door - Blog Posts - Yoga Vidya International - Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality2024-03-28T16:00:56Zhttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/doorUncertainty Principlehttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/uncertainty-principle2010-08-01T20:33:22.000Z2010-08-01T20:33:22.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">("<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_William_Waterhouse_-_The_Crystal_Ball.JPG">The Crystal Ball</a>" by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/John_William_Waterhouse">John William Waterhouse</a>)</span></p><br /><div align="center"><object height="100" width="400" data="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=poligraf.uncertainty.principle.clip.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/byqchthasabjtbdkdmbb/c35947d80bb49c5b624a8d4670d1197ee128db05/Asset/40606382/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="song_label=poligraf.uncertainty.principle.clip.mp3&music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/byqchthasabjtbdkdmbb/c35947d80bb49c5b624a8d4670d1197ee128db05/Asset/40606382/v3/web_preview&autoplay=false" height="100" width="400" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal"></embed></object></div><br /><p>« Uncertainty Principle » gets its title from Heisenberg's quantum mechanics principle which states by precise inequalities that certain pairs of physical properties, like position and momentum, cannot simultaneously be known to arbitrary precision. That is, the more precisely one property is measured, the less precisely the other can be measured. In other words, the more you know the position of a particle, the less you can know about its velocity, and the more you know about the velocity of a particle, the less you can know about its instantaneous position. But the subject matter of the song has little to do with science, some might say quite the opposite in fact.</p><br /><p>The intent here is rather to convey the difficulty and the value of keeping an open mind while waiting or working for a particular outcome to a process. This is not so hard when the process in question is of short duration. But as the length of time increases so does the temptation to decide that the desired effect will never come to pass, and that it is better to terminate the process, stop exerting efforts and investing resources, and forget about the whole thing. The uncertainty can become harder and harder to bear with time.</p><br /><p>But what if this uncertainty is the only door through which the wanted result can come about ? This is especially relevant when one is engaged in a creative process or trying to bring about innovation. Holding on to a vision, nurturing the faith that an experience wasn't instigated in vain, and that the reward for keeping the door open will come, can turn into a tremendously demanding struggle in some instances. But when it's the only way to go, then having the capacity to sustain uncertainty becomes a determining factor in the fight between hope and actuality.</p><br /><p>The music is still at the draft stage. The arrangements, for the chorus in particular, will have to be developed, but for now they mostly serve the purpose of capturing the melodies and chordal structures.</p><br /><p>The lyrics are almost complete at this point, but they still need a little polishing before they receive the « Final Version » seal. Here are the third and fourth verses, followed by the chorus :</p><br /><p><em>Reflecting<br />Wondering<br />Observing<br />All day - Hoping for a sign<br /><br />Of presence<br />Of guidance - Divine<br /><br />Sometimes it's better not to know<br />Maybe goes further than a no<br />The future's not for me to see<br />But I can wish wholeheartedly<br /><br />Count on the unknown quantity<br />Nurture the possibility<br />Magic needs a way to get in<br />Let it begin<br /><br />And when it seems unlikely<br />That you'll ever be set free<br />Before the brand new day<br />Your darkest hour<br /><br />Forget about what can't be<br />The sacred, the worldly<br />Keep open the doorway<br />Of uncertainty<br /><br />You may find if you open your mind<br />That you're one of a kind<br />In your finest hour<br />Life loves a dreamer<br /><br />Amazing discovery<br />Wildest reality<br />Your wish has come to be<br />For all to see</em></p></div>Mother Of Pearlhttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/profiles/blogs/mother-of-pearl2013-09-02T14:03:29.000Z2013-09-02T14:03:29.000ZChristopher Stewarthttps://my.yoga-vidya.org/members/ChristopherStewart<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="http://poligraf.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/444px-abalone_with_conical_pearl.jpg?w=444" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-size:x-small;">(« <em><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abalone_with_conical_pearl.jpg" target="_blank">Natural Abalone with conical pearl</a></em> » by Worldexplorer82)</span><br /><br /></p><p>« <em>Mother Of Pearl</em>» was the last song written in the location where the music for the « <em>The Abode Of The Blessed</em> » EP was composed. Yet, arguably, considering the clear stylistic and thematic distinctions between this opus and the pieces that preceded it, they probably shouldn't belong on the same album. Assuming that I eventually get the chance to properly record the 8 songs and 8 instrumentals put together during that particular period, « <em>Mother Of Pearl</em>» will likely serve as closing track, announcing what's to come.<br /></p><p>In the context of the « <em>30 Songs for the Sunny Season</em> » series, « <em>Mother Of Pearl</em>» was the 8th song that I wrote. The music and most of the lyrics were completed by January 21, 2013, but I had no satisfactory words for the bridge until the beginning of May.<br /></p><p>The inspiration for the piece stems from how pearls come into being. When a microscopic intruder or parasite enters an oyster, it irritates the mollusk which secretes nacre, also called mother-of-pearl, to cover the undesirable and soothe itself. As the process is repeated and layers are added, a pearl is produced.<br /></p><p>However such occurrences can also be interpreted alternatively as follows : when the intelligence that unites and animates all beings needs a pearl, it finds a way to introduce an irritant into an oyster, which will then transform the source of pain into the sought beautiful object.<br /></p><p>When I look back on my life there is no doubt that the main incentive that has impelled me to create works of art throughout the years is a psychological trauma that I experienced as a teenager. In a manner similar to that of the oyster which soothes itself by adding layers of nacre onto the irritant, I healed my injured mind through repeated creative processes. Thus, conceivably, this might be one of the ways using which the intelligence underlying all things develops works of art, by creating the conditions that compel beings into action. And considering how ill-equipped I was to face the distressing event when it occurred, it seems plausible that this is also how artists are goaded towards maturity, carrying within themselves the motivation that urges them to give expression to what's in them.<br /></p><p><em><br /> <b>verse 1</b><br />told love was forbidden<br />i used to play the fool<br />hopeless and angst-ridden<br />yet in me you saw the jewel<br /><br />you cared to make me wise<br />led me to the river<br />made sure i saw the prize<br />across the great water<br /><br /><b>verse 2</b><br />with a dream to fulfil<br />and a heart to restore<br />i rowed like a windmill<br />to reach the other shore<br /><br />you oversaw the tide<br />i sought stability<br />through this purposeful ride<br />i grew in adversity<br /><br /><b>verse 3</b><br />looking back i'm aware<br />each moment every day<br />you have always been there<br />with me on the journey<br /><br />years of battle upstream<br />out of the days of yore<br />you are the constant theme<br />the ever open door<br /><br /><b>pre-chorus</b><br />you shape me<br />make me all<br />i can be<br />show me the<br />better me<br />whoa-oh-oh<br /><br /><b>chorus</b><br />you know how to make me pure<br />see me through the whirl<br />orchestrate the cure<br />o mother of pearl<br /><br />my all-embracing oyster<br />take me in your swirl<br />add another layer<br />o mother of pearl<br /><br /><b>bridge</b><br />feed me your potion mother of pearl<br />relieve my tensions mother of pearl<br />rouse my devotion mother of pearl<br />show me the ocean<br /></em><br /></p><div align="center">·</div><br /><p style="font-size:x-small;border:1px solid #AAAAAA;"><br /> <em>The « <em>30 Songs for the Sunny Season</em> » series presents songs written in the aim of building a repertoire of originals that require only guitar and vocals, without additional arrangements, and thus can be performed in a busking context.<br /></em></p></div>