The Evocative Collection
The Evocative Collection
New Soundscapes from Sensate.
By Stefan Chmelik
Votive - in Sacred Spaces (10 minutes)
This soundscape is inspired by the wondering: How do we venerate our ancestry, honour and thank the land, or consecrate the vigil in fulfilment of a vow?
The Votive Soundscape has an ambient swell with a sense of urgency, and is other-worldy with the sound of a more than human voice that morphs into reed sounds and the ululation of the desert pilgrim. A plaintive lamentation to the soul of the Beloved.
Use the Votive composition in the creation of your own ritual, to help process complex and conflicting thoughts and emotions. There are times in all of our lives when we face difficulties in these ways and don’t know how to go forward. Using a guided ritual as a process to reflect upon the issue(s), to allow the answer hidden in your subconscious to arise, is an ancient ceremonial way to gain enhanced insight.
You can meditate on the question and clarify it in your mind, and then write it down and keep it close or even under your pillow whilst you have a Votive session. You can do this several times for different levels of insight into the question you are seeking inspiration on and the correct course of action may transpire over time.
The Shipping Forecast in Somnus (30 minutes)
Said to both save lives and send people to sleep, the Shipping Forecast is a global institution. A soothing poetic ode to the waters around the coast of the British Isles, each element vital to someone.
The Shipping Forecast Soundscape is an audio-tactile journey. Rolling waves and Sheerwaters cry amongst BBC announcers that are dimly heard through the ambience. This Soundscape recites the story of shore and rock, and sonar echoes amid the boom and fog. The weather changes and the mists lift, revealing a cascading particle shower over calm waters, fading to deep soft weather, adrift in a sea of calm.
"When heard in hourlong compilations, the Shipping Forecast is poetic and hypnotic, a free-form ode to the seas."
Unless you are a professional fisherman, the names recited in the forecast have little meaning and can roll over you like a sound mantra. Some may even find there to be an ASMR element to this Soundscape.
Background
The Shipping Forecast is a BBC Radio broadcast of weather reports and forecasts for the seas around the British Isles. It is produced by the Met Office and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The forecast dates back over 150 years.
In the forecast, the waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas, also known as weather areas. The forecast begins by listing areas with gale warnings, followed by a general synopsis of pressure areas, then a forecast for each individual sea area covering wind speed and direction, precipitation, and visibility.
The unique and distinctive presentation style of these broadcasts has led to their attracting an audience much wider than that directly interested in maritime weather conditions. It is frequently referred to and parodied in British popular culture.
History of an institution
The Shipping Forecast was established by Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy, the founder of the Met Office, first professional weather forecaster and captain of HMS Beagle (the ship Darwin went to the Galapagos Island on). The Shipping Forecast was created in response to the wreck of the steam clipper Royal Charter in a strong storm off Anglesey, October 1859, where 450 people died. The first Shipping Forecast was released on 24th August 1867 and has been sent out every day since, with a 150th anniversary on 24 August 2017.
In 1911, the Met Office began issuing marine weather forecasts which included gale and storm warnings via radio transmission for areas around Great Britain. This service was only suspended during (and following) the First World War, between 1914 and June 1921, and again during the Second World War between 1939 and 1945. (Wikipedia)
Shipping forecast and gale warnings: Issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
“ High northwest Bailey 1018 expected Fair Isle 1023 by midday tomorrow
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, Humber
Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in the Utsires and Fisher, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then veering northerly or northeasterly. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west Viking and northwest Forties. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor
Thames, Dover
Northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast Thames. Showers. Good
Wight, Portland
Northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2, then southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in Wight, moderate or rough in Portland. Showers, then rain. Moderate or good
Plymouth, Biscay
Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in Biscay. Moderate or rough in Plymouth, rough or very rough in Biscay. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Trafalgar
Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast. Fair. Good.
FitzRoy
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, veering northwesterly 2 to 4 later in north. Rough or very rough. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Sole
Southeast 6 to gale 8 veering west 4 to 6. Very rough in west, rough in east. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first
Lundy
Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west. Rain or showers. Moderate or good
Fastnet
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest, then veering westerly 3 or 4 later in west. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Irish Sea
Northwest veering east or southeast, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in north. Showers. Good
Southwest Shannon
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly 5 to 7. Very rough. Rain. Moderate or poor
Northeast Shannon, Rockall
Easterly 4 to 6 veering southeasterly 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough. Showers, then rain or sleet. Good, occasionally poor
Malin, Hebrides, Bailey
North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in Hebrides, then veering southeast 4 to 6. Rough or very rough at first in Hebrides, otherwise moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor
Fair Isle, Faeroes
North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in Fair Isle, becoming variable 2 to 4. Rough or very rough at first in Fair Isle, otherwise moderate or rough. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor
Southeast Iceland
Westerly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally moderate
Gale warnings:
Biscay, FitzRoy, Sole, Fastnet, Shannon, Rockall. “
Sensately Yours,
Stefan
Stefan Chmelik is co-founder of and inventor of the Sensate stress reduction system, which is based on his over three decades of clinical experience working with anxiety, stress and trauma. His mission is now the company's mission - to positively impact the lives of 100 million people by 2025. Stefan also specialises in Nervous System Training.
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