Another Yuletide Filk

Response was positive for my carol from earlier this month, so I thought I'd try my hand at another one. A special shout out to Cerridwen is in this song, as a Solstice gift to my sweet soul-sister Lily Savage.

A Joyful Winter Solstice
to the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

A Joyful Winter Solstice
the Sun is born again
from the sacred cauldron-womb
of mother Cerridwen.

His fire shines on gilded pines
Oh, hear the ancients sing
of tidings of magic and joy.
Magic and joy!

Oh tidings of magic and joy!

The world was cold and darkened
the Sun had gone away
but now He has returned to us
on blessed Solstice day.

To light our hearts and warm our souls
Oh, hear the ancients sing
of tidings of magic and joy.
Magic and joy!

Oh tidings of magic and joy!

Layne Redmond's "Your Brain on Drums"

This is an excerpt from Layne Redmond's film Rhythmic Wisdom. It combines Shamanism, Greek Religion, theta wave consciousness and the history of the wonderful frame drum. If you would like to learn more, read her book When the Drummers Were Women and view this instructional video.

Pronoia

Have you ever stumbled unintentionally over just the right thing at the perfect time? I am inclined to agree with Helen Schulman who said:

"Miracles are natural; when they do not occur, something has gone wrong."

To wit, I was shelving books at the library a few days ago when I spied a volume I've never heard of: When the Drummers Were Women: A Spiritual History of Rhythm by Layne Redmond. I'm familiar with some of Ms. Redmond's work, but I didn't know she had written a book. I checked out the book and brought it home for perusal.

Holy Cow! (and I mean that in the Catal Huyuk/Hathor/Milky Way sense) Frame drums are amazing! The history of this instrument ties together several threads I've been working with independently of each other. It covers matrifocal Goddess culture, which is very much where my interest spiritually has been lately; shamanistic practice, which is something I've been researching for the last year; and rhythm, which (and this is a little embarrassing) I've been working with intensively during my down time as a "drummer" on the Rock Band video game.

Laura just happens to have a frame drum which she says I am welcome to use, so I believe I've been called to learn a new instrument!

Instances like this make me wonder if there is something to pronoia, "the suspicion the Universe is a conspiracy on your behalf". Right now I like to think so.

 

Musical Meme

Describe yourself using one band or and song titles from that band (answer only in song TITLES by that band!)

Band: Stevie Nicks (well, duh!)

Are you male or female:: Bella Donna
Describe yourself:: Nightbird
How do some people feel about you:: Sweet Girl
How do you feel about yourself:: Enchanted
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend:: Whole Lotta Trouble
Describe your current girlfriend/boyfriend:: Destiny
Describe where you want to be:: Everywhere
Describe what you want to be:: Sorcerer
Describe how you live:: Gypsy
Describe how you love:: Wild Heart
Share a few words of wisdom: Love Changes

Reposted from LiveJournal Jan. 15th, 2006