Some things defy description. For instance, local folklore has it that the Cave Without a Name in Boerne received its name in 1939, when the owner of the property held a naming contest, and the winning entry was from a young boy who suggested it remain a "Cave Without a Name" because it was "too beautiful to have a name."
I think I know how the boy felt. Even though this Saturdaymarks the 16th year in a row that we'll be celebrating the Summer Solstice with an Underground Sounds concert in that particular cave, I still find myself at a loss for how to describe this experience.
NO WONDER
It's not just that it's a highly unusual, richly-textured, multi-layered concert, performed on a wide range of instruments, each vocalist and musician specifically chosen for their distinct timbre. Nor is it just the crystal-clear reverberations and acoustic properties of the 40-foot domed, limestone ceiling, or the physical beauty of the Queen's Throne Room, with its awe-inspiring stalagmites and stalactites accentuated by creative lighting.
Or the comfortable, yet highly dramatic descent each participant experiences, travelling down 126 stairs beforehand, literally climbing into the womb of Mother Earth, ninety feet under the surface. Or feeling the weight of the cool, moist air changing with each step down, while hearing the hypnotic sounds of water drip-drip-dripping as it seeps through the ancient limestone walls, continuing the age-old process of creating these eye-popping rock formations, one drop at a time.
NO LIGHT
Or the startling, pitch-black darkness that immediately envelopes the chamber for 15-20 minutes when all the lights are turned off halfway through the concert - much less the mesmerizing sound of the didgeridoo reverberating through the dark, accompanied by the resonant sounds of Tibetan bowls and the throbbing drums.
Or the open-ended invitation to harness the collective group energy, as well as the creative pulse of the Summer Solstice vibrations, to help set specific goals and intentions for the future.
But, put all those factors together, and the result is a deliciously nuanced interplay of all of the factors above, creating an experience that is... well, frankly... beyond naming or labeling, but well worth encountering.
NO KIDDING
Guess I'll just have to leave it at that - and invite you to come share this amazing experience with us, then come up with your own description, if you can.
Advance tickets are still available for just $20 ($25 at the door), and you can click here
to get yours now. And if the cost is a factor for you, consider volunteering as an usher by contacting the Circle office at210-533-6767.
In any case, I hope to see you there, or somewhere around the Circle sometime soon - and wish you a blessed summer.
With joy,
Rudi
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