Sacred Soundsharing

Have you ever wondered how certain combinations of sounds, in a voice, a song, even a written phrase can bring such deep pleasure that all of life seems somehow so much better, more alive, and more harmonious?  

In Celtic shamanic studies women and men learn the power inherent in words, in the ancient poetry and songs, in the repetitive beat of the drum, the spangle of the rattles and the call of the spirit animals. Some have been surprised to hear of the high degree of influence held in Ireland during ancient times by the migrant poet/bards for they could sway public opinion to or from the ruling monarch/ leaders of the scattered clans. Daily life circled through simple prayers of greeting the morning light, for lighting the hearth fires, for safe passage through to evening return. In the Celtic world view all of life was intertwined and sacred sounds wove through from beginning to end and then to start again, like a refrain sweet high and low.

Chanting, singing and the resonance of musical instruments can be found in spiritual ceremonies throughout human history, continuing to our present time. Cultural traditions and paraphernalia continue to migrate along with traveling people. In North America we enjoy open and easy access to Tibetan singing bowls, Irish bodhran drums, and a seemingly endless variety of music-making tools. Certain sounds open and expand our most inner core, alter our perceptions, and sometimes enable us to walk a lighter path.

The following is a variant of The Kalevala, a compilation of folklore poetry/ songs collected by Elias Lonnrot in the 19^th century. Previous to the effort of Lonnrot and many other history gatherers Finnish poetry was primarily an oral tradition. The poems were often performed by two people, singing alternatively, chanting and replying in a form of verbal dancing.

Kalevala Day is celebrated in Finland on February 28 to honour Elias Lonnrot's first version of The Kalevala in 1835.

I am thinking           I am wanting

To arise and go forth singing

Sing my songs and say my sayings        hymns ancestral harmonizing

Magic verses we have gathered                        kindled by wild inspirations

There are other words of magic                        variations I have learned

Claimed in passing from the wayside   when the frost was singing verses

Many a rhyme the rain recited           with the drumming in the leaves

Other poems the wind delivered        through the saplings songs came drifting

Magic charms the birds have added     and the treetops incantations

There are still other songs           magic words learned in silence

Plucked from the wayside           broken off from the bracken

Torn from thickets             dragged from saplings

Rubbed off the top of hay           ripped from verges

The cold recited me verses          the rain kept bringing me songs

The winds brought me many whispers            lake waves drove some to me

The birds added harmonies        the trees magic sayings

These I wound up in a ball           arranged in a circle

I put it up in the granary loft       safe in a round metal tin

For a long time my songs have been in the cold       housed in darkness

Shall I pull my songs out of the cold?   Draw the verses out of the frost?

Bring my box into the quiet house?      At the end of the long bench?

Shall I open my chest of words?                        Unlock my song box?

Clip the frayed end of the tangled ball?           Undo the knot in the string?

I will sing from a leaner mouth              intone over water

To gladden this twilight                to honour this memorable day

Or to delight the morrow                        to begin a new day

In honour of all the individuals who find magical power in sounds and do the sacred work of gathering and translating the old words and music, making them available for others