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...