“One autumn day I was in the park. Absorbed in the contemplations of a very small, beautiful leaf 🍁. Shaped like a heart, it was barely hanging on the branch, nearly ready to fall down. I asked the leaf if it was frightened because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling.

The leaf told me, “No. During the whole spring and summer I was completely alive. I worked hard to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree. I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.’”

― From Like a leaf by Thich Nhat Hanh

Tracklist

00:00

02:56

06:16

09:10

11:32

17:16

22:32

30:48

32:57

38:28

46:56

52:20

“imagine, the time when we all learn the art of living

wave farewell to the terror of the nights

yes love, I promise you all these.

what you imagine today, will be our paradise tomorrow.”

― From someday in our paradise by Stephanie

Tracklist

00:00

02:28

03:40

07:40

13:15

16:08

21:19

24:24

28:16

32:48

42:18

46:00

49:28

56:08

“In each of us

But when we dig in the ashes

Only thing that’s important is that ember

The ember gets stronger

― From The Spiritual Fire by Ram Dass

Tracklist

00:00

08:23

10:24

15:56

22:22

30:04

33:26

35:32

36:32

38:32

45:20

48:50

51:52

57:17

58:00

“Cold and drifting,

“What is this..?”

What splendor there awaits!”

― From Final Thoughts of a Whale in Space by Monica Belle Brand,

Tracklist

00:00

03:52

06:16

08:56

14:24

17:00

21:07

24:58

26:36

28:23

32:32

37:52

43:12

51:36

This mix is an ode to one of my favorite ambient mix series of the same name by Alex Hephaestian. Themed around highlighting ethnic ambient music from around the world, Alex’s mix series (which you can stream on Mixcloud) shows such mastery in combining exquisite mixing and mystical storytelling. It chronicles the journey of Oushie who travels far from his home to visit Ethni-City the capital of the land where he was born. My favorite episode of that series, and one I remember drifting off to sleep with many nights, is #5: The Mystic Shows Oushie the Way to Find His Spirit Guide.

Tracklist

00:00

03:37

05:39

09:10

11:48

15:44

19:23

22:12

23:48

31:00

36:12

38:08

42:16

45:45

51:49

53:48

“When you fall in love with a work of art, you’d die to meet the artist.

I am a student of the galleries of Pacific sunsets, full moon rises on the ocean, the clouds from an airplane, autumn forests in Raleigh, and first fallen snows.

And I’m dying to meet the artist.”

Poetry by Yasmin Mogahed, from her book Reclaim Your Heart

Tracklist

00:00

04:52

07:21

10:31

15:34

25:18

31:52

35:15

39:28

50:48

55:48

“The sun is so beautiful in the early morning. It does something to the trees that you don’t see any other time of the day. I think we all want the same thing: A quiet peace. Maybe just even a single moment of it, to close our eyes and just be okay. For even a single second, to not feel worried about something, sad about something. To not crave something we don’t–or can’t–have. Just to be there, okay. Still. Silent. On the inside. Maybe that’s what’s so beautiful about this time of the day: The stillness. And the hope that maybe this day will be different.”

Tracklist

00:00

04:12

08:26

09:42

11:21

13:46

16:04

20:28

26:24

29:08

31:04

35:36

38:00

39:32

42:39

45:52

47:22

This mix is inspired by heal., a magnificent meditative album by the talented man behind Project AER. He usually produces heartfelt lofi music, but when he turns to ambient, his work lives up to that of the best you’ve ever heard.

“What’s meant for you will be

Don’t think that they are lost

Tracklist

00:00

06:10

07:45

10:47

12:07

13:00

15:36

21:00

23:51

29:17

34:18

45:52

49:45

52:56

56:21

59:02

To Chris, in celebration of his birthday, life, and legacy. He would have been 37 today (Jan 13). Less than a year ago, his passing was our rebirth. It imbued me, his sister and his family with a sense of duty to live out his legacy. The life that he could have had. The life he would have wished for us. Rest in peace my friend.

“So it begins my friend.

I hear in the air, the call of a Siren.

I am awake.

― Rebirth by The Whisper

Tracklist

00:00

05:08

06:44

11:58

14:52

18:24

20:55

26:24

28:28

35:12

37:37

40:00

41:16

44:04

46:13

47:58

As 2021 comes to a wrap, it feels like we should be seeing the pandemic off, but the reality is anything but. With more imposed restrictions coinciding with the holiday season, I released this mix to hopefully provide solace to those celebrating alone or unable to spend it with some of their loved ones.

Musically, this mix features 3 tracks from a masterpiece new album by Jon Hopkins called Music for Psychedelic Therapy. Test Card returns with two intriguing pieces from his latest album Music For The Towers. Finally, Martin Domas opens the mix up with a track that inspired this mix. As always, please support the artists you like by streaming or purchasing their music.

Tracklist

00:00

02:52

07:02

09:56

12:46

15:12

17:19

24:00

25:58

29:29

32:28

40:16

43:22

45:28

50:52

55:40