Transcript of "Bye, For Now"

Transcript of "Bye, For Now"

Welcome to this co-created journey of the heart. One that blends the colors of past, present, and future into a beautiful tapestry of healing, weaved with the thread of love and needle of truth.

We’re going to begin this journey by slowing down and transitioning from where you were to where we are.

Together, let us look into the eyes of this man, this father, husband, coach, friend, and soul brother to many. Such beautiful eyes and such a potency of Spirit.

What do you see?

This moment —referring to  the moment when you discover that someone you knew (and loved) has died   is profoundly sacred. For life, by way of death—with surgical precision—has found its way through the bedrock of lived experience into the molten core of your heart.

And…this moment in present time, may not be that moment for you.

Regardless, together, let us honor the sacredness of death by slowing down.

What do you notice is happening for you right now?

When I say ‘happening', what I mean is...do you notice that your chair is comfortable or do you notice there’s a tightness in your neck.

Do you notice how active your mind is or do you notice there’s a particular contraction and contortion of your heart?

Do you notice your breathing is shallow or that your heartbeat is loud enough that you can hear it.

That your legs are crossed or that your back is tight?

Take a moment and simply notice what your attention is brought to when given the space to do so.

Maybe you knew Daniel, maybe you didn’t. Maybe his passing is news to you, maybe it isn’t.

Regardless, here we are and things are happening—in you and in me—and together we’re noticing.

...and together, let’s take a breath…and another one.

This moment is precious for this is a moment—within a stream of moments—when you get to be with you, as you are.

Take all the time you need or want to be with this moment—and for some—this news...

As a reminder, it’s ok to pause. To press pause and just be.

We have time…and if you don’t, maybe now isn’t the time to go on this journey.

When ready, continue on—and not a moment sooner than when you receive a cue to continue on—whether that's a thought, feeling, sensation, some sort of impulse, or something else.

Ready?

Take another breath, please.

There is no rush to get anywhere. The invitation is to be here, with what is happening, for just another moment…and another…and another.

Are you comfortable? If so, great. If not, please take as much time as you need to make yourself comfortable for this journey of the heart.

With that, let us now transition.

What you are about to experience was mostly written while on a spiritual sojourn in the pacific northwest, over the course of four ceremonious days of ritual and release.

To create this, I had to stretch. To stretch, I had to create this. This was both a choice—sourced from my heart—and a Divine mandate.

I began writing this on the evening of Thursday, May 13th—within hours of hearing of Daniel’s passing—and completed the heart of the creation on Sunday, May 17th.

Much growth was demanded of me to build the required internal and external structures—including a new website—to both birth this creation and to then hold this creation.

I picked this back up upon returning to my home the first week of June and wrestled with creating the audio that you're now listening to.

Birthing this was an initiation and a rite of passage into the womb of the great mother. Both a death and birth ceremony what resulted is nothing short of a celebration of life.

So, without further adieu, let us begin.


Three days ago I heard the news that my dear soul brother Daniel Tyler Pohnke transitioned from this plane.

My heart hurts.

My mind cannot wrap its tentacles around the gravity of the loss of this man, his heart, and his purity of love.

Like the waves of the ocean, disbelief crashes in and washes back out to sea in its own unyielding rhythm.

As I sit here, I notice a physical contraction, tension, and pain in my heart space that rises up into the sides of my throat. A knot of unknown and unfamiliar dimensions in my stomach. My mind tells me this tension is the tears that have yet to flow. Yet, tears and weeping come and go, while I write with Daniel’s music playing in the background.

I cannot fathom how I will give voice to my heart — as is being asked of me — to honor this man and the love we shared for one another.

Who, if not me, will write these words? I have no choice, but to write.

Yet, I trust that what needs to be said will—and that I will do my best to descend into this sacred space of Self-directed responsibility, bestowed upon me by Daniel.

To hand myself over to this profoundly sacred and precious opportunity to honor my friend’s life—and death.

Yet, the truth is that my best will only transmit a fraction of the wellspring of my love for Daniel and the impact that his brief presence — and sudden loss — have made on my heart.

I’m feeling deep grief, sorrow, and anguish as I lean into this space of honoring my brother — the proverbial older brother I never had— who I loved dearly and who loved me dearly. I’m angry and profoundly sad that this fiercely passionate man is no longer here on earth with me and us.

I’m haunted by the ghosts of a deep soul knowing of the ways I could have related differently. Yet, I’m gentle enough with my own heart to simply breathe and be with these ghosts.

Like a screwdriver, twisting and widening an already gaping wound, the thought of the distance that crept into our relationship over the last year, causes a pain that feels too great to bear. Yet, the truth is, this distance did not change the immensity of the love that we shared for one another.

Within my heart, there is a beautiful garden that holds the seeds of this man’s wisdom and the memories of the sacred time we shared…a place that is untouched and inaccessible by the words I write, yet I write, just like Daniel wrote and sang and gave voice to his truth, unrelentingly.

Whether through his music, performances, conversation, storytelling, coaching, various creations, time with those he loved, shuffling people from place to place or random encounters with strangers on the street, what I’m sure many would agree on was Daniel’s fervent commitment to intimacy and connection as a way of life.

Daniel was intimacy embodied.

Powerful, passionate, intentional, devotional, caring, and filled with a unique rapture of and for life.

Daniel was the rapture of life.

One of the most intimate men I’ve been blessed to know, he let the taste, touch, and smell of life penetrate to the core of his being. He welcomed all of life — the grief, the grit, the bliss, the beauty, the sadness, the sorrow.

He reveled...in the joy of the sun on his face, the pleasure of the wet grass he rested his head on, the quiet guidance of the breeze, the playful and sensual dance of the fire, the inspiration found in the rhythm of his son’s heartbeat, the soul softening gaze he cherished in his wife’s love-filled eyes, his childlike excitement for great hummus, the savoring of the rich flavor of the wisdom of death and loss.

Daniel was a student and teacher of life, a witness and voice for the highs and lows of being human…a steward and protector of the sacredness of each and every moment of life…a passionate and ardent advocate of possibility…a stand for the power to choose and create.

Daniel was my first life coach and would later become a dear friend. During a particularly connected phase of our relationship, he supported me and I supported him, daily, for weeks. We spoke as frequently as was necessary— often many times throughout the day. He was there for me, I was there for him… we met each other in full transparency with care, presence, and tenderness.

He shared his opinion or gave me advice (in his passionate way) as did I and often we disagreed and bickered like two old men sitting outside a coffee shop. Yet we always made it a point to voice our appreciation for our capacity to speak truth to one another…to hold space for authentic relation, for a depth of intimacy and passion we both lived for and valued in the other.

At the very least 70% of our conversations were about his wife and son…a subject matter that was always relevant for him. Even when it wasn’t, he found a way to make it relevant. His love for his wife and son was unbounded and unlimited, as vast as the cosmos.

Daniel, as I experienced him, always held space for the fleeting and impermanent nature of life, which informed his radical devotion to whatever or whoever he was with. His presence was felt. His smile and essence vivacious, bustling with life and love. His face often overflowed with big beaming smiles and chuckles from deep within the rich soil of his wide-open heart.

Daniel and I shared a language of intimacy and intensity — a devotion to life and to Self — a similar frequency of wisdom that was uniquely reflected in our connection and conversations. This I shall miss, yet paradoxically, what we shared remains, independent of his physical presence.

And for this, I’m grateful, grateful that I have this pearl of a blessed connection to cherish and honor. A living and breathing relationship that most certainly will continue to ripen and deliver unexpected fruits.

Daniel’s heart lives on in my heart and the hearts of countless individuals across the earth. I find solace in the knowing that our relationship will continue to evolve as the space left by his loss catalyzes new life—and a deepened connection to the essence of his Spirit.

The world has lost a talented and soulful musician, father, husband, son, nephew, lover, teacher, guide, friend, a young elder, a man with a fiercely loving heart, and a soul-piercing gaze…a pillar of power, passion, and presence.

A crater remains in the hearts touched by Daniel's presence. I offer my deepest heartfelt prayers to his wife and young son, and the rest of his family and friends who he loved—and loved him—so dearly.

While I could say that Daniel left the earth too soon, I trust—and know—that the soul of this great maha-yogi departed right on schedule.

He was loved by many and touched the hearts of more than any one of us will ever know, with his burning love for humanity. I am inspired by him and the wisdom he so generously shared with the world.

Daniel's beautiful soul-song was heard and felt in every encounter with him — he was his music.

He was—and is—a loving-force of nature.

A living love song of nature.


For the last 48 hours, I’ve been conversing with Daniel, as he lives within me, pondering what he might desire of his transition. What I’ve received after much reflection is that he would want his death to be in service to the betterment of humanity.

Those who knew Daniel knew that he was fearlessly courageous, confident in asking for what he wanted, and audacious with his dreaming.

While scrolling through Daniel’s Facebook page I stumbled on a live he recorded on the morning of April 20th, 2018. In the description he commented, “please share this video to get this message to Donald Trump." – he wasn't kidding.

While the video was recorded in the spring of 2018, it’s hauntingly apropos and timely, given current world events and the burgeoning of this Brave New World, which, ironically enough is the title of Daniel’s album.

Daniel lived for—and loved—creating transformational experiences. In service to this love of his (and mine), I invite us to now transition to Daniel’s music and to this particular Facebook live, for it encompasses his essence.

Situate yourself comfortably and let Daniel's love saturate your being.

Please share this video to get this message to Donald Trump.

Geplaatst door Daniel Tyler Pohnke op Vrijdag 20 april 2018

In service to honoring Daniel’s wish, my request is that you share this tribute in whatever ways feels right to you.

May Daniel’s death be the catalyst that delivers his message, music, and heart medicine to President Donald Trump—just as he wished for and asked us to do two years ago.

At the very least, in sharing this tribute, many will receive the opportunity to be touched by love—Daniel's love, my love, and the brotherly love that's at the heart of this creation.


May these written (and spoken) words deliver the medicine your soul needs. May this honoring bring peace, ease, and a softening of those tense and tender spaces of the heart, especially for those grieving.

My wish for us all, is a prosperity of love and passion like that of Daniel. May his music and wisdom continue to inspire us as we rise into this brave new world.

Thank you, Daniel, for your presence in my life —and  in our lives — yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Thank you for your potent heart medicine and your adoration of life.

I’m honored to know you—and honored to honor you.

Thank you for letting me in—and for letting life in.

You're a bright light brother, may the world see you as we saw you on the stage that was your life.

I love you—and I love those you loved.


This tribute, as I shared, was written while I was on an impromptu month-long spiritual sojourn in the pacific northwest.

While writing this, I received the guidance to retreat into the forest to commune with the land in sacred ceremony of commemoration.

This native american flute track was recorded live, deep within the Umpqua National Forest in South Central, Oregon using a flute built by another dear brother, Adan Mendoza.

This is my offering to Daniel’s Spirit. I invite you to get comfortable and let the spirit of the Eagle take you on her wings.


An African proverb tells us that “when an old man dies, a library burns to the ground." An old man in Spirit, Daniel left us a library, with exactly what we needed from him, albeit one with many empty shelves holding space for his future creations.

May we continue to enjoy what he did leave for us. Check out his website or find him on Facebook, where he loved to post live music and inspiring content.

I hear Daniel inviting us to celebrate — to smile, to laugh, to dance—to lean in and embrace the pain and the heartbreak of his transition. He welcomes us to feel the discomfort and the loss—for there is a richness of life here. He invites us to slow down—and breathe.

So, let’s do just that. Let’s pause and take a breath.

Thank you.


My heart feels at peace.

Through a felt sense of internal congruency, I know I’ve met my own demanding standards of expression and creation—in service to honoring my friend.

Artist to artist, I’m grateful to you brother, for this sacred opportunity you’ve gifted me to expand into who I needed to become to create this tribute.

I’ve done my best to reflect you to the world in a way that honors the essence of your beautiful heart and wise soul.

Although it's not how I anticipated, I’m happy to have finally collaborated with you, as we discussed so many times.

באהבה, קן

With love,
Ken


If you have the means, please consider making a contribution to Daniel’s memorial fund. The funds raised will be used to complete Daniel's Book and several unfinished albums.

If you’re navigating grief and needing support, check out this book:
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief

If you feel called, you’re welcome to share your email address to stay informed of any potential updates related to Daniel’s work and legacy.

Whether you knew Daniel personally, or not, I invite you to leave a comment below on how he—or this tribute—touched your heart.


In closing, please take some time for self care. Go for a walk, lay down for twenty minutes with your eyes closed, put on music and dance, meditate, spend time in nature, take a scented bath or a long shower…burn sage, palo santo, rosemary, or incense…take some time to let this experience integrate into your system before you jump back into the stream of your life. You get to decide how slow you transition out of this experience.

Thank you for reading this tribute and joining us for this journey.

If you were touched by what you read or heard—and my heartfelt writing style—then I invite you to subscribe to receive my writing, by entering your info in the box below or by clicking 'Subscribe' in the upper right corner of this page.

Love to you,
Ken

Now let’s throw it back to Daniel and let him close this show— in his own words — in the very way he often ended calls.


I love you too Daniel.

So be it and so it is.
It is done. It is done. It is done.


Here are some of my personal favorites of Daniel’s shares:


Daniel’s TEDxVAIL Talk – “Mindful Musical Experience

Stop waiting for the monumental moment :-)

Geplaatst door Daniel Tyler Pohnke op Zaterdag 29 december 2018

Dean switches hands and takes a solo at 40 seconds!!! Oh my oh my!! Full Moon Rising #guitarplayingbaby #babygenius #deanpohnke #love #guitar #bravenewworld #yes #yummie #israel #happydad #musicalfamily

Geplaatst door Daniel Tyler Pohnke op Woensdag 30 januari 2019

Quick in with a song (or 4)...

Geplaatst door Daniel Tyler Pohnke op Vrijdag 6 april 2018

For my family ...

Geplaatst door Daniel Tyler Pohnke op Vrijdag 27 juli 2018

When I saw this beautiful man carry his brothers lifeless body (yet bright spirit) across the cabin of the local train...

Geplaatst door Daniel Tyler Pohnke op Vrijdag 2 november 2018

About Ken:

Ken Fried is a speaker, writer, and sound healer who resides in California.