"Set Me Free" begins with the powerful MahaMrityunjaya mantra. This Sanskrit mantra is a potent prayer for liberation. Recording this chant required my complete focus. I read directly from the transliteration while simultaneously reaching for my connection to my lineage teachers and to Shiva. The process looked something like this: recording multiple versions, listening many times, rerecording, listening again to every vowel and consonant, etc. Chanting and listening so deeply to this mantra for several continuous hours left me feeling a lot like burnt toast. I laid on my back in the floor of the studio as we listened back to the recordings to choose all of the best versions. When I left the studio on those days, I drove down the mountain and put my feet into Boulder creek.
Sanskrit is both a divinely beautiful and extraordinarily challenging language. To prepare to record this album, I completed two Sanskrit courses and received some private instruction as well. I was excited to deepen my understanding of this beautiful language and instead found myself very very humbled and for a short but painful period, completely crushed. I went through a crucial death and rebirth in regards to my relationship with chanting. My teacher helped me to find balance; and I decided to prioritize devotion while continuing to improve my accuracy gradually. This recording represents my very best efforts and so much grace.
When I sing the English section of this song, I think of Swami Rudrananda, or as his devotees affectionately call him, Rudi. Rudi was a great Siddha who spoke of cultivating a wish to grow. It's not a casual wish. It's a deep wish for freedom. I often think of this wish as a hunger, a profound yearning. We can use this hunger to empower our practice and ultimately, to become free.
Sanskrit is both a divinely beautiful and extraordinarily challenging language. To prepare to record this album, I completed two Sanskrit courses and received some private instruction as well. I was excited to deepen my understanding of this beautiful language and instead found myself very very humbled and for a short but painful period, completely crushed. I went through a crucial death and rebirth in regards to my relationship with chanting. My teacher helped me to find balance; and I decided to prioritize devotion while continuing to improve my accuracy gradually. This recording represents my very best efforts and so much grace.
When I sing the English section of this song, I think of Swami Rudrananda, or as his devotees affectionately call him, Rudi. Rudi was a great Siddha who spoke of cultivating a wish to grow. It's not a casual wish. It's a deep wish for freedom. I often think of this wish as a hunger, a profound yearning. We can use this hunger to empower our practice and ultimately, to become free.
Set Me Free by Kalika Fortin
***MahaMrityunjaya words and translation coming soon.
Set me free.
I am reaching towards your light.
Help me see.
I am hungry for your sight.
And help me grow.
Live my life with love and peace,
praise be to thee.
Guru Om.
Set me free.
I am reaching towards your light.
Help me see.
I am hungry for your sight.
And help me grow.
Live my life with love and peace,
praise be to thee.
Guru Om.
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