15 Aug 2019

"Three" marks the sixth release under the Full Spectrum music label since the label's inception in 2013.

On the surface, the EP includes three fairly distinctive compositions. But each work is an audio reflection of a particular result, epiphany, and takeaway stemming from a strengthening personal Hatha Yoga practice. So there is commonality to explore.

After 10 years of practicing a variety of yogic techniques (once or twice a week in the studios for half of those years and thereafter strictly at home), I made a commitment in December of 2015 to a daily practice.

Today, my practice is more methodical and disciplined, placed now on the formulaic authentic and traditional Hatha Yoga path as prescribed in "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali," with a substantial increase of auspicious results. In February, I received initiation and Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at Akshara Yoga School in India under Saurabh Chaudhary's guidance, of which I am grateful for. And I understand that this commitment graced me with this advance.

At one level, the practice has gone beyond delivering/revealing haphazard glimpses and attainments of peace as experienced in the studios at the end of a session in Savasana. Noticeably, but paradoxically subtler, the daily practice now provides widening, deeper, and more permanent understandings and experiences of differentiated aspects of peace itself, plus informed methods to develop these aspects when I am away from the mat.

Now a formidable discipline, the spiritual journey is not left mainly to chance but is, to borrow the modern mystic Sadhguru's term, engineered. (Though I sense it never has been a thing of chance in the greater scheme of things.)

Such is the current plateau, directly affecting whatever I commit to, including the making of this latest EP.

"The Sun's Rays" is a bow to appreciation, not just appreciation in the sentimental sense that projects as admiration and/or feels self-gratifying, but as a widened perspective in attempting to take the full worth of something. I now find myself more than not attempting to discover what there is to be seen and learned from what is presented as best I can. In the past I had either been emotionally swept away in the moment or not thoroughly reflective.

With "disturbing" situations, this is not a form of escapism. And with "jubilant" moments, it is not a way to suppress. The phrase "let's not get carried away" (one way or another) comes to mind. But this form of appreciation is not repressive either. There is, again paradoxically, fuller acknowledgement and sustained gratitude with this more balanced approach that resonates well after the moment. It is therefore a subtly rich and enriching experience.

Emotion or emotions that immediately arise are respected. But they are becoming less directing of me (as are thoughts) - as being centered in peace suffices. Instead, I direct "light" to the situation, rather than being moved one way or another. As such, this approach is conscious-raising and energizing, as proactive and intentional motions of the mind result in greater realization without exhaustion. Clarity is non-burdensome and therefore enlightening. For all is, as it is said, what it is. And so I take this sentiment into the night.

This insight of a deeper and wider sense of/for appreciation came to me from a yogic daily practice. It would be incomplete to say that a critical thinking process has been refined over the years - that age, experience, and refined intellect alone is what has me being more keenly reflective. The truth is that this evolved (and evolving) reflection is derived from a daily yogic practice that has also steadily been diminishing that which clouds the view: misleading, obfuscating, and draining thoughts and emotions stemming from Ego, Desires, and Ignorance. Such is the enlightening. For what is the mind if not at the very least overworked and muddied if it operates with cluttering thoughts and emotions?

"Mana" is a nod to one aspect of its Polynesian namesake that denotes the pervasive supernatural force in conjunction with an associated actor - what I consider the animus/anima of the universe.

As willful actors in this world, we are capable of deviating from our acts/behaviors by modifications of our life force. I do not hold to the view, no pun intended, that people cannot change. We all really have a practice/routine in our individual lives that impels us to perform one way or another. The question is how limiting or less limiting certain aspects of the routine (or the full routine) are? How conscious are we of what we do - eventually to ourselves - in our acts? And how controlling are we of our deepest core to advance auspiciously?

With an advancing yogic discipline and now working on Pranyama, I keep finding the constant potential to create less-limiting activity. And this is what mana affords to all at all times: a way to live auspiciously rather than just exist or not.

"Moon" is a representation of the imbalanced individual whose soul is obscured by Ego, Desires, and Ignorance, ultimately becoming a slave to the aforementioned and coming to screeching derailment via the repeating negative feedback loop that the individual has created for him or herself. I left this track last to inspire caution, as the spiritual journey is a walk, hike, jog, or run in process, and as such a stray from the path is always nearby. Yet, I also see this composition as the freest and wildest of the three. And I find myself knowing that the freedom/wildness being expressed here is a glimpse of the loss of contrivance in order to Be. So veering off course is also necessary. Regardless and ultimately, all in this material world settles down.

Many blessings to the supporters and listeners along the way.

Thank you,


Luis Gabriel Aguilera