2016 – New Year, New Music, New Michael…

1/17/16 - A couple of years ago, I sat down with a  trusted writer friend, Stacie Tamaki, and asked her what I should do about my dated, neglected website – replete with photos and stories of the excesses of yesteryear. We both agreed to think about it and consider it a ‘work in progress…’ 

Then came 2015. Divorce, health issues, business volatility… until around October, when I was able to start prefacing my response to how I’m doing with “Having come through the crucible of 2015…” and look around in amazement and gratitude for all of the good that has come and continues to come into my life.

 

The shift started a couple of years ago, when my beloved yoga teacher, Daniela Kosmalski, asked me to accompany her on a couple of mantras at the end of her yoga classes. The momentum that was created then started a resurgence in me, with a  return to the pranayama meditation taught to me so long ago by my teacher, Eddie-ji, in LA, and a healthier/sober lifestyle that connected, really connected me with the people around me, and my Path before me.

I discovered the harmonium in September, and with practice and great examples set by the artists on a similar Path (with much more experience!) like Girish, Krishna Das, Wah! and David Newman, have been blessed to be a part of Community Kirtan gatherings, yoga classes, and blessed collaborations with revered teachers/artists such as Jennifer Holt, and  Charonpal Kaur.

I’m just a work in progress, as is the new website, but as 2016 unfolds, am deeply grateful to those who have been patient with me, been supportive, and given me the encouragement to build those ‘bridges’ and forge those connections that make this life, this moment, so precious…