Land of the Blue Flower

"In this life, it is important to combine the gifts of the Eagle with the gifts of the Condor. We need to fly with both powers: the power of the Eagle - which is the power of the mind, including the gifts of science and technology, and the power of the Condor - which is the power of the heart, including the gifts of feeling and connection with the elements of the Earth. These two powers - mind and heart, Eagle and Condor - are also inside us. They need to fly together inside each one of us. The power of the Eagle is to think and to plan. The power of the Condor is to feel and to connect. The sky is our daily lives. To fly is to enjoy each moment of our life, and from this experience of life, to continually and spontaneously express gratitude."

— From Friendship with the Elements by Taita Iachak Alverto Taxo

The ancient prophecy of the Kichwa elders of the Andes of Ecuador, passed from generation to generation for over 500 years, say that one day, the eagle and the condor will fly together in the same sky in harmony.

This CD is the fruit of the connection and friendship of our Eagle family - Helen, Laz and Daniel - with the Condor family of Oscar Santillán of Agato, Ecuador. Our coming together has been with the guidance, teachings and support of Taita Iachak Alverto Taxo. Helen's trips to Ecuador to study with Taita Iachak opened the door to our friendship.

Oscar has lived with our family for a couple weeks twice a year since 2003, playing concerts in schools, libraries and gathering places with us. Our family visited Ecuador and stayed with his family in December of 2004 where we again played together in schools in Quito and Agato. Laz' experience of 30 years playing music for families and children as part of the duo "Gemini" created openings for our music in the US and Oscar's work in schools in Ecuador opened doors for us there.

While there, we also participated in the early stages of construction of the Center for Andean Ancestral Wisdom - Pakarinka Sisari (www.pakarinkasisari.com) created by Oscar's extended family. The Center house many rare, pre-columbian artifacts…. And offers workshops…

Though the connection of our hearts was there from the beginning, it has deepened as we've come more fully to know each other, and shared our experiences, ways of living, hopes and dreams. This music is the fruit of our love for each other and of our gratitude for the riches of both of our traditions and wisdom. Our music has grown over the years, as we've mutually inspired each other, both in music and in how we live our daily lives.

We live in times of great challenge and great opportunity. It is for these times that the prophecy of the eagle and the condor was carefully guarded for so many years. For now is the time when there is the possibility, and the necessity, for us to share our different ways and wisdoms with respect and reciprocity. Now is the time to fly together - eagle and condor, heart and mind - with gratitude in our daily lives.

It is our intention and hope that, in these times of a new dawn, this music brings to all of us balance, joy, and transformation, helping us to fly with heart and mind in harmony.