Of course that was not the final draft! I went to Mandi's on Thursday and sang till midnight. We even sang down the phone to Gemma. But the minute I got in my car I had forgotten the tune! Here is what I hope is the final draft:
May All The Women In The World Be Safe And Free
by Bríd Wyldearth (words) and Mandi Laugharne (musical arrangement) 2008
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May we never live in fear and misery.
Nourished and protected,
Cherished and respected,
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
And if any man has violent tendencies,
May he choose to stop before he acts
And get his kicks down other tracks.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
But if a woman suffers rape or cruelty,
May we believe her when she tells us,
May we rage and demand justice.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
If men violate our freedom or safety,
May we be heard and supported,
Empowered and comforted.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May we never live in fear and misery.
Nourished and protected,
Cherished and respected,
May all the women in the world be safe and free.
May all the children of the earth be safe and free.
May we never live in fear and misery.
Nourished and protected,
Cherished and respected,
May all the children of the earth be safe and free.
Then, on Monday, we tried recording ourselves at St Non's well. There were a number of strange things that happened on the tapes. And when we came to copy the tapes one sounded like a male ghost. On the one where we had used the well as an echo chamber, Mandi had even caught my flatness and I apologised to Gemma for complete failiure. I did however listen to them all again this morning and the first recording of Mandi solo nolonger sounded like a male ghost. So I upped the base and re-recorded it and sent it off. I am hoping that Gemma might be able to make a more professional recording and I may even manage to post it here.
I feel that I want to explain that I was shut up in school and church as a child for being tone deaf. I have since had singing lessons and even managed to sing one of my songs in public but I still have difficult following some tunes and despite going flat in places, I have actually enjoyed hearing the recordings of my voice. I shall be listening to Mandi's recording every day so that I can sing along in Trafalgar Square without risking turning everybody else flat!
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
millionwomen rise and international womens day
There is now a wonderful web of poetry circling cyberspace! I am taking it very slowly to give each poem her due. But just a glance at Branches up, roots down has changed my mood and renewed my hope that we can by acts like this create a beautiful and peaceful world together!
I am both terrified and excited as I look forward to reading some of my poems for Women Centre Stage in Swansea on 5th March and then rise with a million wimmin at Hyde Park, speakers corner, where we will sing a song wot I rote before marching to Trafalgar Square for a Rally calling on the world to end male violence towards wimmin, on international wimmins day!
Here is whar I think the final draft is:
May All The Women In The World Be Safe And Free
by Bríd Wyldearth 2008
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May we never live in fear and misery
May we be nourished and protected
May we be cherished and respected
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
If any want to cause one fear or misery
May he choose to stop before he acts
And get his kicks down other tracks
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
And if any cause one fear or misery
May we believe her when she tells us
May we rage and demand justice
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
And if any cause one fear or misery
May we comfort her and heal her
May we support her and empower her
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May we never live in fear and misery
May we be nourished and protected
May we be cherished and respected
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the children of the earth be safe and free
May we never live in fear and misery
May we be nourished and protected
May we be cherished and respected
May all the children of the earth be safe and free
I am both terrified and excited as I look forward to reading some of my poems for Women Centre Stage in Swansea on 5th March and then rise with a million wimmin at Hyde Park, speakers corner, where we will sing a song wot I rote before marching to Trafalgar Square for a Rally calling on the world to end male violence towards wimmin, on international wimmins day!
Here is whar I think the final draft is:
May All The Women In The World Be Safe And Free
by Bríd Wyldearth 2008
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May we never live in fear and misery
May we be nourished and protected
May we be cherished and respected
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
If any want to cause one fear or misery
May he choose to stop before he acts
And get his kicks down other tracks
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
And if any cause one fear or misery
May we believe her when she tells us
May we rage and demand justice
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
And if any cause one fear or misery
May we comfort her and heal her
May we support her and empower her
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May we never live in fear and misery
May we be nourished and protected
May we be cherished and respected
May all the women in the world be safe and free
May all the children of the earth be safe and free
May we never live in fear and misery
May we be nourished and protected
May we be cherished and respected
May all the children of the earth be safe and free
Friday, 1 February 2008
Poem for the third annual Brigid cyber reading
On the radio this week, I heard how many millions of miles per hour our planet is travelling around the sun, the galactic centre and other star systems. I am afraid that, although it was mind boggling, I cannot remember the exact number. I have always been slower than most, the only race I ever won was the slow bicycle race! And now that I live on the coast of West Wales with ME, I have slowed down even more. May I invite you to slow down and listen as you make your plans and pledges for the coming year?
SLOW DANCE
by Bríd Wyldearth 2006
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land
lie down on her soft belly and feel her breathe
she is a wild old woman who will not be rushed
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage not to rush
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this wise old woman who will not be rushed
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to a tree
put your arms around her and feel her breathe
she is an ancient, rooted being who stands proud and tall
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to stand proud and tall
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this ancient, rooted being who stands proud and tall
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to a tree
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the birds
rise at dawn and hear them sing
they are sun serenading divas who sing their own songs
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to sing our own songs
the courage to sing with them
our hearts beating time with the timeless hearts
of these sun serenading divas who sing their own songs
we might hear the secrets that they hold
the thousand daily miracles that they unfold
in every cell of her magnificent bodies
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the birds
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the stars
lie down away from streetlights and watch them dance
they are sparkling, mythic guides who follow their own paths
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to follow our own paths
the courage to dance with them
our hearts beating time with the timeless hearts
of these sparkling, mythic guides who follow their own paths
we might hear the secrets that they hold
the thousand daily miracles that they unfold
in every cell of her magnificent bodies
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the stars
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sun
sit down by the sea and watch her set
she is a dazzling, hot goddess who knows how to shine
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to learn how to shine
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this dazzling, hot goddess who knows how to shine
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sun
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the moon
lie down in a stone circle and bathe in her light
she is a cool, silver goddess who caresses the earth
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to caress the earth
the courage to dance with her
our wombs beating time with the timeless womb
of this cool, silver goddess who caresses the earth
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand monthly miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the moon
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sea
lie down in her watery belly and feel her breathe
she is a gentle and stormy mother who will not be tamed
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage not to be tamed
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this gentle and stormy mother who will not be tamed
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sea
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land
lie down on her soft belly and feel her breathe
she is a wild old woman who will not be rushed
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
also gain we might the courage not to rush
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this wise old woman who will not be rushed
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land.
SLOW DANCE
by Bríd Wyldearth 2006
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land
lie down on her soft belly and feel her breathe
she is a wild old woman who will not be rushed
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage not to rush
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this wise old woman who will not be rushed
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to a tree
put your arms around her and feel her breathe
she is an ancient, rooted being who stands proud and tall
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to stand proud and tall
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this ancient, rooted being who stands proud and tall
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to a tree
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the birds
rise at dawn and hear them sing
they are sun serenading divas who sing their own songs
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to sing our own songs
the courage to sing with them
our hearts beating time with the timeless hearts
of these sun serenading divas who sing their own songs
we might hear the secrets that they hold
the thousand daily miracles that they unfold
in every cell of her magnificent bodies
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the birds
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the stars
lie down away from streetlights and watch them dance
they are sparkling, mythic guides who follow their own paths
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to follow our own paths
the courage to dance with them
our hearts beating time with the timeless hearts
of these sparkling, mythic guides who follow their own paths
we might hear the secrets that they hold
the thousand daily miracles that they unfold
in every cell of her magnificent bodies
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the stars
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sun
sit down by the sea and watch her set
she is a dazzling, hot goddess who knows how to shine
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to learn how to shine
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this dazzling, hot goddess who knows how to shine
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sun
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the moon
lie down in a stone circle and bathe in her light
she is a cool, silver goddess who caresses the earth
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage to caress the earth
the courage to dance with her
our wombs beating time with the timeless womb
of this cool, silver goddess who caresses the earth
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand monthly miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the moon
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sea
lie down in her watery belly and feel her breathe
she is a gentle and stormy mother who will not be tamed
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
we might also gain the courage not to be tamed
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this gentle and stormy mother who will not be tamed
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the sea
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land
lie down on her soft belly and feel her breathe
she is a wild old woman who will not be rushed
and if we can slow down and listen long enough
also gain we might the courage not to rush
the courage to dance with her
our hearts beating time with the timeless heart
of this wise old woman who will not be rushed
we might hear the secrets that she holds
the thousand daily miracles that she unfolds
in every cell of her magnificent body
slow down, slow down, slow down,
and listen, really listen to the land.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
This is a photograph of my painting: Holy well and Sacred Flame. It is an abstract representation of the Goddess from whom I get my name, Bríd, goddess of fire and water, poetry, healing and smithcraft. We celebrate her feast on 2nd February as the first lambs are born to suckle in ewes milk from which we get the ancient name of her feast Imbolc - pronounced imolg.
Here is an invocation which I wrote some years ago and use on this day:
Invocation to Bríd
by Bríd Wyldearth 2007
Bríd, Brighde, Brigid, Birgit, Brigita, Brigantia
Woman of the Sacred Flame
Woman of the Deep Well
Gone is the time of little sun, ruled by the fierce, one-eyed hag, Cailleach
In a chariot, drawn by swans, she rode to the Sacred Isle of Youth
She drank from the spring in the holy oak grove
and transformed into youthful, beauteous Bríd
like the snake, emerging from her winter lair,
sloughing her skin, renewed again
re last post
I am new to this Blog buisness so please forgive me for omitting to add that the last post was copied from Oak on her blog branchesup.blogspot.com . Thank you Oak for this invitation. Last year we held a minifestival on wimminsmoondrum@yahoogroups.com because I did not yet have a blog or know how to access them with dial up connection from a windows 98 machine! A Happy and poetic Imbolc
to anyone who reads this!
to anyone who reads this!
Invitation to the third annual Imbolc cyberspace poetry reading
Well, Anne Hill asked if we were going to do this again, and I say YES! Feel free to copy the following to your blog and spread the word. Let poetry bless the blogosphere once again!
WHAT: A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading
WHEN: Anytime February 2, 2008
WHERE: Your blog
WHY: To celebrate the Feast of Brigid, aka Groundhog Day
HOW: Select a poem you like - by a favorite poet or one of your own - to post February 2nd.
RSVP: If you plan to publish, feel free to leave a comment and link on this post. Last year when the call went out there was more poetry in cyberspace than I could keep track of. So, link to whoever you hear about this from and a mighty web of poetry will be spun.
Feel free to pass this invitation on to any and all bloggers.
Thank you, Reya, for beginning what is now an annual event.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Imbolc Full Moon
IMBOLC FULL MOON 22 JANUARY2008
I lay on my couch in front of my wood burning stove and started to drum on my large moon like drum. She sang with the heat of the fire and I filled my charkas with firey earth energy and then icy moon light through thick clouds and sheltering roof.
I journeyed to my clan lodge and was welcomed with hugs and love. I felt that I belonged. I was told that when we ask for something we have to be prepared for the possibility that the answer might be “No”. It was necessary to start the wimminsmoondrum for my own solitary journey. The dream of community and wimmins drumming shaking the earth may only belong to dream reality. I might never have met the wimmin in my clan and moon lodge had I not started the moon drum. My grandmother noticed that my singing voice was stronger and more in tune. I was given a wolf mask to wear – to feel how it was to be wolf and told to read up about wolves – maybe it is my lot to be a lone and grumpy wolf, longing for clan….
We went together as wolf clan to the moon lodge and I went to the centre of the labyrinth and howled. Bev was there and gave me a big hug – said that she would not have missed it. She noticed that I had her lippy in my coat pocket.
I sent blessings to each woman in the drum and came back, exhausted into my living room…. And kissed my beautiful drum.
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