its Arrowverse brethren (and many other TV shows), specifically because it often approaches the heaviest stuff from a weird, funny angle. Its not that it takes mortality, love, and regret any less seriously than other such storiesAvas clone backstory, for example, has been both solid comedic fodder and an opportunity to explore issues of identity, memory, betrayal, and self-loathing. Yet it never stops being fun. Sara Lance was a death witch when the death totem possessed her. John Constantine threw himself a funeral. Rays remorse over fatally wounding Nora led to a dueling Damien Darhk heist. Zari died over and over again, but she still got the fun montage. I Am Legends, a very funny, very silly episode that sees a bunny-hopping Amy Louise Pemberton play Gideon as imagined by Gary as Gary Jr. II, carries on that fine Legends tradition. Its all fun and games untilwell, it never stops being fun and games. Its just that it was always bigger than that, too.

The episode does, however, raise some sticky time-travel issues. How does Saras power interact with time-travel? If theyre capable of changing the futureand weve seen endless evidence that they arethen what prevents them from changing Saras fate (and thus the fate of them all)? And since weve seen Sara prevent a future shes seen from happening (Zari, hide that fork), what makes this circumstance different? And while I doubt very much well ever see an answer to this, how does Saras SaraVision correspond to and interact with Gideons abilities when it comes to future events? If Sara gets a flash and the Legends find the encore/correct the anachronism/solve the mythery, would she touch the same person or object and find its changed? And for that matterapologies to those of you who only watch this show and not the rest of the Arrowversehow does SaraVision relate to Ciscos abilities as Vibe?

Still, Im content to mostly not think about it too much. While Sara takes a backseat here, by her own design, I Am Legends is a fitting approach to a story about the impending death of this particular character, who has died and died and died again, with a few comas thrown in for good measure. If anyone in this story has a practical yet emotional response to death, its Sara Lance. The apocalypse doesnt faze her, and neither does her own end. Shes content with her life, and she trusts her friends, and her co-captain, to do whats best and necessary, whether she comes back or not. (Which, of course, she will.)

If the A-story is that of the Legends moving unknowingly but inexorably toward death-by-zombie (just be glad Martin Stein was spared this particular adventure), then the B- and C-stories were Zari and Constantines side-quest and Garys adventures aboard the Waverider. The Zari/Constantine story is just an excuse to get them to bicker and make out; while they havent totally put in the work to sell that particular story yet, the actors have such solid chemistry that Im fine with it. And this is a particularly solid use of Adam Tsekhmans Gary, whose suitably bonkers sub-plot gives him things to actually do, rather than relegating him to punchlines and screw-ups. Both also concern themselves with mortality, as Gary survives electrocution in order to try to bring Astra back to the side of the good guys and Zari and Constantine talk about and then actually confront literal death. That, and Amy Louise Pemberton bunny-hops across the floor. Thats some good shit right there.

So yes, itll all almost certainly be undone. But the feeling, as Sara Lances journey over the last several years indicates, will linger. Death comes calling for all of us, and not always in a permanent way; it touches us through the deaths of others, accidents and illnesses that could have been much worse, the car that swerves just in time and the handrail that allows you to catch your fall. Assuming Charlie can best her sisters, the Legends will find that handrail. But the shortened breath and quickened pulse, the burst of fear or gratitude or boththatll stick around. At least, until they all get turned into puppets again.

* - I assume, despite steeling up, that Nate died as wellperhaps his strength just gives out? And while Constantine doesnt have a soul, he presumably also bit the dust.

** - We wont mention season one.

Excerpt from:

The Legends battle zombies and public transit in a rip-roaring meditation on mortality - The A.V. Club

Bigg Boss 10 winner Manveer Gurjar has been spending the lockdown alone in Mumbai without family. The reality TV star has managed to find positivity in these times too, and says that he likes how he has managed to find more time for himself. "This is the perfect time to turn our focus onto something which most of us are guilty of neglecting. Perhaps one of the perks of social distancing is that it has given us some much-needed space. As interaction gets lesser with the outside world and other people, we do not have to worry about pleasing others and putting their needs over that of our own. Now is the time to put yourself first and do things that will make you feel happy and relaxed. In such difficult times we all deserve a little self-love" he says. With extension on lockdown, Manveer has been emphasising on the need for meditation to stay calm. "We cant control all things in our lives, but we can learn to adjust our way of thinking to make the best out of the situation. Learning to control our emotions and become more resilient is key when facing any challenging life situation. I'm practicing meditation, The goal of meditation is not to stop the mind, but instead to shift the attention. This helps to balance emotions in difficult times" says the actor who was also a part of Khatron Ke Khiladi. He feels utilising this time to revive old skills should be followed by all. "As all of us have some or the other skill that we had stopped putting to use due to different reasons. This might be an opportunity to revisit that old skill and rediscover why you fell in love with that particular thing in the first place. Under current circumstances, mental peace and happiness are a luxury and these skills could just buy us those." He concludes saying, "I'm also worried about the people suffering because of this lockdown. In a way financially we all are suffering. I wish the happy days return back soon."

See the rest here:

Manveer has started meditating more during lockdown - Times of India

Wednesday May 20, 2020

In these times of uncertainty and illness, it is worthwhile to consider how art addresses the familiar fears of mortality and death, writes James Bennett, the Art Gallery of South Australias curator of Asian art.

Buddhist philosophy, expressed visually through its art, is particularly concerned with the nature of individual wellbeing and the effect that mental anxiety has on us.

The self-cherishing desire, sometimes bordering on desperation or addictive narcissism, to sustain a long and healthy life is shown its visual antithesis in the Art Gallery of South Australias White Tara, which was created in the 18th century in Tibet.

Followers of the Himalayan tradition of Buddhism believe that White Tara is a spiritual role model, known as a bodhisattva, a being who holds to the essence of enlightenment. Depicted as a beautiful young woman, she is the embodiment of compassions selfless power to remove life-threatening circumstances and bestow the positive blessings that may accompany a long and healthy lifespan.

Tibet, White Tara, c.1750, wood, lacquer, pigment, gold leaf, semi-precious stones, 88.9cm; Elizabeth and Tom Hunter Fund 1994.

Each element of the White Tara image conveys deep meaning. White Tara sits on a lotus throne symbolising the capacity for our minds to blossom like an unblemished lotus flower rising above the quagmire of existence. Her white skin, much darkened with age on the Art Gallerys sculpture, is the colour of serenity.

White Taras body ornaments represent the bodhisattvas willingness to assume the appearances of material existence in order to render assistance to others. Her right hand makes the gesture of granting all wishes.

Significantly, the statue sits in the lotus posture that is familiar to students of meditation and yoga. Over the past 50 years there has been widespread interest in Buddhist philosophy and mind-training techniques. The Buddhist understanding of the mind has been explored in modern psychology, while visualisation methods have been adopted by psychotherapy.

There are considered to be two fundamental forms of meditation practice. Concentration, or single-pointed, meditation and mindfulness meditation that is known as vipassana in the ancient Indian Pali language. A classic Buddhist definition of vipassana is the awareness of the arising and passing away of all mental and physical phenomena.

Mindfulness, also called insight, meditation is often regarded as the practice most suited to the contemporary world where our lives are ceaselessly consumed by transitory daily activities and mental distractions. Nevertheless, many meditation students experience great difficulties in maintaining a regular daily meditation routine. Rising from the cushion or chair at the end of each session, the mind again instantly chases every thought or physical sensation as if it has an external reality. Once more our feelings become overwhelmed by insatiable desires for personal satisfaction, material profit and social approval. Or we are seized by agitation, remembering illness and the inevitability of death waiting us.

If we look closer at White Tara, sitting cross-legged in the meditation position, surprisingly we discover she has several extra sets of eyes on the palms of the hands and the soles of her feet as well as a third eye on her forehead.

White Taras seven eyes represent her enlightened ability to see all existence and perceive the most suitable means for bringing happiness to others. They are a reminder for us to consider the best motivation for commencing the study of mindfulness meditation. If we begin meditation practice with a self-interested motive then we will fail because the nature of the narrow mind is to be always restless and quickly bored. As an alternative motive, we can cultivate mind-training with the aim of achieving White Taras empathetic understanding towards those around us, whether friends, strangers or enemies.

This universal compassion, a term described by the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, thus becomes the inspiration for a well-grounded meditation practice that endures due to its altruistic motivation. The great 8th-century Indian saint, Shantideva, expresses this goal in his famous bodhisattva vow:

For as long as space remains, for as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain to dispel the sufferings of the world.

Loading next article

Follow this link:

White Tara and the art of meditation - InDaily

Neighbors please be mindful of social distancing guidelines while you do your part to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. See the latest guidance from the CDC here.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

We will meet up online to help heal ourselves and others. We will be working on practices of self healing, group healing, and meditation. Then a question and answer period following this workshop. We will start with an active meditation. Then move onto Firstwave: one of the 3 waves of energy. This is for helping release the past. Help separating it out so we can look at it more objectively. The Second wave: It is for balancing. Balancing the relationship between organs, balancing Chakras, the internal and external experiences and more.The Third wave: It is for easing the unknown. To discover our power to move forward and have peace with not knowing.

Link:

May 22 | 3 Waves of Healing in Active Meditation | San Rafael, CA Patch - Patch.com

How meditation and mindfulness just might be the key to unlocking peace during this pandemic

We're all trying to manage our anxiety about the ever-evolving situation surrounding coronavirus.

Karla Blindt has been meditating to manage stress and crisis since she was 16 years old.

The personal chef decided to bring her meditation practice into full bloom at the age of 50, studying 400 hours to become a certified meditator.

Blindt said, It just became a way of life for me.

In these high stress and hazy times, Blindt recommends meditation.

She said, Meditation is stilling yourself, stilling your mind, stilling your body. And connecting with you.

Research has proven practicing meditation alleviates stress and depression.

As we try to navigate the anxieties about COVID-19, Blindt guides free 20-minute zoom meditations to help people cope.

Just 20-minutes of meditation where you stop and your brain relaxes and for some reason, it just takes the stresses away for that time and youre able to handle. Its their 20-minutes of peace for the day.

If you dont have 20-minutes, Blindt advises practicing mindfulness in stressful moments throughout your day.

Take three long deep breaths to recenter yourself and restore your peace of mind.

More:

Local meditator guiding Zoom meditation sessions - KYMA

Meditation is an ancient wellness practice that focuses on training awareness, attention, and compassion.

In recent years, research has found that meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and increase feelings of calm and relaxation.

The good news is anyone can do it, and it's a simple practice to pick up but it will take practice and consistency to feel the benefits. Here's how to do it.

While most people find guided meditation easier at the start either through a class or app mindfulness meditation can be done anywhere that you can focus. Mindfulness meditation is just one form of meditation. For more examples, keep reading after the tutorial.

Here are a few steps to help you meditate:

Getting distracted when meditating is inevitable, and one of the biggest worries for beginners but distraction is a necessary part of the process.

"The moment when we notice that the mind is distracted is a moment of awareness, and is equally important as sustaining our attention on the breath or another anchor," says Ralitsa Ivanova, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction meditation teacher at Enhale Meditation Studio. "No matter how often the mind wanders off, we bring it back this is how we re-learn to pay attention."

Harvard recommends meditating for two 20-minute sessions daily to experience the maximum benefits, while a 2019 study on the efficacy of the meditation app Calm found that stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion were all significantly improved in the intervention group, who were using the mindfulness meditation programs for an average of 38 minutes per week.

For beginners, the most important part is getting into a routine five to 10 minutes each day is a good place to start. Ivanova says that consistency is more important than the length of time you practice, and you can always increase your time later.

"It's like creating a new, healthy habit: it requires some level of discipline and commitment," Ivanova says. "The good news is that it works, but it takes time and patience. It doesn't happen overnight."

Meditation originated in Eastern wellness traditions, such as Ayurvedic practices in India, or traditional medicine therapies in China and Japan. It's now practiced across the world and is growing in popularity in Western cultures. For example, in the US, the use of meditation increased by more than three times from 2012 to 2017.

Because there are varying practices across cultural, spiritual and religious traditions, there are lots of ways to meditate. Some types include movement meditation, mantra meditation, and transcendental meditation.

"Depending on the technique used, you can have a focused attention meditation, body scan, loving-kindness meditation, visualization or mantra meditation, to name a few," says Ivanova.

Mindfulness meditation is one of the most regularly-practiced forms in the US, according to the Global Wellness Summits' 2019 Trend Report.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), describes mindfulness as awareness that comes from paying attention in a purposeful way, on the present, and without judgment. MBSR is an eight-week evidence-based mindfulness meditation program that Kabat-Zinn founded with the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

According to Ivanova, mindfulness meditation involves focusing on 'anchors' such as breath, sounds, sensations in the body, and even visual objects. Having an anchor is an important way to begin improving concentration and awareness, which can then help you be more mindful the goal is to ultimately pay attention to your own mind without judging your feelings.

"We also observe and hold in awareness our thoughts and emotions, cultivating the stance of an observer, without over-identifying or getting caught up in them," Ivanova says.

According to the American Institute of Stress, 77% of people in the US regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress, with 48% saying stress negatively affects their work or home life. While a certain amount of stress is good, too much can lead to burnout.

However, mindfulness meditation can allow you to better cope with stressful situations when they happen, as you can build up your ability to remain calm and de-escalate to a relaxed state.

One of the reasons mindfulness meditation's popularity has soared in recent years is the wealth of scientific studies that have confirmed its benefits.

A study from Harvard Medical School in 2011 was the first to showcase the effects of mindfulness meditation on the brain's grey matter, demonstrating that meditation increased the parts of the brain associated with memory, controlling emotions, and identity.

Moreover, in a 2016 study, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University focused on the neurobiological effects of mindfulness meditation, discovering that the practice stimulates the part of the brain that aids with stress, concentration, and decision making.

Improved focus, concentration, sleep, and stress management are just a few of the health benefits. Ivanov says mindfulness meditation can also reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety, help manage chronic pain, and contribute to an increased sense of well-being.

For example, a 2018 study showed that just 15 minutes of mindfulness meditation had the same effect as a day of vacation, while a 2016 study on 42 schoolchildren in South Korea reported lower levels of anxiety and aggression after an eight-week meditation program.

Most recently, a number of studies have showcased meditation's effects on pain. A 2020 meta-study of more than 6,400 participants across 60 trials found that mind-body therapies like meditation could help reduce pain in those who suffered from acute, chronic, or post-surgical pain that was being treated by opioids, and also resulted in lower opioid drug use in those patients.

Read more here:

How to meditate: A guide to mindfulness meditation - Insider - INSIDER

Westend61Getty Images

Meditation may have been around for thousands of years, but it's only recently become mainstream in America. Research is limited, but regular meditation may lower anxiety, reduce stress, and improve sleep, according to the National Institute of Health.

That all sounds great, but starting can be difficultor even stressful for some. It's common to worry about how long or when you should meditate. These 10 apps can help you get started with your practice.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1 Headspace

The most recognizable meditation app, Headspace offers hundreds of guided lessons to help you sleep, focus, or feel more energized.

People who enjoy more physical activities will like move mode, which includes short workouts ranging from yoga to light cardio.

Cost: $5.83 to $12.99 per month, but there are plenty of free practices at https://www.headspace.com/covid-19

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

2 Calm

This app is great for beginners and people who are short on time. Guided sessions start at just three minutes, but there are longer options, too. Even better, you can choose to focus on the areas you want to work on most, like gratitude, anxiety, or self-esteem.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

3 Aura

Aura offers personalized meditation based on whatever mood you select. There's also calming music, stories, and life coaching sessions available.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

4 Insight TImer

Practice with some of the most famous teachers and musicians in the world, including Tara Brach, PhD, founder of Insight Meditation Community of Washington; Gil Fronsdal, PhD at Stanford University; and Moby.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

5 Smiling Mind

Mindfulness is a key part of meditation, and this free app aims to help you be present. It was developed by a psychologist to improve sleep, lower stress, and increase focus. Use it alone or before you meditate.

Cost: Free

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

6 Simple Habit

Convinced you don't have time to meditate? Simple Habit claims to be the meditation app for busy people. Recordings are short and can be practiced even while commuting. There's a lesson to improve nearly every aspect of your life, including love and sex.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

7 10% Happier

Based on the popular book by journalist Dan Harris, the app is geared towards people who are skeptical of meditation. Sessions are presented in a straight-forward and humorous approach. New content is released weekly, so there's always something new to look forward to.

Cost: Free, in-app purchases

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

8 Journey

If you thrive off real-time classes, Journey may be the app for you. They offer live meditations throughout the day, so it feels like you're working with a teacher IRL.

Cost: $19.99 per month

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

9 Glo

Glo is costly, but it's more than a meditation app. You'll also find yoga and pilates to suit a variety of experience levelsall taught by top-notch instructors. In fact, the instruction rivals in-person classes, according to some reviewers.

Cost: $22.99 per month

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

10 Sattva

Saatva offers meditations based on ancient Vedic principles. In addition to guided meditations, you can also enjoy sacred Sanskrit chants, mantras, and music. View your progress by using the mood tracker before and after meditations.

Cost: 12.99 per month

Find it: Apple Store and Google Play

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Read the original:

10 Best Meditation Apps in 2020 - Men's Health

Twin Peaks director David Lynch thinks the world will be a kinder place after the coronavirus pandemic as his transcendental meditation foundation offers free help to exhausted medical workers.

Lynch, 74, believes COVID-19 is a sign the world has gone down a wrong path. I have a feeling that Mother Nature is running the show on this, and said, Lets just hold on and stop this crazy world for a while so that people can reflect and think about what we are doing as human beings on this planet,' he told Page Six.

I think the world is going to be different when this virus goes, it is going to take with it a lot of the old and the new is going to be better a kinder place. I think it is already bringing the world together.

The David Lynch Foundation launched Heal The Healers Now to provide free transcendental meditation training to medics to cope with the stress surrounding the pandemic and protect against burnout.

Transcendental Meditation has been said to reduce stress-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and decrease anxiety and depression. Celebrities such as Katie Couric, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Roberts and hedge fund billionaire Dan Loeb have all practiced TM.

A pilot study of physicians in the Emergency Medicine Department at New Yorks Weill Cornell Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital one of the busiest hospitals in the US in the fight against COVID-19 found significant reductions in burnout, insomnia, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress over a three-month period in those practicing TM.

Lynch, who also wrote and directed Mulholland Drive, explained, They say that this is like a war, the enemy is the virus. The doctors and nurses are on the front line they are under a lot of stress and some of them, when the war is over, they will be like soldiers coming back from war.

Urging medics to go to the David Lynch Foundation website to find a TM teacher, he continued, the David Lynch Foundation will work in any way it can to get it to them for free and they can walk away from suffering and stress and infuse the happiness and creativity, energy and peace, that lies within every human being.

Lynch has been home in Los Angeles during the lockdown, building lamps in his woodshop. And unlike many others, he is enjoying the isolation. I love it, I love it so much, I love thinking about things and working on small projects I am running a little low on food right now, but thats cool, Ive got coffee, Ive got materials in the woodshop and Ive got my transcendental meditation.

I have a couple of houses that are close to each other, and I have my family in one and Im in the other. So we see each other from a distance, and we blow each other kisses.

He added, This is a chance to reflect, a great time to meditate, dive within and unfold that treasury. It will lead to great ideas, great solutions to problems, great relationships It is a brand new world.

The rest is here:

David Lynch offering transcendental meditation to healthcare workers fighting coronavirus - Page Six

Goldie Hawn thinks meditation has helped to "stabilize" her mind.

The 74-year-old actress was initiated at a Transcendental Meditation centre in the 1970s, and she's admitted it was a life-changing moment.

Reflecting on her experiences of meditation, she shared: "The more important thing is not what the title is on it, because meditation is just the way you train your brain to quiet down and so forth.

"There's all kinds of names for it now. But my experience was visceral, it was amazing.

"I rediscovered something in that one sitting. I can't explain the joy that was brought back to me. It was a transformational 'Aha!' moment for me.

"It stabilized my mind and gave me a piece of my interior that was all mine. No one could touch it. It was my internal universe and it's something I've been doing ever since."

Goldie also thinks her background in dancing helped her to meditate.

She told the Guardian newspaper: "Starting out as a dancer gave me an aspect of mindfulness that I didn't even realise that I was getting, because to dance is to be aware of every piece of your body while you're moving. It's like a meditation unto itself."

Meanwhile, Goldie previously claimed that her relationship with Kurt Russell is sustained by their ability to "resolve" arguments amicably.

The actress - who has been with Kurt since 1983 - said: "You have to learn how to work your way through an argument and be skilful about it and resolve it.

"Things happen during a marriage or a union, things that are said that shouldn't have been said, or things that are done that shouldn't have been done, or you feel neglected.

"If two people really want to be together there's something to cherish, so you keep it fresh by surprising each other. Go to a hotel room, go take a hike. Make something happen that's unusual."

See original here:

Goldie Hawn: Meditation helped to stabilize my mind - Crow River Media

In the late 1960s, faced with the devastation of the Vietnam War and a political climate plagued by corruption, the pioneering musician Pauline Oliveros turned her practice inward. Seeking refuge from the chaos around her, she began experimenting with a practice shewould later come to call deep listening. Influenced by her studies of Tai Chi, bodywork, Kinetic Awareness, improvisation, and drone music, the ardently feminist, queer composer would develop a distinct style of experimental music, attuned to the sounds and movements of our bodies and the natural world around us. Never one for escapism, Oliveros believed intentional introspection could spurmore thoughtful action, in times of crisis and more generally.

Oliveross Sonic Meditationscontinue to influence a generation of musicians and artists, among them fellow experimentalist John Cage, the MacArthur award-winning flutist Claire Chase, and the celebrated performer and playwright Ione, who among many things was Oliveross creative partner and spouse for 30 years. This Saturday (April 18) and next (April 25), Ione, with Chase and fellow musicians Raquel Acevedo Klein, Bridgid Bergin, and Ross Karre, will carry on Oliveross legacy by presenting a World Wide Tuning Meditation via video call.

Requiring no musical experience at all, the meditation invites participants to take part in a world-wide musical exchange through a series of synchronized breathing and tonal exercises. The meditation is being presented as part of MUSIC on the REBOUND, an online, interactive music festival designed to bring people together and support performing artists affected by the COVID-19 crisis, hosted by the Brooklyn-based International Contemporary Ensemble.

Since its debut on March 28, the World-Wide Tuning Meditation has unfolded on screens internationally three times, with its latest iteration welcoming over 900 participants from more than 30 countries, according to lead organizer Raquel Acevedo Klein. One participant, artist and Hyperallergic contributor Anthony Hawley, who took part in an early test run in March, even remarked, In our new endless Zoom, Google Hangout, FaceTime reality, I can say this was one of the most profound experiences I have had in this format. Another, Ellen Pall, exclaimed during a session, This is so beautiful Im already crying!

So, if youre looking for a bit of mindful re-centering amid these frightful times, tune in and join them for a sonic respite.

When: April 18 and April 25, 5pm EST Where: Online, via Zoom

Visit MUSIC on the REBOUND for more details on how to participate.

Excerpt from:

Tune Into a World-Wide Sonic Meditation, Inspired by Pauline Oliveros - Hyperallergic