This morning's sunrise prompted me to rise and shine and sing.
The Story
I remember when this song first arrived in my life, in the Spring of 2016. The night before, I went to a sweat lodge, beginning to face the darkness hidden deep inside myself. Like everyone, I've experienced some trauma and tragedy in my youth, and my various journeys in sweat lodges and tipi meetings allow me to illuminate areas of my shadow self, in order to live with peace, love, and lightness. So, I think this song is a way of acknowledging the side of me that draws toward the Light.
The Recording
One specific event that twisted my life around was the disappearance of my dad, who fell into a river with a whirlpool. His body never surfaced. This happened in 1996, when I was 16 years old. Last year (20 years later), my brother and I returned to the same river, bringing prayers and songs to the site, and I recorded a documentary short film to share the story. During our time together, my brother played a certain rhythm on his guitar, and I sang along, with the words to “Enters The Sun,” and we recorded the music you hear here in just one take. It felt like divine intervention to me, so it became the film's soundtrack.
The song, “Enters The Sun”, provides the soundtrack to a documentary short film I produced, called “Life After Life”. This is the true story of fishermen returning to the river whirlpool in Wyoming, where one man (my dad) disappeared 20 years ago.
The New Day
Before sunup this morning, I and my son hopped on our bikes. I rode with him to school, and watched the sunrise on my return trip home, catching the sun at a time when I could gaze directly at it. I admired its bigness and felt its energy. When I arrived at home, I setup my camera, capturing the sun rays through the sun catcher and the wind chime. Then I grabbed my songbook and a maraca, taking the camera into the woods.
Fortunately, I found a nice quiet spot in the forest outside our home.
The Lyrics
Enters the Sun
Onto the horizon
Rising with the children
Indigo blue
Enters a feeling
Of happiness I Am
Receiving the blessing
Of Sun energy
I Am inspired
To echo the Sun
Casting my sunbeams
Illuminating shadows
I Am invited
To shine with all my might
Radiating Light
In every direction
Viva to Dawn
In the golden hour of morning
When the human eye
Can gaze upon the Light
Good morning Sun
Thank You for this new day
I believe I Am
Born again again
The Steemit Open Mic
This is my sixth entry in the Steemit Open Mic. I really appreciate the opportunity to enter the spotlight again, and root for others as they do the same. I've noticed that the audience here is among the most receptive and supportive in all of Steemit, including our exceptional host: @luzcypher, the steadfast sponsor: @pfunk, and an enthusiastic crowd of music aficionados. I'm thankful to be here, and delighted to contribute my creations, comments, and curation.
– @cabelindsay