The epiphany, the "Ah ha" moment, the download - they usually appear suddenly from a seemingly independent source and broaden one's consciousness. When sincere inquiry about the nature of life takes place, the Universe/God/Source responds according to one's capacity to receive. One doesn't have to retreat a cave or forest to find insight; it can be found as near as one's own heart.

Finding the time and space to be introspective separates humans from animals - animals lack the capacity to question Who am I, where did I come from, where am I going, and why am I discontent?

Practically speaking, almost conversations throughout one's day consist of questions and answers,  both common and uncommon. In questioning all things big and small, some seek answers in the sub-atomic quantum realm, while others look to the astrophysics of distant galaxies. Still others probe their own minds, hearts, and consciousness in the moment, preferring to connect the dots through personal experiences and conscious revelations, as to the nature of reality and the purpose of existence. Intellectualism and sense perception, both have natural limitations, which is why revelation from divinity in the heart, or from revealed scriptures can help spark transcendent realization which gracefully descends according to time, place, and circumstance, according to each situation and individual.

Ancient Vedic spiritual wisdom asserts that by studying oneself and nature, coded truths will be revealed - because the Absolute Truth / Godhead / Spiritual Essence is fully present everywhere and in everything - connected at every level of reality through consciousness, both local and universal.

As both heat and light radiate from the sun, both material and spiritual energy radiate from Source/Godhead.

In the backyard photo above, both the material and spiritual energies are well represented as physical specimens and conceptual symbols.

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air have their signatures in the image. Earth, water and sunlight grew the trees, with other harvested trees being made into the wooden chairs. Fire also participated in the heating of the clay/earth for making the patio bricks. Air is invisible but noted - in the distant blue sky.

The symptom of spirit as individual conscious energy, also played a role here in making the chairs and bricks, as well as in aligning the table and chairs, in an intentional way.

On the far side of the fence is nature untouched. On the near side of the fence is nature utilized for man's needs, wants and desires. Objects on far side of the fence are alive and growing. Objects on the near side of the fence are lifeless and slowly decaying. Living force and dead matter are both here in our extended backyard.

The material nature supports and nurtures human existence, but once utilized for human desire, the life force is lost and decay sets in. The same is true in human consciousness; one's desires which ignores the living source from which everything is produced - results in unconscious decay as well as the lost physicality of objectified materials of desire.
 
Reductionist Approach / Inclusive Approach

One could take apart the chairs and bricks and search for truth in the structure of their atoms while seeking revelation of reality.

Another approach, is to view reality from the information given by saints and holy texts which inform from a perspective of higher consciousness - liberated from the confinement of limited sense perception.

Through conscious revelation and knowledge, another view of you in this backyard could be symbolically envisioned:

Imagine you are seated in the chair on the left which was made to support your form, as an observer of nature. As you view the meadow, your physical form is not in your line of vision while sitting in the chair. The chair is supporting your body with you inside as the viewer within. Your body, like the chair is a structure to support one's vision and consciousness, but the consciousness itself is invisible. It is one's consciousness that is said to be the symptom of one's eternal essence; the chair and one's body may eventually return to dust, but the energy of one's consciousness/soul continues on, being a spark of divine, eternal life force.

ghtly to your right and behind you, God/Source/Universal consciousness sits with you as a friend, but is also invisible to mundane vision. Guiding and protecting from time immemorial, localized Godhead as Supersoul (Paramatma as described in Bhagavad Gita) connects the individual spirit (Atma) to the temporary material body as well as to universal energy. As is said in Western traditions also "Not a blade of grass moves without the sanction of the Lord". Your non-visible feet are resting in the under the shadow of the table, which blocks the light. Once taking steps out of the shadow, being guided by light, your direction is clear to avoid pitfalls of darkness and misconception.

We share space in the Universe. We are connected by consciousness which is local, but can interact universally. Our identities are the same in regards to our non-material/spiritual nature - in that we are all a quantum measure of conscious energy. it is one's conscious energy which is the symptom of one's spirit, which is able to interact consciously with others as well as Source/Universal Energy/God.

Metaphysically, water represents emotion which can run both hot and cold, be steamy or frozen.

Tears are water and emotion flowing, sometimes of joy, other times of sorrow.

In a sacred text called "The Nectar Of Devotion" it is described that tears of ecstasy can flow without stop as one progresses through stages of loving spiritual emotion. This is a good thing. Even tears of sadness can be a good thing when processing emotions as necessary, as emotions are not meant to be locked up - but rather flow in pure loving expression once freed from mundane or selfish shackles. This occurs spontaneously as one enters into pure eternal consciousness.

These tears of loving joy can happen even while present in one's earthly body, as our connection with Godhead and universal forces deepen and flow. Here is a tear-related track from Jacob Collier.

As kid growing up in LA in the 60's close to the beach, I embraced the Beach Boys as a local surf-flavored pop band. Without much thought I just considered them as one of the waves in the tsunami of new music flooding the airwaves. Little did I know that across the pond, the Beatles considered the structure and harmonies of the Beach Boys as ground-breaking, and were inspired to be as creative, in their upcoming epic album "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band".

In the same vein of appreciating extremely gifted young musicians - while listening to a recent podcast with Jahnavi Harrison and Willow Smith, I heard of their appreciation for Jacob Collier as an amazing new talent.

Wow! Were they ever right! Now 25, Jacob Collier was discovered at 18 and signed by Quincy Jones. He's a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and all-around musical genius.

If not known to you already, here is short sample introduction to Jacob Collier, with a show-ending encore, performing Brian Wilson's / Beach Boy's  "In My Room"

I was totally unaware in the 1960's when this song was released, that Brian Wilson suffered from depression and emotional abuse while growing up and during his song-writing and performing days, which to me, make these lyrics and his harmonic offering all the more healing and amazing.

Finding the personal time and space literally, or as meditational metaphor, to feel safe and reflect, to dream, scheme, sigh, pray, and laugh at yesterday, is a common need or value we could all share.

In my room.
I woke up today, proded to comtemplate the duality of matter and spirit, represented by darkness and light. I awoke feeling the sun shining on part of my body with warming rays, while the other half of my body was enjoying the cool shade, being out of the sunlight. I know - perhaps not super-profound on the surface, but it did occur to me how we are continuously experiencing light and dark, or spirit and matter in some form or another - continuously at the same time.

Spirit, whose symptom is consciousness, is mixed with the grosser elements of matter which make up the material body - yet consciousness is distinct from the body that houses it. One may cut their hair or even have a body part removed, but the conscious self remains intact. You and me, are not the body we walk and run and sleep through life with.
We are not the black, white, young, old, German, Japanese or American cars we may drive.

Outside my room.

It is the subtle seed of consciousness that animates the body and makes it sing, dance and act.

I was thinking along similar lines - how the subtle energies move the grosser ones, when this example appeared outside my room yesterday.

The material elements feature earth, water, fire, air, and ether, with ether being the most subtle (where thoughts are present), down to the grosser level of the earth (where trees are present).

Like this image, we generally think of trees as fixed and immobile.

This website and blog is dedicated to the how the joy of music and the joy of spirit, can be and are connected on so many levels. One can also understand how all life expressions are connected, if one is introduced to knowledge of the energetic web of spiritual presence which underlies all things. That underlying spiritual presence is like the non-visible thread, holding together a string of pearls.**

That presence as energy has one energetic source, which is not less than it's creation - meaning that the energetic Source of all energy, is also conscious individually, while being all-pervasive.

It may be difficult to initially comprehend, but understanding in microcosm how one can also individually experience many things simultaneously, may help. Consider feeling the firmness of sitting in a chair, while listening to music, while eating a snack, while watching the sunset, while thinking about work, while feeling tired and ready for bed.

Multiply that by infinity, and the fact that some aspects of divinity may be inconceivable to the human mind. This possibility leaves room for personal revelation to occur, as to understanding universal connectivity and consciousness.

The passageway to the safest, and most loving and secure room - leads to one's heart. It is in one's liberated heart-space where both the pure authentic self and God/Source, both reside and can be realized.

Fortunately for us in these challenging times, we can sing our way there, via sacred song and intention.

Props/Pranams to Jahnavi Harrison, for providing her inspirations online and in person.
Here is one of her offerings which started slowly, then ended up rocking the house.

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Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verses 3-8. describes the approach of perfection, the connection of different universal energies, and the practice of seeing divine presence energetically integrated in the world.

Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.

Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.

Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution.

O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.

O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.

Also from the Brahma Samhita, prayers to Govinda, Krishna

8) He is an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof.
In His work of creation of millions of worlds, His potency remains inseparable. All the universes exist in
Him and He is present in His fullness in every one of the atoms that are scattered throughout the
universe, at one and the same time. Such is the primeval Lord whom I adore.