The ecstatic music of Alice Coltrane fills the studio of The Vampire’s – The Vampire's Wife

We can’t stop listening to The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda, the new Alice Coltrane release here at The Vampire’s Wife. It lifts us all beyond ourselves and makes every thing seem possible. Listen to the gorgeous Om Shanti. It’s so very beautiful.

OM SHANTI

Om Shanti Om Shanti Om Shanti Om
Om Shanti Om Shanti Om Shanti Om

Ananta Natha Parambrahman Om
Vitthala Keshava Madhava Hari Om
Om Jaya Krishna Jai Rama Hari Om
Om Jaya Rama Jai Krishna Hari Om

Translation:

Divine Symbol of Peace is of and in the Supreme
Eternal Lord, whose names are Vitthala,
Keshava, Madhava and Hari
Victory to Krishna. Victory to Rama.

Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, singer, composer, swamini, and the wife of John Coltrane. Turiyasangitananda translates as the Transcendental Lord’s highest song of Bliss.

Alice Coltrane

GOODBYE. LOVE, SUSIE

I just want to say that it looks like this may be the last Stuff Post. Due to factors beyond our control, The Vampire’s Wife has stopped trading. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have supported us here at The Vampire’s Wife. It has been a deep privilege to be a part of this magical thing – a project that quite literally saved my life. Perhaps, in the end, ten years is long enough. I don’t know. My husband, Nick, and I love this company, and I will miss all the wonderful people who worked so hard to create such beautiful things. And I will miss doing the Stuff Page, and I thank you all for your contributions along the way.

IN PRAISE OF MARILYNNE ROBINSON

I haven’t heard a sensible word from my husband all week as he finally gets around to reading Marilynne Robinson’s new book, Reading Genesis. ‘Oh God, you’ve got to read this, babe!’ he keeps saying. ‘Wow, you’ve got to read this!’ Meanwhile, I’m deep inside A Year in the Life of Wendy Whiteley by Ashleigh Wilson, which is having much the same effect. I’ve had a lovely time in Sydney, reading and swimming in the McIver’s Ladies Baths, Australia’s only rock pool dedicated to women and children. There is nothing quite as exhilarating as swimming in the rain, except perhaps watching Nick perform in the evenings at the State Theatre. Beautiful.

THE EXTRAORDINARY WENDY WHITELEY

My husband and I spent a lovely afternoon at Wendy Whiteley’s house, overlooking her amazing ‘secret garden’ in Lavender Bay in Sydney. Wendy and her husband, the renowned artist Brett Whiteley, set up their family home there in 1970 where they lived together for two decades. Brett painted many of his iconic Sydney Harbour pictures in the house. Brett was a defining influence on Nick as a young art student and musician living in Australia. It was a perfect day spent with an absolutely fascinating and powerful woman.