Publications

ARTICLES

In Paradise with Contemplative Pedagogy: A Journey in Building Just Communities, The Journal of Contemplative Inquiry, Vol. 4, No. 1 . 2017

“Laura Biagi introduces contemplative practices in an Italian Studies course on Dante’s Paradise to create holistic learning experiences and group sharing that transcends cultural boundaries.” – Trudy and David Sable, Co-Editors

Spider Medicine, February 2015 issue of the magazine Courageous Creativity

BOOK

Saraswati’s Pearls: Dialogues on the Yoga of Sound

This book is a compilation of deep, introspective, inspirational dialogues between Dr. Ananda and Dr. Sangeeta Laura Biagi on the “Yoga of Sound”. These trans-cultural interchanges deal with the spiritual and hidden, mystical aspects of music and Yoga such as Nada Yoga: Healing Sounds, The Origin of the Chant, Listening as a Tool for Purification, Guru-Chela, and The Artist as a Humane Being. The title, Saraswati’s Pearls is based on the concept of a sutra, a series of aphorisms set together as pearls on a string. The image of the pearls resonates with the pearl necklace in the hand of the divine muse of music and the fine arts. Each of the dialogues can be appreciated like a pearl, perfect and yet imperfect, whole in itself and yet connected to the others, containing some of the infinite satvic wisdom of the great Goddess Saraswathi. It is a joy, an honor and a humbling privilege to share their shimmering light with you, our dear reader.

ESSAYS IN BOOKS

Spell Breaking; Remembered Ways of Being

Laura Biagi, “Yoga: Breaking the Spell of Ignorance,” pp. 25-31, in Ione, editor, Spell Breaking; Remembered Ways of Being. An Anthology of Women’s Mysteries (M.o.M. & Deep Listening Publications, 2013)

Spell Breaking; Remembered Ways of Being is a stirring collection featuring the fresh voices of twenty members of an international Women’s Mysteries community. The reader travels with these fascinating women through intimate spaces and territories ranging from the Upper West Side of Manhattan and the shores of Long Island to Egypt, South America, Canada, Italy and the heart of Native America. Along the way we experience the potency of Yoruba ritual, the deepest grief of loss, the awakening of creativity and life purpose,the renewal of resolve and the transcendence of life threatening illness. In these pages, feelings, dreams, memories emerge illuminating the often harrowing process of “Spell Breaking” that can lead to a special kind of satisfaction, the remembering of deep and essential “ways of being”.

Ione’s Spell Breaking; Remembered Ways of Being is exactly that!! Ione is a “spell breaker”. She leads us into deeper realities to help us realize our true nature. Through the stories of many women, Ione reminds us all of our awesome ancient mystery potential. In this way, she breaks age old social spells that have inhibited us, and thereby creates new communities. We loved reading the inspiring stories of freedom.

~Amy and Arny Mindell
Process Work Center, Portland, Oregon

MUSIC

Chanting the Yoga Sutra: A Learning and Meditative Experience

Chanting led by Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani with support by Yogacharini Devasena Bhavanani, Yoga Chemmal Meena Ramanathan and Yogacharini Dr Sangeeta. Recording engineer and flute by Shri Rajkumar Rajamanickam.

Disc 1: A Meditative Experience: Invocation to Maharishi Patanjali, Samadhipada, Sadhanapada, Vibhutipada, Kaivalyapada and 108 OM chants.

Disc 2: A Learning Experience: Invocation to Maharishi Patanjali, Samadhipada, Sadhanapada, Vibhutipada, Kaivalyapada.

Why do we chant the Yoga Sutra’s of Maharishi Patañjali? When we write things out and deal with the written word, we are dealing with external forms. The written form is the grossest level of interpretation of oral traditions. When we chant we use our vocal apparatus to produce the sound. This process brings us into the eternal NOW. When we write, a long lapse of time can pass between the time of writing and our re-reading it. When we chant, the action brings us in the present moment. The process of chanting demands full attention, at least at the physical level. There is also the question of resonance. Chanting evokes and invokes resonance in letters and words. All mantra’s can be chanted in three forms: the manasika form (chanting in the mind) is the subtlest of forms, the vachika form (chanting externally, uttering sound) is in between, and the likita (writing), which is the grossest. The subtlest way to approach the sutra’s would be to chant them at the level of the mind. Yet, this requires full knowledge of what one is doing. It follows that when we chant we are in the NOW, we are vibrating, and we know what we are uttering so that when we move to the subtlest plane and we chant without uttering sound, in our mind, we are as close to the most perfect sound as possible.

My Wildest