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I was commissioned to write this 18 minute work - a collection of short pieces - to accompany a group art show called 'Down to the Bones.' My dear friend, Evelyn Wolff, took part with glass art pieces representing the chakras. This stunning piece 'Multi Armed Goddess' shows all of of them save the one on the very top of our heads.
Musically, I chose to explore my own DNA, and therefore my ancestors, real or imagined. The real bloodlines are West African, though where I will never know, First Nations - Cherokee, and Irish. The imagined ones, places and cultures to which I am especially attracted, span the rest of the globe. Not all of these bloodlines or cultures are woven into this work, but enough. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The very first piece, 'Sitting on my Heels in the Dust', I tried to make sound like a field recording in Africa somewhere. It represents the first chakra, and is at the very base of my life. |
Musings
While out for a morning stroll along the ocean, my train of thoughts turned to ‘self forgiveness’ by way of my ancestors, and therefore my own deeply held fears.
As a fourth generation 'mixed genes’ child of recently freed slaves, slave owners - the majority of whom were 'immigrant’ Celts who had managed to thrive in 18th century America, the freemen born, first nations peoples, and who knows who else thrown in the mix, I can attribute much of my personal journey to the deep wounds, along with the strength of character and spirit all my recent ancestors passed to me. The 'woundings' part, I think, is called 'genetic trauma memory’ or something like that.
In very recent history, all my fourth generation and further back ancestors from each of these gene pools suffered hunger, if not outright starvation, major prejudice and exclusion, genocide, etc. etc.
All of these experiences, they say, are hard wired into the subsequent behaviour and deeply held beliefs of their genetic line, unless we bit by bit overcome them - each of us along the way as best we can.
I’d venture to guess there is no one alive who does not carry genetic trauma memory - war, slavery, starvation and cruelty being so prevalent in our world and psyches. The good news is that the very opposite is equally prevalent. We need only cultivate it.
But I digress, I think, from my original intention with this post.
My point, now almost lost in the winds blowing across my typing, is that we must be kind with ourselves as we struggle to overcome the trauma that has been passed down to us for generations. Slowly we are learning to access the strength of our own characters, the blessings of those ancestors, and perhaps….the Light Source?
The music of 'Bones - A Chakra Journey’ is a journey with my ancestors up the river of light energy. May we each heal, and flourish for the sake of ourselves, those who have gone before us, our children, our world, and all its inhabitants.
Bones - A Chakra Journey
music and vocalizations by B. Glenn Copeland
© B.Glenn-Copeland SOCAN
Stained Glass Art: 'Multi Armed Goddess’ by Evelyn Wolff
http://www.wolffglass.ca/gallery.html
While out for a morning stroll along the ocean, my train of thoughts turned to ‘self forgiveness’ by way of my ancestors, and therefore my own deeply held fears.
As a fourth generation 'mixed genes’ child of recently freed slaves, slave owners - the majority of whom were 'immigrant’ Celts who had managed to thrive in 18th century America, the freemen born, first nations peoples, and who knows who else thrown in the mix, I can attribute much of my personal journey to the deep wounds, along with the strength of character and spirit all my recent ancestors passed to me. The 'woundings' part, I think, is called 'genetic trauma memory’ or something like that.
In very recent history, all my fourth generation and further back ancestors from each of these gene pools suffered hunger, if not outright starvation, major prejudice and exclusion, genocide, etc. etc.
All of these experiences, they say, are hard wired into the subsequent behaviour and deeply held beliefs of their genetic line, unless we bit by bit overcome them - each of us along the way as best we can.
I’d venture to guess there is no one alive who does not carry genetic trauma memory - war, slavery, starvation and cruelty being so prevalent in our world and psyches. The good news is that the very opposite is equally prevalent. We need only cultivate it.
But I digress, I think, from my original intention with this post.
My point, now almost lost in the winds blowing across my typing, is that we must be kind with ourselves as we struggle to overcome the trauma that has been passed down to us for generations. Slowly we are learning to access the strength of our own characters, the blessings of those ancestors, and perhaps….the Light Source?
The music of 'Bones - A Chakra Journey’ is a journey with my ancestors up the river of light energy. May we each heal, and flourish for the sake of ourselves, those who have gone before us, our children, our world, and all its inhabitants.
Bones - A Chakra Journey
music and vocalizations by B. Glenn Copeland
© B.Glenn-Copeland SOCAN
Stained Glass Art: 'Multi Armed Goddess’ by Evelyn Wolff
http://www.wolffglass.ca/gallery.html