New Moon, New Seasons, New Beginnings: Part 1
Sitting alone for our morning meditation under a perfect purple pink morning sky near a pine tree, surrounded by sage bushes, I watched the mountains, as the earth’s shadow adjusted to the rising sun.
It is the last morning of our Riders and Writers retreat and we have all been guided to sit for an hour of silence to take notice of the magnificence of the Earth and the Sun.
I swear to God, this song popped into my head! A song I haven’t heard since my childhood! I had a small role in the experimental musical HAIR when I was eight years old at Minnie Gant Elementary School. I was a part of a children’s singing group.
How or why this song came into my head took me by surprise and then promptly made me laugh.
Aloud.
By myself.
In 1967, Oliver wrote Good Morning Starshine, the Earth says HELLO!
Here are the lyrics:
The Earth says, "Hello"
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below
Good mornin', starshine
You lead us along
My love and me as we singing
Our early mornin' singin' song
However, here is my MOST favorite part:
Gliddy glub gloopy, nibby nabby noopy la, la, la, lo, lo
Sabba sibby sabba, nooby abba nabba, le, le, lo, lo
Tooby ooby walla, nooby abba naba
Early mornin' singin' song
I mean, “Gliddy glub gloopy” and “nibby nabby noopy” don’t forget “Sabba sibby sabba, nooby abba nabba”
Ok, I didn’t know when writing lyrics for an actual song, that actual words were… OPTIONAL!!!???
But here's the thing, it worked.
Turns out, actual words for lyrics aren’t required to be a memorable hit song.
I was reminded by my son that it’s not exactly unusual.
I mean The Beatles did it with Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
This got me thinking,
WHAT IF…
nonsense words are not exactly avoidable?
WHAT IF…
these filler words are specifically designed to be ‘space holders’ for meaningful words, meaningful words to be filled in AS NEEDED.
WHAT IF…
the words come later, and perhaps, in no particular time frame. In the meantime, I’m gonna just use this placeholder word: “nooby abba nabba” alongside a jazzy tune!
THERE! (problem solved)
During our retreat, we were asked to set an intention. Oftentimes, these intentions don’t have complete sentences; only come in the form of a feeling (no attached words yet identified); and yet, music - seemingly a more accommodating and accessible tool - becomes the placeholder for that, not-yet-complete, intention.
I read an article this morning about music. I myself am famous for having a tune run in a continuous loop through my mind, so I became curious, “Does a musician write the lyrics first and the tune second or vice versa?”
Bernie Taupin wrote lyrics, like poetry, for Elton John’s musical chords. Was this a challenging partnership, or did it make the process easier? (I think we already know the answer to this!)
Perhaps, the intention for the song - like the intention for ANY new beginning - requires a desire first and action second. Your intention can be relatable toward a variety of things such as your work, personal life, dreams, thoughts, mindfulness practice, or whatever you choose.
WHAT IF…
We have a lot of nonsense words as placeholders for our lives’ intentions? (I know I do. I have a whole lot of tunes running through my head with no attached lyrics, just ask my husband!)
If you care to put to practice the design of your new and upcoming intention in a visual artistic format, please join Samantha Da Silva and I for YOGA AND ART DAY RETREAT on November 5th from 12-5 (Veggie lunch included) to be held at Mosaic Yoga located in Sugarhouse within The Local Co-op building.
