Celebrating Michael Murphy Burke
Apr 01, 2025 06:00AM ● By Paul Chen
Michael Burke with Carla Flack
Atlanta’s healing community lost one of its own in February. Michael Murphy Burke was a beloved vibrational sound therapist. I didn’t know him well, but like anyone who knew him at all, it was evident he was a force for love in the world. It’s as if he walked this earth with an energy field of love expanding from within his being—the sense of being in the presence of love while with him was unmistakable and all the more boosted by his ever-present, all-embracing smile.
I’m a relatively outgoing guy, always happy to meet new people, and the one to introduce myself to others most of the time. I distinctly remember meeting Michael for the first time outside of the now-defunct Decatur location of Nuts ’n Berries because he made it a point to introduce himself to me. One certainly gets the impression that his mission was to spread his joy to as many people as possible.
Since I did not know him well, Natural Awakenings invited those closer to him to share their thoughts and feelings on Michael’s transition. Michael, thank you for the love you shared. May you be reborn in a Pure Land.
“For over 15 years, I observed the blossoming of Michael’s artistry. Through his inner work and outer creations in carpentry, sound and poetry, Michael discovered the way of the heart. ~ Sharing his deepest revelations, he connected all of us through the resonance of his deep voice. The sounds of singing bowls, his song and his prose captivated everyone, leaving us rich and full of love. As we close our eyes, his voice still resonates deep within our cells—always to be remembered—with so much Love.” – Mandara Cromwell, CEO of Cyma Technologies, producer of the Cymatics Conference and founder of the International Sound Therapy Association (ISTA)
“A couple of years ago, [Michael] was on his deathbed, and yet he came back. I do believe God brought him back to have a beautiful ‘curtain call’ because, in the time of his recovery to the time of his ultimate return to Grace, he impacted even more people. His music and sound were deeper, his poetry more precise and meaningful. ~ I’m gonna miss my friend. I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish together and overjoyed at how he stepped up and stepped into the greater part of himself. I take comfort in knowing he is dancing, writing, chanting and playing beautiful sounds in the etheric with the Great Masters. ~ Fly high, my friend. Your life on earth was Good and Noble. Until we meet again.” – Don Simmons, Spiritual Counselor, filmmaker, writer and President of ISTA
“Michael Burke was an ambassador of beauty, a servant of hope and a true messenger of the Divine. I honor his legacy of healing. Michael’s poetic artistry touched countless hearts with an exquisite mastery of language and spirit that lives on with every reading of his poetry. His commitment to love’s expression is also eternally sanctified in the souls of all who received his blessing of sacred sound. This beloved man now resides in the sweet memories of every person who found themselves at the altar of his intentional vibrations. I am honored to have called him my friend and feel his eternal presence more alive than it has ever been. Godspeed, my brother.” – Rev. Richard Burdick, Senior Minister, Unity North Atlanta
“Michael has been a human instrument in the spiritual community of Atlanta. ~ I have known and loved him for 15 years; everyone loves Michael. You can’t help it. A friend to all, transparent in his humanness, silly, sincere, helpful and creative. He defied death and came back to teach us more about the preciousness of the here and now, this opportunity to love and be loved. ~ My favorite memory of him was during a sound journey. There were three of us facilitating, and he had just acquired a Kosi fire chime. While we were performing, he fell in love with the new sound and was overusing it. The other two of us were gently indicating for him to take it easy. Lost in his own world, he didn’t get the message. So we had to get a little closer and much clearer in our body language … We were frustrated but laughing at the same time. He finally caught on but kept sneaking in notes just to goof around, which made us laugh more. The three of us were trying not to disturb the meditators, which made it funnier. We were crying and couldn’t even look at each other. That’s Michael!” – Ursula Lentine, Pranic Healer and Internal Family Systems practitioner
“Michael was a living, breathing poem. He lived his life as he penned his poems—with grace, elegance, wisdom and a bit of mystery. His soft heart and endearing smile touched everyone he met. His work will be remembered by many for generations to come. Shannon and I had a sound healing session with him just a few weeks before his transition. He transported us to a higher plane, which is where he is flying now, awaiting us all. He’s just one step ahead of us all. Travel well, brother. I love you.” – Bob Sima, Musician and Facilitator of Remembrance
I’m a relatively outgoing guy, always happy to meet new people, and the one to introduce myself to others most of the time. I distinctly remember meeting Michael for the first time outside of the now-defunct Decatur location of Nuts ’n Berries because he made it a point to introduce himself to me. One certainly gets the impression that his mission was to spread his joy to as many people as possible.
Since I did not know him well, Natural Awakenings invited those closer to him to share their thoughts and feelings on Michael’s transition. Michael, thank you for the love you shared. May you be reborn in a Pure Land.
“For over 15 years, I observed the blossoming of Michael’s artistry. Through his inner work and outer creations in carpentry, sound and poetry, Michael discovered the way of the heart. ~ Sharing his deepest revelations, he connected all of us through the resonance of his deep voice. The sounds of singing bowls, his song and his prose captivated everyone, leaving us rich and full of love. As we close our eyes, his voice still resonates deep within our cells—always to be remembered—with so much Love.” – Mandara Cromwell, CEO of Cyma Technologies, producer of the Cymatics Conference and founder of the International Sound Therapy Association (ISTA)
“A couple of years ago, [Michael] was on his deathbed, and yet he came back. I do believe God brought him back to have a beautiful ‘curtain call’ because, in the time of his recovery to the time of his ultimate return to Grace, he impacted even more people. His music and sound were deeper, his poetry more precise and meaningful. ~ I’m gonna miss my friend. I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish together and overjoyed at how he stepped up and stepped into the greater part of himself. I take comfort in knowing he is dancing, writing, chanting and playing beautiful sounds in the etheric with the Great Masters. ~ Fly high, my friend. Your life on earth was Good and Noble. Until we meet again.” – Don Simmons, Spiritual Counselor, filmmaker, writer and President of ISTA
“Michael Burke was an ambassador of beauty, a servant of hope and a true messenger of the Divine. I honor his legacy of healing. Michael’s poetic artistry touched countless hearts with an exquisite mastery of language and spirit that lives on with every reading of his poetry. His commitment to love’s expression is also eternally sanctified in the souls of all who received his blessing of sacred sound. This beloved man now resides in the sweet memories of every person who found themselves at the altar of his intentional vibrations. I am honored to have called him my friend and feel his eternal presence more alive than it has ever been. Godspeed, my brother.” – Rev. Richard Burdick, Senior Minister, Unity North Atlanta
“Michael has been a human instrument in the spiritual community of Atlanta. ~ I have known and loved him for 15 years; everyone loves Michael. You can’t help it. A friend to all, transparent in his humanness, silly, sincere, helpful and creative. He defied death and came back to teach us more about the preciousness of the here and now, this opportunity to love and be loved. ~ My favorite memory of him was during a sound journey. There were three of us facilitating, and he had just acquired a Kosi fire chime. While we were performing, he fell in love with the new sound and was overusing it. The other two of us were gently indicating for him to take it easy. Lost in his own world, he didn’t get the message. So we had to get a little closer and much clearer in our body language … We were frustrated but laughing at the same time. He finally caught on but kept sneaking in notes just to goof around, which made us laugh more. The three of us were trying not to disturb the meditators, which made it funnier. We were crying and couldn’t even look at each other. That’s Michael!” – Ursula Lentine, Pranic Healer and Internal Family Systems practitioner
“Michael was a living, breathing poem. He lived his life as he penned his poems—with grace, elegance, wisdom and a bit of mystery. His soft heart and endearing smile touched everyone he met. His work will be remembered by many for generations to come. Shannon and I had a sound healing session with him just a few weeks before his transition. He transported us to a higher plane, which is where he is flying now, awaiting us all. He’s just one step ahead of us all. Travel well, brother. I love you.” – Bob Sima, Musician and Facilitator of Remembrance
“As I hear the news of your passing and becoming our angel to eloquently speak the power of words through vibration FOREVER, I am sad that I won’t be able to hug you one last time and tell you I love you in your magical human form. Thank you for all that you gave John Stringer and me, and countless others, with the power you had to help us transform and feel the message you channeled through poetry and sound healings. I will never forget when John and I met you over 10 years ago as you opened up the very first concert with John and Bob Sima at the Blue Barn with heart-opening sound vibrations and moving words that brought all that gathered there that night to tears of release and joy! There was a bond created that night with you, John and Bob, that has shown up on many stages and spiritual gatherings over the years, to collectively raise the vibration of the world!!! – Kathy Stringer, Co-Founder and Partner, Healing Arts Management ❧
Publisher of Natural Awakenings Atlanta since 2017, Paul Chen’s professional background includes strategic planning, marketing management and qualitative research. He practices Mahayana Buddhism and kriya yoga. Contact him at [email protected].
