Peace Is Possible

Honolulu, Hawaii

Just a few days left until the Fire Tribe Hawaii Winter Solstice Gathering! A couple of weeks ago I started collecting ideas and key words for a holiday season chant. One of the best things about the Winter Gathering is that I get to celebrate with like minded and spirited people - such a joy compared to the many years when I struggled through Christmas, feeling lonely and disheartened by the whole consumer machine!

The "key" to the musical puzzle came from my good friend Billy Woods - who reminds everyone he meets to know that PEACE IS POSSIBLE. After again hearing Billy share his message, I realized there was nothing in the song about Peace - and that the various Winter Solstice holidays ARE the time of year when virtually everyone focuses on peace and harmony! So, the song became a Prayer - and Billy, this song is for you with love and admiration.

Also check out "I Believe in You" for a connected song...

LYRICS:

on the longest night we offer you
glad tidings and good cheer
a time of hope and wonder
at the dawning of the year
we welcome back the sun
rebirth for everyone
we remember at winter solstice
peace is possible for us

1..2..3..4..
CC.D.CC.DkTk

The Fire Circus

Honolulu, HI

I have been messing around with the famous circus theme song ("Entrance of the Gladiators"), riffing on the idea of the Fire Circus. This all started long ago when someone told me that 6 year old Ari Bow came out to the circle one night and said something to the effect of "I really like the Fairy Go 'Round."

LYRICS:

we're all dancing round the fire circus
drumming and chanting round the fire circus
it's an incredible colorful spectacle
the show just goes on and on and on until dawn

1...2...3...4...
D..kC..kD.D..kC.
D..kC..k.kC..kC.

Madness!

Honolulu, Hawaii

Over the course of summer 2008 I made a number of new friends during my travels around the USA. One of those friends reintroduced the word "madness" into my active vocabulary. Her use of the word suggests revelry, celebration, freedom and wildness. Part of the motivation for this chant is sourced in the appreciation of that friendship.. and the rest has emerged from reflecting on the every increasing velocity of change in my personal life. Of course, my life is a microcosm of the macrocosm, so my sense is that perhaps we could all have a bit more fun with the intensity as it ramps up and up!

LYRICS:

revel in sweet madness
cast away the sadness
now is the time
to dance with the divine

welcome to the lunacy
delirious absurdity
in these crazy, foolish times
we dance the dance divine

i'm letting go

feeling it grow

deep with the flow

living the glow

1...2...3...4...
D.C.CC.DDkTkD.Tk

Here Come the Changes

Honolulu, Hawaii

...a second meditation focusing on the impending life changes I can see on my horizon. In addition to being provoked by potential financial pressures triggered the current economic climate, other pieces of the puzzle include wanting more of a sense of community in my life, more opportunities for collaboration with creative and talented people, and... I have been in Hawaii since 1982 and perhaps the time has come for a change of scenery (?) I have been feeling the call for a change for a few years, but have not found a place with all three key elements I seek (good income, interesting community, healthy environment). But, I do see the pieces of the puzzle more clearly, and suspect more will be arriving soon - 'tis the nature of things as momentum builds. I especially like the line about rolling the red carpet out into the riddle!

LYRICS:

here come the changes - bring em on!
roll the red carpet out into the riddle
give me the pieces of the puzzle
it's an invitation for ingenuity

i'm inventing a whole new life
full of vision, and delight
with imagination and cleverness
i'm reachin' out to find my bliss

1..2..3..4..
C.DkTkDD.C.D

All That I Need

Auckland Airport, New Zealand

I was riding the shuttle bus from the domestic terminal, over to international, when the song and lyrics popped into my head.  I have been pretty concerned on both the financial and "purpose" fronts by the fact that my work in New Zealand may be coming to a close, and that the current economic climate may result in the end of the Artists in the Schools Program in Hawaii.  On top of that the Hawaii Fire Tribe Winter Solstice Gathering may be in trouble due to the exhorbiant cost of airplane tickets.

The song was an un-summoned reminder that I'm competent and capable, and will no doubt find my way!  

(...and a day later I indeed found out that the Hawaii Artists in the Schools Program, my other source of income, will likely be a casualty of budget cuts in 2009. Ouch!)

LYRICS:

i have all that i need
my head, my hands, my heart and my feet
i have all that i need
my head, my hands, my heart and my feet

my head's for thinkin' and my hands for makin'
my heart's for lovin' and my feet for takin' me

1..2..3..4..

C.C.C.DD.DD.

Point of Power

Circle Sanctuary May Fire Circle, Wisconsin

Another chant that emerged during the Fire Circle, this time in response to what seemed to be a long period of group focus on pain and the past.  After a while, I started mulling on the tendency in Western culture to believe that healing is a function of dealing with our history - and asked for something to work the end of the wounded-healing-wellness paradigm that focuses on creation and practicing new approaches. The chant became the foundation/background for people to speak their intentions to the fire, in community. Those interested in learning more about the unique approach to Wellness working which is developing around Alchemical Fire Circles are encouraged to read:

"The Current Evolution of the Alchemical Fire Circle" 

"Wellness at the Alchemical Fire Circle" (2007)

"Wellness" (2008) 

LYRICS:

the present is the point of power
there's no future in the past
declare your course of action
what you invoke will come to pass

A Capella

Fire Whispers

Circle Sanctuary in Wisconsin

The first night I arrived at Circle Sanctuary, I had flown in from Las Vegas and was on a pretty different time zone. I stayed out next to a small fire long after everyone went to bed, listening to the incredible chorus of creatures in the night - 3 kinds of frogs, many different birds, coyotes and more. During the occasional stillnesses, the sounds of the fire seemed that much more dramatic that usual by contrast. I spent a long while in deep listening and contemplation...

LYRICS:

i'm listening to the whispers of the fire
the secret hissing sounds
creaks and crackles swirling 'round

i'm welcoming the wisdom of the fire
insights just for me
a guide with gifts to set me free

A Capella

New Recordings / Full Arrangements (1)

WELLNESS PRAYER

Arranged and recorded in a tiny room at a boys boarding school in New Zealand

This is the second of my experiments in arranging a complete song using Logic Express - this time with the MacBook built-in microphone. The original chant is from the Europe trip (August 21st, 2007) and you can learn more about the song by visiting August 21st, 2007.

LYRICS:

as we sing this prayer
out to the source of life
we're asking for healing
for all of those in need
we offer up our gratitude
for the gifts of health
we have received
and we add this thread to the tapestry
of wellness that we weave

_________________________________________________________

ALONE

...in the same tiny room at the boys boarding school in New Zealand

The intrument on the recording is the Panart Hang (or what I refer to as the UFO). The original chant is from the Europe trip and you can learn more about the song by visiting August 28th, 2007.

LYRICS:

it's a time for introspection
a time for deep reflection
i'm all alone but i'm at home with me
you see

i'm ruminating, taking stock
thinking 'bout my life
i'm settling into solitude
and communing with my muse

Love is a Practice

Mokapu'u Point, Hawaii and Masterton, New Zealand

The first part of the chant happened a while back, while driving to a gig on the windward side of Oahu, and has been fidgeting around in my unconscious awaiting further development. The second part unfolded today, on the foundation of a bit of brainstorming I did a few days ago, searching 'round for words that would name key elements of the Practice. Part of the challenge has been that I hoped to guide it towards something that speaks to loving as a practice beyond the paradigm of the romantic.  I'm not entirely sure it's arrived, but it seems to have settled into "it is what it is", so I'm going to leave it alone for now.  Maybe someday you'll revisit this page and the song will have evolved further...?   

On a side note, this is my 50th chant!  Certainly something I never suspected I would do in my life... "I give thanks for unknown blessings already on the way..."

 
LYRICS:

love is a practice
moment by moment
of presencing
and heartfulness

compliments, and forgiving
honesty and empathy
sharing treasures,
pains and pleasures
generosity and safety

1..2..3..4..
D.C.CC.DDktk

SunSinger

Honolulu

In preparation for my summer 2008 adventures, I was loading piles - literally! -  of CDs into my iPod.  During the project I came across one of my all-time favorite recordings by Paul Winter Consort.  On this day the title evoked a vivid image of circling the fire in the growing light, eagerly anticipating the Sun about to emerge over the horizon... surrounded by beloveds both new and old!  The chant came out within minutes, fully formed (I LOVE it when that happens!)  The album notes say that the music was "inspired by the Swedish sculptor Carl Milles' huge bronze statue of a man, head thrown back, singing a salute to the sun. SUN SINGER is a celebration of the sun and the different ways in which we experience it."

LYRICS: 

sun singers, rhythm bringers, celebrants of life
we emerge to greet the dawn from the blessings of the night
hand in hand our love we dance in peace and harmony
with open eyes and open minds, in awe of all that we can be

1...2...3...4...   Maksum

D.T...T.D...T...

The Fellowship

Honolulu

At the Autumn Equinox Fire Tribe Gathering, a "little bird" let me know that some of my friends had expressed confusion at why I hadn't written any songs for them. This was in response to my having done so for a few special mainland friends who I love deeply but don't see nearly often enough. Inspired both by a desire to create something to show my appreciation for my local friends, and a tinge of guilt... I started thinking about what I would sing about us as a group. The foundation evolved from a couple of phrases from Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land", and one of the terms often used to describe our broader community of fire circle playmates. The main part of the song is heaps of fun, especially the gleeful, mischievous beginning of "We know a secret, and we're gonna tell..." This song is also my very first complete arrangement - using Logic Express, I play and sing all the parts. Anyway, this one is for my friends and family of Fire Tribe Hawaii!

LYRICS:

we know a secret, and we're gonna tell
we've found a pure, remarkable well
it lives whenever we gather again
a fellowship of fire, family and friends

drink deep, never thirst
welcome home, love comes first

we are the builders, and we are the stars
we're the conspirators who step out so far
the strongest of allies in a wild passion play
showing our colors as we dance the new day

1..2..3..4..
T.DD.CC.DD.T

Medibration

Honolulu

One of the tools I have been building and working with is a very large deck of "Oracle Cards", originally inspired by the Oracle chant from Summer 2007.  There are currently around 400 cards in the deck, in a beautiful wooden box. It occurred to me one afternoon that they could also be a great source of inspiration for new chants. I went and drew a card with the resolve that I would use as much of the text as possible.  The chant melody that came through was immediately fascinating, as I recognized right away that I had no idea what meter it was in! After feverishly organizing a recorder and capturing the ideas, I then ended up in a long deep session using my RC-50 loop station attempting to sort out what rhythm might work with it.  Eventually I settled on "Karshlima", in 9/8.  Unfortunately I haven't any notes about my actual internal process at the time, as these were part of the loss of a hard-drive melt down during this same period.  It's really a journey to set this song up with other people - I usually do so by inviting them to join me in stepping "TaKeTiNa" style, right-left-right on the Ga in GaMaLa GaMaLa GaMaLa (and then reversing left-right-left.) There's a metronome click in the recording to mark those steps.  Singing and stepping (or drumming) along with this chant fully requires one to come deep into the eternal now!

LYRICS:

meditation is a simple celebration

the magic of the eternal now
take the time to calm your mind
and be

focus on your breath
and let yourself connnect
to the great silence within you

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.   Karshlima

D...T...D...T.T.T.

Sourcerer

Honolulu

One of the practices I have been nurturing since returning from Europe is to make the time to honor and celebrate with the sunset. There's a little hilltop park near my home in Kaimuki with a panoramic view of Waikiki and Honolulu. Most days I ride my bike up there, and settle into what I have come to think of as "DrumSong". I work through my list of chants, practice singing them with the rhythms I have associated with each one, play around with descant ideas... and enjoy the spectacular display of drifting clouds, orange-pink-golden light and the reflections on the ocean. On the evening of January 1st, 2008 I was also reflecting on what goals and "resolutions" I might have for the year... and out popped the first part of the song. Surprise! The other parts happened in rapid succession as the sun sank into the sea and the first day of the new year fell into darkness.

LYRICS:

it's another day, it's another year, it's another moment
the magic starts right here

i am the will, i am the way, i am the source(rer) of the worlds I make

energy and attention, the power of invention

1...2...3...4...

D..kC..k.kC.DkC.