To live my own life in my own way
Taiyo Morishita
I was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. My mother is American and my father is Japanese. Due to my distinct appearance, I was bullied and ostracized as a child. Even when I made friends, I was never completely open with them. Regrettably, I also became a bit of a bully. I had a difficult childhood.
At the age of 13, my family relocated to Greece. Although I thought I could speak English, I found it difficult to communicate effectively and was unable to understand the Greek language. This left me feeling isolated. Upon returning to Japan, I found it difficult to keep up with my studies. A mother’s friend, who couldn’t bear to see me struggle, suggested that I move to the U.S. where there are people from diverse backgrounds.
Following this advice, I moved to the U.S. when I was 17. To my dismay, I had a hard time adjusting to life in the U.S as well. Upon entering college at the age of 20 and living on my own, I became a recluse, smoking cigarettes and eating only junk food. I spent my time contemplating what it meant to be successful in life. Was it merely making money? What does success even mean? Despite pondering these questions, I lacked the wisdom and experience to answer them.
It was during this period in my life that I attended a spiritual festival in the Bay Area. During the festival, participants lay down on a vast expanse of earth, calmed their minds, and entered a deep meditative state. The meditation must have lasted a mere two hours, but I felt as though I had lived countless lives for over 4000 years. My body was filled with a quiet and pure love, and I felt a warm sensation inside me. At home, I was driven by a desire to improve myself and expand my knowledge. I sought answers to existential questions such as the purpose of my existence, the nature of the universe, and the lives of historical figures such as Da Vinci and Socrates. This quest led me to various esoteric schools of thought. Since then, I have gained wisdom and practical knowledge from a variety of sources, including God, philosophy, religion, human physiology, spirituality, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine.
I was working in San Francisco when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Since my work became fully remote, I moved to Mount Shasta, a place where spiritual communities gather. Having grown up in the city, I had no prior experience with the outdoors, and nature was a frightening place. But, the taste of natural spring water, the richness of organic food, the clean air, the comfort of a community where you can be yourself and not compete with others – I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Living in Mount Shasta has taught me to think beyond my mind. It was like peeling an onion, layer by layer, until the walls of my mind began to fall away. When the soul is in the heart and in the body, you can start on your true path. For me, music is my wellness, my passion and my reason for living. Mount Shasta was the turning point that made me realize this. Today, I provide ecstatic dance events that combine sound, dance and healing. I hope to be a catalyst for breaking down barriers for someone else.
Taiyo Morishita