It’s a gift to sing (or dance) in nature among the trees. It represents our connection and harmony with all that is.
On a fall afternoon with my Beachwood Canyon artist, musician and neighborhood community that form the Americana Biophlia singing group known as the Band of Singers, we gathered around a wonderful California sycamore to rehearse and prepare to sing. The shade creating a great blanket of love as we toned and tuned up in the blessings of that magnifcent tree in preparation for the performance at LA's Griffith Park for the Annual Fall Harvest Festival. We sang new and old songs connected to the earth and its healing and its heart. We sang into the mystical Griffith Park collective, preserved for all of Los Angeles to divine time with nature. Band of Singers is part of a flourishing local non-profit community garden, The Bird House, umbrelled with the Dignity of Man creating connection to the earth mother, our healing ancestry and advocating for allyship with a flowing expansion of biophilia with the world and all its inhabitants and their charms.
WE SHALL BE KNOWN BY THE COMPANY WE KEEP
The address and directions themselves called out 'we shall be known.' the park between the carousel or (merry go-round) off of crystal springs road leads you into the depth of a great adventure. The LA Parks and Rec sponsored annual Harvest Festival offers the usual info booths, local artists, a tarot card reader, and a sprinkling of advocates for love, kindness, empowerment of young girls and all that jazz.
Our Band of Singers went on after a heart lifting Polka Band that was pure joy.
CREATING A LEGACY OF SONG AND BELOVED COMMUNITY
Our leader, Maesa Pullman, created a soulful set list of Americana and heart, of old and new, of songs that connect to our land and each other. It wasn't a perfect sing, but it was done with heart and purpose and for me a tear or too as we sang prayers for all our families that they may feel connected, loved and know their truest home. It is a gift to sing in nature among the trees, we gathered on a stage in front of an audience on bales of hay with our neighbors.
One of the songs we sang was MaMuse's We Shall Be Known by the Company that We Keep and in my heart on this day a great stirring opened, connection flowed and that certain joy of harmony flourished. Group chorus singing isn't always about nailing each song, sometimes its about being there and that is the gift of The Band of Singers. Grateful to my Band of Singers compatriots, who showed up, looked amazing and did the work of embodying biophilia. We brought the belief that the earth is our home, and as we tend to her and our ecosystems, as we align with love, justice and grace and shared heart songs as we SING into the clear air, whenever a wonderful day opens up it is a blessing and one we planted in the heart of the City of Angels on a perfect day.
Found this youtube vid of MaMuse Sung by the OGs on the bank of the river speaks directly to the calling of our being. For me their lyric In this great turning we shall learn to lead in love is deeply rooting and a thrill for my heart. The song in its entirety and the grace exhibited in each lyric is the power of harmony. MaMuse is comprised of Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker who uplift the spirit through their many offerings.
We shall be known by the company we keep.
We shall... is a high vibe statement... we shall overcome. It is a statement and an invitation and the next door neighbor to I AM that I see. We shall be known by the company we keep is all power, all beaming our hearts and all connection full and free with necesseray internal electricity for a new day where we honor our land and all she brings.
"We shall" took root for me as one of my favorite books, Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, use of its deep call of the soul. Her work is so deeply embedded in our collective unconscious all these years leater it continues to be retold, reimagined and discovered anew. This quote struck me as a kid to include in my journal and something I work with throughout my days.
“I SHALL…
…satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before
visited." Embarking on “an expedition of discovery up a native river.” “Who was
I? What was I? Whence did I come?” -- The Monster
We shall be known by the company we keep.
It is a reminder to open up to different thinking, where Monsters aren't what you think
and fear is your friend opening your vision to the necessity of seeing who you are in the light of Love. It is the invitation.
We shall be known by the company we keep.
By the ones who circle round to tend these fires We shall be known by the ones who sow and reap The seeds of change, alive from deep within the earth
An interesting side note a teacher of mine used to point out I and We represent a seperate and a connected self ie. the I is seperate and used in Illness and the We is connected and used in Wellness. We are here to connect, to be be stewards for the land and each other.
As we move deeper in this great turning of the earth, as we leave the past behind, and open up to different thinking. May we remember to keep singing, dancing, thriving in the light of all that offers itself to you on Sunday afternoons and everyday you are blessed to wake up and start each day anew. May you remember our connection to all that is and may each day bring you to the center of your being, where every decision co-creates wellness and may you grow in your understanding and ability to lead with love as you demonstrate all the gifts you are here to share.
Love, Mel