From the new sacred music duo 'samjjana', Maia shares their extraordinary and inspiring story...

April 6, 2008 – a momentous day. The arrival of my new 'hang' – a unique and exquisite 'sound sculpture' – and a rare privilege to own. The synchronicity to this point was amazing enough, but I intuitively knew it was to change my life beyond belief.

Soon after, Spirit guided my soul sister to give me a reading. The path I was on was absolutely fine, however there was a higher path...but only if I chose it. There was sacred union on this higher path, and we would have a big role to play in service to Spirit. Higher path? Sacred union? While I had some attachment to the path I could see, it was no contest. Trust and surrender were effortless. Remarkable experiences followed – it was unmistakably clear that my life had veered onto a new trajectory.

Brisbane, June 2008. Visiting a festival, I wasn't on the program but intuited I'd be on stage so took the hang. Synchronicity yet again and I was on stage daily.

Spirit had also made me aware the hang would lead me to my new man, and we would meet on the Sunday. Sure enough, when I finished my Sunday performance, there he was, on the side of the stage. Sahayak wasn't on the program either – he'd been invited to play flute with another performer. What delightful co-creating!

Two weeks later he declared he was fully committed to our 'divine union'. It was time to reveal Spirit's guidance...
“I have a delightful story to tell you...”
And after he had absorbed that, “...and by the way, we are going overseas.”
“Are we?' he said.
“Apparently!” I replied (Spirit guided, of course).

This was one of the greatest turning points in our lives – the level of trust and surrender required was huge, but we were clear.

Spirit suggested we merge our lives ASAP and 'get on with it' as there was a lot to be done! I'd had advance notice, but to his credit, in total faith, Sahayak quit his job, gave up his unit and sold his car. Just two months after we met we were on a plane.

After four months in Europe, being fast-tracked in every way you could imagine (including getting to know each other!) Spirit advised me we were to go to Costa Rica. Another wave of total trust and surrender and we booked flights to a place we knew virtually nothing about.

From the moment we landed (Christmas Eve, 2008) the synchronicity was like a snowball rolling down a hill. We arrived at Vicki's Fountains Guesthouse to discover another guest there was seriously ill. Over an intense few days our instruments helped prepare him to die. We had experienced the healing power of these incredible instruments and observed their effect on people, but this brought much deeper insight.

Vicki was the pivotal link to every significant connection we made in Costa Rica, including radio presenter, Iside, who invited us on air and also to play at an event; and Leonardo, who felt compelled to arrange a concert for us.

It was time to formalise what we were doing. After a beautiful, creative process, 'samjjana' came into existence – samjjana is a Sanskrit word we feel deeply aligned with, meaning 'a ceremony for harmony, unanimity and consciousness'. Branding and a web presence soon followed, with our first official samjjana performance being at Iside's event.

One of Costa Rica's most loved musicians 'happened' to be there; Carlos (Tapado) Vargas (from Grammy Award-winning band 'Editus'). Leonardo also came, and invited a willing Tapado to the planned concert. Closer the time others were drawn magically into the space until we were six on stage – all sharing music from a beautiful, conscious heart-space – in our meditative, improvised 'Musical Alchemy' concert.

Our music was embraced in Costa Rica. Throughout an increasing whirl of performances (as a duo and with other musicians) we found ourselves effortlessly flowing with a fast moving current - confirmation we were 'saying yes to the universe' and following our highest path.

Still, many times we felt stretched, challenged and tested – sometimes constantly, and no less than total trust and surrender was required.

Within the flow we also played fundraising concerts; Satsangs; for another dying man (and at his funeral); for the homeless and at an orphanage for severely brain damaged children. We were warned not to expect a response from the children, but knew the power of the instruments. Among many reactions, the cries of joy from one prostrate little boy had tears streaming down my face. What a privilege to serve in this way.

Yet more astonishing synchronicity led to Manuel Obregón – famous in Central America and, like Tapado and Edin an incredible/conscious musician. He said he would check his (very full) diary for a concert date we suggested, but I didn't need to wait to hear back – with such powerful synchronicity I already knew he would perform with us in 'A Celebration of Harmony' – another truly magical night of improvisation and powerful healing vibrations.

We intended to record on our return to Australia but people kept asking, we had the time and it was cheaper there, so our 'Gently Now' and Elixir' CDs were birthed in the very special spiritual energy in Costa Rica. Tapado linked us to the studio, owned by Edin Solis (guitarist from Editus) – who also invited us into the studio for some musical exchange, and who (in one take) created an exquisite guitar track for 'Gently Now'.

Upon hearing we were connected with Tapado, Edin and Manuel, one friend there asked how we managed to 'go straight to the top' and was incredulous to hear it had all flowed to us with effortless ease. How elegant synchronicity is!

We are certainly in awe of these incredibly talented, conscious musicians, and they appreciate our music's uniqueness and purpose. Our combined energies on stage were very powerful and sacred.

After eight unbelievable months we returned to Queensland's Sunshine Coast last September. Though new on the scene here, the synchronicity and countless little miracles continued to surprise and delight. Other instruments we weren't seeking found us in extraordinary ways – clearly part of a divine plan!

At markets people gravitated to our music; invitations and requests flowed in – play at a wedding, use our music for projects, perform at festivals, play for people with disabilities, run workshops – workshops a natural unfolding from our concerts, where we invite participation and open audiences to new possibilities for intuitive, improvised musical expression without need for structure, rules or training. (In this it is our privilege to inspire by example.) By December any thoughts about non-music related work fell away.

As well as having general appeal, to our delight our CDs have been used for alternative therapies, aged care and day care centres, funeral parlours, operating theatres and to birth a baby. Buoyed by this, we are seeking an alliance with a non-profit organisation to apply for a grant so we can more actively take our music to those who can't come to us (dying, incapacitated, detained, etc.)

We reflect with astonishment on what has unfolded in such a short time, with Spirit indicating further rapid evolution – our next CD is brewing, further world travels beckon and much more (too soon to share...watch this space!)

When we bump into people we haven't seen for a couple of years, they ask how life is. How can we describe the enormity of the total re-invention and re-direction of our lives? It's a big responsibility, though we feel very blessed and privileged to be in service in this way and we can now see how our utterly different earlier lives were preparing us for this.

Trust, surrender and non-attachment are infinitely easier now, as we have experienced the rewards that come from letting go and getting out of the way – in our lives and our music. We understand it does not from us, but through us.

Our music (essentially sound healing and meditation) is dedicated to the harmonious awakening of humanity as we all transition into the new energy. We are in awe of rising consciousness, the power of surrender, of Spirit's guidance and the potency of sound vibrations and how they manifest through our instruments and our intentions.

We have personally benefited beyond measure from abundant sound vibrations and our hearts are often filled to bursting with joy.

We could fill the whole magazine with inspiring stories (each mention of synchronicity within this story is a delightful story in itself). Some are shared on our website and YouTube brings our concerts to life.

May this sharing inspire you to let go, trust, follow your heart's guidance, walk your highest path and 'follow your bliss'...then watch the miracles flow.

Article that appeared in Conscious Living Magazine April 2010...