One of our bedtime songs recognizes the vibrational energy of Mother Nature, who teaches us. As a family, we often see that our experiences outdoors help us to better know our Nature–inside and outside. Observing the mountains, we learn to stand firm, for example.
“Our Lady Mother Nature”
The Story
This song arrived in my life almost a year ago, in the Big Bend area of Texas. Our tipi encampment was setup by the bank of the Rio Grande, bordering Mexico. It's a desert wilderness, where tipis have stood for thousands of years. Each year, my brothers and I retreat to this mystical place.
The Big Bend experience is rich with life lessons, as we face the harsh extremes of the natural elements. The sun can be fierce, of course. The windstorms can be violent at times, while other times the breeze is a soft caress. The cleanliness of the river is debatable, but on occasion, when the sunlight sparkles on the surface, there's nothing more satisfying than a swim to Mexico.
I'm starting to gear-up for this year's retreat; we're leaving a week from today. Interestingly, a great blue heron showed up right outside our living room window. Fortunately, I had just enough time to setup my camera and snap a photo and a video clip just before he took off. You can see this footage at the beginning of the song, shown above.
Being the dream reader I am, I see some interesting symbolic meaning in the heron as a Spirit guide. The heron is a water bird, with enormous size, and these qualities give the heron special strength in wading the deeper waters. As a symbol, the heron indicates readiness to stand strong in the deeper reaches of emotional feeling and expressing. To me, the first message in this bird sighting is this: I am prepared to go deep.
Another thing I notice in the heron is that this bird flies solo. According to Wikipedia, herons are lone hunter, only gathering in colonies during breeding season. Because this is verifiably true, the arrival of the heron represents the ability to stand and soar alone. This message brings comfort to me, as I ready myself for the Big Bend adventure, where I'll spend most of my time in isolation.
The Lyrics
Oh, Our Lady, Mother Nature
Your vibration brings us firmness
For You teach us in the mountains
To stand with great strength
Oh, Our Lady, Mother Nature
Your vibration brings us stillness
For You teach us in the desert
To relax in the fiery sun
Oh, Our Lady, Mother Nature
Your vibration brings us comfort
For You teach us in the country
To sway with the wind
Oh, Our Lady, Mother Nature
Your vibration brings us beauty
For You teach us in the forest
To sing in harmony
Oh, Our Lady, Mother Nature
Your vibration brings us wonder
For You teach us in the ocean
To cry so colorfully
The Acknowledgements
It's been a pleasure participating in Steemit Open Mic. As I've expressed in the video here, this song is designed to be shared in a group, and so it is formatted as a call-and-response, with repetitive verses. This style of songwriting is different from most of the entries we see in the Open Mic. My personal feeling is that music is most enjoyable when we can all sing together, joining our voices, interacting through a unified melody and an expressive harmony.
Thank you for accepting me just as I am, and allowing me to share this music that is so special to me. Being here has allowed me to refine and improve my musicianship, and I believe this is just the beginning of an eternal Journey as a music man. Thanks to the host, the sponsor, the support team, the audience, the musicians, and the Force that draws us to grow together.
