Members of our Great
Lakes Basin community share their stories and photographs of our
monthly gatherings.The easiest way to navigate going back and
forth between photo links and journal text is to click on your
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2002
We met at 1 PM in a Windsor, Ontario high school library. Our circle was so large we really had to speak up to be heard, but when we sang everything came together. And we did a lot of singing! I took a ton of pictures and don't really know how to share them in a reader-friendly way, so maybe I'll just start by taking you around the circle during one of our singing times. Unfortunately a few women close to me did not make it into this set of pictures, but every one of them shows up later. From left to right, here is view #1, view #2, view #3, view #4. Nancy Nordlie graciously accompanied us on the guitar for many of our songs.
The day began with Pat Noonan lighting a candle in the center of the circle. The candle was soon surrounded by the objects each of us had brought from our lives, an object that represented our feelings about the part of the world that we call home. As the circle continued to sing, women came forward and placed their object on what became our altar.
Our two coordinators--Joan Tinkess from Ontario and Penny Hackett-Evans from Michigan--greeted the 44 Canadian and American women who had come together to add their voices, hearts, minds and spirits to Carolyn McDade's visionary CD project known as "O Beautiful Gaia." They explained that,
"This project will take place during the moons of four seasons beginning now, in the fall of 2002. During the course of this project a double CD will be created. It is the intention that this will be a deeply reflective experience weaving singing, ritual, study and experiences on our land. Each group--Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador), Atlantic New England and the Great Lakes Basin (us)--will ground in its bioregion for the reflection, singing and recording of their portion."
But the most important message was sharing the vision that is at the heart of our work:
"In the deepest recesses of our being we have heard the call...the first call, the deepest call, the one in no way complete or brought to satisfaction...the call of Earth...through waters and winds, forests and farmland, inviting us to become one again with all that lives."
How we will manifest that dream, how we will answer that call is for each community to discern together. We know the CD will be part of it, but expect much more to emerge during our time together. Perhaps a quilt, a book, a web site, political action, a commitment to join with land conservancy groups...who knows where we will go. As I wrote last night, nothing is beyond us now.
Our circle, that we already expect will swell to 50-60 women, is made up of women of two countries, some from urban and others from rural areas, women ranging in age (today) from 16 to over 80. We are students, retired, employed outside the home and employed inside the home. Our gifts and talents remain to be seen, but judging from today, we are richly diverse and open-hearted in our willingness to share.
One way we shared with one another was when we broke into small groups to discuss what we have fallen in love with here in our bioregion, for what we would give our lives. After deep conversations, one member from each group wrote some of what was said on large sheets of paper that were then posted around the room.
Another way we shared was when Nancy invited us to create new verses to "O Beautiful Gaia", the chant that has given the CD its name. So many of our circle responded with loving words and images that the song sunk deep into our bodies and began to beat there like a communal heart.
Since some of the women had never met nor sung with our sister, Carolyn McDade--who will be with us on October 5 to launch the project--our planning committee wisely showed the video of Carolyn and her music that Marcia Gleckler produced in 1999. It always brings tears to my eyes.
In addition to singing and sharing, we had some nuts and bolts decisions to make. For instance, what would be our scheduled meeting times during the year. We came to an amazingly quick consensus to meet from 9 AM-4 PM on the first Saturday of every month. We know that we will be recording our portion of the CD in June 2003, but will not have that date until we find a local recording studio that can accommodate us. Another issue was finances. Our financial coordinators projected a certain amount that we will need for this project and instead of deciding how to raise it, a number of women recommended we just pass the hat and see where that left us. Within ten minutes we had raised over $1000 U.S. and another $1000 Canadian. Are we committed to this project, or what!
Different members of the planning committee (each month the planning committee will change, being made up of Canadian and American volunteers) spoke on different subjects. Mary White told us about Land Conservancy groups and what is happening up in Northern Michigan where she lives. Carolyn McDade has a dream that through our reflection, study and singing will come a desire to join such groups and commit to preserving acres of land for the generations to come.
If it sounds like we did a lot of talking, let me make it clear that song was the thread that wove everything together. We sang and sang and sang and sang.
When it got close to 5 PM, Elaine Carr invited us to take back whatever object we had brought for the altar, and to take it home and hold it as sacred as we hold the women in this circle. Two moments of this process will stay with me: one, when a lovely woman named Johanna danced around the circle blessing each of us with her willow branch; the other was when Peg Case and a woman from Ann Arbor joined the two bouquets--one from Canada and one from the U.S.--into a blended whole. To me, both actions symbolized what our "O Beautiful Gaia" Great Lakes community project is all about.
Afterwards, a number of us went to one of Windsor's wonderful restaurants, Shin Shin's, for dinner. Here's Julia actually eating while the rest of us seem more busy posing for pictures, sharing stories and appreciating said stories. By the way, I wasn't the only photographer at the table, Penny was doing her fair share. You might be interested to know she and I own the same Fuji Fine Pix 2800 Zoom digital camera...happily, I might add.
This day has shown me that whatever is going on among leaders of nations, whatever wars they are planning, whatever greed and arrogance might be behind many of their decisions, there is still hope for the future and that hope often comes in the form of women coming together with shared visions and commitment to change whatever needs to be changed. We do not need to look to leaders or governments or nations to show us how to reclaim our power to be transformative agents in today's world. Often all we need to do is come together and sing our way into the heart places where all life meets and connects as one. That is what happened today. And this is just the beginning.
photos and words by
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2002
Now I know I'm going to make it through the madness that is to come. I feel full to overflowing--full of love, understanding, support, solidarity, strength and truth. Even as death and destruction swirl around the leaders of this country, I was in a circle of individuals who, as Mary Margaret Parent's lyrics say, "choose to differ from the rest." Where war is all anyone seems able to talk about these days, we spent the entire day singing and speaking of Gaia, our planet earth, endangered species, land conservancy, hope, peace, commitment, sustenance and cultural transformation. We dreamed dreams even as we looked at the hard truths. We soared on the wings of our collective creativity. We immersed ourselves in a shared vision of leaving this earth on which we live in better shape than we found it. We committed ourselves to the generations to come and their right to have a planet that can sustain them and offer them life and joy. We are not going to give into despair, apathy or numbness. No, we will shout and sing, drum and dance, circle and create, dissent and demand, persevere and participate. As Carolyn McDade, our trusted visionary song sister so aptly said, "We will not wimp out!" With such power at my side, with the wonderful women of this already amazing "O Beautiful Gaia" CD project community as my sisters, I know I will not give up the fight for justice and peace. No, not until every strand of the glorious web of life with whom I share this planet is safe from human choices that destroy. I will not give up. Ever.
But tonight I am going to go to bed early and leave you, hopefully, wanting more. Tomorrow I will share much, much more of what happened today. Until then I leave you with a smile on my face and a heart burning with gratitude.
The story:
When women gather in a circle to sing, it is an act of revolution. If those who have curtailed civil liberties in the United States since 9-11 had any smarts, they'd outlaw such gatherings as seditious, because change happens there and true change is always seditious. It rocks the boat, causes people to think, gives them courage and undermines submission to outside authority.
All of the above happened today in an old Detroit Unitarian Universalist Church near Wayne State University. Fifty Canadian and American women joined together for a daylong workshop with Carolyn McDade, a one-woman cultural transformative agent in the guise of singer/songwriter from Cape Cod. No one left that circle the same person she had been when she entered. For myself, I entered empty and left full.
So much happened and I tried to document it all with my trusty digital camera. I have as many pictures from those seven hours--eight, counting dinner--as I've had from entire weekend gatherings. Everytime I looked up there was another moment I wanted to capture, partly for myself, partly for the women at my side and partly for friends far and near who were with us in spirit. Please bear with me as I overload you with images; I just couldn't leave any of these out.
Let me start by taking you around our circle. I must apologize to the women pictured in Circle Photo #4. Maybe it was the radiation of your energies, but for some reason I jiggled my camera and you are all mysteriously hazy. By the way, this circle singing came near the end of our day together. I think you can see that in the way we look. Here we go, from left-to-right...Circle Photo #1, Photo #2, Photo #3, Photo #4, Photo #5, Photo #6, Photo #7.
Now that you've seen who we are, let me share some of what happened during this amazing day. Our altar was created from leaves that we'd asked each woman to bring from the land on which she lives. Toronto, Detroit, downtown Windsor, Ontario, the suburbs surrounding Detroit, Essex County in Ontario, Northern Michigan--we come from diverse places and live different kinds of lives. The planning committee (a rotating volunteer position) also asked each of us to bring a container of water from our region. There were as diverse containers used as women in the circle. Jean handpainted her glass jar of water with an image of the trees that shelter the Windsor canal from which she got it. We sang what has become our theme song, "O Beautiful Gaia", as water was brought up and placed on the altar. By the way, we call it the "altar" because it is the sacred center of our circle and contains our collective energy. We also began the day with a Sun Salutation in movement to the Four Directions.
Carolyn was here with us women of the Great Lakes Basin to help launch her visionary CD project, "O Beautiful Gaia." Although this project was originally dreamed into being by Carolyn, she is clear that it is now in the hands and hearts of each of the three communities involved to create what it is to become. These communities are: 1) Atlantic New England, where Carolyn lives and has been part of a community of activist/singing women for decades; 2) Atlantic Canada, which includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador; and 3) our Great Lakes Basin, centered in the Windsor, Ontario/Detroit, Michigan area and made up of equal numbers of Canadian and American women. Much of this day was devoted to Carolyn teaching us many of the songs we will record in June, and sharing with us the ground from which this dream sprang.
As I understand it, Carolyn's purpose in bringing "O Beautiful Gaia" to birth is her passionate dedication to those who will come after us. She does not want to die without having done everything she can to help heal and preserve this precious planet on which we live so that generations to come might have a home that is free from pollution, destruction of species, human-made "natural" disasters, irreverent use of natural resources, and all that goes against the balance of nature. She is committed to land conservancy, specifically the idea of each person owning four acres of land that they will ensure is preserved in its natural state for the generations to come. But, again, she repeats over and over again that it is up to each community to dream their own dreams and create what is theirs to create. As we all now realize, the CD is a mere catalyst to form these communities and get things going.
So we listened to Carolyn with heartfelt attention whether she was sharing her dreams or improvising an anti-war song, but we also "did our own thing" as when our drummers spontaneously set a beat that got us chanting and dancing. Our community is like that: we take off sometimes and you just have to go with the flow...as Carolyn did with utter delight. Of course it doesn't hurt that we have gifted musicians like Nancy Nordlie on drums, banjo and guitar, and Sandy Yost on drums, flute, clarinet and saxophone.
There was just the right balance of talking, movement, silliness, seriousness and song. As I said earlier, much of our day together was spend singing the songs we will probably record in June. Wonderful songs, I might add. Every community will sing Carolyn's "Longing Series", but in each case it will reflect the bio-region of which we are a part. For instance, we of the Great Lakes Basin will sing the names of our own endangered species as well as writing our own verses to "I Sing the Longing."
Carolyn gave us some practice in writing verses today by playing a simple melody she'd written on Thursday night (!) that ended with the phrase, "We say yes!" She played it enough times for us to get it in our bodies and then asked us to break into groups of three and create a verse using this melody and ending with those words. While we worked, she kept playing it over and over. I suspect we were all surprised to find how easy and fun this was. Some of our number even came up with two verses and others added movement to their song. It was pure delight to hear each group and then to learn their verses. We found out we are all songwriters! If I were to have to choose my favorite part of the day, this would be it. Seeing folks who might normally be shy about singing in front of others give it everything they had was inspiring. I think Pat Noonan's smile says it all.
Even though the day seemed like one of those magical timeless times, it was over all too soon. But we concluded with a fitting ritual. Each person went up and reclaimed their container of water, brought it back to their place and held it as we sang a closing song. Such a sacred time.
Happily, we didn't have to part yet. Thirty of us walked--I scooted--across the street and had dinner together at the Cass Cafe, a wonderfully funky local restaurant. The food was good and the company even better.
And to think this was only our second time together. What power!
Most photos and words
taken by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2002
What I will remember as today's most unexpected flash of grace was seeing a man's eyes overflow and a single tear drop down his cheek as he heard me say, "You know, I can't ever sing our song to the endangered species with their wonderfully quirky names and keep a dry eye." This man, a Pt. Pelee naturalist named John, stooped to give me a hug and whispered "Thank you." At the time, we were in the Pt. Pelee Visitors Center where he and Lauren answer questions, educate groups and individuals, and work toward the preservation of this treasure--Canada's smallest national park--on the shores of Lake Erie.
My Great Lakes/O Beautiful Gaia sisters and I were at Pt. Pelee to spend time on the land and water of which we sing. Judy, Judith, Nancy, Sandy and I had gone to the Visitor Center to borrow their all-terrain wheelchair--a funny, reclining contraption--so I could go hiking with my friends. While there, John had smiled and asked, "What are you doing out here on this cold, grey day?" I proceeded to tell him and Lauren about the O Beautiful Gaia CD project and the vision that had brought it to life. They seemed deeply touched to hear that their love of the land and water of this bio-region was shared by people they'd never met. As John said, "We need to remember the spiritual in our work as conservationists." He then asked if our O Beautiful Gaia group would be willing to come and give a concert on the land at Pt. Pelee next summer! We were honored by his suggestion and can hopefully take him up on it, but it was his tears that I will not forget.
That tender encounter sent us with full hearts and open eyes onto the land. Lauren had recommended we use our precious hour to walk the nearby Tilden's Woods Trail. Since I was reclining in an awkward position, I asked Jackie if she'd be our nature photographer. As often happens, it was a gift that benefitted her as well. She said she'd been kicking herself that she hadn't thought to bring her camera, which is a twin to mine. So these next photos are the world as seen through the discerning eye of Jackie Berz.
Led by Nancy, Judy, Jackie and I made our way through the forest beside old trees, tiny wildflowers, overhanging branches, golden curtains of leaves, and downed trees. As we hiked, we remained silent so as to hear the wind's fingers playing music in the branches and leaves overhead. The hour flew by much too quickly. I want to return.
At 2:30 PM we had a date to meet the rest of our community in front of the marsh boardwalk. When we got there, we formed a large circle around a grandmother tree and began to chant and sing. I will take you around the circle, but keep in mind that I missed a few of the women while others were photographed more than once. Circle shot #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8. I can't recall ever having felt as integrated a connection with land, water, air, women and song in my life. When the circle spontaneously began a spiral dance around me, my heart danced with them.
After our circle dispersed, Courtney and I walk/scooted out onto the boardwalk. Many of us have known Courtney, Jeanne's granddaughter, for years. At fourteen, she is our youngest sister in this Great Lakes/O Beautiful Gaia community. We are fortunate to have her with us. Courtney talked of her life and friends as we admired the marsh with its water lilies, grasses and milkweed pods, before turning back toward the land. Jeanne joined us and I was able to take a picture of this loving granddaughter and grandmother.
Before going to Pt. Pelee in the afternoon, our community spent several hours together at a high school in Windsor, Ontario. As we entered the library where we were to meet, everyone oohed and aahed over the two quilts--one based on a goddess motif and the other celebrating Gaia--that lay at the center of the circle. It turned out they were loaned by an Ann Arbor, Michigan artist who has offered to help us make a quilt if we wish.
Pat N. lit our candle, Judith and Nancy led us in doing the Sun Salutation to the Four Directions, and we were ready to begin. The first thing on our agenda was to brainstorm ideas about activities and projects in which members of our community might want to engage. Joan offered to help facilitate the compilation into book-form of writings and art by our women focussing on our theme of O Beautiful Gaia. Penny told the story of the quilts and asked if there was interest in our making one. Peg shared about the Sweetwater Coalition that is fighting Perrier Water's current theft of water from Michigan aquifers, that they sell under the Ice Mountain label. I invited the women to join the new Raging Grannies group that will be meeting at my house next Saturday. Mary W. said she would like to work with interested women on land conservancy. Joanna offered to work with anyone who was interested in sound and movement-based healing techniques. Pat N. offered to facilitate a political group to study and analyze issues of corporate globalization. Julia asked for help starting urban gardens in her Southwest Detroit neighborhood. Mary Margaret spoke for Elaine who has a dream of putting together an art show with our creative offerings about the earth and our shared vision of a sustainable future. So many women spoke--among them Marion from Windsor and Mary B. from Highland, MI--that I cannot recall the multitude of creative and politically relevant suggestions that were made. What I do remember is that this circle is made up of intelligent, committed, creative, daring women who are not afraid to speak their minds and work toward change.
As I looked around the circle I was delighted to see three women whom I'd met a year ago at a Carolyn McDade retreat at Five Oaks Retreat Center near Paris, Ontario. They are planning to drive in every month from their homes in Georgetown, Ontario, west of Toronto. We now have five women who live either in or near Toronto. That is at least a 4-5 hour drive and necessitates their spending Friday night in Windsor before every meeting on the first Saturday of the month. As I said, this is a group of committed women!
Our next activity was to break into singing sections--uppers, middles or lowers--and go to different rooms for sectional rehearsals of "Listen To the Voices", the song that Carolyn McDade wrote based on words by our own Mary Margaret Parent. I chose to be a middle and found it a more comfortable fit than the uppers, where I've often placed myself. Deanne played the piano and facilitated our rehearsal. When we moved on to "I Sing the Longing" with its truly challenging middle part, I taught the women Judy Fjell's "chinning" technique for learning new songs and it was well received.
By 11 AM it was time for us gather back in the library to sing together. The uppers sang their part, while the lowers and middles sang theirs. It was interesting to watch what happened next. Many women in the group started asking Nancy Nordlie, our Notable Women chorus director, to direct us. Nancy declined as she explained Carolyn's vision of a song circle in which there are no leaders, rather a community of voices that form as one and create music from their shared heart. How difficult for us to give up our old ways! It was finally one of our young women who offered the wisdom we needed to hear. She said, "I have sung all my life in choirs and we are always taught to listen to one another as we sing." One song we had not practiced was Happy Birthday but we happily sang it to our dear Pat N. whose birthday is tomorrow, November 3.
Before forming carpools for the hourlong drive to Pt. Pelee, Andrea gave us each a plastic bag with sun-drying clay to take with us. She invited us to use it as a tool for meditation while we were there.
A few of our sisters, like Charmaine and Linda, were unable to join us at Pt. Pelee, so we had to say goodbye until December. But we American women felt the love of our Canadian sisters whether or not they could accompany us to Pt. Pelee, and that was because each Canadian woman had packed a lunch for an American sister to take with her in the car. It was such fun to choose your lunch sight-unseen and then open it, as I did, to find your favorite sandwich from childhood--in my case, cream cheese and olives--inside the bag! Such a feeling of being loved.
I'd say that what already holds this circle together is love...love of the earth and all its life forms, love of peace and justice, love of our children, grandchildren and those who will come after us, love of song, love of community and love of one another. Have we really only met three times?
Photos and words by
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2002
We opened the circle within the arms of the Great Spirit and made an altar with animals. Chanted our way to the introduction by Julia of Shaun Nethercott from Matrix Theatre who entertained us for the next one and a half hours. She spoke of Detroit as a power spot because it is the confluence of 4 ecosystems: the Detroit River which is very fast moving (5-6mph), marsh, Carolinian forest and savannah or plain. She talked about the sturgeon and how there used to be so many in the river that one could walk across it on the backs of the sturgeon and said they are coming back. She told us about the circle of life being divided into quadrants representing the seasons and the colors associated with the seasons i.e. spring -- yellow, summer -- green, autumn -- red and winter -- blue. She spoke about a possible partnership between the Gaia circle and Matrix Theatre. There was a question and answer period following her presentation. Julia then outlined how the rest of the day would look and we processed where we were in terms of the project. After a short break we went into our sections and practiced, then came back together just before lunch. At lunch we broke into the groups we wanted to be in i.e. writing, quilt, land conservancy, etc. and each group talked about what they wanted to accomplish. After lunch we got back to the big group and reported out. A quilt is in the making for anyone who wants to contribute to it. The writing group is going to put together a book. The land conservancy group is going to work on a project on Belle Isle with Suzanne Campbell. We talked about money and it was reported that we have about $3000 in the treasury now. We continue to take donations and talked about fundraising and the need to pre-sell the CD. We broke into our sectionals again and then came back together, sang and closed the circle.
Written by Judith Hill
The container opened and magic spilled over us! We sang and were together in a whole new way today. We had a context for our words, our songs, our drums, our bodies, our breath. Quiet drumming called us into our circle. A wise woman told us our history -- one we had not known. We connected with the gigantic Sturgeon that once swam in this region...Amazon, dinosaur fish. We learned of the ecosystems where we live -- power confluence of river, forest, wetland marsh and plain. Our singing of the The Longing Series deepened as we watched photos of the endangered of our area. We connected with the reality of what we so want to "continue on".
Lunch was a beehive of meetings. Some planned a visual art-performance piece. Others learned techniques for sewing a quilt to illustrate this gathering. More brainstormed ways to partner with people in our region trying to reclaim the natural wonder that is ours. Women gathered to plan writing they will share --- and all ate heartily of the food provided! We drummed and danced ourselves back into a circle for more singing. Once again, deeply connected, we sang the Zimbabwe Women's Prayer powerfully to each other -- in parts with no music!! Strangers to the group came from the church kitchen to sing and dance that one with us! We ended singing "Beginners" and talked of what "we have only begun to imagine". Yet another stranger walked into the gathering from the street -- and sat and listened for a while. Then he stood up with tears in his eyes as he said he appreciated what we were doing -- and then he left as miraculously as he had appeared.
Magical, magical! We were graced by this circle today. Let it continue on!
Words and photos by
Penny Hackett-Evans
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2003
Ah, what could be more lifegiving than being with women? Especially the women of the Great Lakes Basin who are forming community around the O Beautiful Gaia CD project! Today was our monthly all-day gathering and, as always, it was superb. Check out Alicia's sheer delight (head thrown back and grin as wide as the sky) as we were doing movement together in the Ojibway Nature Centre of Windsor parking lot before they opened and we went inside to sing. And sing we did...for glorious hour upon hour. Not only did we sing songs written by others, but members of our community wrote their own verses and shared them with the circle. You can see how it felt to receive the applause of our sisters. But applause was not the only thing we received--how about these backrubs?
Our day began at 9:30 AM in the parking lot of the Ojibway Nature Centre of Windsor. We wanted to do some movement together in the fresh air before the doors opened at 10 AM. As a scooter-rider, I moved a bit but my sisters really got into it. They grounded themselves in the earth below, reached toward the skies, stretched their arms from sea to sea, and bowed in reverence to Mother Gaia. And then Joanna led them in dances during which they invited me to be in the center of the circle. What healing energy!
Our singing room was cozy with a stone fireplace and a view of birds waiting patiently in bushes for their turn at the birdfeeder outside the window. We began, as has become our tradition, by chanting "O Beautiful Gaia." From our first gathering in September, this chant naturally evolved into a time of spontaneously sharing verses that we offer as prayer and the community joins in the praying. It's funny how quickly a group establishes "traditions"; another of ours is having Pat Noonan light the candle on our altar. Now, the altar itself is always different. This month our artist sister Pam created a ritual celebration of the rivers and lakes that surround and connect our two countries. And it was Pam and Diane who drummed us into a spirit of sisterhood.
This was a day of song, pretty much from beginning to end. We will be recording our section of the double CD, "O Beautiful Gaia," on June 14-15, 2003 and want to embody the songs we will be singing well before that time. I say embody rather than learn because our intention is to sing as with one voice that wells up from the love and commitment to the earth that has brought us together. This is no choir or chorus; we are a circle of women who will do whatever is necessary to protect, sustain and help restore the health of air, water, land and species that human choices have put at risk. This CD we are creating with our sisters in Atlantic Canada and Atlantic New England is not intended for easy listening; it is intended to be an instrument of cultural transformation, a passionate statement of love that will touch hearts and inspire action. There is a shared urgency to get this message out before it is too late.
So, even as we sing, we are educating ourselves and forming subgroups to work on land conservancy, river-keeping, species preservation, biodiversity and whatever other issues we feel called upon to address. In addition to working with already-formed community groups and coalitions, we plan to use creative means like song, visual art, writing and quilting to express and act upon what we learn. At lunch today, each subgroup met and brainstormed ways to enact our vision. I was part of the community art group that met with the Windsor artist Elaine Carr. We began to envision an environmental installation that would literally connect the two shores of our shared Detroit River. We will work with Marion Overholt of the river-keepers group and hope to involve Shaun Nethercott (Detroit's Matrix Theatre) who shared with us at our December gathering, and a number of other community groups on both sides of the river. This is a big project but we decided to dream big and go from there. The land conservancy group came up with the idea of bringing together inner city youth from both countries to learn about and work on projects involving the land we share. Today the quilters received their first completed quilt square. They spent much of their time creating verses to two of the songs we will be singing on the CD. The writers worked together all the way through lunch and emerged with at least eight new verses to the song, "We Say Yes."
We sang songs like "Beginners" (music by Norma Luccock; text by Denise Levertov) that have intricate harmonies and take sustained attention and repeated singing, and others like the peace song, "If Every Woman In the World," that got us on our feet, clapping our hands and singing from the depths of our being. It is this kind of heart-singing that we want to bring to every song! When we sang the words, "of every age and generation," I was mindful of the gift we share in having both Bethany, age 15, and Jean, in her 80s, as part of our circle. Every age and generation...
By 4 PM it was time for us to finish for the day. As we left the Ojibway Nature Center, a sacred land of hiking trails and environmental education programs set within Windsor's city limits, we were delighted to meet two employees and their friend: Erin and Kristine with Kaa, a Ball Python from Africa (whom she let us pet). On our way out to the parking lot, La Lucha my scooter and I encountered an impassable path...impassable that is until my friends the human snow plows got to work! Many of us then went to eat dinner at the Michigan Diner, a Windsor, Ontario institution since 1950.
Not only do I keep this ongoing photo-journal of our Great Lakes Basin community gatherings, but Penny Hackett-Evans, the American coordinator, has been making a wonderful photo album filled with collages using the digital pictures she takes each month. I remember Carolyn McDade saying in a retreat years ago that unless we share our stories, what happens will be lost. May what is happening here never be lost.
words and photos by
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2003
During times when sanity is in short supply and lies are lionized as truth, there is nothing more important than coming together in a circle of women who see through the clouds of war to the possibility of peace, and are willing to sing, write, dance, drum, speak and act in ways that bring that possibility to life. And so it was today at our monthly gathering of the O Beautiful Gaia CD project.
We gathered on this snowy morning in the First Unitarian Universalist church in the heart of Detroit, 50 women ready to sing of the earth, challenge our assumptions and work toward change. We co-created the altar, informally but with reverence. Pat lit our candle , after which we did as we have done every month since September, and sang "O Beautiful Gaia" with women spontaneously offering their prayers as new verses to be sung. We went around the circle and asked each woman to sing her name, which the community echoed back to her. And then we settled down to a morning of song. After all, this is a CD project!
Joanna led us as we sang "Listen To the Voices", a song based on words by our own Mary Margaret Parent with music by Carolyn McDade. It was easy to sing this song from our hearts. It begins:
Listen, listen to the
voices
that beg to differ from the
rest.
Listen, listen to the voices
That beg to differ from the
rest.
The beauty of each being,
The wonder of our truth
The wisdom of our experience
Sustain and make us community
Sustain and make us community.
Next, it was Deanne Bednar's turn to share her newly created song, "The Circle of Life." This is the song she brought to our Notable Women rehearsal last month, still fresh from the birthing. As Deanne played and we sang, Sandy Yost stood up and accompanied Deanne on the clarinet. It was pure magic. Such a glorious addition to our gathering of songs for the CD!
And then Julia got up to help us with "Beginners", a song with music by Norma Luccock and text by the poet Denise Levertof. Of all our songs, this one has the most complex parts and is taking the most attention. But we don't mind; it is a stunning piece of music. Since I had decided to move today from the middle section to the high section which carries the melody, I found I enjoyed our time of singing much more. And I wasn't missed as we have lots of strong middle voices.
Julia then led us in the "Longing Series." This is a collection of three songs with music by Carolyn McDade and words created from the earth, water, land, air and species of our particular bio-region. "We Sing the Longing" has verses that our women have written; verses like:
We are the patchwork
Of water, earth, air and
sky
Threads gently weaving
Our soul's design
We are the sturgeon
In search of clean flowing
streams
We are the water
that swirls our dreams
We are the snow fall
Drifting on currents of air
We are the darkness
that brings repair
The second part of the "Longing Series" is a chant in which we name each of the Endangered Species of Michigan and Ontario. As we sang of the Bashful Bulrush, the Algonquin Wolf, the Piping Plover and more, Penny showed her PowerPoint presentation so we could see their faces. And then we sang to the Endangered Species that suffer the peril of war. It was hard to stay dry-eyed as we lamented the threatened extinction of innocents like the Afghan Tortoise, the Old World Otter and the Pale-Backed Pigeon in Afghanistan, and the Asiatic Lion, the Black Finless Porpoise and the Sociable Lapwing in Iraq.
We concluded this series by singing:
Let them continue on
Let them continue on
Continue, continue,
Continue, continue,
Oh, let them continue on.
As we sang I looked around the circle, occasionally taking pictures of our women. Here is our youngest sister, 14 year-old Courtney sitting in a way that only a teenager could do with comfort. And here are the women of each section--high voices, middles and lower voices--each one of whom gave it all she had.
By the time we broke for lunch, everyone was ready to chill out a little. But, after getting our food, most of us joined our interest groups and shared ideas as we ate. Mary Tiner gathered some folks around the piano to practice her French verses for "We Sing the Longing." Mary Bunker accompanied them on the piano. I am always amazed at how many of our women can play instruments.
After lunch, we sang a little while longer and then got ready for an afternoon of drumming. Lori Fithian is a gifted drum teacher/facilitator from Dexter, Michigan with whom many of us have drummed for years. She has agreed to be one of the musicians on our CD and came today to give us the opportunity to add drumming to our O Beautiful Gaia experience. A good number of our women brought their own drums, like this beautiful handmade one of Charmaine's, but Lori brought plenty more so everyone could be part of the circle. Did we have fun! You can see the delight on the women's faces and on Lori's as well. Of course, drumming led to dancing and, again, their delight is obvious! For me, there was the unexpected joy of discovering that my less-than-able hands could beat on the djun djun drum and hit a tambourine at the same time. Fun,fun, fun! Lori ended the afternoon by sharing a song about the Great Lakes that she had created spontaneously at a previous workshop. She encouraged us to do the same.
As we sang and shared in our closing circle, Lori told us about the Columbia space shuttle exploding. We had not heard of it because we'd been away from radios and TVs all day. The reverence with which the circle received this tragic news, and the beautiful way our silence evolved into singing an African song of prayer, showed the power of community.
After the official end of our day together, many of us went across the street to the Cass Cafe where we enjoyed wonderful food in a uniquely Detroit atmosphere.
How deeply grateful I am that it is this year and no other that we have come together to work on this project. How could we have known how it necessary it would be, for us and for our world? For it is circles like O Beautiful Gaia that hold the dreams of peace and healing that will sustain our earth.
words and photos by
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2003
The altar was beautiful (isn't it always?!) with many candles and cloths denoting the colour of the four directions. A few of us brought our squares for the quilt and these were placed in strategic positions. Just delightful.
The dialogue re the differences in our American/Canadian cultures was good. The topic may or may not arise again and either way the process on Saturday, which was just a beginning or part of a continuum, who knows, was beneficial.for all, in my opinion. I, for one, feel it can safely be put to rest and all is well. But if there is a need for more dialogue I certainly support this as well.
Lunch was delicious. I always like to talk about food so I will leave it at that. A bean pot recipe was available which I will definitely make.
Our singing is really coming along. "O Beautiful Gaia" was extremely emotional for me, particularly when we sang a verse keeping in mind a group of young people from various parts of the country and internationally who were at a conflict resolution workshop being held in Assumption High School, and then to those beyond the walls (our fellow world citizens) and then to our (mother) earth. We kind of bunched towards each other, clumping really, to sing parts of The Longing Series. The effect was magic. This will be such good preparation for the closeness we will have when we meet for our (dress) rehearsal.
words by Arlene Buckley, photos by Judy Drylie
Practice was good today. Joanna led us in some wonderful dances and movement pieces to start. The centerpiece had the four elements and was quite lovely. Hopefully Judy got you a picture. We broke into discussions with groups of four, two Canadians and two Americans around the responses to the questionaire. We really did not find we had many serious divisions or problems. We got out some of the feelings Canadians have about Americans in general and how they sometimes get in front of them with us, even though they know we are not with the dominant culture, or we wouldn't be in the project. We expressed some of the little things that come up, like the fact that we don't have to change our money but they do. But in general everyone seemed to feel once expressed, the thoughts can be rested and we can go on singing with gusto. Which we tried to do. We worked on Deanne's song, the Blessing song, The Longing Series, and Zimbabwe women's song. Nancy introduced some variations for We Say Yes, Blessing Song, and Naming species part. We have tentatively set a rehearsal for March 23, Sunday, I believe from 2 - 6 at Assumption. No food, just singing.
words by Peg Case, photos by Judy Drylie
The gathering on Saturday was different, as each is, but I think it was important and fulfilling for most of us in many ways.
There was a huge backlog at the bridge so some U.S. women didn't arrive until 10:00 a.m.! We waited a while, then started at 9:30. In all we were 40 women for the day.
Joanna did a beautiful job of building an altar with many bowls of water with candles in them and around them. She had four pieces of cloth for the four directions. We moved in different simple dances for half an hour. Everyone seemed to love it.
Then I introduced the topic of discussion, our relations as women of two nations, and, as Mary White and I had collated the answers from the lavender sheets, we had something to guide us in small group discussions. Before we separated into groups, we stood up and sang "Listen to the Voices".
When we returned to the circle after about 45 minutes, there was some give and take about the ideas and feelings that had arisen as women talked. Several people told me afterwards that they had gotten a lot out of the exercise. I suppose time will tell.
The rest of the day was spent in practice. We worked with the endangered species chants to try different arrangments that would offer variety. Deanne had fine-tuned her song and we practised it in parts. As well, Nancy had written harmony for "O Beautiful Gaia" and that was very lovely to sing and hear.
In our closing we tried to take our hearts back to to the morning discussion. Arlene Buckley read a poem of Judy Chicago, and I invited the women to share what "And then..." will be like when the tenderness we want to feel for one another becomes a reality. What will our world be like then?
Untitled poem from ìThe Dinner Partyî
And then all that has
divided us will merge
And then compassion will
be wedded to power
And then softness will
come to a world that is harsh and unkind
And then both men and
women will be gentle
And then both women and
men will be strong
And then no person will
be subject to anotherís will
And then all will be rich
and free and varied
And then the greed of
some will give way to the needs of many
And then all will share
equally in the Earthís abundance
And then all will care
for the sick and the weak and the old
And then all will nourish
the young
And then all will cherish
lifeís creatures
And then all will live
in harmony with each other and the Earth
And then everywhere will
be called Eden once again.
Judy Chicago
Deanne led us in toning for peace among all us creatures on the earth. Then Marianne Angus read Judyth Hill's poem "Wage Peace". We ended with "Woyaya".
The pre-sale order forms arrived and Catherine urged us each to pre-sell 10 CDs.
We decided to get together to practise on Sunday, March 23, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 at Assumption.
words by Joan Tinkess,
photos by Judy Drylie and Sandy Hardwick
SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2003
Sometimes the Universe gives you exactly what you need when you need it. Now, maybe you always get what you need when you need it, and just don't realize it. But today I was very much aware of the timeliness of the gift I was given. Today I sang for four solid hours with my O Beautiful Gaia CD project sisters in Windsor, Ontario. Not only was it wonderful to be with these women and to sing earth-loving songs, but it was glorious to be out of the United States and in a country that is not at war. Our neighbors to the south (Detroit is north of Windsor) refuse to fight in Bush's war. It was as if I could breathe deeply again after holding my breath for a solid week. And it certainly helps to be able to breathe if you want to sing. And sing we did!
We managed to run through all nine songs that we plan to sing on the CD. This was important because next Saturday we will have a full day of singing with Carolyn McDade, the singer/songwriter from Cape Cod who is coordinating this project, and then on Sunday we will go into the recording studio to make a rough cut of the CD.
Our focus was strong and we sang from our hearts. This was particularly true when we sang a song with the following words:
If every woman in the world
had her mind set on freedom.
If every woman in the world
dreamt a sweet dream of peace.
If every woman of every nation
young and old, each generation
held
her hands out in the name of love
there
would be no more wars.
words and photos by
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2003
Fifty women of the Great Lakes Basin gathered at Assumption High School in Windsor, Ontario for a full day of singing in preparation for tomorrow's recording of a rough cut CD. The special treat was having our sister, Carolyn McDade, in town to companion us through the process. The O Beautiful Gaia project that we've been working on since September is the fruit of this songwriter/spiritual feminist/social activist's vision of community building to protect our planet, Gaia.
We began by each of us choosing one stone from a pile of stones gathered from the shores of Lake Huron, our Great Lake to the north. We then placed our stone on the altar made up of crocii and hyacinths that was covered in brightly colored scarves. This led spontaneously into the weaving of dance, drums, song and waving of scarves. After Pat Noonan lit our candle--her traditional part of the ritual--Charmaine read a poem titled, "Crocus-Minded" by Jo Sorley. It was then that we heard of our sister, Mary White's life-threatening illness. Many of us had wet eyes off and on during this day of song. Mary was so missed and so with us.
This was truly a day of song. For hours we went over every song we plan to sing on the CD, ten in all. Nancy Nordlie directed and our musicians, Deanne Bednar on keyboard and Sandy Yost on clarinet, accompanied us for most of the day. We sang in our sections--high, middle and low--and stayed focussed amazingly well. Oh yes, I forgot, on one song Penny Hackett-Evans played the rainstick, and sometimes Peg Case added the drum.
Just before lunch, Joan Tinkess showed us the dancing woman wood sculpture she had carved for Mary White and had planned to give her today on her 75th birthday. For the rest of the day, the sculpture rested on the altar, bringing Mary's dancing spirit to our circle. But, as it turned out, we did have a birthday to celebrate! On April 10 our sister Jean Overholt will turn 85. We got a head start on celebrating her birthday in today's circle.
Lunch was delicious. To make things less complex in terms of crossing the border, it has been our habit to ask the women of the country where we meet to bring lunch food for us all. The Canadian women always pack two bag lunches, one for themselves and one for an American sister. There is something so comforting about eating a bag lunch lovingly packed by someone else, rather like being a child and having Mommy there again to feed you. My lunch bag was filled with tasty things like cucumber spears, red peppers, a firm green apple, oatmeal raisin cookies and a big tunafish salad sandwich on multigrain bread.
We returned from lunch ready to sing some more. But first, Joann led us in a circle dance that had an inner circle and an outer circle and songs that accompanied the movements. A perfect way to get back into the spirit of the day. We had much more singing to do, but more importantly we needed to receive words of encouragement from Carolyn, words that enflamed our hearts and helped us reach ever deeper into the meaning--the heart--of that which we were singing. Whether you were a high, middle or low voice, you couldn't help realizing that the survival of our earth, our precious Gaia, depends on these songs we sing. As much as we must educate ourself and act wisely, so we must also sing and dance, paint and sculpt our planet into the transformation she deserves. That is where dreams are born.
Our day came to an end when the altar was disassembled and placed in a bread basket from Avalon Bakery. It was then that Jan Devine, our visiting sister from the Atlantic Canada region gave Penny, our Great Lakes-American coordinator, a shell she had brought us from Prince Edward Island. And she so generously gave me one too. Jan and I have been working together long-distance on the O Beautiful Gaia web site and have become friends in the process.
Thirty-one (!!!) of us went out to dinner together. I know the other customers and wait staff must have wondered who was this group of women--women who kept breaking into song as naturally as other people talk. But every one of us was tired from this day of intense concentration and song. We were well aware that tomorrow would be another BIG day. The idea of bed looked pretty good.
words by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
Photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
and Arlene Buckley
SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2003
Instead of today being tiring as I'd expected, it was energizing. Yes, it requires total attention to record a CD, even a rough cut, but somehow that very intense concentration is purifiying, rather like making love. I thought of nothing else during the hours that we spent in the studio, not the war nor our friend Mary's illness nor any of my other worries. I guess on a deep level they were with me, but not in a way that took emotional energy. It was almost restful in that way.
Next weekend we will each receive a copy of the CD that emerged from today's session. That will be interesting to hear. When you're part of a group of fifty singers, it's hard to know how the whole sounds. I do know that it felt very good, and that I was always able to hear the sisters singing beside me. That's what you want in choral singing; it generally means your voice is not standing out but blending with the others as it should. Another thing that felt very good was how often we were singing from our hearts. Carolyn McDade is a powerful example of that kind of singing; her passion inspires every sound that comes from (through) her, whether on the piano or in song. And our director Nancy Nordlie's heart is so open that she opens ours as well.
The story:
Judy Drylie and I arrived at the recording studio at 8:10 AM, about twenty minutes early. A number of our sisters met us in the parking lot and helped Judy remove Ona my scooter from the car and get her assembled in short order. As it was surprisingly cold--25º F--we quickly made our way into the studio. And what a surprise that was! I guess I'd seen too many movies because I was expecting to spend the day crammed into a dreary room filled with tons of equipment and no evidence of creature comforts. Instead we were in a large airy room painted a beautiful shade of slate blue with a wooden parquet floor covered in oriental rugs. The planning committee had even re-created yesterday's altar in the middle of the room. Yes, there were microphones, but nothing felt intimidating or scary. And Darren and his co-engineer were so friendly and professional that they immediately put us at ease. Our only challenge was one toilet for fifty women...but we managed.
Nancy Nordlie directed our singing and Carolyn McDade accompanied us on the keyboard. I don't know what we would have done without either of these women. Nancy directed us with such technical expertise and gentleness that, even though she was also having to communicate by headset with the engineers in the control booth, she never once lost her patience or sweetness of spirit. And it is always Carolyn who shows/exhorts us to sing with such passion and heart that we can never forget why we are singing/recording these songs that express our longing and love of the earth, Gaia, our beloved home. Especially during times such as these, heart is what we must bring to all our creative efforts for peace and transformation. And it was heart that we brought to that recording room on this cold Sunday in March.
The code word for the day was not simply heart, but focus. Total, complete, unremitting focus. I never took pictures while we were recording, but instead chronicled our breaks. Except for an exhilarating, spontaneous dance break that was led by our drummers and involved some wonderful silliness by our sister Patsy who always makes us laugh, even our breaks were quiet and subdued. Often Nancy was communicating with the engineers during those times and had to be able to hear. But occasionally, she would lead us in brief practice sessions, either as a whole or in sections. It was all such a learning, and one that will definitely help us feel more comfortable and confident when we do our final recording of the O Beautiful Gaia CD in June.
We had a welcome hour for lunch. As with everything else, our coordinators Penny and Joan and the planning committee had things so wonderfully organized that we could relax and enjoy the delicious pizza and salad. They pre-ordered the meal and paid the bill so things would go swiftly and smoothly. The restaurant was a short walk away and I enjoyed spending time with Linda, Charmaine, Pat and Courtney, our youngest Great Lakes sister at 14, on the way back to the studio.
Today we were fortunate to have Carolyn playing the keyboard, Sandy Yost (who also sings with us) on clarinet and sax, and Lori Fithian and Jean join us on the drums. In June we will add a flute, cello, bass and guitar. I know it will sound wonderful when the CD is completed. By the way, we are in the middle of an advance sales campaign of this double CD. The price is $25 in both US and Candadian funds, plus shipping. If you would like to pre-order a CD--they are expected to be released in autumn 2003--you can do so on our O Beautiful Gaia web site.
There was a very special component to this weekend, and that was the presence of four of the five coordinators of the O Beautiful Gaia CD project here with us in Windsor/Detroit. Not only did we have Joan Tinkess of Great Lakes Basin-Ontario and Penny Hackett-Evans of Great Lakes Basin-Michigan, but we also had Carolyn McDade of Atlantic New England and Jan Devine of Atlantic Canada. Only Chris Loughlin of Atlantic New England was missing. And not only were the three O Beautiful Gaia regions represented, but the women of the Women~Land~Spirit Sacred Web Project in the four Western Canadian provinces had sent sprigs of sage for each of us, sage that they had gathered from the Grandmothers' Hills of Saskatchewan and dried themselves. These are the women who recorded "We Are the Land We Sing", the most recent CD coordinated by Carolyn McDade. What a privilege it is to be part of such a passionate, powerful global women's community! It gives me hope "when hope is hard to find", as it says in the song.
words by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
and Janis Grant
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2003
Today's gathering of Gaia women was quite wonderful. We were a small group for a couple of reasons. First, it would have been difficult for our Toronto and Georgetown, Ontario sisters to turn around and return after just having been here last weekend, and secondly, the storm that coated our world in ice this morning made travelling dangerous for some.
But numbers were not the point; we had heart enough for all. After having had to be so disciplined during last weekend's recording session, we were now able to allow the songs to emerge more organically from within the center of our circle. Not only did we sing the words and music, but we caressed their meanings. Many of us became midwives to their birthing. Whoever felt called to introduce a song would do so--not simply leading it, but often sharing what it meant to them. That would lead to sharings by others as well. Often we said the words together as a poem to help us hear it more deeply. And then we would sing it until it felt like we had touched--or at least begun to touch--its heart. What a nourishing way to sing!
Even though the day fed me in deep ways, I found myself surprisingly tired by the time I returned home. I was in bed by 6:45 PM and slept soundly until 2:30 AM! It wasn't this day of song that made me so tired, it was the last two weeks of intense emotions and activity that finally caught up with me.
I am writing this entry at 3 AM while listening to our rough-cut CD. Yes, it is certainly ragged in parts, but it sounds a lot better than I'd imagined it would. And now, after having seen what we did with the songs today, I'm feeling confident that we'll be ready to record the final CD in June. We not only have three more first Saturdays of the month to practice, but we've added three extra rehearsals as well.
What a grace and a gift it is to be part of this project. How I love this circle of women.
words and photos by
Patricia Lay-Dorsey
We gathered round bright spring flowers, allium dried and painted by Dick Schwing and loaned for this altar containing several goddess figures, gifts to Pat from her daughter, one brought back by a dear friend, Phyllis, from Greece and one purchased while with the Birmingham Unitarian Church Choir trip to Yugoslavia in 1992.
In addition, Peg and Jeanne brought back pink and yellow primroses used on last week's altar at the studio. These, along with a vibrant purple hydrangea brought a sense of peace to many of us who lost precious trees and plants in Friday's ice storm.
Due to driving hazards and illness several of our sisters were unable to attend, so numbers ranged around 25. Highlighting the morning was good news about our dear Mary White, who is out of intensive care, breathing on her own and attended by our beloved Joan Tinkess. We sent her many healing wishes throughout the day.
The morning was opened
by Lenore
Langs who read her poem, "Crawfton Inn", written
while attending one of Carolyn's retreats on our beloved Lake
Erie shore.
"And while we sang together
the songs overpower
the pain
help us shed
our tight
and itching skins"
Patricia then read a poem by William Stafford entitled "At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border." It spoke of the field "where no unknown soldier died...and the only heroic thing is the sky"
Sang "Circle Round for Freedom." We then shared our experience of our time together with Carolyn last weekend. It was agreed the group became more cohesive, deepening in our sense of togetherness an appreciation for one another, for our differences and similarities. Listening to the voices, not only in song, but in our life experiences while sharing at the supper at the Lumber Jack restaurant on Saturday as well as at lunch on Sunday.
We were weaving ourselves together, sharing more sense of community with one another as well as with the earth and endangered species. As Patricia so poignantly put it, "We are all beating with one heart." Patsy Noonan then came up with our quote for the morning...."It's just like a convent without the vows."
Then it was Julia's turn to facilitate our thinking and she led us through an exhilarating process where we were asked to close our eyes and think of the first word or thought which came to us...deepening us into the music, it's meaning. What do each of us bring to the circle?
We then broke into small
groups to discuss the following questions:
1. What can be our
process to owning and deepening our own experience?
2. What does owning
mean? What claim does music have upon us?
3. What can we do individually
to improve this transformation for women who will come after us....each
on her own journey? Think about the women who have sung
with Carolyn over these many years whose voices have woven themselves
into the fabric of our lives. Now it's our turn.
We came back together
in the circle to share our small group experiences and learnings.
Some of the comments follow:
"How can I tire of Hope?"
"Imagine the fullness
of life and justice and mercy."
"Listen to our own inner
voices, and the voices of our sisters who surround us in this
project." Our intonation will be affected by careful
listening and blending."
"We often do not speak
our own true voices verbally, but in song we have this opportunity
to make a difference, to raise the collective consciousness of
our listeners."
"I am here to find my
voice."
"Reverence means we
must be sure everything we do has meaning for someone. This could
be expanded to include some 'beings'."
"If what we do as a
community internalizes hearing voices we are in the Circle. A
circle which shines with the radiance of love."
"Owning is singing from
our being."
"We
are the voice for the voiceless."
"Allow our creativity
to flow thru to listener and then the listener 'owns' it."
"Our commitment has
a claim on us...the drumming with Lori exemplifies this project."
"We suggest reading
the poetry aloud prior to singing to words to deepen within us."
"Let us have reverential
silence following the singing."
WE WILL NOT BE MOVED!!!!
Julia taught us Spanish for
No Nos Moveran
No, No, No Nos Moverán!!
No, No, No Nos Moverán!!
Y El Que No Crea Que Haga
La Prueba,
No Nos Moverán!!
Examples of women who would not be moved included the situation where 3 Catholic sisters were imprisoned because of their beliefs. We must keep Ardeth Platte, Jackie Hudson and Carol Gilbert who may be imprisoned for 30 years, which would be for the rest of their lives because of their resistance to war.
We felt that democracy operates at its finest in our circle; a very important factor in terms of our success.
Peace VS. Harmony...We will be moved by "Harmony In Action."
Finally, we discussed how this project has impacted us individually. Some of the responses follow:
"It's our Project...singing
about these issues puts our own voice out there."
"Sense of appreciation
for the other women in the group."
"Expanding appreciation...love/depth/heart."
"I have a new appreciation
of the endangered species and am grateful to this group for that."
"The group is an extension
of me...feeling expanded."
"Have a loving appreciation
of myself."
"Strength of each of
us/monolithic expansive."
"These songs give us
a profound way to think of the earth."
"After 61 years on the
planet, I learned I could sing."
"Because of this group,
the loss of our precious trees is not as tragic...I do not own
the trees....they are here for a time, as we all are."
"Initially, I was uncomfortable
with the process, but have come full circle and now really appreciate
the process."
"Awakened a new awareness
about each person,"
"Don't know where I'd
be during this war without this community."
"Means a lot we are
from 2 different countries. The total intentionality of
being 'equal' most meaningful."
"In touch with American
imperialism."
"Hoping this experience
will be transformational."
"Grateful for the honesty
we share...to be heard...and valued."
"With grateful heart,
I always feel."
"Surprised by the bumps
in the road and bringing them to the table to discuss and learning
about letting go."
words by Pat Schwing
photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2003
We never know how our lives touch others. Until Conchita reads the email I sent her tonight, she could never have imagined that her faithful witness for peace in front of the White House would transform the lives of 50 Canadian and American women, only one of whom she had ever met. This is such an important learning for us all, especially now when it can seem that all our efforts for peace have come to naught. We do not know--and may never know--how far the ripples reach out from the stone that each of us drops into the lake of our communal consciousness.
This is what I wrote Conchita tonight:
From: Patricia Lay-Dorsey
<peacecrone@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 03 May 2003 20:29:50 -0400
To: <prop1@prop1.org>
Subject: To my sister Conchita
Dear sister
Do you remember me? I am the white-haired woman on a disabled scooter who spent the afternoon with you last Saturday, April 26. We have also met a number of other times that I have come to picket in front of the White House whenever I am in DC visiting family. You have always been so welcoming to me, and I am privileged to have one of your hand-painted stones. Mine is blue with a white dove and the words "peace" on one side and "justice" on the other. Sometimes you have even taken pictures of my signs. One that I remember you particularly liked said, "American Generosity, Israeli Atrocities."
Our time together last Saturday made a profound impression on me. I felt we connected heart-to-heart in a deeper way than ever before. It was an honor to stand there with you as we did our best to talk to the many tourists who wanted a glimpse of the White House. If you remember, I kept trying to get them to see YOU instead of that dwelling that houses such cruel and arrogant persons. I kept saying, "Look here! This woman (Conchita) has been here for 22 years standing for peace and justice! See what it means to be faithful and committed to peace!" Some of them heard my words and some didn't, but you just kept doing what you always do no matter what...and that is educating the people and encouraging them to wake up and see what is happening in the world around them.
I came back home to Detroit on Tuesday and wrote about you in my online journal (http://www.windchimewalker/journal.html). I have found myself thinking of you frequently since then. When I was asked by my women's singing community to introduce, "We Shall Be Moved", one of the songs that we are preparing to record on a CD called "O Beautiful Gaia", I knew I wanted to use your story to inspire the women to become ever more committed to saving our precious planet. And so yesterday I wrote a prose poem dedicated to you. It is titled, "Doing Homage to a Woman of Courage."
Today I read this poem to 50 women who are part of this CD project--half Canadians and half Americans. Conchita, they got tears in their eyes and have been speaking of you ever since. For the rest of the day, whenever our song leader wanted us to dig deeper and sing from our hearts, she would say, "Remember Conchita. Sing this for Conchita!"
You can never know how much your faithful witness for peace touches people and transforms their lives. You have done it for me, for the 50 women with whom I sing, and for all the persons who read my web journal. Your life has such meaning and purpose, dear Conchita, and I am honored to feel that we are sisters. And now I will show you the poem I wrote for you:
Doing Homage To a Woman of Courage
For twenty-two years
Conchita has lived
in a small plastic-covered tent on a city
sidewalk. Inside this tent is a wooden
platform on which she sleeps. She sleeps
sitting up because she's been told it is
against the law to sleep lying down in this
federal park that is her home.
For twenty-two years
Conchita has spoken
her truth to tourists more interested in being
photographed in front of the halls of power than
in examining and thinking about what happens
there.
For twenty-two years
Conchita has carefully
read the Washington Post every day to see
what they are doing in the house across the
street. Every bit of information she takes in
is seen in the context of what has gone before.
She is a living textbook of American history.
For twenty-two years
Conchita has been less
concerned about snow, sleet, hail and thunder-
storms than about the military men who beat her,
who maced her and threatened her life. The helmet
she wears under a scarf-covered wig makes her look
odd but helps her feel safe, especially when she
sleeps.
For twenty-two years
Conchita has spent her days
printing leaflets and updating her photo-laden posters
that document the horrors of war. She rides a donated
bike to a local cafe to read the paper, check her emails,
keep up her web site and use their toilet. On dry days
she paints doves and the words "peace" and "justice"
on rocks that she gives away. She lives on donations of
food, money and time.
For twenty-two years
Conchita has been ridiculed,
ignored, laughed at, cursed, pitied and occasionally
listened to by those to whom she devotes her life.
For twenty-two years
Conchita's closest neighbor has
been the President of the United States but they
have never met.
For twenty-two years
she has stood as a presence of
peace, truth and justice in a place where these things
are often just words.
For twenty-two years Conchita has transformed our planet.
May all your days be bright and your dreams at night bring you comfort. May you know how valued you are and what powers of healing and transformation you bring to our wounded world. May you be blessed.
with love and peace from your sister
Patricia
http://www.windchimewalker.com
My dear friends, I encourage you to go visit Conchita at her web site, and email her if you feel inspired to do so. I know it would mean a lot to her to hear from you. Her URL is:
http://www.prop1.org/conchita/
I also found a photo of Conchita that I had taken on September 5, 2002. On that warm late summer day, her tent was not covered with plastic as it was after the heavy rainstorm last Saturday. But, whatever the weather, Conchita is always there. If you ever go to Washington, DC, I invite you to go visit her. As the song says, "You shall be moved."
The story of our day together:
Each time our O Beautiful Gaia community meets, we drop to a deeper level of trust, heart-connection, openness and oneness. And it shows in the music we make. Today's monthly gathering was spent almost entirely in song. Now that we have the rough-cut CD to work from, we see where we need to go between now and mid-June when we will tape the final CD...at least our part of it.
As you may recall, there are three bio-regions of women who are part of this project: 1) our Great Lakes Basin; 2) Atlantic Canada; and 3) Atlantic New England. About 150 women in all. Each region will tape their part of the CD in their own area, and then Carolyn McDade and the tech wizards will put it all together in the form of a double CD titled "O Beautiful Gaia." It is scheduled for release in autumn 2003. Not only will there be 150 voices, but each region also has musicians who will bring their gifts to the mix. Each community has been meeting at least one full day a month since September. It is a tremendous commitment of time, energy and creativity. And it is about so much more than a CD: it is about doing everything we can as individuals and communities to help preserve this precious planet--Gaia--that is our home. To that end we in the Great Lakes Basin have created small groups to work on such things as land conservancy, as well as having brought in speakers to educate and inspire us.
One of our Great Lakes sisters, Marion Overholt, brought us wonderful news today. For the first time ever, our own Detroit River is making environmental history by the recent appointment of two River-Keepers, one from Ontario and the other from Michigan, who will be working hand-in-hand to protect the 32 miles of this busy waterway. Marion said it was the O Beautiful Gaia project that inspired her to join the bi-national Detroit River-Keepers committee in the first place.
Today, we also saw the tangible results of another of our Great Lakes Basin small group projects. With the help of a gifted quilt-maker from Ann Arbor, Michigan, the squares that so many of our women had made--not to mention those made by the singing circle of our sisters from Georgetown, Ontario--were before us in the form of a finished quilt that made me think of the blue-green river that we share. It was a special moment when the women who had created the squares leaned down to show us which ones were theirs.
But, as I said, we spent most of the day in song. I'd like to take you around the circle, starting first with Kobe who recently broke her foot and joined us even though she was quite uncomfortable. And here is the rest of the circle: photo #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7. With the help of our inspired and inspiring song leader Nancy, our faithful sister Deanne on the keyboard, the reflections/technical reminders presented by each song's "memory-keepers", and the total focus and commitment of each sister in the circle, we further embodied "...what sings a song into the depths of meaning."
From Carolyn McDade, the spiritual mother of this project, we received the following message:
For this is what sings a song into the depths of meaning. Each song has its character and story; each singer her store of truth and passion, vulnerability and strength. Each singer takes her place in the singing. She is fully there in presence and responsibility. She is there by an inner authority. It is singing with an unshielded heart, a deep and knowing mind--it is personal, communal.
We sing for ourselves and one another. We sing for more than ourselves and one another. I cannot hide my longing that we come to this field of songs as visionary women. We each bring that by which we gauge our living--that which calls us to our deepest and our best. We immerse ourselves in singing the store of wonder and longing our lives hold, all that we have wept over, gathered in the shelter of our daily purpose. Go deep...deeper...the singing must burn first in the heart--the song will take leaps with the power of its singing.
Carolyn McDade
--words and photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2003
Four weeks from this weekend, we women of the Great Lakes Basin will be recording our part of the "O Beautiful Gaia" CD in an Ann Arbor, MI sound studio. Today's four-hour rehearsal was our third in three weeks, and we have three more to go. Our sisters from Toronto and Georgetown, Ontario made the long trip to Windsor two weeks ago and again today, even though this is the Victoria Day weekend in Canada. And the US Memorial Day weekend will not stop us from practicing next Saturday either. We are totally committed to this project. So committed, in fact, that I'm afraid I only took two pictures all day, and they were as we performed warm-ups (#1 and #2) preparatory to singing. After that, my attention was entirely focussed on the work at hand.
What am I going to do with my time and energy when this project is completed? The fact that our recording weekend starts on the same Friday that the kids finish school doesn't help. Talk about an empty nest!
words and photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2003
Twenty of us got together in Windsor for a four-hour rehearsal today. We record our part of the "O Beautiful Gaia" CD in three weeks, so each rehearsal becomes progressively more intense. It's amazing how much energy it takes to sing each of our nine songs with the technical attention and depth of heart it deserves. But we used a most helpful process today, one that our sisters in the Atlantic New England region shared with us. We went through each of the songs in the following way:
1) Nancy, our song leader, and/or the song's memory-keeper began by sharing technical and heart reminders designed to help us enter more consciously into the music and its message.
2) Nancy led us in singing the very beginning of the song three times over, so that we could engage our cellular memory of it.
3) The memory-keeper or whomever felt called to do so, presented a reading intended to help us drop even more deeply into the heart of the song. A period of silence followed the reading.
4) We then sang the song through, followed by another period of silence.
5) During that silence, we each wrote down what we felt needed work and/or what of value we could build upon.
Except for a fifteen minute break in the middle of the afternoon, it took four full hours to run once through all nine songs. I believe we made great strides today, both in technique and heart.
Afterwards, seven of us went to a Chinese restaurant and talked about our Gaia project, laughed a lot and shared stories. I am so grateful to be part of this community.
words by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SUNDAY, JUNE 1,
2003
Another day rehearsing with my Great Lakes Basin sisters as we make final preparations to record our portion of the O Beautiful Gaia CD. Two weeks from tonight we will have just completed two long days of recording at an Ann Arbor, MI sound studio. Only one more full day of rehearsal remains. Yipes! Actually today's rehearsal was excellent. Our focus was good, Nancy's directing superb (and exceptionally patient), and I thought we sounded quite well. Staying on pitch is still a challenge, though. As Nancy keeps saying, "Eyebrows up, smiley faces, and sing on top of the notes."
I took some photos, mainly for our dear sister Mary White. Her health continues to improve--miraculously, according to her doctors--but she remains in a rather fragile place that requires constant attention and new ways of being in the world. She recently wrote me that, "The circle of love coming in my way and on out to the universe is incredibly full! My whole life--very being is transforming." What a bright and loving spirit! So here, dear Mary, are pictures of your sisters singing love to you.
The upper voices--#1
and #2
The middle voices--#1
and #2
The lower voices--#1
and #2
During the day I discovered how fragile I was. The stresses of making arrangements for dorm rooms and meals for our recording weekend caught up with me in a most unpleasant way. I really lost it with one of my Great Lakes sisters, and got so angry I was practically incoherent. The last time I reacted with such red hot anger was, literally, in 1989. It is not my usual way of relating. But when someone keeps coming at me in a confrontational way about something that is a source of great anxiety to me, I'm afraid it can push me over the edge. Anyway, the world did not come to an end, and I learned again that I am only human.
Friday's roller coaster ride that took me from the low of hearing at 3:30 PM that the dorm we were counting on was not available, to the high of finding a dorm at another university less than an hour later--and at half the cost--had settled into a long, involved series of organizational emails and phone calls to scores of my Great Lakes sisters. To be honest, I'm not fond of organizing, especially in situations involving money. As it's turned out, 32 of our 46 sisters are going to stay in the dorm. I know it's going to be wonderful once we get there; it's just the nitty-gritty details that can cause sleepless nights. But I'm feeling lots better tonight. Things are coming along fine.
words and photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2003
Magic is what I'd call this day. Not unearned magic, but earned magic. We O beautiful Gaia women of the Great Lakes Basin worked our fannies off...and it showed! We have never sounded better, nor has our singing ever been so deeply satisfying. The most amazing part of the whole day was that, after rehearsing hard for at least five hours, we were still on key. And the songs we sing are not easy to keep on pitch. In fact, that has been my greatest concern about our recording the CD. But now we know we can do it, and we certainly will do it in the studio next weekend.
A lot of the credit goes to Nancy, our creatively gifted and unimaginably patient song leader. We couldn't have done it without her. At the same time, each and every one of us Great Lakes Basin women has given her heart and soul to this project, not to mention her time and attention. We've been meeting from 9 AM to 4 PM on the first Saturday of every month since last September, alternately in Canada and the US (our group is half Canadian and half American). Long enough to gestate and birth a baby, and that's just what this process feels like. The labor pains have begun and by next Sunday at this time, the baby will be in our arms reaching for the nipple.
I wouldn't give anything for the wondrous gift of being part of this community, CD or no CD. Just being in the presence of women who love the earth with such passion and commitment has given me all I've needed to retain my sense of hope when, as one of Carolyn McDade's songs says, "hope is hard to find."
What would I have done without these women and our shared song during that long, cold winter when war was all anyone could think about? To come every month and be harbored within the safety of this circle--not as a way of denying the pain of the world but as a way of embracing it--helped me retain my belief in humanity. Yes, both the Great Lakes Gaia women and the Raging Grannies saved me from the despair that attacked so many of my brothers and sisters in the peace movement, especially after our efforts at averting Bush's war seemed to fail.
Our process today was the same as we'd used at our rehearsal two weeks ago--the process taught us by our Gaia sisters of Atlantic New England. For each song, Nancy and the song's Memory Keeper started by sharing technical reminders about the song. We then sang the first phrase three times, followed by a reading by the Memory Keeper. The reading was intended to take us to a deeper level in our heart's understanding of the song. It was followed by silence. Only then did we sing it through without stopping. Following another period of silence, Nancy or any member of the community was free to offer suggestions on how we might improve our singing of this song. We often ran through it at least one more time. Occasionally, we needed to spend extra time going over our parts. We did whatever was necessary to put these nine songs "into our cells." It took us five hours to go through them all.
The other two hours of our time together were spent enjoying the pot luck lunch provided by the American women, working out arrangements about next weekend, and discussing what we want to do with our Great Lakes quilt. The consensus was to keep it as a community and use it to raise public awareness about the earth and her needs. The women from Georgetown, Ontario, whose singing group created a number of the squares, shared with us their ideas about making notecards and posters using the professional photographs they've had taken of the quilt. Our community was most enthusiastic and grateful for all they are doing. Joan, our Ontario Great Lakes Gaia coordinator, also made a most welcome announcement that we will start meeting again on the first Saturday of September. Thank goddess! From the beginning, we'd said that this Great Lakes community was never just about making a CD. As another of our songs says, "We have only begun to love the earth."
I took few pictures today because I was using all my energy and attention on the business at hand, but I did take a picture of the lovely altar that Sooz created for us, as well as one picture of each singing section--what we call the lows, the middles, and the uppers. Thanks, Casey, for taking the picture of the uppers.
But here is probably my favorite photo of our whole time together: a group portrait of the women of the Great Lakes Basin.
By the time we got to dinner, I no longer had to concentrate on anything but my sisters, so I was free to scoot around to the different tables at our favorite Detroit eating place, the Cass Cafe. Here are dinner photos #1, #2, #3, #4, #5. I think you can see pretty plainly on our faces how we felt about the day!
It is now 11:30 PM and I will soon be singing in my sleep.
words and photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey
O BEAUTIFUL GAIA CD RECORDING
WEEKEND
REFLECTIONS AFTER THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 14/15, 2003
Our Gaia daughter left her womb this weekend. After many arduous, but exhilarating hours of labour, our daughter of songs was born into the world.
There is, however, an edge of sadness and loss about our delight with this event as we, the sisters and birthing mums of the Great Lakes Basin, stand aside to allow O Beautiful Gaia's blood mother to repossess her tiny, naked, and not yet perfect body. Instead of cradling her in our collective arms, we saw her placed into the creative incubator that will be her home for the next few months.
While we know that, there in the presence of experts, her tenuous hold on life will be fortified and nourished with instrumental supplements and transfusions of other choral birth products, we feel the loss of that pulsating kernel of possibility we held close within our womb these last months.
Worst of all, the umbilical cord that bonded us, the mothers, as well as the daughter, has been cut. Although we will not all travel separate currents and many of us may raft together for awhile, we are no longer caught in this particular creative eddy of time and the currents of our various lives now swirl again among us, pulling us on in the rivers of our separate journeys.
What a wonder filled time that eddy has been. The closeness that has developed among us as we poured our collective energies into nourishing this fetus, our Gaia child, into the life form she would assume, has also nourished our own individual well being. We have learned from each other's strengths, talents and stories. We have been lifted spiritually by the many poems and readings, collective activities, and the thoughtful and beautiful altars that graced our gatherings. Our lives have been enriched by the honour of Carolyn's trust as she allowed our womb to carry her seed toward fruition. We do not move away empty.
We do not forget either the gift of our new connections to women from east to west across this continent. Even though most of us have never met or spoken with these women, we have exchanged words and symbols of encouragement