Episode 101 - Earth Sessions: Dan Solo -Into the Dark
I am not ready to get back to it - whatever it is.
But just beginning to find some slowness and stillness in my body.
After crawling through the portal of the Winter Solstice and into the festiveness of things.
The last two days actually feel like winter here.
The ground is frozen.
The stars shine extraordinary at night.
I can feel a gentle connection in my body with the land around me.
A slow synching.
The sun made me sing this morning
As it warmed my face through the kitchen window.
I was clutching a hot mug of tea and it was so bright and white and everything was glorious.
I came across a pair of buzzards basking in the sun on the crest of the hill as I approached the woods with my dog.
They let me get very close to them before spreading wings and gliding up into an Ash tree.
I’m just starting to feel an interest in reflecting on what was and what might be.
The year gone by and the one beginning.
Just a stirring of curiosity.
Over the last few years I’ve given up setting new year intentions and goals and in and out lists for the start of January.
It just doesn’t feel true to me.
I’m suspicious of the rush to get going.
It smells colonial.
I am always still full.
Of the year that has been
All the contradictions, confusion, joy, grief and possibility,
They’re still there
Quieter and calmer but not yet examined
And given perspective.
And so needing to create space
For reflecting and composting.
What threads to trust, follow and hang onto?
What to let go of ?
Preparing the ground for new emergings.
And that can’t happen fast.
With integrity
It needs time.
As winter does.
I struggle with goals in the dark.
And this is dark time.
Maybe its my age.
I want to dig deeper,
To wallow for longer in liminal space
To get to know the darkness more intimately,
And thoroughly compost some shit
Of what was.
And to dream slowly and creatively into seeds
Of what could be.
Listening to Earth
Noticing.
Plotting gradually.
Emerging steadily from the dark around Imbulc.
So I have two winter offerings for you.
Two invitations to step into the dark
The first is this new Earth Sessions mix:
Into the Dark - a deep, slow, wintery, sonic meander, through ambient electronic melancholy into deep house.
Sounds and tracks that I’m finding connection and curiosity with in these darker, colder times of breakdown, reflection, exploration and dreaming towards the light
Massive respect to these artists and producers for the sonic love and beauty that they create through these tracks
Drifting Memory Part 2 - Guy J
Doldrums - Ame
Clouds - - Sasha - Da Vinci Genius - The Score
Remants - Ambassadeurs
Trailwind - Omfeel
Somerville - Timo Chinala
Velvet - Gadi Mitrani, Erdi Irmak
Circadian Rhythm (Hraach Remix) - Soul Button
Circle of Life (Fulltone Remix) - Timo Chinala
You (Original Mix) - Noraj Cue
Sunrise Generation (Meera Remix) - Fink, Damian Lazarus
Light Through the Veins (Ewan Pearson's Downtown Lights Remix) - Jon Hopkins
If you walk with it, run with it, sit with it, drive with it, cook with it.
Dance with it.
I hope you enjoy it
The second offering is an invitation to join our next practice community learning adventure
( can u see the theme ?)
This is the third year we’re hosting this journey and it really is a magical adventure.
Personally this has now become the only way to prepare the ground and seed my intentions for the year ahead.
Wherever you are I hope you find some peace in these darker times