| The year we've been waiting for in a whole different way than any other; long prophesized by the Maya and many other cultures: the astronomical alignment of our solar system with the center of our galaxy.  No longer limited to science and spirituality conferences, more and more people are awakening to the reality that something unique in our history is really occurring. Seen from a larger perspective, the waves of change that we have already experienced-politically, economically and climate-related-have begun. They are not waiting for December 21, 2012.
Have you explored why, and how, that date was chosen? The History Channel has had some fascinating series bringing many theories to mainstream audiences for the first time. I've had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with a number of the experts who appear on the shows, like George Noory and William Henry, and their research certainly can help us make sense of these amazing times we are living in. Secrets of Soundtrack Synchronization
Two of the questions that often come up for people are, "How great a coincidence is it that the key date just happens to be our winter solstice? How could that have happened?"
Composers and producers of soundtracks for TV, movies and commercials have an answer for that. It's a technique called "backtiming". Let me give you an example: if you have an ad or a scene for which you have already composed the score, but the music lasts too long, what you do is simply start from the end of the music and count backwards to know when you need to start the music cue.
In the same way, that's likely how the date of 3114 BC was chosen to start the calendar cycle that ends on 21 December, 2012. Because that date marked the end of a cycle that was itself part of a vast number of previous cycles. Now, the larger question is, How did the Maya know that?
But that's a topic for another column, or series of books and programs. I just wanted to tie a reference to recording into the discussion.
Using Sound More Consciously in 2012
With all the changes going down, creating so much stress for so many people, how do you cope? Are you exploring new strategies and techniques to help you stay in balance and in tune in these out-of-tune times?
Or are you rediscovering new applications of old 'friends'? Or even more simply, remembering to use the tools and resources you already have?
The Healing Powers of Meditation and Sleep
Two of the most important ways to help us maintain balance both involve reducing stress and are now are widely recommended: getting enough sleep, and having some form of daily meditative practice.
Using the right music can help with both. I coined the phrase "functional sound healing" several decades ago when I was in the early days of speaking to the media. Most of the interviewers had never considered that music could be more than entertainment. I reminded them that in fact, until the invention of recorded music, we had work songs, marching songs, songs to wash clothes by, etc. It wasn't until recently, when music became omnipresent and unavoidable in many public places, that the specificity of form and intention became scrambled.
Case in point: many people listen to their favorite music when they're trying to fall asleep. They don't realize that there are hidden stressors in most music, from Bach to Rock that may actually be keeping you up at night. Although I've been sharing this insight since I began my career, it's only fairly recently that it's begun to resonate with and reach a larger audience.
Your body will prove to you that it agrees. Check out my "Scalus Interruptus" video, which at last count populated nearly 200 links to other sites, at www.YouTube.com/StevenHalpernMusic and you can feel the stress response in your breath.
In the past few years, for a number of reasons, I've experienced more difficulty falling asleep than ever before. Given my background, it was natural for me to explore soundbased approaches. I've now produced several recordings specifically targeted at helping us ease into sleep. I wrote about SleepscapeDelta a few months ago. This recording adds sound technology to entrain your brainwaves and help you shift gears into the delta frequencies brainwaves (1-3 cycles per second) associated with deep, restorative sleep.
My latest recording Your Best Music for Sleep offers a related version, of these relaxing and healing compositions, without the brainwave entrainment technology. The MP3 is available now on my site at www.stevenhalpern.com/bestmusicforsleep and the physical CDs should be available in late February. If you are facing sleep challenges of your own, I recommend these wholeheartedly. I usually do not hear the end of the album.
However, I have discovered a way to undermine their effectiveness. And that is when I forget to play the CD.
That's why "Remembering to use the resources I have" is one of my new year's affirmations
Music for Meditation
 Throughout most of my life, I preferred to meditate in silence. I may strike my Tibetan or crystal bowl to set the quantum field resonating, but then I enter the silence. Lately, it's been more difficult to find the silence. That's when soundscapes that entrain our brain to the theta frequencies of deep meditation can be so helpful.
Listening with headphones can deliver an even more focused meditative experience. If you're new to the field, you may want to explore my album Deep Theta, as well as the recordings of Master Charles Cannon (www.synchronicity.org), the Hemi-Sync® series of the Monroe Institute, (www.hemi-sync.com) and Dr. Jeffrey Thompson (www.neuroacoustic.com).
If you don't have a full hour, or even twenty minutes, I find it is still quite beneficial to spend even 5 minutes in the zone. Using the right music, you can make those five minutes really work for you.
Until next time, stay tuned!
Steven Halpern   
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