The Temple of Artemis in Nas valley, on the Greek island of Ikaria
The second night on Ikaria, I went down to the ruins of the Artemis Temple. Nas valley is populated by what is referred to locally as a "hippie" camping scene. In contrast to the fence enclosed, pay-to-see temple sites I had visited in Italy and Northern Greece, this site was wide open - and was decorated by the locals with stacked white stones, likely marble fragments of the original temple. I arrived at the ruins about 11pm, just in time to greet the Full Moon as she rose over the high ridge. After a bit of a scary start involving a tiny torch and some insufficiently researched fuel... I settled into a long musical ritual of honoring the moon, the Goddess, the elements of nature around me and some personal prayer work. Just as I was considering letting go for the night, I began to think about my relationship with women, and especially reflecting on the recent presence of lovers in my life much younger than I. This evolved into appreciation of the various ways that women of various ages contribute to my life... and thus the song. The emergence was a long sweet process of feeling for the right words, all the while basking in the moon light - witnessed in silence by a mysterious figure who had appeared sometime earlier in the night. S/he never said a word, but was fully and deeply present... and was gone when I finally let the music fade into the stillness.
The second night on Ikaria, I went down to the ruins of the Artemis Temple. Nas valley is populated by what is referred to locally as a "hippie" camping scene. In contrast to the fence enclosed, pay-to-see temple sites I had visited in Italy and Northern Greece, this site was wide open - and was decorated by the locals with stacked white stones, likely marble fragments of the original temple. I arrived at the ruins about 11pm, just in time to greet the Full Moon as she rose over the high ridge. After a bit of a scary start involving a tiny torch and some insufficiently researched fuel... I settled into a long musical ritual of honoring the moon, the Goddess, the elements of nature around me and some personal prayer work. Just as I was considering letting go for the night, I began to think about my relationship with women, and especially reflecting on the recent presence of lovers in my life much younger than I. This evolved into appreciation of the various ways that women of various ages contribute to my life... and thus the song. The emergence was a long sweet process of feeling for the right words, all the while basking in the moon light - witnessed in silence by a mysterious figure who had appeared sometime earlier in the night. S/he never said a word, but was fully and deeply present... and was gone when I finally let the music fade into the stillness.
LYRICS:
i honor the playful beauty of the maiden
curiousity learning of life
i honor her wild courageous energy
i give thanks for all of womankind
i honor the life-giving powers of the mother
nuturing and guiding of life
i honor her strong, calming presence
i give thanks for all of womankind
i honor the playful beauty of the maiden
curiousity learning of life
i honor her wild courageous energy
i give thanks for all of womankind
i honor the life-giving powers of the mother
nuturing and guiding of life
i honor her strong, calming presence
i give thanks for all of womankind
i honor the wisdom of the aged one
accepting and understanding of life
i honor her patience and perspective
i give thanks for all of womankind
1..2..3..4..
C.CkDDkTkD.D
accepting and understanding of life
i honor her patience and perspective
i give thanks for all of womankind
1..2..3..4..
C.CkDDkTkD.D
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