This delightful fantasy portrait was created by the very talented and soulful Argnesh Rose, to capture the magic and enchantment of the hang and the symbolism of transformation.
 
I embraced this as an expression of the hang's 'other-worldliness'.

Argnesh's aptly named business is 'Give them Wings' and you can arrange it all online!

I had no idea how rare they were or how difficult they were to buy, but I had a singular focus, and a little over two years later, on April 4 2008, I received my hang from Bern, Switzerland. (How to get one is not my focus here, so if anyone is interested, explore the menu on the left - particularly the link 'good start place' for a good overview of the instrument and how to apply for one).

The time that I've had the 'artpiece' has been enchanting, fascinating and deeply satisfying. I knew it was extra special as a musical instrument and I was aware of its history as an instrument of healing (sound healing) but I had no idea just how powerfully effective it is as a healing tool. I could tell you some amazing stories...suffice to say it's having a big impact.

It feels like it's on a mission, it has a job to do, and I get to have the privilege of going along for the ride! Within a week of receiving it, I was invited to play it at one of Gabrielle Hart's 'HartSpace' evenings (sounding for healing, with a highlight being her amazing Alchemy bowl set, as shown in the larger photo below). I quickly saw the impact it has on people, and I hear it's a similar story all over the world. The singing bowls and the hang together is something else again. The first time we tried them together it somewhat literally blew our minds! The hang has also made a guest appearance on one of Gabrielle's CDs. 

I was involved with a number of events in quite a short time frame and then i n late June, 2008, I was at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Brisbane to support Gabrielle (who had a stand there as well as performing) and on the Friday I was thrown on stage with just a few minutes notice when two of the main performers couldn't make it. As per usual, the hang blew everyone away, and I was asked to take the vacated slot also on the Saturday and Sunday. Like I said - it seems to have a life of its own and I really need to make sure I keep pace with it all! Prem (from Sacred Earth) was watching one of my performances and gave me some lovely compliments afterwards, along the lines of 'you were really in the zone, the instrument has found the right person and you'll sell lots of CDs'.

I also asked the Venerable Lobsang Tendar to bless the hang, which he did. I felt the energy emanating from it as he did, and it sounds quite different now, a fuller, deeper resonance with more overtones. It seems more and more obvious every day that this is my new path. Lots of beautiful flow, many miracles and a tendency for rapid developments. Watch this space I guess!

It was also at the Festival that I met my partner, Sahayak, who plays Native American Indian flutes (I was coming off the stage after playing, just as he was going on stage to play!)...and from then on we have played together. Our first performance together was a Sacred Sound Spa at Maleny (Gabrielle, myself and Sahayak). Sahayak and I also play the hang in tandem...which has proved to pack quite a punch in terms of sound healing.

We then spent a year overseas, including eight months in Costa Rica, sharing our music with many wonderful 'Ticos' (Costa Ricans) and 'Gringos' (many American ex-pats live in Costa Rica) and having the privilege and joy of offering numerous performances and performing with various wonderful musicians (see our YouTube Channel).

We are now back in our beloved Australia and our fascinating journey continues to unfold!