{"id":886,"date":"2016-11-29T16:34:36","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T16:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/?p=886"},"modified":"2016-12-03T16:20:13","modified_gmt":"2016-12-03T16:20:13","slug":"songs-for-winter-solstice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/songs-for-winter-solstice\/","title":{"rendered":"Songs for our Family Solstice Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

As winter draws near, we’re looking forward to celebrating with friends and loved ones at this\u00a0family solstice festival<\/a>. Many members of our community are bringing their talents to create this event.\u00a0 People are preparing to lead games and crafting, put on a puppet show, bring food, and so much more. \u00a0I love that we’re all going to be doing this together, and I can’t wait to see it all come together.<\/p>\n

Naturally, one of my favorite parts of preparing for a gathering like this is\u00a0the music! \u00a0Here are song teaching videos for the songs we’ll sing at the festival. \u00a0These songs, along with the songs that Mothersong Chorus will perform, draw on a variety of traditions to create a celebration that I hope will feel welcoming to all.<\/p>\n

I encourage you, if at all possible, to learn these songs from the videos and teach them to your child, rather than sitting down in front of the screen together to watch the videos. \u00a0When you sing to your child, you call down the full\u00a0sacred\u00a0power of oral tradition. \u00a0Whether it is a grandmother, whispering a tale from her youth into the ear of a toddler on her lap, or a late night lullaby hummed under the breath, oral tradition is powerful, and it is for all of us. \u00a0When you sing to your child, you imbue the song\u00a0with your love and warmth. \u00a0As the parent of your child, the one who loves and knows your child more deeply than any other person, that act is especially sacred. \u00a0Moreover, you are modeling what is, I believe, one of the most powerful lessons we can teach our children– how to be an active creator in this world, rather than a\u00a0passive audience. \u00a0I believe that the world needs this now, more than ever.<\/p>\n

One final note… \u00a0There is a developmental stage that most children go through. \u00a0Some of you may recognize it. \u00a0It’s called “MAMA, DON’T SING!” \u00a0\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

I just want to tell you, if your child is going through this phase, just know that it’s not your voice. \u00a0It’s not you. \u00a0It can be hard, but try not to take it personally. \u00a0Don’t give up! \u00a0It happened with my own children. \u00a0It still happens sometimes.<\/p>\n

If your child is going through this stage, you may be wondering what it’s about. \u00a0The short answer is, it can be about a lot of things. \u00a0Your child may be sensorily overwhelmed in that moment. \u00a0He may be testing, to see how you’ll react. \u00a0She may just be having a rough day, and feel like she needs some quiet. \u00a0(Don’t we all, sometimes!) \u00a0Whatever the specific reason in that moment, you can trust that this is\u00a0a natural part of your child’s development, rather than a reflection of your own voice or abilities. \u00a0Children need to test out their power in this way, as they\u00a0seek the boundaries to learn what they can and can’t control.<\/p>\n

Don’t give up. \u00a0Look for a quiet moment and try again.<\/p>\n

If it remains difficult to\u00a0engage your child through\u00a0singing, you might do it playfully, by introducing a character or stuffed animal who loves to sing. \u00a0You could even introduce a stuffed animal or doll who’s specifically to\u00a0this time of year–\u00a0who has come to teach the Solstice Festival songs.<\/p>\n

The message I want my children to receive is this. \u00a0The world\u00a0needs our voices. \u00a0The earth, plants and animals need\u00a0to hear our songs. \u00a0I may even have\u00a0said it aloud to them a few times. \u00a0It sounds like not much to them, right now. \u00a0But the truth is, I mean this more than they can possibly know.<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading, all, and happy singing! \u00a0Those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’re looking forward to marking this moment with you.<\/p>\n

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Rise Up O Flame<\/strong><\/p>\n