Song of the Woods
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| Sharing songs and stories at the 2018 Shine Sister Women's Festival at Mundekulla Retreat Center. Photo: Tanja Muratova |
The story of The Woodswomen tells of a time long ago when women could be seen in
the woods. The woodswomen were guardians of the woods and keepers of the
woodland lore. In their keeping was the very heart of the woods and in order to
protect and preserve it, they had to keep it drumming by the singing of its
songs, the telling of its stories and the remembering of its ancient medicine.
In
those days, the songs and stories of the woods were well known and loved by all.
Following in the footsteps of the woodswomen, the people learnt from an early
age how to walk in tune with the drumming heartbeat of the woods. The people
were friends of the woods and helped the woodswomen preserve the woodland lore.
Not only did they help preserve it, they brought it to life by the spirit of
their own songs, and by the love of the people, the woods and the woodswomen thrived
as never before.
But
what happened to the woodswomen? Where are they now? And why have the woods
become so, so silent?
Some
say that the woodswomen never left and that it was in fact the people who changed.
The people left the woods and instead of calling it Home as they once did, they
began calling it The Wild. The people become townspeople and their children
grew up learning that The Wild was a dangerous place full of dark and menacing
creatures. Among the townspeople were few who could still hear the beating
heartbeat of the woods and sweet songs of the earth. In secret, they watched
over the hearth of remembering and saw that the flame kept burning.
It
is said that the woodswomen once gathered at the edge of the woods, looking out
over fields, towns and villages. Together, they sang a song so sad, so grey,
dark clouds filled the skies and drenched the earth with rain. Some of the
townspeople felt a sorrow they could not explain and children cried without
knowing why. The woodswomen’s tears fell upon the earth and the Great Mother
took them with her loving hands and laid them gently down to rest.
So
if ever you go in the woods and listen very closely, you might just hear that weeping
song of the woodswomen, softly singing in the wind.
Much
has been said about that time so long ago and we may never know the full story.
What we do know, however, is that the woodswomen’s song is calling louder and
clearer than ever before.
Listen.
Can you hear the song calling from afar? Can you hear the song calling from
within?
Listen.
Hear the sound of Earth Song – the sound of our mother calling us home.
May that which was lost be found and that which was forgotten be rememembered once again. May we walk in tune with the heart of the woods just like the woodswomen once showed us, and may we tell the stories we once knew so well, sing the songs we once sang and awaken to the songs calling to us today – Earth
Songs for the healing of the land and all who dwell upon it.
The time has come to sing.
Song of the Woods
The
time has come to sing the song, the song of the woods (x2)
The
song we once sang, the song we once sang,
the
song we once sang, with love for the woods.
Skogens Sång (Swedish)
Vi minns den sången, skogens egen sång (x2)
Den sången som vi sjöng, sången som vi sjöng,
sången som vi sjöng, med skogen.
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| Photo by Tanja Muratova |
On Sunday the 24th of March I will hold a Song of the Woods (Skogens Sång) workshop in Järna, Sweden. Welcome to a healing journey into the heart of the woods where I will guide you with a gentle weaving of singing, drumming and storytelling to connect with your roots and experience nature with all of your senses. For more info, contact me by email at sagoheim@gmail.com
I
will also hold a story walk in the woods on Sunday the 14th of April (in Swedish) in Järna, Sweden.
Read
or listen to the full story of The Woodswomen here.
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