Hey, that's my gong!
Oh how I love, love, love her. This beauty takes me to places I didn’t know were possible. She stirs, she sings, she unfolds and she is a pure joy to play.
I first came upon her in Calcata, Italy while enjoying the week long, Sound of Devotion retreat hosted by the incredible humans, musicians and artisan gong creators: Madhava & Margherita of Grotta Sonora.
At the first strike, I knew I loved her - it is often the case for me. I know when I know - I hear it but mostly I feel it in my body, specifically my heart. It leaps, it swoons, it expands, it moves towards the source. Her vibrant colors and lotus design were my first lure. And then that sound! Her center tone - a smooth deep boom that instantly carries me! Her depth and beauty of sound pulled me in. Boom, bonded.
I continued to return to be with her throughout my time there during each incredible day of our collective sound journey with fellow sound connoisseurs. I played her at the beginning of each day and at the closing of every session, and of course any other time I could sneak time in to commune with her. I was enamored.
My “devastation” came when it was apparent (and the most responsible adult thing to do…) that I needed to leave this gorgeous wild child behind in Italy, as she didn’t “fit” into the harmonized set that we had assembled during the Sound of Devotion. And this King Gong was outside of what I wanted to invest - it wasn’t sensible!! I blessed her, blew a kiss good-bye and felt a bit sad. I exited Calcata full of once again transformed by sound and all the experiences tucked into my heart. I felt excited about bringing home my new Grotta Sonora set as well; yet, with a lingering feeling that a little something was missing. A touch of heartbreak. But alas, I needed to let go and move on!
Or did I? After returning home from my soul-filling experience, I dreamt about my time in Italy and that stunning wild child for weeks. I could hear her in my dreams. After about 2 months-ish, I reached out to Margherita asking if perhaps that gong just might be still available, knowing full well that the chance was minuscule. But holy smokes! She was still there!! She came to me shortly after that inquiry.
Her essence is wild and free, yet rooted in depth. I love her harmonies. I love… Her range. Her expansion. Her invitation to play and play and play... to explore, to discover, to wander. She doesn’t fit and yet she is the purrrrrrfect fit for me.
Listen to your heart above all other voices, Kristi Lee
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