25. The Spirituality of Phish

Why 43 years of friendship, humor, intelligence, and creativity is so meaningful to so many. In this episode, I describe how being present (i.e. surrendering to the flow) is a key ingredient to spiritual experiences. The band Phish offers A LOT to be present with, in caring, inclusive, and endlessly playful ways. Among many insights and experiences, three of the core teachings I've learned from Phish are: 1. Listening humbly and responding powerfully, 2. Balancing form and freedom, 3. Saying "Yes, And" to whatever's happening. This is the Spirituality of Phish. In this episode: What is and isn't "spiritual"? Sustained Presence is a key aspect of spirituality and ceremony Containers you need to fit into, and containers that naturally fit all of you Phish is 4 friends - humble, kind, genuine, and inviting How dancing can widen and support listening and understanding what you're hearing The blended unity of difference Phish are master teachers of listening Music as presentation and music as participatory journey Humility in listening, and sharing the lead Balancing form and freedom, earth and sky The multi-meaninged abstract nature of Phish's lyrics Bringing your personal process into the music listening experience Phish's expertise at "Yes, And" Jamming awkward and any mood (I referenced them playing a song and mistakenly said it was Cannonball, meant to say it was Catapult) Tension and release Phish's career-long and ongoing evolution, musically and personally Ghosts of the Forest and Phish fans' widely varying opinions and criticisms of the band The full freedom of the open channel Phish creates Phish's psychically attuned light show The art of listening and responding simultaneously Listening to each band member and widening your awareness - teaching owl eyes practice to relax mental fixations Specific Phish listening recommendations "Hose" and channeling spiritual experience through music Letting the surreal lyrics and music work on you from the inside over time Growing presence and spiritual awareness by surrendering to the flow of whatever is happening Find and play your notes in the already present music of life