An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins

There must have been some introspective bug floating in the ethers of the underworlds of singer-songwriters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February of 2021, I discovered Cassandra Jenkins's phenomenal record "An Overview on Phenomenal Nature". Listening to the title track, Michelangelo, for the first time, soaring with the strings, the sax, and the backing guitar riffs, I immediately knew I needed to acquire this album on vinyl. The album is short and sweet at 32 minutes. Meditation is built into the album with the closing track, The Ramble. I utilized this track for my Shavasana during my YTT demonstration and its power is deep. The mention of epigenetics and genetic memories while I was studying racial trauma really made this album click.

TRIGGER WARNING (SUICIDE) My discovery of this album was through dark origins. David Berman, who I was a big fan of, killed himself, and Cassandra Jenkins was to be in the touring band of his comeback new project Purple Mountains. The second song, New Bikini, is the first to reference this tour that never happened. At the time, this suicide really bothered me because it felt like Berman resurfaced as Purple Mountains to use his artistry to intentionally inflict pain into the world. At the same time, I recognized that it was just a mental health battle, and maybe the music wasn't enough to save him this time. RIP David Berman (and to every musician who has lost the battle with mental health). Just like Cassandra and her discussion of the mind and body connection, that's the trip I was headed on next, too. The water it cures everything. When I first heard Hard Drive, I thought it was innovative, and that this is different. The new-age rapping and framing of this song can transform emotions when carefully implemented in a structured setting. The discussion and metaphors in this song are enlightening and true heart medicine.

Crosshairs was instantly my favorite song on the album amidst the hinge, tinder, and bumble phase of the pandemic. This song was everything I was living "It's in the crosshairs of a strangers stare I'm lost at last, All I want is to fall Apart in the arms of someone entirely strange to me" so grateful to have my partner Emily now. Ambiguous Norway is the most direct about Berman, but it deftly handles the topic, and apparently, Cassandra went on a healing voyage in Norway to reconcile with the trauma from this experience. It's no wonder why this album fit me like a glove…The mystical closure Haily is a beautiful exposition followed by the layered textures of the Ramble. After discovering Cassandra and this album, I went back and listened to her debut, 2017's Play Till You Win. It's also a treasure, the lead guitar on Candy Crane sounds like All Things Must Pass Era George Harrison. Check this album out in its entirety!!

This class will feature a longer chant, breathwork, and a 20 minute chakra meditation to close.

Peace,

Will