Updated 8/29/06 The Spark Collective’s Chant Book This list was compiled from various sources for the Spark Collective’s monthly chanting circle. Please join us! We meet in Berkeley on the fourth Sunday of every month. For more information, visit www.sparkcollective.org. This booklet is just a snapshot our community from one person’s point of view at one point in time. It is inevitably incomplete and certainly contains errors and omissions. I apologize for them. I also surrender to the impossible, and do not intend to continue updating this document. Chants come into being every day, and fade away as well. Trust the power of the oral tradition. Gathering and sharing the lyrics of chants was an important part of my spiritual development. I’ve since moved on from learning existing chants to trying to write chants spontaneously – relying on Spirit and the needs of the moment to guide me. But I offer this to you, if it can be of help, and I look forward to seeing you in the firelight. - Terence ([email protected]) AIR I AM ALL I SEE IS BLESSED Ivo Dominguez, Jr. & Friends All I see is blessed. Air I am, fire I am, All I do is blessed. water, earth and spirit I am. All I am is blessed. Here now, blessed. I am born of the elements. I am born of the elements. Here is how the blessings come down… They come down from above. (Works well in a round with “Earth My Body”) They come warm like sunshine and quiet as snowfall and soft as rain filled with love. AIR MOVES US Here is how the blessings come up… Ivo Dominguez, Jr. & Friends They come up from below. They come up like seeds sprouting, Air moves us. Fire transforms us. up like steam rising, Water shapes us. Earth heals us. up like gardens they grow. And the balance of the wheel goes round and round. And the balance of the wheel goes round. Here is how the blessings come out… They come out from within. They come out in melodies with unexpected harmonies, in our voices they sing. 1 Updated 8/29/06 ANCIENT GODDESS THE ANCIENTS ARE CALLING Abbi Spinner The ancients are singing. Smiling Virgin, shining crescent. I am listening. Waxing fullness, luminescent. The ancients are chanting. Sickle of silver, reaper of bone. We are one. Maiden, Mother and Crone. Maiden, Mother and Crone. The ancients are calling. I am listening. Ancient goddess, daughter of moonlight. The ancients are calling, Ancient goddess, mother of stone. calling me home. Ancient goddess, keeper of midnight. Maiden, Mother and Crone. The ancients are crying. Maiden, Mother and Crone. Can’t you hear us? The ancients are saying, ”We are here.” ANCIENT MOTHER Grandfather tells me, ”We remember.” Ancient Mother, I hear you calling. Grandmother tells me, Ancient Mother, I hear your song. “Open your heart.” Ancient Mother, I hear your laughter. Ancient Mother, I taste your tears. The ancients are calling. I am listening. O la mama, wa ha su ko la. The ancients are calling, O la mama, wa ha su wam. calling me home. O la mama, kow wey ha ha ha ha. O la mama, ta te kayee. ANIMAL SPIRITS Animal spirits, come to me now. Vanishing spirits, come live in me. When I run, let me run like the deer. When I fight, let me fight like a mama bear. When I hide let me hide like a fox, Learn to strike like a rattlesnake (Normally sung as a call and response.) AROUND AND ROUND Around and round and round and round… through birth and life and death again and birth and life again. 2 Updated 8/29/06 AS I BREATHE AWAKEN THE MYSTERY Shared by Joya Winwood at Mothersong Abbi Spinner As I breathe, Awaken the mystery I know who I am. of the fire circle shrine. As I breathe, This holy golden moment, I know who I am. a gift from the divine. I am the flame. Secret fire, sacred burning, I am the name. ageless and endless, eternally turning. I am the flame. I am the name. Together we kindle the spark of desire. A river of joy The embers remember… flows from my heart to you We are the family of fire. Rock me in your arms, divine mother. Lead into golden sunlight. In your eye, we are the phoenix reborn. We are the family of fire. AS ONE As one we walk this earth together. As one we serve this earth with honor. AWAKENING As one we love her. As one we grow with her. If I touch you, I will know you. Her heart beats with our heart as one. Though my veil be drawn, you’re glowing As one we feel her scared song. in my mind and soul and body. As one touch her. As one we heal her. Her heart beats with our own as one. BACK TO THE RIVER Magnus & Spinner (additional verses by Laughing Starheart) AWAKEN Back to the river, back to the sea. Awaken the higher power. Back to the ocean, home to thee. Empower the rhythm of life. When we play our drums, Back through my blood, back through my let the union come veins. between we and all life. Back to the heartbeat, one and the same. Inside of us there are golden keys Back to the Forest, back to the fields. to unlock the truth in the word. Back to the mountains, her body revealed. may the voice of healing flow through us Back to my bones, back to my skin. as our feet dance the rhythm of life. Back to my spirit, the fire within. Hey ah, a ah. Hey ah, a ah. 3 Updated 8/29/06 BAKU MANI BEAUTY & STRENGTH Baku mani bata fun manya Beauty and strength, Mini fa lay la ah leaping laughter, Aka doy ekka lakka jugu kay ne yay delicious languor, Mini fa lay la ah force and fire are of us. (Translation: “I don’t want to carry the water Every man, every woman is a star? to the village. OK, I’ll carry it.”) at the unveiling of the company of heaven. Every woman, every man is a star. BE BORN, LIVE & DIE Abbi Spinner BEHOLD THERE IS MAGIC Magnus & Spinner Be born, live, and die, then be born live, and die, then… Chorus: Behold, there is magic all around you (us). Counterpoint: Behold, there is magic all around you (us). Like the phoenix, Behold, there is magic all around you (us). and the grain king. Awaken, rejoice and sing. Like the sun god, and the moon queen. I am the Air around you. I am the breath of life within you. Counterpoint: I am the wind blowing through you. Die and be reborn again. I am all that I am. Die and be reborn. I am the Fire around you. I am the spark of life within you. I am the flame burning through you. BE LIKE A BIRD I am all that I am. Be like a bird, I am the Water around you. who halting in her flight I am the pulse of life within you. on a limb too slight, I am the ocean flowing through you. feels it give way beneath her, I am all that I am. yet she sings, sings, knowing she has wings, I am the Earth around you. sings, sings, I am the heartbeat within you. knowing she has wings. I am the ground below you. I am all that I am. I am the Spirit around you. I am divinity within you. BE MELTING SNOW I am the light shining through you. I am all that I am. Be melting snow. Be melting snow. Awaken, rejoice and sing! Wash yourself of yourself. Wash yourself of yourself. 4 Updated 8/29/06 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LAUGH… BODY Mz. imani Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, Peace be in my body, they will never cease to be amused. and peace be in my mind. Peace be in my family Ha, ha, ha! to truly help us grow. Ho, ho, ho! Hee, hee, hee! We are riding Hoo! a wondrous rainbow into the source. We are guiding the true destination BLESSED BE THE EARTH BENEATH ME of the earth. Gaiella (The word "peace" changes as the song Blessed be the earth beneath me. repeats: love, joy, trust, etc.) Blessed be the wind that blows. Blessed be the fire burning. Blessed be the water that flows. BORN FROM EARTH Born from earth, BLESS THE HANDS to earth return. Greg M. Onward spins the wheel. Energy of life Bless the hands that made [this drum], spun upon the web, and bless the ones that moved them. the mystery revealed. Bless the hands that made [this drum], and bless the ones that grew them. And bless the Earth, which gave us birth BORN OF WATER and the Sun that brings us life. Mother Tongue And bless the hands of future souls here with us tonight. Born of water, cleansing, powerful… Healing, changing, I am (we are). BLOOD OF THE ANCIENTS Ivo Dominguez, Jr. & Friends It's the blood of the ancients that runs through our veins. And the forms change, but the circle of life remains. 5 Updated 8/29/06 BREATH BRINGER BUILDING BRIDGES Breath bringer, storm caller, Building bridges voices on the wind. between our divisions, Hand upon the thread I reach out for you. and let the weave begin.