Chanting for Healing, a Spiritual Voyage

Paula Gilbert, one of the main artists and therecording session, with her Mother, Pat Gear, two
producer of the Chanting For Healing Music CDBrothers, Karl and Rodney Sanchez, her
tells her spiritual story of how the album wassister-in-law Bethany Sanchez and her neice,
made. The album benefits global unity causes suchCrystal Sanchez. "It was a great healing
as OxFam, RAWA, Twin Tower Orphan Fund,adventure to all sing together. I remember it was
Global Exchange, and Food Not Bombs.pouring rain outside. It was like the skies were
Paula is a performance artist, songwriter andraining all the tears of grief we felt for the victims
teacher who founded the Cloverdale School ofof the 9/11 attack."
Music in 1994. After 9/11 she attended aThe spiritual adventure of creating this CD
Shamanic (Native American) mask making classcontinued with several other recording sessions
that she had been attending every year for theadding more cultures and more voices. Local artist
past 7 years. The purpose of the class was toLisamarie Kirkess added a beautiful, healing Quan
create a vision for the following shamanic yearYin chant. Carol Levy offered her beautiful vocal
which begins each year in November. In the class,with two Jewish chants. Jamie Lampert, Chelsea
the participants worked together with a facilitatorThompson and Quincy Wise, all students of
to create their vision through several guidedPaula’s, added their vocals to the
meditations and journaling. The class took placechildren’s chant, Funga Alafia.
late in October following the attack on America.
During one of her meditations she had a vision.Then in March of 2002 Paula happened to meet
Paula says, "I became fluid and went intoHans Jurgen Kary (Hansadutta dasa) through her
the earth. I saw myself dressed as a bear goinggood friend and local teacher Jim Seymour and
around a table with children. I also saw a stonethe adventure continued. Hansadutta, a local
mouse from my Mother’s table that weSwami from the Hare Krishna faith offered a
had made together up in the mountains when Icomplete Kirtan (chanting and eating tradition). The
was young. Then I saw birds flying through theHare Krishna chant was recorded in April of 2002
light above me and I felt the Bear merge with mewith 6 Krishna devotees, Nakula dasa,
and tell me that he would be there to help meVishwambhara dasa, Lokanatha dasa, Gadadhara
with strength in the coming year. Then the beardasa, Jim Seymour and Radha Towle. They were
said we would need some birds for spirituality andjoined by Pat Gear, Paula Gilbert, Rick Gilbert,
a blue bird with a black head appeared and toldTory Rotlisberger, Crystal Sanchez, and Mal
me to gather the chants from all over the world,& Elise Tornay. Hansadutta spent time with
especially Afghanistan and to put them on a CDThe Beatles in the 60’s when they were in
for healing and prayer." There were otherIndia learning about Krishna. After each chanting
parts to the vision telling her to use not just hersession (even at the recording studio) we all ate a
own renditions but also to do the research and towonderful vegetarian dinner prepared by
include a chant for the children and the soldiers.Hansadutta and the devotees.
After the class, Paula went home with her maskAfter some more time passed and the graphics
and began the research and started collecting thewere created for the CD, Paula added the
chants. She told her mother about her vision and"I Love You Chant" by Chanara, her
her mother offered to help out. She wanted asteacher and friend now living in Santa Fe, NM, and
many chants from different cultures andthe final recording session was done by Paula
languages and possible. Once she had collectedGilbert with her beautiful rendition of the Shiva
several chants, on December 16, 2001 themantra in Sanskrit which translated means
recording began at Joe Hoffmann Studios in"I honor the divine within".
Occidental, California. Paula Gilbert, and local artistsThe album was recorded, edited and mixed by
musicians Tory Rotlisberger and Mal TornayJoe Hoffmann Studios, Occidental, CA. The
started off the recording with their beautifulphotographs were done by Joe Hoffmann, and
rendition of Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai, Ram Omthe CD graphics manufacturing were done by Paul
which means "I am, you are, we areBacon of KABA Audio Productions — The
one". The recording continued on Decemberwebsite was created by David Rose of d2m
30th in a beautiful mansion on top of a hill ininteractive web design in San Jose.
Sonoma County with a large group of peopleThe album has been selling well in local stores and
including local musician Zackary Miller on dijiriduon-line at This year they have raised enough
(one of the oldest instruments on the planet). Malmoney to do a good donation to each charity
Tornay again brought his wonderful drummingbeginning in January. Next year they hope to give
ability along with his daughter, a beautiful singer,even more.
Elise Tornay. Katy Ketchum a local artist fromChanting is a wonderful way to relax; chanting
Sebastopol brought her healing voice andcalms and clears the mind of random thought. It is
impeccable piano playing and her husband Mike, aalso very interesting to note that every culture
local poet, who also added to the vocal team.chants, every culture is interested in communing
Local performance artist, Tory Rotlisberger againwith their divine self and every culture strives for
brought her healing voice along with her friend andinner peace and has a name for God. Paula
vocalist Joanna Noble of Noble Designs inbelieves, as we create this peace inside each one
Healdsburg, and more friends and vocalists Karenof us, so shall the world be peaceful.
Wallace and John Faulkner. Rick Mariani of WolfWe all came together in hope of creating a
Coffee with his twin sons Nicolas and Mitchellstatement that says — We all want to get
added to their vibrant vocal mix as well.along — We all want the world to get along
Paula’s family also participated in thisand we know this is possible.