Atlas Wolf

Here's the Deal…

I realized something was missing. I began to feel empty. Every day felt like the same exact day, over and over.  There had to be more to life.

When I was 35, I began to play the violin—and instantly fell in love. I first heard my mentor, Paul Mercer, performing in a bar, and soon I started lessons with him. No reading music. No memorizing notes. I wanted to feel it. I wanted to learn like a child. That’s exactly what I did. Improvisation became my natural state. Up until then, my mind had been extremely analytical—most all decisions made through logic, with misguided priorities. But when I played the violin, something inside me lit up. I didn’t know why, or how. I came to understand that I didn’t need to know why it was meaningful—it just was.

This made me ask: what else had I been missing? Who was I beneath my career, my routines, my responsibilities? I realized I needed to change—and I sold my office.

Sometimes, while in “flow state”, a melody would emerge from my violin that seemed foreign to me. Where did that come from? That’s how the idea of the “Cosmic Antenna” was born: sound bites pulled from the ether, which I shape into full songs. 

I dove into philosophy and stoicism, devouring books, videos, and everything I could find on personal growth and self-reflection. I became a bit obsessed with discovering who I really was, what my values were, and what I believed. I asked myself the existential questions I had avoided my whole life: How do I want to spend the rest of my time here?

Now, years later, while I still face existential struggles, I feel much more balanced and happier. I see so many others going through the same struggles I faced, and I know how fortunate I’ve been to have the opportunity to self-reflect and discover more about who I am.

That opportunity is what I want to share with you.  Notes of Reflection provides the time and space for you to think deeply about your beliefs and desires, and to find clarity about who you are and what you want—no matter your age. I’ve found that this clarity leads to a more fulfilling life.

If you process ideas and emotions through music, and feel called to reflect inward, I would love to see you at my next event.

Thank you so much for reading my story. See you soon!

—Atlas