This is Podcast no 265, and the first of the last 100 Podcasts, that I am counting down till I finish 100 days from now! I am relieved and excited. In this podcast Christina talks about the Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian Modes, demonstrating each one on the harp and giving the associative emotional and physical responses from her experience and research. This is priceless knowledge, and very applicable to the practice of kiirtan where we can devise a way to choose a particular tune to fit a certain situation and mood. 

Heres a short and inspiring except from Christina Tourin's Presentation on Emotion and Modes at the Kiirtan Academy on Friday night. It was incredible, both for its content and its music. Here Christina gives an introduction to modes and demonstrates them on her beautiful harp.  

Christina Tourin is someone I greatly admire as she is a woman who is living her dreams, sharing her knowledge, experience, research and her beautiful music. Over the past 28 years she has built up the International Harp Therapy programme that serves people in every continent of the world. Tonight I talk briefly about her amazing, informative and inspirational presentation at the Kiirtan Academy Monthly Satsaung session.  

Tonight I speak a little about the books I have here for my three year old daughter from the library and how they reflect the inequality of gender roles in our society. Why is it that way? Having so few female characters in children's books who go on exciting mysterious adventures, that are strong leaders and have high aspirations is an indication of why women in society feel like minorities, and are still treated like second hand citizens. Not only girls need to see role models as leaders but boys too so that we can learn to work together. A bird cannot fly on one wing, so lets support girls empowerment.. its much more fun and progressive.    

Shivanii is a very inspiring woman from South Africa now living in Australia. Today she shares some insights into her Indian background, and how to overcome dogma and judgement. She also shares her inspiration gained at the Kiirtan Course about how to include kiirtan in her Women's 8 Step Empowerment Programme. She ends with a kiirtan improvisation with a Middle eastern flavour. 

Thanks to all the participants of the Third Kiirtan Academy Course for a wonderful evening of music and satsaung. Here I share briefly what happened on the last night and how each member contributed. At the end I share a kiirtan from the soon to be released Avarta Kiirtan III album. bnk

I talk briefly about all the children's books (for ages 3- 5) that I have gathered together from the library to read to Isabel. I am amazed how approx. 90 percent of these children's books have males as the main characters. This made me reflect on how this might impact on us as young girls and later as women, leading to feeling that we are a minority in society when in reality we are 50 percent or thereabouts in society. This is the 21st century and gender equality is still not reflected in our toddlers books. 

Maetreyii says she has little musical experience but still she is creating kiirtan videos on You Tube to share with others her beautiful kiirtans. Listen here to Maetreyii and Anandii's enchanting sounds. Their You Tube Channel is at: https://youtu.be/46orw4iY-sk 

I didn't know what to say tonight so I picked a booklet called "Light Comes" by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti and opened it up at this page and read it out. It's one fo the most optimistic, hopeful, quotations I have ever read and I want to share it with you.I end with an old bhajan I wrote years ago and a kiirtan.    

I talk briefly about the gratitude I feel for each and everyone who has contributed to the Kiirtan Academy so far. I touch on what are some of the topics that we have covered and hows it all going? I end with 'Consciousness Kiirtan'