Welcome to the first of a series of “Tuning-In to Musicians” posts where we introduce and interview various musicians in the kirtan/chant community (also stay tuned for the “Teachers In Focus” posts in the coming weeks which will do the same for leading teachers in the yoga community).
We open our “Tuning-In to Musicians” feature with a focus on Mirabai Ceiba, a favorite at Summer Solstice , The European Yoga Festival, and the Yoga-Art Festival that they produce every Spring in Mexico.
Mirabai Ceiba is a musical project created by Angelika Baumbach from Mexico (vocal and harp) and Markus Sieber from Germany (vocal and guitar). They perform a compilation of original songs in Spanish as well as newly arranged chants from different traditions of the world. The name Mirabai Ceiba expresses the influences of both India and Native Latin America. The Ceiba is the sacred tree of Latin America, where these trees are never cut but are allowed to grow very tall. “We wish our music could be like that kind of tree, with roots deep in the Mother Earth and branches extending wide into Father Sky. Mirabai is for us the wandering, the devotion, the inspiration in all the different aspects of divinity.”
Spirit Voyage: Your recent album Ocean is a beautiful weaving of Kundalini Mantra, English lyrics and Spanish. Can you explain how you became introduced to Kundalini Mantra and what role Kundalini Yoga plays in your lives.
Angelika: Since before I can remember, I was listening to Singh Kaur, Sangeet Kaur, Livtar Singh and Pritpal Singh. At my birth, there was live Gurbani Kirtan playing. After growing up attending many solstices, I went to my first Solstice and Ladies Camp on my own at 15. Attending Yogi Bhajan’s daily lectures had a huge impact on my life. Since then, I have been connecting more and more with the Kundalini Yoga community around the world, mostly through the music, and it is such a blessing to have such an immense family all around the world.
Markus: My first contact with Kundalini Yoga was in my Theater School in Berlin where we used it as a tool to open up our creative source. I experienced its powerful spirit which gave me a taste of a new unknown part of myself. Angelika brought me to my first summer solstice, and I had the chance to explore the spiritual side of Kundalini Yoga. Meditating, practicing yoga, singing and playing music together was a way of subtle communication beyond words and cultural differences. Chanting has brought an inner change in me. The vibration in the chest has softened my heart. The voice can be like a light in the darkness. You can sing for your pain, for your sadness and it can transform you. Mantra adds an even higher dimension: the communication with the universal mind.
Spirit Voyage: Can you talk to us about music and seva?
Angelika: Music is a wonderful way to serve people, as well as a very fulfilling thing to do for the soul. I have always felt in my heart that my mission is to serve as a bridge to connect different kinds of people. Two years ago, we started a Yoga Art Festival in a powerful and beautiful place near Mexico City for people to gather and learn healthier and happier ways to live their lives. This annual festival is a wonderful way to harvest the seeds that we plant throughout the year, to meditate, chant, practice Yoga, and celebrate life, friendship and family. (For more information, visit www.yogaartfestival.com)
Spirit Voyage: Can you share a meditation that you have used? Do you have a personal story of using it that you can share?
Markus: Last summer, my niece was born. It was a very difficult birth. Our whole family was worried and wanted to help my brother and his wife, but we were so far away. We began to chant Ardas Bhaee every night, praying for healing. It is such a powerful mantra in situations which seem hopeless or when you can’t find words for your prayers. The pure vibration of the mantra can give you so much trust and hope. Chanting the mantra, I experienced a clear awareness that this baby needed our family to consciously receive the soul into our lineage with an open heart and experience gratitude for the miracle of life and death.
YOGI TIP*: Prayer for Healing
- Sit in Easy Pose. Close your eyes. Put your hands on opposite shoulders with your arms crossed. Hold your shoulders well, the arms relaxed on the chest and chant Ardas Bhaee. Continue for 11 to 31 minutes. End with 3 powerful breaths.
- Inhale deep through the nose, hold for 5-10 seconds, then exhale powerfully through the mouth. As you hold the breath in, put all the pressure downward on your shoulders with your hands.
- Press them down and keep the spine steady and straight. Repeat the breath three times. Then relax.
- Continue to sit for some minutes following your breath in awareness of your deep inner silence.
Albums on Mirabai Ceiba’s playlist:
GuruGanesha Singh and Snatam, “Joy is Now” – It brings us back to the wonderful time we spent with Snatam and Guru Ganesha and all the peace family this last spring tour.
Mata Mandir Singh, “Furmaan Khalsa” – Beautiful songs…deep, vast and inspiring.
Aurora, “Aquarian Sadhana” – A gentle and beautiful way to chant for Sadhana.
Sada Sat Kaur, “Shashara” – Earthly and very creative. Humble and warm. Inner strength.
Omar Faruk Tekbilek, “Tree of Patience” – Uplifting and inspiring for Yoga and Movement.
* All teachings, yoga sets, techniques, kriyas and meditations contained in this blog entry are provided courtesy of The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Reprinted with permission. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of these Teachings may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the Kundalini Research Institute. To request permission, please write to KRI at PO Box 1819, Santa Cruz, NM 87567 or see www.kriteachings.org.
