There are so many stories and images all around us, of pain, suffering, devastation, death, and worse. I thought you might appreciate a reprieve from all of that with a dose of something that feels good. I hope it brings you a bit of peace, calm, and maybe even a little hope.
I attended a gathering last weekend that was advertised as a Community Singing for Solidarity, Resistance and Love. There were almost 100 people in the local Playhouse Theater, sitting in the audience seats, in chairs on the floor, and on the stage.
We started with some fun vocal warm-up exercises, playing with our voices and loosening our bodies. Then we stood in a ring of concentric circles on the main floor, closed our eyes, and we each made song sounds, listening to and singing with the sounds around us.
I heard high notes and low notes, lines of melody and rhythmic monotones. I started singing a single note on the offbeat, which morphed into two notes and a pattern that I kept repeating. I was aware that I couldn’t hold a note for very long, but I just kept breathing and listening and singing, breathing and listening and singing.
The woman on my left had the most beautiful, clear, strong voice, and I found myself singing with her, in harmonic counterpoint, almost. The sounds around us shifted and then, like the leader had predicted, all of us in the room were toning together in one harmonious sound.
OH!
To be in a room with so much positive energy, and love. And to feel that I was truly a part of such an amazing whole.
We all know that singing is beneficial to our health and well-being. Singing improves our breathing and lung capacity, reduces stress, and stimulates new neuron-pathways in our brain. Singing with others amplifies these benefits, and also provides a wonderful way to connect with others.
The organizers of the event talked about the Singing Resistance in Minneapolis, that singing at the protests made people feel safe. They said the movement is growing and that this gathering was the beginning of a local group.
And so we learned the melody and harmonies of three resistance/solidarity songs with the word LOVE in them, that the group plans to sing at the next protest. I won’t be at the protest, but I did sign up to attend the next singing gathering.
Perhaps there’s a Singing (Resistance) Group in your community that is calling your voice.
Click this link to feel and hear the love. I’m at the very beginning of the video.
From my song-filled heart to yours,
