Gonzo Report: Zappy ideas and futuristic visions at Maya Moon Collective

“The moon is in Taurus, a slow, steady, sensual energy, ideal for indulging in senses,” says Neekol, who frequents the Maya Moon Collective. “It is playing closely with Uranus — don’t laugh — which can bring zappy ideas and futuristic visions.” Before tonight, the only moon knowledge I possessed was that it affects the tides and ladies’ menstrual cycles. In the earlier years of my youth, I was sold on the belief that the moon was made out of cheese, presumably by Kraft, as part of a propaganda campaign spewed forth by the bastards of Big Dairy. Who am I kidding? I love dairy. Life would be pretty lame without pizza and ice cream in my mix.

When Whittney Blue and I arrived at the Collective, we were ready to indulge our senses, specifically taste. The Taurus moon had us under its spell. We both ordered the Mexican Cacao Milkshake, a cold drink made with whole bean cacao, panela, cinnamon, coconut milk ice cream, and candied cacao nibs. The milkshake hit just right on a steamy day that was beginning to wane away. That’s when I learned that Cacao is a feminine plant that opens up the heart. The owner of Maya Moon, Kathryn Rogers, said the frequency of cacao at its core is connection and heart-centered experiences that bring people together. (If you’re passing by the building on your way to or from Adams Avenue, you’ll notice a shining, heart shaped mosaic mural that reads “Heart Opener” installed by street artist Amberella. When you see this mosaic shimmering on a sunny San Diego day, you’ll know you’re near the cacao and good spirited connections.)

Now, as we walk through the indoor space to the back patio where the medicine music concert is being held, I can’t help but notice the phases of the moon stamped on the floor. We hitch up with our milkshakes to a couple of tall chairs in the back outside. In the front, where the performers will be playing, there are big pillows on which show-goers may find comfort. The trio of performers include Brian Festa, Misty Tomasino, and Clayton Connelly, are perched behind a colored assortment of sound healing bowls. “My hope for tonight is joy,” Connelly says before the crowd is invited to close their eyes for a guided meditation as the sound of healing bowl emanations permeates the sweet, purple-flower-smelling air. “Let’s just have some fun. That’s what it’s all about.”

Once the short meditation is over, people begin to open their dreamy eyes and reconnect with their physical surroundings, at which time, Connelly opens with an upbeat tempo tune in praise of water. Bodies begin to flow in their seats as we are reminded through Connelly’s acoustic guitar and quick lyrics to be grateful for sacred water. “We pray for healing blessings on the water/We pray for healing blessings on the sea/We pray for healing blessings on the river/May they shine in crystal clarity.”

After the crowd reawakens via the wet ditty, Tomasino takes the reins and lifts her voice in song while Festa palm-spanks a drum and Connelly waves a chakapa. The trio have found their rhythm, and groove together almost immediately as curious Felton Street passersby peek over. I’m unsure of how long the band has been playing together, but they’re clearly able to channel one another’s vibrations, as if they’ve long shared each other’s music spaces.

Near the end of the show, the group gets the crowd involved, with maestro Connelly giving instruction on how to sing with the elements. Before I know it, I’m chanting “Ooma tikka tikka tye yai yo” with the rest of the funky fellowship, as a djembe is being slapped into producing agile rolling beats. “The elements are awesome, because we are the elements, right?” Connelly preaches alongside the music. “Water in my body, air in my breath, fire in my spirit.” It’s turning into a medicine music hootenanny. People are standing now, synchronizing their meat and spirit in dance to the drum beats. Connelly busts out a harmonica and conducts to a highly activated crowd. It’s clear he wants to send us all home feeling energized and untethered. Whittney turns and says to me, “I needed that.”

We quietly fade away from the Collective underneath a swaying Taurus waning crescent moon — the final phase before it enters a new moon period. They say it’s the perfect time to rest and regenerate before the new moon shows its face. But before we take that time to rest, we decide to pop into Zia’s Pizza just down the street and eat some of that good melted moon cheese.