Today is special for me personally, as I am pleased and honored to be attending the Spa Day at Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens. Today’s event is with Rev. Dr. Steve Chopyak and focuses on “Listening to the Inner Music.” It’s special for me as a lover of music, and I’m particularly interested in the spiritual principles in songwriting and composition.
Dr. Chopyak is presenting a Spa Day again by popular demand. I was fortunate to attend his event last August and found it very valuable. It changed the way I listen and hear the sites and sounds of life as well as music. Inwardly and outwardly.
We gather in the main salon as it is time to start. Kevin McMillan, one of the Administrative coordinators for Peace Theological Seminary and College of Philosophy, welcomes everyone and gives an introduction to all of the first time visitors, of which there are quite a few. Kevin then does a Light invocation to bring us together into a oneness of the heart. Kevin then talks a bit about Dr. Chopyak and asks us to welcome him.
Steve gives us an overview of how he got started as a musician and speaks on how this morning he will be sharing his methods and experiences with music and listening. In his humble and joy filled sharing of how he started listening with the piano, Steve speaks about his teacher who gave him his first lesson of playing MIDDLE C for two weeks. Then Steve goes to the piano and asks us to listen while he plays Middle C, and the variations of that note. My experience is that this improvisation is very touching. I pay attention to how it is touching to me. As the notes get higher and softer I go spiritually higher. As Steve plays more melody, it becomes emotional and moves into my heart, writing a story there.
Steve then speaks on what he just played and the physiology and psychology of how listening works. He speaks about the compositions he does with MSIA’s Moments of Peace — three to four minute video clips that he sets to music. We then listen to a beautiful lilting audio piece from the China peace tour, then we see the video from the same. This piece I find quite lifting and relaxing for meditation. The next video clip is a little different. This one is from Australia. The sounds produced for this clip were created to work with the speaker’s voice as background music, which was gentle and moving.
Our next process is a sacred listening practice. Steve is at the piano doing impromptu interludes while our sound person, Allan Bradley, plays meditations by John-Roger, Founder of MSIA, PTS, and the Gardens.
Steve starts with a piano piece that reminds me of a beautiful and refreshing waterfall with gold, silver, and lots of light in it. It feels and sounds like an invitation to just let go and move into the Light. After a brief and silent pause, we begin to hear John-Roger’s “Meditation of Perfect Balance.” Beautiful! After the meditation, Steve moves into a very melodic and full expression on the piano, which is a great introduction to John-Roger’s “Meditation of Understanding.” Steve follows this with a final and playful interlude.
Now that we are all mellowed out and still, it is perfect that our next treat is Bob Tackney playing one of his original compositions entitled “Home is the Silence.” It is a sweet and gentle song that leaves me with a good feeling. At this point it is time for Brunch.
Our beautiful Chef once again today is Elaine Kitchell and her incredible team of volunteers who have prepared a wonderful buffet Brunch that is not only eye pleasing but mouth watering and Delicious! Imagine this: chicken and cheese breakfast enchiladas, scrambled eggs, roasted beets with sweet potatoes (a personal favorite), Moroccan carrots and French green beans, baked French toast with cream cheese, blue cheese and cranberry walnut salad, and two large bowls of citrus fruit. All served with Urth Caff
