Seán Johnson | From Tragedy to Connection: Music as a Path of Transformation

Kirtan artist Seán Johnson, of Seán Johson and the Wild Lotus Band, discusses:

• the importance of preparation for presenting and his personal singing practice as a means of connecting to the universe
• the balance between planning and staying present in the moment - using templates as a framework for improvisation and creativity
• experiences of doubt, grief, and loss, and finding solace in connecting with his brother's spirit through music
• challenges, self-care, and finding value in difficult experiences, as well as the universal nature and benefits of singing and chanting in many spiritual traditions

Seán's Bio:

Seán’s intimate, intuitive connection to the spirituality of music, singing, and songwriting goes back to his childhood. He was a member of the New Orleans Symphony Children’s Chorus and active in musical theatre. After a traumatic performance experience as an adolescent, he quit singing in public for many years and found his voice again in his early twenties by connecting deeply to his Irish ancestors through singing traditional sean-nos songs in a year long Irish Studies program at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, guided by ethnomusicologist Seán Williams. Williams shared songs that she had learned directly from Joe Heaney, considered to be one of Ireland’s greatest singers. In an intensive program focused on heart-centered spiritual traditions guided by Doranne Crable, Seán was introduced to the Sufi practice of dhikr, a powerful chanting practice that deepened his connection with the voice as a vehicle for spiritual transformation.

After focusing on Comparative Spiritual Traditions in his undergraduate studies, Seán went on to complete a Master’s degree in Creation Spirituality from The Naropa Institute-Oakland (1999) with focus on teaching chant as spiritual practice, apprenticing there with south Indian musician and teacher Russill Paul, author of The Yoga Of Sound. In 1999, Seán moved home to New Orleans, sharing weekly chanting sessions, and founding several spiritual music ensembles, introducing many people to the practice of chanting. In 2005 he founded The Wild Lotus Band as a post-Hurricane Katrina philanthropic music project, raising funds across the country for relief from the devastation of the storm through benefit concerts. Chanting mantras has been a deep and integral part of his personal spiritual practice, music, and teaching for the last 25+ years. Singing Irish music and connecting to his Irish ancestors remains a pillar of his life and spirituality. He guides online gatherings and retreats in Ireland with Mary Meighan, founder of Celtic Journeys each year.

Links:

• Website - https://seanjohnsonandthewildlotusband.com
• Instagram - @seanwildlotusband
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SeanJohnsonAndTheWildLotusBand/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/SeanWildLotusBand
• The Auricle Collective - https://auriclecollective.com/

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