Tag: Soundings

Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey

Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey across Washington and Oregon supports the indigenous-led movement to remove the Snake River dams and restore salmon runs to health. Orca or Southern Resident Killer Whales (SkaliChelh in Lummi language) depend on the salmon to survive. At the heart of any Totem Pole Journey is Jewell James, master carver of the House of Tears Carvers from the Lummi Nation. Much of his professional life he has been in judicial courts or the halls of Congress advocating for treaty rights to be upheld and Tribal sovereignty respected. He continues the good fight, but often with a large totem pole in tow. 

This totem pole journey is the latest of a dozen journeys made over the past 20 years to educate and advocate. This journey builds upon, strengthens and reaffirms the growing indigenous-led environmental movement across the Pacific Northwest. The journey includes public eventsin metropolitan areas and tribal communities. At each stop, art and culture sparks understanding of our natural heritage. In-person events include ceremonial moments steeped in ancestral knowledge presenting the challenges the region faces—and avenues for cross-cultural collaboration and engagement on solutions. 


For more information: https://www.spiritofthewaters.org

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Interview with musician Paul Horn

We first heard Paul Horn’s album ‘Inside the Taj Mahal’ in 1970 and it blew us away. Then in 1977, Dean Evenson was invited to interview Paul Horn on video at the Boulder Colorado public library. This was quite an honor for Dean who had been playing flute since he was 11 years old; it was another two years before we founded Soundings of the Planet. In this interview, Dean asks Paul about his musical influences and what genre his music fits in. Paul speaks of the improvisational aspects of jazz and the unique kind of music he creates. He discusses his meditation practice and goes into depth about studying at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in India. He was doing a retreat there when the Beatles arrived! Paul also discovered that he (more than his flute) is the main instrument. He discusses how the music he creates can be helpful in the healing process although he doesn’t call it ‘healing’. When we came across this interview in our video archive, we knew we also wanted to share it as a podcast. Be sure to listen to Dean’s final question which he asks with his silver flute. You can also watch the video on our Soundings Mindful Media YouTube channel.

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Dean & Dudley Evenson Talk Loving Partnership

In this podcast, Dean and Dudley Evenson talk about their long-lasting marriage and how they have managed to maintain a loving relationship while raising a family and running a successful business together. In this intimate conversation, the Evensons contemplate some of the principles that have contributed to their having such a fun and meaningful life starting with their auspicious meeting in 1968 in New York’s East Village. They reminisce about coming from very different backgrounds yet still being able to blend their creative lives and be productive together. They speak of their musical path and the recently launched the Peace Through Music Foundation.

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Dean Evenson Talks Daily Practice

Dean Evenson shares his daily exercise and mindfulness practices which he does to keep himself balanced and grounded. He enjoys several kinds of exercises as well as meditation, breathing, walking, and personal affirmations. Since he first started doing yoga in the early ‘70s, Dean has kept up a daily practice which has allowed him to stay healthy and able to maintain energy to accomplish the many things he does. As we get older, we may experience health issues which make exercise even more important. In fact, everyone, no matter their age, can benefit from daily physical and spiritual practices. We hope Dean’s personal process inspires you to consider enhancing your own level of self-care.

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Friendly Farming

In 1972, Dean and Dudley Evenson were called to Stockholm, Sweden to videotape the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. It was the first ever international gathering focusing on the ecological impact of humans on the planet. After a week of learning and videotaping, the conference and gatherings wound down and Dean and Dudley decided to travel to northwestern Sweden to visit a community they had heard about that grew organic food.

They packed up their video gear and hitchhiked north, landing among a gentle group of young people who had formed a commune and were working with an old Finnish farmer named Andres Bjornson, who practiced a technique called ‘friendly farming.’ With camera turned on and the tape rolling, they learned about his simple, but very effective means of working with nature, of putting the weeds which he called ‘helpful cultures’ right back next to the growing plants for fertilizer, and generally of producing abundant crops of food without artificial fertilizers or pesticides by keeping the soil gently cultivated with a fork-like tool.

Welcomed by these people who lived communally in the land of the midnight sun and practiced Bjornsen’s farming techniques, the Evensons spent a meaningful Midsummer’s Eve, watching the sun roll like a ball across the distant hills, and never quite set. This podcast is a synopsis of what they learned.

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In Claude Monet’s Footsteps

Dean and Dudley reminisce on their own background and artistic path which has many parallels in common with impressionist master Claude Monet. In this podcast, they talk about retracing the steps of Monet when they recently traveled to France. Their exploration began with visiting the many museums in Paris where his paintings are exhibited. They especially enjoyed the Musée de l’Orangerie where the huge water lily paintings he did toward the end of his life are displayed. Later they spent five days in Giverny in a renovated inn, just a block from Monet’s home and historic water and flower gardens. They made videos and field recordings and included them in their new album Monet’s Garden.

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A Year of Guided Meditations

In this podcast, Dudley Evenson talks about her new book “A Year Of Guided Meditations” and how it can help you become self-empowered and allow your life to unfold in a positive way.

You can purchase the book now on Amazon here:

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Surviving Politics

We just had an election and some people are happy while some people are not. Democratic elections are interesting that way. At the end of the day, about half the people are celebrating while the other half are feeling devastated. We need to figure out how to survive divisive elections and politics in general. The question is how do we move forward without giving up hope or causing more alienation. This podcast was actually recorded four years ago, but it is as relevant today as it was then. Needless to say, we wish everyone peace no matter how they voted.

View YouTube video or read more about Surviving Politics on our blog at soundings.com.

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Dean Evenson on Love, Peace & Music

On this podcast we offer something a bit different that is up close and personal. Listen to Dean Evenson as he shares in his own words how he lives each day, what music and nature mean to him and how they both enhance his life and his relationships. Hear how Dean quiets his mind to create the award-winning, healing music he has been making for over 40 years.

To watch the full length video on YouTube, please click here.

Be sure to follow Dean Evenson on Spotify.

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Interview with guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan

A few years ago, we met guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan at a Music Therapy Conference. We were intrigued that an avant-garde jazz guitarist was featured at a sound healing event, but once we heard him play, we understood why he was included in the program. Later, we arranged to interview Jordan after his gig at Jazz Alley in Seattle. We were fascinated to learn more about his interesting journey from being a successful jazz artist to his work in the sound healing field. You can also watch the video of the interview on our Soundings Mindful Media YouTube channel. Enjoy.

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