When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavour and purpose. When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.
When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child’s song to him or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the child’s song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song. Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person’s bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life.
There is something inside each of us that knows we have a song, and we wish those we love would recognize it and support us to sing it. How we all long to be loved, acknowledged, and accepted for who we are!
In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child.
If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the centre of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them. The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behaviour is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity.
When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.
A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.
Alan Cohen – They’re Playing Your Song
There’s really nothing I can add to this … so I won’t.
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“The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behaviour is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity.”
Great story. Great line. Whatever the problem, love is the solution.
Thanks Brenda. I was doing a little digging around to find out if the story is true. There’s many references to it as though it is true, but no source material. In any case, true or not, it’s a lovely story.
Hi Ian,
That was so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. As Brenda said above, love is the solution. Actually, that is what life is all about….love. Unfortunately, human beings have lost sight of that and think life is all about fear. However, love will win in the end. It always does.
Hope all is awesome with you!
Everything is awesome over here. No fear. Lots of love.
Aw… that last paragraph made me feel so lucky because I have some of those people who recognize my song, and sing it to me when I start to forget it.
This was beautiful, Ian… thank you!
Not sure it’s luck Lisis! I suspect you attract those people into your life with your outlook and positivism.
This is absolutely amazing.
I can only agree!
Hello Ian. No doubt your post about “heartsong” is worthy of sharing with your readers. I say so for personal reasons. I was way into my forties before discovering what stopped my own song from being released into my life. Perhaps five more years went by before I learned how to remove the fear that had kept my heart from singing. But here’s the thing. When my inner voice began speaking to me once more….everything changed. I began to discover who I was and what to do with my life. I began to grow in the direction I was meant to grow in again. In short, I finally found my Way. The power and beauty of your post cannot therefore be overestimated. Thank you for the advice. John Duffield
Hi John. Great to meet you! And so wonderful to hear your experience with this. I hope you’ll be back to share more with us.
What an amazing article, Ian.
“A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused”.
Beautiful words ~
Thanks Bunny. Glad you liked it!