Since we are under the influence of Scorpio the sign of death and rebirth, I wanted to share with you a song I wrote about these subjects which I just finished. The seed to the lyrics and tune was given to me in one of the workshops on reincarnation and past lifetime regression I lead. In these classes, to illustrate the concept that death is not the end, I quote from the words of my favorite poet, Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī. He has a wonderful poem that eloquently captures the notion of how death helps our soul grow, just as our computers need to reboot for the updates to take effect... Here is Rumi's poem, which was translated by A.J Arberry, that inspired my lyrics:
I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels blest; but even from angelhood,
I must pass on: all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel-soul,
I shall become what no mind e'er conceived.Oh, let me not exist! For Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, 'To Him we shall return.'
Every time I read these words in my workshops, I could see their magic work on the participants. Especially the line: when was I less by dying? And so I decided to write my musical version of the poem. Improvisation on a death theme, if you like. Before I share it, I wanted to make sure you know I am not a musician, I can hardly read notes and when I sat down to put the sounds and lyrics together, I didn't even know what key the song was in. But funny enough, it turned out to be G which is the scale of Scorpio.
The song is called "Monkey Weed and Stone." Since I was born in the year of the monkey, I felt I should honor my lineage. In addition from Feb 8th 2016, we are coming into the year of the monkey so the timing is perfect. The song, you can say, is what some would call a "spiritual autobiography."
I wanted to thank my young/old friends Sofia and Oliver for providing the "human sounds," as they negotiate turns on the harness swing. The lyrics are below the link.
Here is the mp3 file.
Or if it does not work, try this one.
Monkey Weed & Stone by Gahl Sasson
I died as a stone when Pele raised Kauai,
But soon after reborn, a weed on Mt Sinai,
Then eaten by a grazing goat, reborn into a furry coat...I was born a monkey, a monkey on a tree.
When was I less by dying?
When was I less by losing myself?I climbed to the top of a pregnant tree,
To gaze at the stars above the canopy,
At awe, I tripped and smashed on the ground,
Monkey dead! I'm making human sounds.I'm a (hu)man born of a monkey weed and stone.
When was I less by dying?
When was I less by losing myself?
Soon I will shed my human form,
A winged angel I shall be reborn.
And even the angel, I will let go,
to be at one with the one that I know...Cause I'm a (hu)man born of a monkey weed and stone.