Ashana Sophia began singing her heart's joy at age three, as her first words mixed with song. Ashana was born in a Rudolf Steiner Community called Camphill, in Kimberton, Pennsylvania. Camphill was a biodynamic and organic farm community, where families lived with, caring for, and worked side-by-side with disabled people. As a small child, Ashana delighted in the gentle, kindly, and openhearted ways of her extended Camphill family. Singing and prayers were a part of her everyday life, from singing mealtime blessings to reciting prayers before bed. The community also celebrated many festivals throughout the year. One favorite memory is of being awakened very early on a dark and cold December morning to find what appeared to be a group of candle-lit angels singing in Ashana and her brother's bedroom, carrying a basket of sticky cinnamon buns. This celebration of Santa Lucia is a Swedish tradition honored each year at Camphill. When she was five, Ashana's family moved to the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts. Ashana attended a Waldorf school, and began studying and playing the cello at the age of nine. The earthy, grounding, and melancholic sounds of the cello continue to be a cornerstone of her music. Her first teacher was the generous and inspiring Ane Legene, a Dutch cellist. Ashana quickly discovered an affinity for singing and playing the cello, often singing the violin’s part from orchestral pieces while she played. She also sang in performing choruses throughout elementary and high school, learning the art of harmonizing with other singers. At age twelve, Ashana was accepted to study with Luís García Renart, a renowned student of Pablo Casal's. Luís was a passionate teacher who helped sculpt Ashana’s musical technique. Under his guidance, Ashana gave more and more recitals, eventually playing in the Tanglewood Institute's Orchestral Program with a group of student musicians from around the world. These experiences instilled in Ashana a practiced discipline and an exceptional enchantment with the art of music. Always an inquisitive child, the challenges of family life inspired deep inquiry as Ashana entered her teenage years. She longed to understand the deeper layers of human experience, and that yearning led her to the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts. At sixteen, she spent an inspirational week there, reconnecting with community living and beginning her practice and study of yoga. Ashana discovered a new clarity in herself and her music, finding a rare atmosphere in which to play and sing. At Kripalu, Ashana first learned about the devotional path of Yoga, called Bhakti Yoga, and slowly realized it was her own heart’s path. Devotion and romance for the divine inform Ashana's music and imbue it with a magic that can be felt, seen, and heard. A decade later, Ram Dass helped reveal the perfection of Ashana’s decision to choose the path of devotional music rather than the life of a full-time classical musician. The path of grace was already in her life. Ashana’s harmonic journey continued through performances with the Kripalu Drummers, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Ram Dass, Uma Reed, Donna De Lory, Danny Birch, Jaya Lakshmi, Daniel Paul, Tatianna Shapiro-Leiste, Lukas Nelson, Udaya Bryce and many others. In January of 2008, Ashana made her second journey to India to study with the late Shanti Sharma, a master classical vocalist. Her close relationship with Shantiji and her family, both as a mentor and as a fellow female musician in a male-dominated industry, inspired Ashana to record her first album. The Unveiled Heart was recorded with musicians from Delhi, and is a celebration of Ashana’s unique musical journey. This beginning album is entirely comprised of original compositions by Ashana. While in Delhi, Ashana visited Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Kahn's dharga, a burial site and teaching center, and prayed for his blessing in her musical path of devotion. His teachings, along with Pir Shabda Kahn's, are a great source of love, refuge, and inspiration. Ashana regularly leads kirtans with tabla player Udaya Bryce and violinist Irene Chang. She teaches weekly classes on the Yoga of Singing and Beginner's Harmonium. Ashana also performs with classical harpist Tatianna Shapiro-Leiste. They perform harp, cello, and vocal duets, ranging from classical to Celtic and gypsy music. This May, Ashana is touring with HuDost, a devotional world rock music band from Montreal and Alabama. They will perform at festivals, concert halls, and yoga studios along the east coast. For more details, see Ashana’s tour schedule. Ashana lives on Maui with her husband, Ryan, where they tend an abundant home garden on the slopes of Haleakala Crater. Ashana and Ryan are the co-founders and co-owners of Agua de Flora Botanical Perfumery and Boutique. Together, they lead a monthly Symphony of Scents—a meditative workshop featuring Ashana’s music intertwined with Agua de Flora’s exquisite botanical perfumes. Visit http:// www.aguadeflora.com for more information. God Love's your Tears ~ Hare Govinda ~ Lyrics: God loves your tears Golden honey pearls Bathing our magnificence In salty tender waters All the rivers need us now wash away out tears bathing our magnificence in God's healing waters My beloved we are healing My beloved we are opening Mt beloved we are healing God loves your tears Children of this world Carry us remembering Pearls may be so hard to find In salty tender waters God loves your tears My beloved we are healing My beloved we are opening My beloved we are healing God loves your tears Kirtan: Hare Govinda Hare Gopala Hare Govinda Hare Hare Hare Hare Hare Hare Hare Hare Hare Gopal Wrenna's Prayer Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnat Purnamudacyate Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnameva Vashishyate Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshvara Guru Sak Shat Param Brahma Tash Mayi Shree Gurudev Namah Om