Moon Woman Rising

Friday Soulful Listening: Lila Downs

01 La Sandunga

Happy weekending! As this crazy week winds down and we emerge out of that Mercury Retrograde (whew, I am glad thats over!) I thought of a musician and song that could lull us right into a place of soulful peace. Lila Downs is an amazing musician - her first album came out in 1999, La Sandunga, and this it the title track. I was first introduced to her music from the movie Frida, which has a beautifully haunting soundtrack. Lila Downs songs were my favorite and I have been collecting her albums ever since. Happy listening. X.Aja

 

 

Friday Soulful Listening: Karen Dalton

04 Green Rocky Road

Karen Dalton was a folk singer from the 1960s who was part of the folk scene in New York City, along with Bob Dylan and other folk musicians in Greenwich village. She led a rough life and I think her voice has a weariness that reflects some of those struggles. I was listening to another one of my favorite musicians, Joanna Newsom, and realized how much she reminds me of Karen Dalton. This is a great album, it has a rawness that I love about folk music. Above is one of my favorite tracks - happy listening! X.Aja

 

Friday Soulful Listening: Gabrielle Roth

02 Totem

Gabrielle Roth is a dancer, choreographer, musician and shaman-goddess whose "5 Rhythms" method of movement is best described as a soul journey - it frees the mind and releases the heart. If you have never had the opportunity to take a 5 Rhythms dance class, I highly recommend it. Even if you are someone who feels like they "can't dance" (which is not true, I promise!) 5Rhythms is about expression through the body. 

Want to take a little soul journey through the body today? The drum based track above by Gabrielle Roth is the perfect soundtrack. The basic idea is simple: put on the music, listen intently and let your body respond to what you hear. Spontaneous dance parties can be very healing and with the new moon energy still around, it may be just what you need to let go! Happy weekending. X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: Craig Pruess and Ananda

02 Devi Prayer

Today's soulful listening is a beautiful chant to the Divine Mother. I first heard this song during a truly blissful savasana at the end of a yoga class at the Kripalu Yoga Center. In fact, it was my first yoga class there. I had arrived early for my month long stay and teacher training, hoping to catch the afternoon yoga class so I could settle down my excitement and anticipation. When this chant came on during the ending relaxation, I almost cried I was so overcome with a sense of peace. I now regularly meditate and practice yoga to it. Its a luxurious 21 minutes long, so I recommend finding a quiet comfortable place to lie down and enjoy! X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: The Head and the Heart

05 Rivers and Roads

Happy friday sisters! I currently in the beautiful midwest, traveling and visiting my in-laws, who live on the Iowa/Illinois border near the Mississippi. (Are there are midwest moon women out there? It sure is beautiful land out here!) This song, by the Head and the Heart, reminds me of the midwest for some reason - the whole album does actually. I am not exactly sure why, especially because the band is from my hometown of Seattle. Music has a beautiful way of transporting us to places both real and imagined I think. So enjoy some Friday soulful listening and I will be popping in to tell my travel tales over the next week or so!

All love.X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: Wah!

02 Maha Deva

I am still celebrating the love and good vibes of the solstice this week - summer is here! Today's soulful listening is soulfully chill, by yoga and kirtan goddess Wah! - who is on regular rotation in our home. And since I managed to sneak off to this weekend for some beach time, its only fitting that we end this wonderful week with some good chill vibes. Happy listening and happy summer! X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: The Finches

03 Daniel's Song

Happy Friday sisters! I am taking a little break from packing up my tent and sleeping bag and getting ready to head to an herb farm in Rhode Island where I will spend the next few days starting my Advanced Herbal Medicine training (and sleeping under the stars!) The training is one weekend a month from now until October and I am not sure what I am more excited for - advancing my studies or sleeping outdoors with the plants all around! Today's soulful listening from The Finches reminds me of sitting around a camp fire (another favorite activity) as if someone picked up a guitar and sang sweetly as I stare into the flame. 

I am packing up the camera so I can share my herbal adventures will you all. I hope you have a lovely weekend and happy listening!

X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: Snatam Kaur

09 Long Time Sun

This week's soulful listening is inspired by my recent visit to a Kundalini yoga class. I love Kundalini yoga - its so different from the style that I teach and I always feel so....alive after a class! Every Kundalini class ends with the same song "Long Time Sun", which students are invited to join in and sing with. I am a big fan of sing-a-longs so I love it. And the song has the most uplifting lyrics. The class I went to this week played Snatam Kaur's version of the song at the end of class and I happily joined in. She has a beautiful voice and I love this album, Celebrate Peace. I think today is a good day to put inhibition aside and sing your heart out - and this is a great song to sing to!

Happy weekending, X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: Beach House

04 Other People

 Its Friday and the first day of June! I have the perfect soulful listening tune to ring in this new month and weekend: a track off the new album by Beach House, Bloom. Gorgeous, unique vocals by Victoria Legrand and the musical talents of Alex Scally create dreamy pop magic. I love their previous albums so this new album has been so wonderful to dive into. Between the sunshine today, the coming of June and some soulful listening, I feel ready for the sweet energies of summer. Just click the link above and enjoy!

X.Aja

Friday Soulful Listening: Taken By Trees

03 Watch The Waves

Aahhh. Friday is here and a long weekend looms ahead. Huzzah! This week's soulful listening comes from Swedish musician Victoria Bergsman's solo-project, Taken By Trees, off the album East of Eden. I love the layers of instruments and the variety of musical influences. Click the track above and enjoy some sweet soulful listening! 

X.Aja 

PS. Listening to anything soulful this week?