Finally! Yes, I know I've been away for a VERY long time. No excuses. Sometimes you just need to take a break, I guess. Thanks for hanging with me. :)
Today's Sunday Sounds comes from Dave Carroll, a talented Canadian singer-songwriter whom I had the pleasure to hear (and speak with briefly) at a conference in San Mateo, California. The conference was about social media (all this blogging, Twittering, facebooking madness we love so well). Mr. Carroll was there because he successfully used social media (in the form of a trilogy of songs on YouTube called, "United Breaks Guitars"...yes, that Dave Carroll) to shame United Airlines...and more power to him. If you haven't seen the videos, check them out here. His story of how United Airlines broke his guitar and then staunchly refused to take responsibility and make it right is one we can all relate to. The fact that he didn't just lay down, roll over, and take it lands Dave Carroll on my hero list.
Back to today's song. After he spoke, he shared a single song of his album, "Perfect Blue." The song is "Now" and...well, it moved me. A lot. And so I hope it is with you. Listen.
I've kept this in my email inbox for while. Today seems like a good day to share it...with love.
INSTALLING LOVE
Author Unknown
Tech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?
Tech Support: What programs are running?
Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge, and Resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longerdisrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is thatnormal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program notrun on external components." What should I do?
Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.
Customer: So, what should I do?
Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.
Customer: Okay, done.
Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system willoverwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart.Is this normal?
Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give itand its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some coolmodules back to you.
Retrieved from:
Your friends at AsAManThinketh.net
For a free eBook of James Allens classic:
http://www.AsAManThinketh.net
To those who recognize such things, Happy Valentine's Day. On a day devoted to romantic love, how can I not dedicate Sunday Sounds to himself, da' Bear, Mr. D.
Mr. D has a saying that we've adopted in our household: "Love is a verb or it's a lie." There's so much truth in those seven words. Love - romantic, Platonic, compassionate, universal, passionate, familial - every kind of love you can imagine, is an action word, an active concept. You can't love on paper. You can't love in words alone. Love does. Thank you, Mr. D., for making love an active, living center of our lives. And you're really hot, too. ::grin::
First up - "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" by the amazing pianist and composer Michel Legrand and vocalistJanusz Szrom.
Years ago, I worked as a singing waitress (yes...yes, I really did), and one of the performers in our little troupe sang this song nightly. I thought then and still believe it is one of the most beautiful love songs ever.
Next, Rascal Flatts, "Bless the Broken Road." The story of our lives...'nuff said.
Finally, because I cannot make a post about love without breathing a prayer that we all keep working toward universal, active, living love. "We are the boat. We are the sea. I sail in you. You sail in me."
Peace.
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? -Music by Michel Legrand lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
I want to see your face in every kind of light In fields of dawn and forests of the night And when you stand before the candles on a cake Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make What are you doing the rest of your life? North and South and East and West of your life I have only one request of your life That you spend it all with me All the seasons and the times of your days All the nickels and the dimes of your days Let the reasons and the rhymes of your days All begin and end with me I want to see your face in every kind of light In the fields of dawn and the forests of the night And when you stand before the candles on a cake Oh, let me be the one to hear the silent wish you make Those tomorrows waiting deep in your eyes In the world of love that you keep in your eyes I'll awaken what's asleep in your eyes It may take a kiss or two Through all of my life Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall of my life All I ever will recall of my life Is all of my life with you
Bless the Broken Road -Marcus Hummon, Jeff Hanna, and Bobby Boyd
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love
along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign
pointed straight to you.
Chorus:
Every long lost dream
led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That god blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
I think about the years I spent
Just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost
And give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan
That is coming true.
(Chorus)
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
Somos el Barco
-Lorre Wyatt
Chorus: Somos el barco, somos el mar, Yo navego en ti, tu navegas en mi We are the boat, we are the sea, I sail in you, you sail in me
The stream sings it to the river, the river sings it to the sea The sea sings it to the boat that carries you and me
Chorus
The boat we are sailing in was built by many hands And the sea we are sailing on, it touches every land
Chorus
So with our hopes we set the sails And face the winds once more And with our hearts we chart the waters never sailed before
Today's Sunday sounds is a beautiful song from a Finnish band, Gjallarhorn. The song is "Suvetar," which translates to Goddess of Spring. I've loved this song and the video from the first time I saw it. My Beloved suggested it this week for Sunday Sounds, and all I could say was, "Heck, yeah!" I feel like I should apologize to all of you for not posting it sooner...it's that good.
Belly dancing friends and family do a phenomenal choreography to this song and I wish I had video of them dancing to share with you. I do have some lovely photos, though...below the video. The choreography is by Jillianna Babb-Cheshul of Merrybellies. She's amazing.
So here's to Spring, to Goddess in her Maiden form, to renewal, warmth, light, and growth. Thank you for letting me share the music with you. Should you be so inclined, you can purchase the music here.
From a Beltaine peformance by friends:
English-translated lyrics: (Finnish lyrics below)
Suvetar, fine matron
Arise to see the seeds
Raise the matron´s corn
So that we may be spared pain
Manutar, matron of the earth
Lift up the shoots from the ground
New shoots from the stumps
So that we may be spared pain
Feed us with honey-hearts
Give us honey-drink
Delicious honey-grass
On a blossoming knoll
Suvetar, fine matron
Arise to see the seeds
Raise the matron´s corn
So that we may be spared pain
Manutar, matron of the earth
Lift up the shoots from the ground
New shoots from the stumps
So that we may be spared pain
Feed us with honey-hearts
Give us honey-drink
Delicious honey-grass
On a blossoming knoll
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
Suvetar, fine matron
Arise to see the seeds
Raise the matron´s corn
So that we may be spared pain
Manutar, matron of the earth
Lift up the shoots from the ground
New shoots from the stumps
So that we may be spared pain
Feed us with honey-hearts
Give us honey-drink
Delicious honey-grass
On a blossoming knoll
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
Rise up, O maiden black from the soil
Rise up, O maiden black from the soil
Underground crone
Most ancient of Nature´s daughters
Make the peat shoot forth
And the ground turn over
Underground crone
Most ancient of Nature´s daughters
Lift up a thousand seedlings
To reward my efforts
Suvetar, fine matron
Arise to see the seeds
Raise the matron´s corn
So that we may be spared pain
Manutar, matron of the earth
Lift up the shoots from the ground
New shoots from the stumps
So that we may be spared pain
Feed us with honey-hearts
Give us honey-drink
Delicious honey-grass
On a blossoming knoll
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
Rise up, O maiden black from the soil
Rise up, O maiden black from the soil
Underground crone
Most ancient of Nature´s daughters
Make the peat shoot forth
And the ground turn over
Underground crone
Most ancient of Nature´s daughters
Lift up a thousand seedlings
To reward my efforts
Finnish lyrics:
uvetar hyvä emäntä
nouse harja katsomahan
viitimä emännän vilja
kun ei tuskihin tulisi
Manutar maan emäntä
nostele oras okinen
kannon karvanen ylennä
kun ei tuskihin tulisi
A beautiful morning in Tennessee...snow still on the ground, sun shining, and a never-ending bird show out my dining room window. A perfect day for Sunday Sounds!
Today...two more from Paul Simon. These songs are from the album, "You're The One." Reviews for this album were all over the place. Some loved it..some hated it...some wondered what Paul was smoking. I fall into the love it camp, lock, stock, and barrel.
Up first is "Old," a birthday song of the first order. Next is "Pigs, Sheep, and Wolves." Listen to that one carefully, and I'd be really interested in your thoughts about the story.
Enjoy yourself...and thanks for letting me share the music I love. If you like what you hear, you can buy "You're The One" here.
Old
The first time I heard "Peggy Sue"
I was 12 years old
Russians up in rocket ships
and the war was cold
now many wars have come and gone
Genocide still goes on
Buddy Holly still goes on
but his catalog was sold
First time i smoked
guess what - paranoid
First time I heard "Satisfaction"
I was young and unemployed
Down the decades every year
Summer leaves and my birthday's here
And all my friends stand up and cheer
And say man you're old
Getting old
Old
Getting old
We celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day
And Buddah found Nirvana along the Lotus Way
About 1,500 years ago the messenger Mohammed spoke
And his wisdom like a river flowed
Through hills of gold
Wisdom is old
The Koran is old
The Bible is old
Greatest story ever told
Disagreements?
Work 'em out
The human race walked the Earth for 2.7 million
And we estimate the universe about 13-14 billion
When all these numbers tumble into your imagination
Consider that the Lord was there before creation
God is old
We're not old
God is old
He made the mold
Take your clothes off
Adam and Eve
Pigs, Sheep, and Wolves
Big and fat
Pig's supposed to look like that
Barnyard thug
Sleeps on straw and calls it a rug
Yeah that's a rug, ok
He's walking down the street
And nobody's gonna argue with him
He's a half-a-ton of pig meat
Up in the hills above the farm
Lives a pack of wolves
Never did no harm
Sleep all day
Hunt till four
Maybe catch a couple of rodents
You know a carnivore
Sheep in the meadow
Nibbling on some clover
One of the sheep just wanders over
Sits by a rock
Separated from the flock
He's just sitting by a rock
Where'd he go? I don't know
Well he was here a minute ago
I don't know
Sheep's dead
Got a gash as big as a wolf's head
Oh god
Big and fat
Pig's supposed to look like that
Wallowing in lanolin
He's rubbing it into his pigskin
Police are going crazy
Sayin' let's get him
Let's get that wolf
Let's get him
Let's get that wolf
Let's get him
Let's kill him, let's get him
Let's kill him
Court-appointed lawyer wasn't very bright
Maybe he was bright
Maybe he just had a late night
Yeah it was just a late night
And he files some feeble appeal
And the governor says forget it
It's a done deal
It's election, i don't care, election
Let's give that wolf a lethal injection
Let's get him, let's get him,
Let's kill him, let's get him
Let's kill him, let's get him, kill him
Let's get him and kill him
Whew, slow
Here comes the media
With their camera
Asking everybodys opinion
About pigs, sheep and wolves
Big and fat
Pig's supposed to laugh like that
This is hilarious
What a great time
I'm the pig who committed
The perfect crime
All around the world
France, Scandinavia
There's candle light vigils
Protesting this behavior
It s animal behavior
Animal behavior
Its pigs, sheep and wolves
Pigs, sheep and wolves
Pigs, sheep and wolves
It's animal behavior
It's pigs, sheep and wolves
Spent the weekend at Chattacon (sci-fi/fantasy convention) and failed to share a Sunday Sounds post for only the second time since I started the series. I'll be back next Sunday without fail. Thanks to those who let me know you missed the music.
Today, my thoughts are more focused. My beautiful friend Sitara Haye posted the following on her blog today. How can we not be filled with gratitude today for enough?
Goddess bless Haiti and all your children there. Amen.
Thank you, Goddess, that I slept in a bed last night and not on the hard ground surrounded by the rubble of my hometown. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, that I did not have to stand in line for water today and that the water I had was clean. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, that my ears know only the hum of traffic and the ring of the phone and not the cries of hungry children or the grieving mothers or the displaced hundred-thousands. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, that my daughter’s only care this morning was a loose tooth and not a lost world, a lost family, a lost home. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, that I am capable of earning the money for and purchasing my own food, that I can be reliant on self and not the food wagon and the charity of a world I’ve never seen. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, for a toilet for my bodily wastes and privacy, things I take for granted until I see the squalor of a wrecked nation. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, for the lesson of seeing a world pouring forth aid and for letting me be part of that help. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, for a firm earth beneath my feet, unshaken and unbroken. This, too, I rarely think about, and yet, a whole generation of Haitian children will grow up with the memory of the day the earth rocked beneath them. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, for internet communication that allows for swift aid organization and response and brings to my eyes the devastation so that I can have this still moment being ever so grateful for the small things which, really, are not so small at all. Bless Haiti and all Your children there.
Thank you, Goddess, for my safety and sustenance today for me and my child and my family and my friends and my community. But today, we have enough. Be with Haiti and all Your children there.
I'm way behind on blog posts. A recent event has consumed my thoughts for weeks. This post has been on my mind every day and I'm still not sure I can adequately say what I want to say.
On December 23, a friend and co-worker, Susan Wood, was killed by a hit-and-run driver. She was crossing the street on her walk from the parking lot to the office. The driver apparently went on to park his car at a friend's apartment complex, then went to another location and called the police, claiming to have been the victim of a carjacking. I have to add here that he has not been tried and found guilty, though the events are fairly clear. Police reports do indicate that he was intoxicated.
My first reaction, after the initial shock and sadness, was anger. That's no surprise. The driver's actions took the life of a beautiful, loving woman, one whose life had been a positive force at work and in the lives of her husband, her two young children, and all the family and friends who loved her. I'm still angry.
But then the recognition of the broader scope of the tragedy became apparent to me. The young man who is charged with her death is only 24 years old. He has a mother, a father, friends, possibly siblings, maybe a girlfriend. Susan's family and friends were not the only ones suffering, grieving, reeling from the events of that morning. I thought about how I would feel if it were my child who had killed this woman.
As days went on, I thought a lot about staying in the heart of compassion...about not letting the anger and grief consume me...about not letting it prevent me from honoring the memory of a friend whose life was about love for her God, her family, her friends.
I thought, too, about justice. What, exactly, is that? How is there any justice possible when a life is taken? Nothing can bring her back. She cannot be replaced. You cannot minimize the grief of her family by taking the life of another, not even the one responsible for her death. The only result of taking his life would be more grief, more pain. His family, like Susan's family, is innocent. Is there any good to be gained for her family by causing his family to suffer, too? I'm still trying to figure out what justice is in a case like this.
Compassion is, in my opinion, poorly defined in the dictionary: "A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compassion) I do not believe that the pain the young man in this incident is feeling should be alleviated. He is accountable for his actions and accountability involves dealing with consequences, and the biggest consequence of this tragedy for him, even bigger than potential jail time, is living with the knowledge that his choices and actions took a human life and caused untold suffering. We should not seek to remove that accountability nor the legal consequences from him, nor to prevent his being jailed or otherwise kept from hurting someone again by his actions. But that doesn't mean that we can't try to understand the depth of his pain, his family's pain, and feel compassion.
Perhaps "sympathy" or "empathy" are better words...but I don't think so. The word "compassion" speaks to me of common passion, of common experience, of the knowledge that there but for grace go I. Maybe we need to redefine compassion in this sense as the acknowledgement that another human being is suffering...that even though that suffering was self-incurred, it is still human suffering...that any one of us could find ourselves in the same position at any time.
We all make bad choices. Have you ever driven impaired? Tired? Distracted? Kids arguing in the back making you nuts? Ever run over a curb because you were looking elsewhere? Ever run a light or a stop sign by accident? I have. And in doing so, I could have hit someone and killed them, and then it would be me living with that for the rest of my life, and my family suffering.
I do not want this young man to be "let off the hook" for his actions. He is responsible. He is accountable. But I'm able to feel compassion for his suffering, for his family's suffering. I'm heartbroken at the loss of a friend, more heartbroken at the pain I see on her husband's face, the knowledge that her children whom she loved so much and was so proud of are without their mother. And I'm grateful to All that I am able to remain in the heart of compassion...that I am not poisoned by the anger.
The young man involved will be held accountable for his actions and I would not remove that accountability if I could. But I will not let my heart of compassion be destroyed by his actions. For the life of me, I cannot help but believe that my friend Susan would agree.
Have you ever been homesick? Ever found yourself at a place in your life - a physical place and a spot in your life journey - when you know it's time to go home? "Caledonia" captures the essence of that emotion.
I love Dougie Maclean's music, and this song was my first introduction to this man's genius and heart. My husband and I were at a Celtic festival in Gainsville, Georgia. As part of the session crew in the makeshift pub, we had "performer" status and were invited to join a late-night session of musicians. A gentleman from Scotland whose name I have sadly forgotten mentioned this beautiful song he knew and began singing a few bars. Susan Hickey, another delightful performer, brightened and said, "I know that song!" She picked up her guitar and played and sang...and my heart soared. It didn't hurt that the lovely Scottish gent leaned back against the wall, eyes closed, so plainly moved and unashamed that it made me cry.
Once home, we looked up the song and found Dougie Maclean, and what a gift he is! We have a number of his CDs and will undoubtedly buy more. The sound on the "Caledonia" video isn't the best, but it is a nice live performance. The second video is from "The Transatlantic Sessions" - available on DVD that I do not own yet (but I will fix that soon, too), and features another favorite artist, Kathy Mattea, and some brilliant musicians.
Enjoy the music of Dougie Maclean on this Sunday morning. If you like what you hear, you can purchase your own copies here.
Caledonia
- Dougie Maclean
I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from
And that's the reason why I seem
So far away today
Oh, but let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me
And now I'm going home
If I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the ladies and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes there's no denying
I have traveled hard with coattails flying
Somewhere in the wind
(Chorus)
Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames that could not get any higher
They've withered now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands are shaken and the kisses flow
Then I will disappear
Ready For the Storm
- Dougie Maclean
O the waves crash in and the tide pulls out
It's an angry sea but there is no doubt
That the lighthouse will keep shining out
To warn the lonely sailor
And the lightning strikes and the wind cuts cold
Through the sailor's bones to the sailor's soul
Till there's nothing left that he can hold
Except the rolling ocean
Chorus:
But I am ready for the storm, yes sir ready
I am ready for the storm, I'm ready for the storm
Give me mercy for my dreams
For every confrontation seems
To tell me what it really means
To be this lonely sailor
But when the sky begins to clear
And the sun it melts away my fear
I'll cry a silent weary tear
For those that need to love me
Chorus
But distance it is no real friend
And time it takes its time
But you will find that in the end
It brings you me the lonely sailor
But when you take me by your side
You love me warm, you love me
And I should have realized
I had no reasons to be frightened
I love bluegrass music. That hasn't always been true. As a child I hated the "twangy" sounds and thought it was hopelessly old-fashioned and uncool. Ah, but I grew up. :) There is something so rich and honest about the harmony, something so communal and shared about the traditional way bluegrass musicians lean in and share a microphone, keying off each other for their pitches, a cooperative, shared experience.
And then there are the stories. Like its Celtic grandparents, bluegrass often tells sad tales of war, lost love, disaster, and broken hearts. One way the human spirit heals itself is through poetry and song, turning something too painful to express in everyday language into something beautiful and haunting, something that goes straight to the heart and is instantly recognized there, a familiar pain.
Sharing my bluegrass love this morning with The Infamous Stringdusters. This song is "Three Days in July," a civil war tale. If you like what you hear, you can find the album here.
And if you're new to bluegrass listening, do yourself a favor - go to a festival and listen to live music for a few hours. Watch the musicians, open yourself to the experience of community music-making, and enjoy.
Three Days in July
(John Weisberger)
I was born in Pennsylvania
In 1851
I grew up on my father's farm
The youngest of three sons
The Civil War was raging
The year that I turned twelve
My father joined the ranks of blue
Left us by ourselves
Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew
In summer heat we prayed for rain
The first day of July
Far off thunder rumbleing
No storm clouds in the sky
My brothers grabbed their riffles
"Stay" my mother urged
"Mama that's the sound of canon
Up by Gettysburg"
Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew
Two fearful days and sleepless nights
We waited with no word
Till the guns fell silent
On the morning of the third
My mother watched the road all day
And kept me there close by
Till dusk was hard upon us
And the water jug was dry
With bucket and a lantern
I crossed the field alone
Heard the sound of snapping twigs
And then a quiet moan
Captured in my lantern light
His face in ashen gray
Huddled in a bloody coat
A rebel soldier lay
Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew
"I see you have a kind face
Please don't raise a cry
If I am taken prisoner
I know I'll surely die
"I'm wounded and I mean no harm
I just need to rest a spell
I have fled the battlefield
I've seen the face of hell
"We came by tens of thousands
The battle faught to lose
And we only marched on Gettysburg
Bcause we needed shoes"
I look down at his swollen feet
And tried to understand
And wondered if my brothers
Had died at this man's hand
Boys I tell'n ya true
I learned things I never knew
I walked back in the cabin
Sat the bucket down
I spoke no word to mother
Of why I'd been so long
All night we sat beside the fire
Praying for good news
Then mother she looked down and asked
"Son where are your shoes?"
Boys I tell'n ya true
...
I learned things I never knew
Today has not been a good day for technology. I've been at this for about three and a half hours now, struggling with connections that don't want to connect, disappearing audio, and a host of other gremlins. My astrology-knowledgeable friends tell me to blame Mercury being in retrograde. Whatever is to blame, it's been frustrating.
That said...today's Sunday Sounds is a bit of a departure. I recorded this song for my Aunt Louise and my cousins when my Uncle Jim died several years ago. It was a favorite of his. When I asked her how I could help, she said, "Can you sing Danny Boy?" Well, by golly, that I could do. So I did, recording it and sending it along with my love. The arrangement differs a bit from the traditional, and that's Jimmy Daughtery, a friend I've actually not seen or heard from in a long time (must remedy that!), on guitar. Since then the song has played for a few friends and family and at dear Uncle Jim's memorial service, but it's otherwise unshared.
I hope sharing this song comes across less as an act of narcissism and more as the act of courage that it is. In words taken from last week's Sunday Sounds, "Someone I am is waiting for my courage..." Maybe I'm tired waiting. :)
To courage, my friends...and to you, with gratitude, on this Sunday. Enjoy.
Danny Boy
words Frederick Weatherly and music traditional
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come you back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I simply sleep in peace until you come to me
Ever been moved to tears by a song? I don't know anyone who hasn't felt their eyes well up a time or two when a song touches something so personal, so intimate, so true that you are instantly in the emotion.
"Let Me Fall" is one of those songs for me. The song speaks so eloquently of fear and courage and one line...one simple phrase out of all the lovely words...could have come from my own soul...
"Someone I am is waiting for courage..."
I'll let the lyrics and melody and voice of young Josh Groban say the rest. The song is from Josh Groban's self-titled album. If you like it, you can find it here.
Take courage, my friends.
Let Me Fall (From Cirque Du Soleil)
Let me fall Let me climb There's a moment when fear And dreams must collide
Someone I am Is waiting for courage The one I want The one I will become Will catch me
So let me fall If I must fall I won't heed your warnings I won't hear them
Let me fall If I fall Though the phoenix may Or may not rise
I will dance so freely Holding on to no one You can hold me only If you too will fall Away from all these Useless fears and chains
Someone I am Is waiting for my courage The one I want The one I will become Will catch me
So let me fall If I must fall I won't heed your warnings I won't hear
Let me fall If I fall There's no reason To miss this one chance This perfect moment Just let me fall
Photo credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28757002@N03/3047417954/ Breast Cancer Ribbon http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3248052341/ Rooster Courage http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythoto/4139686618/ Social Justice http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulsimpson1976/3540426550/ Take Courage Sign http://www.flickr.com/photos/ficken/2478945882/ Black White Red Courage Sign http://www.flickr.com/photos/dtwright/3320398276/sizes/m/ Courage Bicycles http://www.flickr.com/photos/togawanderings/4102416349/ Tedx Flyer http://www.flickr.com/photos/boojee/2667826315/sizes/l/ Courage My Love http://www.flickr.com/photos/litandmore/2190951304/ Book Jacket http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalegillard/2864811679/ Mail Box http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2614710321/ Prayer Flags
How do you help a young child explore the concept of inner guidance? How do you talk to your children about diversity, facing their fears, listening to their body's wisdom? Yvonne Perry has written a delightful series of children's stories that explore these topics and more.
Inspired by her grandson, Sidney, Yvonne has woven her weekend visits and adventures with Sidney into charming tales. Those of us who enjoy talking with children can take a hint from the straightforward, simple, loving language "Von-Von" uses when talking with Sidney about concepts as difficult as the death of a loved pet or as potentially frightening as a monster in the closet.
Perhaps more importantly, Yvonne's stories are written from a holistic approach. Sidney is an exceptional child with spiritual gifts, and Yvonne gently helps him embrace his gifts in a way he can understand. In "A Powerful Potion: The Power of Imagination," Sidney's dog, Blue Girl, is injured. Sidney makes a special potion to heal her. His Von-Von uses the experience to help him understand the power of his imagination...a gentle, age-appropriate introduction to magical concepts that sets the stage for more learning as he grows older.
Those who are looking for stories to share with very young children - or parents who would like some ideas for how to talk with their little ones about holistic spiritual concepts without getting over their heads - will findThe Sid Seriesto be just the ticket. The illustrations are charming and fun, the stories short, simple, and sweet. Don't let that fool you...these stories carry big concepts. There is a definite shortage of material for children that touches on these concepts, and The Sid Series is a welcome breath of fresh air.
Christmas music makes me smile...and that's good because there's no escaping it! Today I heard Mariah Carey singing, "Joy to the World"...and she really rocks that song! The lyrics of the song struck me as particularly appropriate today:
"Let every heart prepare him room..."
Whether you celebrate the birth of the Son or the rebirth of the sun...there's a lot of wisdom in those words. We have to make room in our hearts for the light.
Our world is instantaneous information, visual and auditory assault day and night...news reports make sure we know the horrific state of the world...media exploitation assures that every transgression and disappointment committed by public figures will be forced into our minds...economic pressures, holiday pressures, social pressures...it all adds up to a lot of darkness.
Maybe one of the lessons of the season is to learn to let in the light...to prepare room by distancing ourselves from the darkness just a bit...to not let ourselves be so consumed with all that is wrong that we leave no room for what is good and right and beautiful.
Kindness still exists in this world. Beauty is everywhere. Compassion can be found. The light of love burns brightly if we but make space for it.
Welcome the newborn Son. Welcome the reborn sun. Prepare him/it room. Let in the light.
Today's song is "Hymn" by the amazing Three Weird Sisters. These beautiful ladies (and several friends, as evidenced on the featured track today) have been a constant presence in our home since we were introduced to them back in... well, I don't remember when.
I do remember when I heard this song; it was at the North Georgia Celtic Festival a few years ago. Three Weird Sisters opened their performance with "Hymn"...those voices rang out and the lyrics filled my heart to near bursting. After I wiped my eyes and enjoyed the rest of the concert, I checked the schedule, found their next performance stage, and got there early for a better seat.
Hymn is on the album "Hair of the Frog." You can find it here, along with "Rite the First Time" - another TWS album that has a place of honor in our collection.
When there's fear in my heart,
Lady, I'm singing.
When there's gladness,
I'm singing, too.
Songs of joy, love, and pain,
Lady, I'm singing,
Sending all my songs
Home to you.
When there's work to be done,
Lord, I'm singing.
When there's sport to be had,
I'm singing, too.
Songs of play, love, and toil,
Lord, I'm singing,
Sending all my songs
Home to you.
Every breath I take,
Let me be singing.
Every step a dance
I dance with you.
Every beat of my heart,
Let me be singing,
Sending all my songs
Home to you.
All around the world,
Your children are singing,
Good and bad times,
We're singing, too.
Listen to the Summerland:
Don't you hear singing?
Bringing all our songs
Home to you.
As a Pagan, my view of the "Christmas Story" is most certainly not the same one shared by most of my Christian friends and family. Still, I love the holiday season and find a lot of lessons and inspiration in the Biblical story of Jesus' birth. One need not take the myth literally to benefit from it.
One such lesson has recently "smacked me up'side the head" and has put the story of Mary and the virgin birth in a whole new light. I can't claim credit for the insight all by myself. I read a blog recently that, woefully, I didn't save a link to and can't find (when I do find it again, I'll give proper credit,I promise). In the post, the author talked about Mary and gave me a lot of food for thought.
Mary is a wonderful example of courage, of accepting a calling even when your hands are trembling and your knees are week...of knowing that others may disapprove, may not believe, may abandon you...but going ahead anyway. Mary was a young Jewish girl, a virgin engaged to be married. In Mary's world, to conceive a child out of wedlock as she did was to risk her future marriage, her family, her community, her entire support network. She put the only life she had ever known on the line because she was called to give birth to the Son of God.
How many times in our lives do we receive a call to give birth to something? What gifts to the world die unborn because we lack the courage to accept the call, to receive the creative spark and carry it to term, to endure the pains of bringing it into the world, and to risk the scorn of those who do not believe? To write, to sing, to dance, to speak truth, to walk out of step with the louder drummer in order to be true to our own unique rhythms...these are sacred opportunities to give birth to the Divine. And it is only through our courageous yes and stepping forward into the unknown that our light enters the world.
This is one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Mary Did You Know?"...now in a whole new light for me. May the courage of Mary infuse you with strength to give birth to your unique gifts to the world.
From the heart of IndigoSatin...my beautiful, loving, and gifted friend...another post to share with you. Her prayer is my own, so beautifully stated that I could not hope to improve on it. She has a gift, and she is a gift to my heart, in my life. You can find more of her heart and words here. May her words take root and grow strong.
Enough - IndigoSatin
How do you say 'ENOUGH' so loudly that it makes a difference ? Enough wars. Enough killing. Enough hatred. Enough fear. Enough hunger. Enough vandalism. Enough rudeness. Enough gossip. Enough lies.
How can we begin to radiate love and caring like a ripple in a pond ? Radiate peacefulness. Radiate nurturing. Radiate compassion. Radiate kindness. Radiate gentleness. Radiate truth.
Holy Father, please help me make a difference in those lives I touch. Help me choose my words and actions with more care. Give me the strength and courage to speak up when I should, and the greater strength to be silent when I shouldn't.
Divine Mother, please help me look outward to see more clearly the needs of those around me. Help me extend your gentle love and compassion. Help me see past my own tears to see those in the eyes of others.
Good morning (or afternoon, or evening...whenever and wherever you are)!
Today's gift of music and prayer comes from Bobby McFerrin, from an album that rests near the top of the list of five albums I would keep if I had to give up all others. The album is Medicine Music and the song is "The 23rd Psalm."
This much loved Psalm speaks so profoundly of gratitude, of saying "yes" to all that is right now, of enough. And Bobby McFerrin's vocal brilliance and heart make this rendition more moving than ever. The fact that he acknowledges the female half of the All doesn't hurt my feelings, either. If you have headphones, do yourself a favor and put them on so you can really hear the magic.
Wishing you a gentle day of awareness, of gratitude, of enough.
I don't know how you answered that question, but my answer is, "Every time I open my mouth...and even when I don't." The words I use to speak and to think are part of my personal power. The way I speak to myself and others is one of the ways I exercise control and influence in the world.
Words have power. Magical practitioners of all ilks have long taught that word choice is important when we're working magically. Whether we're following a complex and detailed magical system with words and phrases used by magicians for centuries, or a less structured, natural form of spell work, the words we choose can affect the outcome, for better or worse.
Interestingly enough, we seem to place a lot of emphasis on the use of words in a magical context but very little on how we use words in all the other moments and events in our lives. And since we spend a lot less time on magical pursuits than on plain old life, that seems backward to me.
Maybe one reason people don't recognize the power of words outside the magical realm is the mistaken notion that magic is something separate, something apart from "ordinary" life. Magic is not a supernatural force. Magic works because it follows natural, universal laws that, even though the scientific world hasn't fully worked out all the details of why and how, work flawlessly. Of course, we don't always work flawlessly in our efforts to create a working partnership with those forces, but study, practice, and open-mindedness allow us to keep moving forward. And the results prove the efficacy of a system based on those universal laws.
Here's the thing: Natural laws don't differentiate between magical and mundane. What we call magic is really nothing more than heightened awareness of those laws and a deliberate effort to work within that framework to achieve a desired result. But the laws are still in place, still working, whether we're thinking about them or not. The law is the law whether we're working deliberately, with awareness and intent, or working unaware and without a plan. To use a tired but effective analogy, the guy who falls off the roof is no less likely to hit the ground than the guy who deliberately jumps. Gravity really doesn't care about awareness, motive, or timing. The jumper, because he is paying attention and working willfully, is more likely to land safely and nearer his intended target. The faller will surely hit the ground but with far less control and less likelihood of being happy with his result.
So...if words have power in a magical context...do they not also have power in our daily lives? Why do we allow ourselves to speak thoughtlessly to ourselves and others, aloud and silently, when we know the power our words carry? Why do we allow hurtful words others have spoken to play back in an endless loop? Universal law allows our words to manifest realities. What realities are we building with our words?
Interestingly enough, most of us are more aware and careful about what we say to others than we are about how we talk to ourselves. I can't think of a better way to rob ourselves of power than to use words that tear down and hold back. We make a mistake and our inner dialog is, "That was stupid!" We do something well and we say, "I got lucky." Even if our conscious mind knows we don't mean it, our subconscious mind probably doesn't.
A dear friend caught me sending myself wrong messages one morning. I responded to her cheerful, "Hey, how ya' doin'?" with, "Fat and sassy!" She immediately said, "Oh, we've got to eliminate that phrase!" I told her that "fat and sassy" was really a good thing, to which she replied, "Does your subconscious know that?" Zap! I knew instantly she was right.
Jung is quoted as saying, "Even a lie is a psychic fact." When we choose words that do not support our position of power, of strength and purpose, what facts are we building in our minds, in our lives? Are we choosing words that will help us manifest the things we want, or are we ignoring the laws of the Universe and expecting them to ignore us in return?
Our daily words, spoken and unspoken, are powerful spell components that make up our lives. Choose carefully to manifest the results you want.
Today's Sunday Sounds is a very personal post. With Thanksgiving Day just behind us, I'm still enjoying a heightened sense of gratitude for all the good things in my life. Family and the beauty that surround me every day are at the top of the list. Friends sit right at the top, too...but I won't use pictures of my friends online without permission, and waking them up on Sunday morning to gather that permission is likely to endanger my friend status. Hence, no friend pics in the video. :)
Enjoy Priscilla Herdman's splendid voice on Raffi's "Thanks a Lot." It's from the album "Stardreamer" and you can pick it up here if you're as delighted by it as we have been. My husband introduced me to this album, and it has been a favorite ever since.
Oh, and the "percussion" you hear in the song is a rocking chair. Nice, huh? Yeah, I think so, too.
Thanks a Lot written by Raffi performed by Priscilla Herdman
My friend WitchGeek pointed me toward this blog, Pagan Godspell. The beauty of this post in particular almost made me weep. Such beautiful imagery and honest writing...well worth visiting often!
Speaking of WitchGeek, have you visited The Accidental Streghone? You should. WitchGeek is a researcher for the love of it and a good writer. His articles are well organized, well researched, and easily read, and always provide food for thought. Read his stuff.
While you're at it, check out Thoughts of a Tye Dyed Goddess. I have rarely read anything that so captures the beauty, ecstasy, and wildness of the Pagan experience. Sheer beauty!
I can't leave out WinterWolf's Howl. Winter MoonWolf is a passionate blogger. I don't always agree with his positions, but he never fails to make me stop and reconsider my own positions. And he turns out some fiercely provocative poetry from time to time.
The blogosphere is just chock full of people sharing their thoughts, they knowledge, their screw ups and successes. While some bloggers are monetizing their blogs, most are writing for reasons of their own. The perspectives they share are not limited to those that will be commercially successful. They'll make you think, inspire you, answer questions, raise questions, make you mad, and make you weep. For free.
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Other Wisdom
This is my living faith, an active faith, a faith of verbs: to question, explore, experiment, experience, walk, run, dance, play, eat, love, learn, dare, taste, touch, smell, listen, argue, speak, write, read, draw, provoke, emote, scream, sin, repent, cry, kneel, pray, bow, rise, stand, look, laugh, cajole, create, confront, confound, walk back, walk forward, circle, hide, and seek. To seek: to embrace the questions, be wary of answers. - Terry Tempest Williams, naturalist and author
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http://lovetheworldintochange.com
With love,
Maithri
Freelance writer, kitchen witch, and full-time communications professional. I'm happiest making magic at the keyboard and in the kitchen! These are the songs and rythyms of my life. Sing with me - use the comment button to join the choir!
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