Jay Nash
About Jay Nash
John Dumas first introduced me to the Native American Indian Style flute in the fall of 2001 during a visit to Sedona, Arizona. The free sounding and soothing melodies that flowed from this ancient instrument captivated my heart and soul.
As John and I sat on the back porch of the home I was staying in overlooking the majestic Red Rocks, he showed me the basics of how to play the flute. I promised John that his time was not wasted and that I would come back to Sedona to share my progress with him. Within a year, I did get to return to Sedona and I was able to share all the things I had learned during the past year. It was from that point on I truly felt the desire to share the love of this instrument with others.
Shortly after the return from my second trip to Sedona, I underwent a surgery on my neck to repair a work related injury. As I lay in the hospital recovery room, it was discovered that I had sustained a trauma to my spinal cord. The blood supply to my spinal cord had been compromised, which resulted in the loss of feeling and movement from my chest down.
Needless to say, I was devastated! My world had just been turned upside down. As the doctors rushed me around the hospital doing MRIs and CT scans, all I could think about was how scared I was that I might not be able to regain the use of my hands, and I was scared that I might never be able to play the flute again. It was during this time that the true healing energies of the flute began to change my life.
After all the testing, I was taken to I.C.U to start my recovery. As I laid in my bed in I.C.U, I asked my wife to bring me my flute, a CD player, and some of my favorite CD’s. When she returned to the hospital I asked her to tape the flute in my hand. Even though I could no longer feel the flute, or bend my fingers to hold it, I needed to see it and know that it was still there. I had my wife put headphones over my ears and asked her to turn the CD player on. As I listened to the music, I could feel myself become calm and unafraid. As the music played, an Eagle would come visit me. He would lift me up, carrying me high into the sky.
When I was with the Eagle, there was no pain, no paralysis, and no fear. It was during those journeys with the Eagle that I knew I would someday return to my love of playing the flute.
Within 6 months I had regained the ability to walk. My fine motor skills were beginning to work again. I was learning to adapt to the changes in my life. I continued to stay focused on trying to play the flute again. I took one of my smaller flutes and taped over all the finger holes. At first, I would concentrate on learning how to hold the flute. Once I felt comfortable holding the flute, I would remove one piece of tape at a time from the finger holes. I started from the bottom finger hole and slowly worked my way up. Now I’m not going to lie to you…I became extremely frustrated with this process. Even though I couldn’t feel the finger holes of the flute, I knew this was the journey I must take if I truly wanted to play again. When I would find myself getting frustrated and angry at my lack of progress, I would stop, put my flute down, and walk away. I knew the flute was an instrument that was played from the heart. If I wasn’t in my “heart space” when I attempted to play, it just wouldn’t work.
During my recovery process, I was learning to deal with the physical and emotional pain associated with a spinal cord injury. When all the medicines I was taking wouldn’t relieve the pain, I turned to my flute. The flute allowed me to escape the physical and emotional pain I was experiencing. I had an “out of body” experience every time I listened to the healing sounds coming from the flute. No pain, no paralysis, only the soothing sounds of the flute massaging my emotions… healing my mind, body, and soul.
Since that life changing operation in November of 2002, I have worked diligently to retrain my hands so that I could return to my heart’s desire of sharing the beautiful sound and healing powers of the Flute. I have still not regained the sensory perception in my hands, but I have returned to my love of playing the flute. In May of 2007, I released my first CD, “Thunder Heart”. “Thunder Heart” was a dream come true. It helped to confirm that all things are possible. The dream continues… I recently finished my second CD, and it is soon to be released.
The flute continues to inspire and heal me today. I think a quote from doctor Oliver Sacks, MD says it best…"Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears-it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear."
I hope my story will inspire you to trust in the flute’s healing energies. No matter what you are experiencing, or trying to overcome…there is hope. Try to always live life one day at a time…one hour at a time. Look for the good in all things. Live from your heart space, and soar with the Eagles. The flute has taught me…“When words from the heart are transformed into music for the ear, healing happens.”
Close your eyes…Relax your soul…Open your mind and heart…Feel the inspiration and healing sounds from the flute…Peace to your journey!!
Jay Nash
www.sunshineflutes.com
*Note:
"Native American flute" refers to a particular type of musical instrument and does not imply that it was made by an enrolled member of a federally-recognized tribe. Sunshine flutes, and music played by Jay Nash are not "Native American made" as specified by the U.S. Government. If it is your desire to own a flute made by, or music played by an enrolled member of a federally-recognized Native American tribe, you can locate them through a web search.