A very old idea is that when you situate yourself in the physical world–in relationship to the presence and energies of your place on earth and in the cosmos, where you are right now–you restore your right relationship with all creation, and with your inner self.

The simple notion of knowing where East, South, West, and North are in relationship to you (let’s also include Above and Below and Within)–and reestablishing your awareness of the archetypal energies of each direction has the effect of activating those qualities within you, or reawakening them.  You stand at the center of this web of possibilities and guidance for yourself.

The ceremonial practice of “calling in the directions”, by greeting the Four, Seven, or Eight directions and welcoming their qualities serves to remind you on an inner level that you are an essential part of this weave.  All of this is part of you, and you have a place in this weave.

Many associations exist for the Directions.  Here are just a few for the Seven (you can find associations with Eight Directions in my post Where Does Where You Are Say About Where You Are).  What are your associations with the directions?

East: Welcome, birth, new beginnings, inspiration, air, home, prosperity

South: Joyful focus, fire, Óran Mór (the Great Song or divine song within both the universe and within you), summer, adolescence

West: Celebration, community, knowledge, longing, autumn, adulthood, harvest

North: Elders, wisdom, battle, winter, larger perspective, survival

Above: Father Sky, heavens, stars, universe, story, ceremony, Great Mystery

Below: Mother Earth, bones, ancestors, microbial realm, soil, All Our Relations

Within: Mastery, hearth, sovereignty, soul, true self

In noticing and greeting the Directions, be sure to offer special attention to what lies physically in those directions for you, right then.  Notice the trees, the mountains, clouds, sun rising or moving across the sky, the stars.  Be as curious about these companions on your journey as you might be of a person entering a room you sense may be a kindred spirit.  Pay attention to what it feels like within you to experience the nature in each direction, encircling you.

I Walk In Beauty

Below is a sacred song for restoring us to Beauty — within our surroundings, the universe, and within ourselves.  I encourage you to learn the song and sing it to yourself whenever you need reminding of the Beauty all around you!

The words are:

I walk in Beauty

Beauty is before me

Beauty is behind me

Above and below me.

You can also sing a second verse (not sung in the video):

I walk in Beauty

Beauty is before me

Beauty is behind me

Around and within me.

A little about the video:

  Last July I participated in creating harp music for a worldwide Peace Hour, initiated by Harpists For Peace. Harpers Hall members played as a group and solo, offering music for peace. I led community singing of “I Walk In Beauty”, a contemporary setting of Navajo wisdom words to music. You can read more about our Peace Hour offering in my post How I Experienced Village At A Harp Gathering.

Here (revealed for the first time ) is the video of my musical offering. Please join in the song.  May you experience yourself walking in Beauty!

Here’s a little video I made the other day by propping my digital camera onto a stack of Girl Scout cookie shipping boxes. Sit back, relax — perhaps with your favorite cup of tea and a Girl Scout cookie or two — and enjoy a “nourishing infusion” of harp music!

I have started a new harp quest!  You can read my declaration here (and find out what in the heck a harp quest is anyway!)

What follows is an accounting of my first gig in pursuit of the title “Millennium Dragonharper Of The San Francisco Peninsula And Beyond”.

Feb. 12, 2010 ~ Valentine’s Luncheon At Sunnyvale Senior Center

Story can be woven into any expression of art. This was a music gig, but I reflected that it might be a possibility to present some sort of ’story’, however briefly. Was there a ‘Valentine message’ that I could deliver with the music?

  Before the gig I wandered out to the lake. It was a gorgeous day–typical of late winter in this area–sunny and trees in bud and bloom. Swans swam in the water, Canada geese stretched legs and wings on the grass. A trio of mallards wandered close to me.

  It occurred to me that Valentine’s Day is about reminding us that we can love this world deeply. We can deeply love and be grateful for the family and friends in our lives, the birds and trees and animals around us, the magic of the natural world. And we can take this ‘holiday’ as another opportunity to remind ourselves that we do love, and know ourselves
to be loved.

Back at the luncheon, I said something along these lines, then dove into my set of Valentine’s songs — John Denver’s “Annie’s Song”, Pachelbel’s “Canon”, the Golden Oldies “Daisy Bell”and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, Bette Midler’s “The Rose”, a couple of Celtic tunes (Carolan’s “Eleanor Plunket” for one), some improvisations to serve as musical candy hearts and long-stemmed roses for the occasion, and a few other songs.

  A number of the seniors listened attentively, clapping after my pieces. Others continued their conversation. A couple of the organizers were dismayed at that! But I reassured them: the harp provides an ambiance and weaves its own magic. As far as I’m concerned, however folks enjoy it is just right! And indeed, a woman came up to me afterward saying, “I hope you don’t mind that some of us kept on talking. It was just so lovely to be able to hear the music, but also to enjoy our conversation.  With other instruments, like a piano banging away, you can’t do that …”

  I delighted in my audience of elders, with their “snow-on-the-mountain” hair (an old way of describing elders), which included women in purple and with their cheerful red hats–members of the Red Hat Society! I’m currently writing a children’s story about our black hen Yikes, in which she joins the Red Hat Society ….