Here in this Place – Margaret Ross

Oh how we love this song written by one of our Sisters in Harmony Song Leader Training graduates, Margaret Ross. A beautiful way to welcome everyone into the space! 🙂

Lyrics:
Here in this place we gather together
Here in this place is where we belong
Here in the place we gather together
Here in this place we sing our heart song

© Margaret Ross
All rights reserved

 

Energy of Love – Heather Houston

This one came through for myself and my retreat participants. Let’s surround ourselves in love as we move through the world – like a protective ball of energy. Lets feel it moving through us, in us, as us…

Lyrics:
The energy of love surrounds me
The energy of love moves through me
Guiding my way in all I do and say
Yes the energy of love surrounds me

Heather Houston
© 07/2022

 

You Belong Here — Heather Houston

A fun greeting song created for my Song Village community — and for everyone to enjoy. Once my participants get the hang of it, I invite them to walk around and sing one whole round to one person, then to another, and so on and so forth. Harmonies can be improvised. All for fun!

Lyrics:

You belong here in this place
You belong here in this place
Oh I see you
And I see you seeing me to

I belong here in this place
I belong here in this place
Oh I see you
And I see you seeing me too

I belong here in this place – repeat 3 or 4 times

Heather Houston
© June 2022

Sacred Fire – Heather Houston

“Women we’re calling you… home to the sacred fire.
Healing our hearts, planting our seeds,
Weaving our prayers, amplifying our dreams.”

Women, we know how powerful it is to gather in circle with our sisters. Let’s keep calling ourselves home, each other home. It is here, in this sacred container that we find the courage to heal and transform our lives.

© Heather Houston 2019
All rights reserved

Keep Movin’ Forward My Darlin’ – Valerie Bynne

Keep Movin’ Forward My Darlin’ by Valerie Byrne

Written for Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez and all of the women in the world who are moving forward with purpose and passion! Keep movin’ forward loves! We see you, we support you, we appreciate you!! Thank you for writing this powerful song Valerie! We love it!

Lyrics:

Keep movin’ forward my darlin’
Keep movin’ on my love
You know you are the beloved one
To answer to your calling

© Valerie Byrne
All rights reserved

You Are Light by Heather Houston

A beautiful gathering song for these times. Namaste – the light (Divine) in me honors the light (Divine) within you. A beautiful greeting song!!

Part 1
The light in me, honors the light within you

Part 2
Oh… you are, yes you are, light

Part 3
Oh… you are light

Part 4
I am light, you are light, I am light, you are light

© Heather Houston
03/08/2020
All rights reserved

Infinite Bliss – Heather Houston

This fun polyrhythmic chant came to me on the winds at Pinnacles National Monument. I love to hike alone there and experience “the hills are alive with the sound of music” kinds of moments. 🙂 It’s vast and spacious and filled with fields of wildflowers! Absolute bliss! So this song got titled Infinite Bliss.

I like to really break down the rhythms on this one, pointing out the up beats and down beats at the beginning of each phrase.

© Heather Houston 2005
All rights reserved

Bele Mama — Cameroon, West Africa

This is a great ice-breaker of a song! The perfect opener. It gets your group singing in harmony in a matter of minutes. Possible meaning is “Mama come out and play!” When I first learned this, I learned that it was from the Torres Straight Islands and that it meant “Beautiful Earth.” The more research I do, the more I find that it’s actually from West Africa and has traveled far and wide. I learned it off of a “WombSong” CD. Enjoy!

Lyrics:

Bele mama, bele mama ee ay
Bele mama, bele mama ee ay
Bele mama, bele mama, bele mama, bele mama,
Bele mama, bele mama ee eh

This song is in the public domain
Arrangement by Heather Houston

Earth My Body — Source Unknown

I’ve known and sung this beautiful chant in women’s circles for many years. It’s an invitation to feel one with the Earth, a reminder of our sacred connection to, and responsibility for, the more than human world. The composer is unknown, and the song is in the public domain.

Arrangement by Heather Houston

Lyrics:

Earth my body,
Water my blood,
Air my breath
and fire my spirit

Chant to Nana by Heather Houston

In the Yoruba traditions, Nana is the Great Grandmother of all the Orishas, the Grandmother of our sacred waters, and the Mother of the Universe. This wise and revered Orisha embodies the spirit of the earth, the moon, the rain, mud, swamps and fresh spring waters. She is the energy of transformative healing powers. She watches over the women and is the protector of everything female. It is said that she has very little patience for men and surrounds herself mainly with priestesses. Women find comfort in her knowledge and strength. They flock to her for guidance and spiritual healing.

For many years I chanted chants to Nana with my teacher Alba Lirio. One day when I was driving through the hills of Marin, tending to my broken heart, an original melody flowed through me with lyrics to Nana. I clearly needed the healing energy she brings, and have been forever grateful for the gift of this chant. The women in my circles adore it as well.

Lyrics:

Part 1: (the round)
Eh na na Eh na na Eh na na, Eh na na Eh na na Eh

Part 2: (the hight part)
Eh di na na eh wa
Eh wa eh wa
Eh wa eh wa eh

Part 3: (the low part)
Eh di na na eh wa
Eh wa eh wa
Eh wa eh wa