Have the holidays become stressful? Now’s the time to take a break and catch your breath. Music can help to heal the tensions that come in this season of celebration. You might want to gift yourself first before picking one of the following CDs for a loved one:
Sound Body, Sound Mind by Andrew Weil ($23.97). Dr. Weil teams with Anna Wise, an authority on brain waves, and composer Joshua Leeds to produce this healing CD of psychoacoustics. This hour of meditative music addresses brain waves and takes the listener into a deep experience of relaxation. I personally recommend this to my patients with health and stress challenges.
Sleep Soundly by Steven Halpern ($13.97). This 1994 CD from one of the founding musicians of New Age music is still a great gift for the insomniac on your list. The listener is exposed to a series of subliminal sleep affirmations and soft musical textures that will put almost anyone to sleep. You’ll enjoy the holidays more with a good night’s sleep!
AM & PM Yoga Chants by Russill Paul ($19.97). The yoga enthusiast on your list will enjoy this CD from a forerunner in the field of “sacred sound.” Morning and evening chants are presented to beautiful music to begin and end each day. The liner notes will give you some education in chant and suggest the appropriate yoga poses.
A Day Without Rain by Enya ($18.97). This CD released in November of last year has stayed on Billboard‘s top-seller list through most of 2001. This is a beautiful, soul-stirring CD that could delight even the skeptics of New Age music. Light some candles and relax … it won’t take much time. It’s a short CD.
The Hunger Site CD: Traveler ’01 ($14.95). Log on to www.thehungersite. com and purchase this CD of world music featuring Afro-Latin percussion, mystical Turkish flutes and the latest from London’s underground clubs. Your purchase will fund 25 cups of food for the hungry. While not necessarily spiritual, you’ll feel great doing your part to stop world hunger. ©
This article appears in Dec 12-18, 2001.
