Lyrics and Stories

Welcome

1. Free

by Ric Sharette

sung by DelAnne Haslam

I am free, I am boundless,

There is nothing holding me down.

I can breathe, I see my choices,

I am free, I am free right now.

Unobstructed, Unrestricted

Unconstrained and unattached

Unimpeded, I'm on the loose

I'm off the hook, no looking back

I am free, I am boundless,

There is nothing holding me down.

I can breathe, I see my choices,

I am free, I am free right now.

My load is light, my burden breezy

I am dancing on a cloud

My love is flowing, easy going

My heart is singing right out loud

I am free, I am boundless,

There is nothing holding me down.

I can breathe, I see my choices,

I am free, I am free right now.

We're given life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

As whole parts of God, endowed by our Creator

The way is clear and it cries for our wisdom

We are untethered as we reach for something greater

I'm feelin' smooth on the open sea

of endless possibilites

So much good lives in and 'round me

I freely choose and let it be

I am free, I am boundless,

There is nothing holding me down.

I can breathe, I see my choices,

I am free, I am free right now.

I am free, I am free right now!

For whatever reason, I felt more horrified at the murder of George Floyd than the many other recent, tragic killings of black Americans by law enforcement. I’m still puzzled by this. I’ve not watched any video of this tragedy, nor any of the numerous tragedies of this kind over the past 10 years or so. I heard a description of what happened to George Floyd in some detail, and I heard about his life and his family on public radio. Perhaps this is what contributed to my strong reaction.

I am old enough to remember what happened to Rodney King in 1991; that he was severely beaten by police; how these police officers were tried and acquitted; 6 days of rioting; 63 people killed, some 2400 injured. Finally, two years later, Federal charges brought grand jury indictments against the officers and 4 million was awarded to Mr. King in damages.

It’s been over 30 years since the unjustified, brutal beating of Rodney King. Why haven’t we learned from this tragedy or any other of its kind? This confounding question added to my shock about the awful, senseless murder of George Floyd.

Months later in a quiet moment, I had an ‘impression’ that he was very much alive in another dimension. “He was smiling, BIG white teeth shining, and saying over and over, in a cocky, euphoric way “I am free! I am free! I am free!” This was the inspiration for my tribute to George Floyd. “I am free, I am boundless. There is nothing holding me down. I can breathe, I see my choices. I am free right now!” Indeed, this is ultimately true for all of us.

Although we continue, Chamaigne and I, to passionately support civil rights and a complete end to racism in all its forms, devious and overt, piecemeal and systemic; we know we have a long way to go as a country and culture. Still, I choose to remember George Floyd from my last impression of him: big, white teeth smile, “I am free!”

This song supports themes about:

Freedom
Liberty
Courage
Zeal
Power

2. So Much

by Ric Sharette

sung by Chamaigne Sharette

So much beauty given for my eyes.

So much fortune, now I realize,

All I do, all I have, alleluia.

All I am, alleluia.

So much music given for my ears.

So much love melting all my fears.

All I do, all I have, alleluia.

All I am, alleluia.

Life pours in through my senses, caressing my soul.

I drop all my defenses. No need for control.
I feel my connection to opulent bliss.

I flourish in joy with all that there is.

So much light in every darkened space.

So much wisdom showing me the way.

All I do, all I have, alleluia.

All I am, alleluia.

Life pours in through my senses, caressing my soul.

I drop all my defenses. No need for control.
I feel my connection to opulent bliss.

I flourish in joy with all that there is.

So much peace in every breath I take.

So my joy for my heaven's sake

All I do, all I have, alleluia.

All I am, alleluia.

This song is one of a very few in which I wrote the tune before ANY lyrics. It was summer, 2008. The guitar progression I tinkered with opened a vast, warm-colored space within me. Every time I picked up my guitar back then I started with that progression. Then one day playing my guitar, from this warm space within me the words “so much” came. I said the words out loud. Simultaneously, I was feeling plenty of gratitude for “so much” good stuff around me. I wrote a few verses and decided I had to express what “so much” Good was ‘doing to me.’ It was exhilarating! This song has always been about how grateful I am, for my senses, for so many blessings, for my life!

I asked my wife, Chamaigne to sing this song at church a few months after we were married (2011). It was the first time I’d heard the song with piano, bass and drums. The lively waltz feel driving into the choruses was awesome and Chamaigne sang the heaven into it! Since then, we’ve performed it many times – especially around Thanksgiving, for obvious reasons.

On the album you’ll hear Chamaigne harmonizing with herself – amazing! The ‘tribal’ percussion, fretless bass guitar and ethereal keyboard sounds ‘lift’ the song to a very gratifying plane. I hope you enjoy listening! Perhaps, you’ll feel the gratitude I was feeling.

This song supports themes of

Gratitude (duh)
Abundance
Beauty
Oneness

3. I've Got a Mind

by Ric Sharette

I've got a mind to do the things I do.

I'm gonna do things my way,

'Cuz that's the way I'm goin' through.

I've got a mind to say the things I say.

I'm gonna say things my way,

Though they may say, "Hey that's risque."

You know I got a mind to thinkin' bigger than a thought,

Make a new decision, don't have to buy the things I bought.

It's powerful to know I make it up along the way.

I'll be true to myself, pull my dreams off the shelf, make it up a better way.

I've got a mind to hear my heart's desire.

I'm gonna listen always.

I'll let my heart and mind conspire.

Cuz I got a mind to question everything.

I've got a mind to question everything.

I'm gonna quiz the teachers,

But I will heed my own heart strings.

You know I got a mind to thinkin' bigger than I thought.

Make a new decision, don't have to buy the things I bought.

It's powerful to know I make it up along the way.

I'll be true to myself, pull my dreams off the shelf, make it up a better way.

I've got a mind to choose the way I go.

I got a mind to choose which way I go.

And I'm gonna choose my own way.

I'll overthrow the status quo.

I've got a mind to do the things I do.

I'm gonna do my own thing,

Though it may cause a hullabaloo.

In 1997, I took a class taught by Rev. Donald Graves at the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living called, The Roots of Science of Mind. It’s a ten-week study of three visionaries, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thomas Troward and Emma Curtis Hopkins, who greatly influenced Ernest Holmes, the founder of our philosophy. Rev. Donald told his class that a final project from each of us would be due by our last class; something creative inspired by any part of the class content. I enjoyed the class very much and the diversity of thought in Emerson, Troward and Hopkins was very helpful to me getting a broader sense of the Science of Mind teaching.

Of course, I learned a lot about myself too – how I tend to veer my thoughts in a singular direction; how I avoided thinking about some things; how I was driven to simplify concepts – even if it sacrificed a better outcome. I realized that my mind had a much bigger role in the fullness of my being; that I had a Huge command center and receiver – my mind, that had a major part to play in all my actions, my feelings, my sensations, my thoughts, my beliefs, my imagination, my dreams and even my sleep. My entire life-experience was received, managed, and responded to by my conscious and subconscious thoughts. Wow!

On older TV shows the usually agitated character gives a cliché response to an offense “Why, I’ve got a mind to…” or “Why, I ought ta…” I decided to use this ‘hook’ “I’ve got a mind” to describe the ways I use my mind. I took it a step further and described how I can use my mind to boldly be myself, question what I’m told, speak my truth, make my own path. It was easiest for me to express this in a twelve-bar blues style and it made way for some humor too. Most of all, I was pleased to use one of my Grandma’s clichés, “hullabaloo.” By the way, this word had a LOT to do with Chamaigne’s initial infatuation with me. Without it, who knows? Maybe we wouldn’t have gotten married...

This song supports themes about

Thinking
Mind
Being One’s Self
Freedom
Courage

Lyrics and Stories

4. Holy, Holy, Holy Ground

by Ric Sharette

Sung by Lezlee Monroe

Holy Holy Holy Ground,

We are standing on holy ground.

Love and light and joy abound.

We are standing on holy ground.

It’s Spring, 1997 - I distinctly remember standing over the grand piano one evening at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA for one of the annual retreats sponsored by the Centers for Spiritual Living. I was listening to Linda Webb-Khakaba play and sing. I loved listening to her rich, alto voice.

What I remember next I cannot confirm, and this kind of bugs me! You’d think that with our access to such amazing information technologies I’d be able to confirm this: I heard Linda Webb-Khakaba sing and play a song (I call), Holy, Holy, Holy Ground. Now, it’s a simple lyric and from what I remember, a fairly simple tune. I asked her if I could try different music with her lyrics. She said “Yes”, and I did just that. All of this said, I cannot find ANY info that verifies that Linda Webb-Khakaba wrote the lyrics to this tune. It’s not on her website. Google has not found anything about this song anywhere. Unfortunately, our dear and talented Linda Webb-Khakaba passed away in 2009, so I cannot ask her to verify my story. If you, dear Reader, know who wrote the lyrics to Holy, Holy, Holy Ground – or whatever she may have titled it, please let me know!

I’ve chosen this song as an Opening Song or a Closing Song to start or end our celebration service on Sunday mornings. I’ve also selected it for a Community Song when it aligned with the minister’s message. On this album, I asked Lezlee Monroe to sing it and add her harmonies. Yeah, that was a good decision on my part! Chamaigne adds her vocal harmonies at the very end – like whip cream on the sundae! Lezlee also plays keyboard for us, and the organ sounds here really give the song some extra juice. With a full band, this song has been a hit!

This song supports the themes of:

Unity
Love
Light
Joy – that for every step we take, we are on Holy Ground.

Lyrics and Stories

5. I Surrender

by Ric Sharette

sung by DelAnne Haslam

I surrender, I surrender,

To the Power and Presence of God,

To the Power and Glory of God,

Within me.

In 2007, author Diane Harmony came to our Center to speak and facilitate a workshop. She had written a new book, Five Gifts for an Abundant Life. In her workshop she had us recite an affirmation that was given to us on little cards (It’s also in her book) “I surrender to the Power and Presence of God within me.” It was the most important gift I received from her workshop. I imagined shortly after her class that this affirmation would work beautifully in a chant.

As I found time to play with this idea, I heard the news that Kamrin Carver, a dear friend and member of our spiritual community, had met with an investor who wanted to collaborate with him to bring Neale Donald Walsch to Salt Lake City to do a seminar, AND speak at our Sunday service that same weekend! Wow, this is Big Deal! I cannot remember what Neale Donald Walsch spoke about at our Center, but I do remember that my new song, inspired by Diane Harmony’s book, fit right into his talk theme.

It was just thrilling to perform my new song, I Surrender, to a packed sanctuary with Neale Donald Walsch there listening too! Before he started his talk, he thanked me, praised the song - how beautiful and fitting it was for his message.

I have chosen this song often as a Centering Song before a prayer or meditation. It lends itself to a call-response chant as well. DelAnne Haslam sings it beautifully on the album, with Chamaigne singing the harmonies. The classic guitar adds warmth to the minor verse. The sustain chord into the Picardy third at the end of the phrase gives the song an “All is well” feeling.

This song supports themes about

Surrender
Letting Go
Centering
Divine within us

Lyrics and Stories

6. There's Hope

by Chamaigne Sharette

I knew a woman, with gnarled up hands tight against her chest.

When these things happen, you think the circumstance will always last.

But she kept searchin' and prayin' and findin' the answers along her path.

Now her passion is back. She cooks like a chef, flyin' hands across the fryin' pan.

Oh There's hope, there's peace, and I believe,

There's helping hands that we can't see.

The purpose is a mystery,

But there's hope.

I knew a man whose doctors told him he was near the end.

He didn't believe them, but just in case, he lived out loud till then.

And he kept searchin' and prayin' and findin' the answers along his path.

Now the cancer is gone and he keeps movin' on with the best life he's ever had.

Oh There's hope, there's peace, and I believe,

There's helping hands that we can't see.

The purpose is a mystery,

But there's hope.

I was a woman who lived under a ten-thousand pound elephant.

To say it was hard to get out of bed would be a massive understatement.

But I kept searchin' and prayin' and findin' the answers along my path.

Now I'm singin' and dancin' and laughin' and livin' the aftermath,

Of hope, and peace, and my belief,

There's helping hands that we can't see.

The purpose is a mystery,

But there's hope.

There's hope.

I've had my ups and downs with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome my whole life. During one of my "ups", I began writing "There's Hope". But I got stuck and put it in a manilla envelope labelled "song scraps". There it sat for 10 years, during which I was in no position to write a song about overcoming this particular challenge.

When I first started singing at the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living in 2012, I didn’t have the leg muscles to stand up for the opening song, announcements, reading, centering song, prayer, and community song before the band got to leave the stage and sit down. On my first day, during the announcements my legs started trembling from the strain of standing, which is something I had never experienced before. I honestly didn't know if it would be better to nonchalantly exit the stage or keep standing there and find out if legs trembling from the strain of standing would collapse under me.

Fast forward ten years to 2022, and I never even think about my legs while I'm standing during the first half of the service. If I'm singing and speaking and wearing high heels, I'll most definitely be aware of my feet! But not my legs.

One day when I was feeling particularly grateful for my ability to come to the Center once a week to sing (and occasionally dance in the aisles) I dug through my old "song scraps" and finished "There's Hope".

This song tells three (mostly) true stories. The woman with paralyzed hands hadn’t yet reached the stage of disease where her hands were "gnarled up", but they were hardening, and her prognosis wasn't good.

The "man with cancer" was actually a dear friend who told me that he was dying of liver failure 20 years ago now. He's still around. I've learned through countless experiences that seemingly dire health conditions really can change.

As for me living under a ten-thousand-pound elephant, well that part is true. It was just an invisible elephant, you see. I became very depressed at one point when the fatigue became almost totally debilitating. I started reviewing my life and realizing how abnormally fatigued I had always been. An example comes to mind - being 16 years old and driving 3 hours to Disney Land with my friends, only to take what I call a "non-negotiable nap" in the parking lot instead of going in. (I've still never been to Disney Land.)

When it started to dawn on me just how abnormal my health had always been, it was harder to have hope. I came to the realization that in order to have hope for my life I would have to be willing to believe that I'm not bound by precedent AT ALL. I would have to be willing to believe that my health could be different than it had ever been. That's quite an audacious hope - to be 30 and 40 years old and be willing to hope that I could become more healthy and energetic than I had been when I was 5 or 10 or 20 years old. But living without hope is unbearable. So I explored my willingness to hope.

Along the way I met other people with Chronic Fatigue who had gotten better. I'd ask them what helped them get better and they invariably said that it was a number of things. They just kept finding things to try.

That's how it was for me. I still sometimes feel as if I'm from another planet where we need twice as much sleep as Earthlings. But my capacity for productivity has increased dramatically, which is such a joyful thing.

I can't credit any one thing for "getting me better". It was a lot of things. Clearing up a gum infection, removing mercury fillings, a c-pap machine, medications, and tons of affection from my husband and my dog.

Speaking of illness is tricky in communities that offer spiritual tools for physical wellness. Many believe that speaking about illness enlivens and perpetuates it. I think it depends entirely on the come-from of the one speaking, and the purpose for which they speak. Sometimes I feel the need to give someone practical information, or I simply don't wish to impose on myself a taboo against speaking about my day-to-day experiences. I might be sharing a joy, a struggle, some encouragement, a funny moment, or a story about a song I wrote.

The good things that have come out of my unpleasant experiences have been extraordinary. I've dropped a lot of attachments and found the foundation of my peace. When I hit rock bottom, what I found was a bedrock of strength. There is no place where Love is not.

Lyrics and Stories

7. Change For the Better

by Ric Sharette

Life is always changin'

And I know change will do me good.

Life is always changin'

And I know change will do me good.

When I stay in one place too long,

I welcome change for the better.

When something just feels wrong,

I welcome change for the better.

Nature's bloomin' 'round us,

Always change for the better.

And I know change will do me good.

Yes I know, I change for the better.

And I know change will do me good.

In early 2010, the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living faced an awesome challenge…

Our minister submitted her resignation and put her house up for sale. She and her husband felt they needed to move to a lower altitude into a less dry climate due to their health challenges. Also, the lease agreement for our Center stipulated a few thousand-dollar increase beginning in January, 2010. We had to move!

We hired an interim minister, Rev. Marty Bacher, to lead us through this significant transition. For the first month in our new, church-in-a-box venue, the Wheeler Historic Farm, Rev. Marty designed his talks around the theme of “Change” which was apropos, of course. I had trouble finding an easy-to-sing community song about CHANGE, so I wrote this one. Musically, it’s a bold, hard-rock style which served up some attitude and fierce energy to face these changes and affirm their Higher Good.

As I wrote this song I remembered how natural change is. In fact, it is unnatural for us to "stay in one place too long". And, when something isn't working for us we are naturally driven to change it, right? Yeah, and look at nature naturally changing! So why not welcome change...for the better?

This song is supportive of themes about

Change
Life
Renewal
Facing the Unknown
Going with the Flow

Lyrics and Stories

8. There's More

by Ric Sharette

sung by Lezlee Monroe

Just when I think I know all I can do,

there's more.

Just when I think I can't,

something inside me says I can.

Just when I think I know all about love,

there's more and more.

Just when I think my heart is full,

it just continues to expand.

Just when I think I've arrived,

That my journey's near it's end.

Something inside me says,

"No, there's more. Think again."

My heart is open, my mind is free.

I now stand ready to live the greatness that lives me!

Just when I think I know all that I have,

there's more.

Just when I think my life is full,

another gift is mine to hold.

Just when I think I know all that I am,

there's more and more.

Just when I think I know myself,

another mystery unfolds.

Just when I think I've arrived,

That my journey's near it's end.

Something inside me says,

"No, there's more. Think again."

My heart is open, my mind is free.

I now stand ready to live the greatness that lives me!

I organized a weekend 'yard sale' fundraiser at the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living to help bring the amazing Daniel Nahmod into town to do a Sunday service and a concert following. Several announcements were made at the Center; an email blast to the congregation; volunteers stepped up to make calls and help with gathering second-hand items, pricing them and setting up tables prior to the event. It was a huge success! When we ran out of items to sell, more showed up. People donated money even though they didn't buy anything. So many helpers resetting the items for sale, collecting the money, excited to help. So many smiles! I was overcome with gratitude.

Sunday evening, after donating the few leftover items to a local charity, the cleanup completed and the wad of cash was turned in, I continued to ride that wave of gratitude for all I'd experienced that past weekend. Relieved and exhausted, I went to bed. At 2AM I woke up, surprised, feeling completely rested and still 'high'. I sat at my piano and wrote "There's More" in about an hour. The words and music just poured out of me, all inspired by the gratitude 'hangover' from the weekend's fundraiser and the countless blessings I'd received.

This song supports the themes of

Gratitude
Infinite Abundance
Infinite Love
Infinite Wisdom
Infinite Self
Eternal Life
Infinite Power

9. All That I Need to Be Free

by Ric Sharette

I'm a vagabond on a well-worn path of trials and tribulations.

I've been blind to everything except what's wrong.

I've been caught between some heavy rocks and various hard places.

I've been numb to everything except the pain.

But my soul pushes through the din and darkness.

And with an open heart and mind I begin to see:

I'm free to be all of me,

because God has made me,

And God has given me,

All that I need to be free.

I dance because I am joy. I love because I am love.

I live because I am life. I shine because I am the light.

I fly because I am freedom. I know because I am wisdom.

I rise because I am power. I give because my cup is full.

In the very hot summer of 2020, as we weathered the affects of a global pandemic, various lock-downs, mask mandates; the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and their opposition across the U.S., the economic stresses of unemployment and a compromised service sector; multiple school closures; chaotic presidential campaigns and more, I heard one common value praised and argued about among many groups of people throughout the world – Freedom.

In any community we live and work in, there will be situations where my freedoms ‘bump into’ your freedoms. So, how do we respond to or reconcile this? Our individual freedom to choose and act as we please must be inextricable to assuming responsibility for our choices that affect others… and ourselves.

I was told a story in Sunday School many years ago now about freedom and responsibility.

A boy and his father are hiking in the mountains and came upon a pond. They are weary from the long, steep hike and their feet are hot and achy in their boots. They sat on a large, fallen tree next to the water, took off their boots and socks to dip their feet in the cold water.

The boy noticed an old, wooden sign sticking out of the center of the pond and the words “Do Not Swim Here!” were barely legible. “Why can’t we swim here?” the boy asked. “I don’t know, son. I don’t see anything or anyone around here but someone placed that sign there”, the father replied. “I think it’s a joke,” said the son. “There’s nothing I can see that’s dangerous here, and I wanna go swimming.” The father thought for a moment. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to swim here,” he said. “It’s not worth the risk.” “There’s no risk” said the boy “This isn’t private property, and it’s a free country.” The boy started taking off his shirt. His father calmly said, “Well, yes, it’s a free country and we can do what we please most of the time…but we also have to take responsibility for our choices.” He faced his son, “You don’t know why that sign was placed there. Yes, you can assume it was a practical joke, but you don’t know for sure. It’s possible that someone knew of a danger here, maybe even experienced it themselves, and placed the sign to protect others. Are you willing, son, to take responsibility for your freedom to swim in a place that could harm you? Will you get sick by ingesting this pond water, or get leeches on your body or cut your feet from shards of broken bottles on the pond bed? That’s possible, isn’t it? You’re a grown boy and I have a bad back. Would I have to try to carry you back 2.5 miles to the car to get you to a hospital or back home? Sure, a lot of this is possible, but those possibilities only come into play if you make the decision to go swimming here. I would like to be free to finish our hike and spend more time talking with you. I may not be free to do that if you decide to swim here. I was free to make plans for you to come with me on this hike. I’ll take responsibility for all the decisions I freely made to get us here. If you decide to swim in this pond, knowing the possible ramifications of that decision, are you willing to accept responsibility for your actions? I’ll let you decide, but you know what I think.”

The boy paused a moment. “I guess I don’t wanna swim that badly.”

From a Divine perspective, we know Freedom is our birthright – each and All of us. As a characteristic of the Divine, Freedom is inextricably a part of All the characteristics of the One: Love, Peace, Wisdom, Joy, etc. As a Divine expression of the One, we are Free to live our lives, to respond to and create experiences that make the world a better place for All. We have already been given all we need to experience the fullness of freedom in every moment. It is up to each of us (our responsibility) to experience and share this Divine Freedom for the Highest Good of All.

This song is supportive of themes about:

Freedom
Liberty
God as us
Allowing the characteristics of the Divine to live and express FREELY through us.

Lyrics and Stories

10. Silence

by Chamaigne Sharette

Hush, hush, my busy mind.

It's time to rest.

Trade in my busy sounds,

For the sound of silence.

Sweet music, open the door.

Ease my way.

Now I feel again,

The sound of silence.

May the changing landscape of thought,

Reveal what remains unchanging.

Beneath the winds of variety,

Is a silent, constant knowing.

Sweet music, open the door.

Ease my way.

Now I feel again,

The sound of silence.

“Silence” was inspired by Jack Fowler’s “In the Silence”, which starts off a cappella and is the perfect poem about meeting God and self in the silence. I wanted to write a song that beautiful, simple, and straight-forward. But my relationship with silence isn’t that beautiful, simple, and straight-forward. Jack Fowler sings, “In the silence there is peace”. For me, that peace doesn’t come so easily.

I closed my eyes and searched for the authentic voice of my relationship with silence. What immediately came to mind was, “Hush, hush, my busy mind. It’s time to rest. Trade in my busy sounds, for the sound of silence.”

For Simon and Garfunkel “sound of silence” was the the meaningless noise of a neon-light society where people are afraid to speak up about important things.

For me, the “sound of silence” refers to the buddhist practice of listening to silence. A teacher at the 2015 Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City, there was a buddhist monk who taught that the “sound of silence” is an almost metallic buzzing sound. This is a good description of the “ringing in the ears” I get when it’s quiet after a road trip or a concert. When I’m out in the Utah desert, or high in the mountains, it’s almost “deafening”. It’s as if I have a “ringing in the ears” after the noise of the city is gone. It’s not particularly pleasant in my ears, but the silence is pleasantly palpable in my chest, like the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket. The ringing in my ears fades as the sustenance of contact with the Earth slowly saturates my body, like water reviving the desert soil. Finally, I am fully present. Long-forgotten sensations of deep wellbeing begin to blossom. I think to myself, “Oh wow. I remember this. I really ought to do this more often.” Then I remember, “I get to do this right now.” Regrets for not having done more of something before, or plans to “do this again” are just the last gasp of resistance to allowing gratitude to flow.

The “changing landscape of thoughts” revealing “what remains unchanging” refers to a teaching I’ve heard from both Gangaji and Byron Katie - that when everything is changing all around you, you can better notice the things that stay the same. Gangaji’s invitation to the world is simply to be still. She says that if she tried to describe what you’ll find in the stillness, it would become a concept that would just serve as another distraction. She says that what you’ll find in the stillness is “very good news” about the nature of reality and your relationship to it.

Apart from being in contact with the Earth on a perfect spring day, music is the thing that most eases my way into becoming fully present. “Silence” is at once a lullaby to my busy mind, an evocation of the feelings of flow that music and earthing bring me, and an invocation to the “very good news” to be found in the silence.

11. Dance

by Ric Sharette

I'm gonna go with the moment.

I'm gonna feel so free.

I'm gonna dance to the rhythm of the Universe,

Gonna lead my destiny.

My former wife, Missy Jolley, is a licensed practitioner and served our spiritual community for years in that capacity, as well as serving as the Youth Director. She loved working with kids. The kids loved her playful approach to teaching, her expressive enthusiasm, her spontaneity and her unbridled creativity. She was an actress too (stage, TV and film), and she'd frequently morph into one of several 'characters' to make the most of teaching moments.

She taught me a few powerful lessons too in the nearly 20 years we spent together. One of the BIG ones was about change. I always considered myself an agile, adaptable person who welcomed change. Nope, I was not. Never. I don't know why I chose to deceive myself about this. I think I deceived others too. Most people (even my friends) would probably describe me as "easy going" and "calm" in any situation. I must have practiced this demeanor so as to appear strong and unfettered.

Historically, I'd been through a lot of changes - some of them were painful but turned out okay. I learned from Missy that my issue was more specifically, FEAR of change, I worried about potential disasters (and pain) as I obsessed about predicting future outcomes. I wanted to control all outcomes, especially the ones that affected providing for and protecting my family. Missy would go with the flow of life's natural ups and downs. She adapted, accommodated, and she did so with grace and a calm presence of mind. She was present with the issues that came up and with every person affected by them. She seemed to effortlessly access and command her strength, courage and wisdom - while I felt panic, shut-down and confused about how to respond to what was happening.

One peaceful, somewhat uneventful day, we were discussing this challenge that I had with the fear of change. She said that it saddened her when I get so upset about things that were clearly out of my control. She wished that I could 'go with the flow' more; that my imagination was not meant for worrying. "Just dance with what's going on. Dance to the rhythm of the universe, ya know?" A song was conceived at that moment. I wrote down some lyrics and put them to music that afternoon. Thanks, Missy!

This song would support themes about:

Being Present in the Moment
Going with the Flow
Partnering with the Divine
Free from fear of the Unknown

Lyrics and Stories

12. Boogie

by Chamaigne Sharette

sung by Lezlee Monroe

I love to move my body,

It eases up my mind,

And gets my blood a-flowin',

and slowly I unwind.

The challenges of livin',

I leave them at the door,

So I can take an hour

to boogie on the floor.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie.

I'm gonna leave my worries behind.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie.

Shake it up I'm feelin' fine.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie.

Just to feel that energy flow.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie,

And this is what I know:

My heart-soul-body-mind,

circumstance and my response -

All connected to my emotion.

That's why I'm gonna put it in motion.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie.

I'm gonna leave my worries behind.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie.

Shake it up I'm feelin' fine.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie.

Just to feel that energy flow.

I'm gonna boogie, boogie,

And this is what I know:

Release of stress is at it's best,

When dancin' with a positive notion.

That's why I'm gonna put it in motion.

This song was inspired by Wah!, a musician who does kirtan rock concerts. It's like kirtan and ecstatic dance all rolled into one.

I love all forms of singing and dancing as a spiritual practice. I’ve long envisioned creating a “Dance Kirtan”, but in English instead of Sanskrit. Wah! is my closest "metal equivalent". My vision is to create for others what I would like more of in my life - dancing while singing lyrics that encourage experiences of release, gratitude, listening to Spirit, becoming present to Oneness, daring to hope in spite of appearances, manifesting miracles, feeling the support of Nature/Divine Mind, and other themes like that.

I set out to write a dance-able kirtan-style song with repeat-after-me lyrics. No hymn books, no power-point lyrics. Music you can sing-along to with your eyes closed.

“Boogie” didn’t turn out to be a “repeat-after-me” song. I’ve discovered that sing-along-able songs - either “repeat-after-me” or chants that are short enough to learn on the spot - are a whole different art form than regular songs with verses and choruses and lots of words. There's a certain "sweet spot" on a continuum between "easy" and "engaging" that's surprisingly elusive at times - especially when you set out to write a song. (As opposed to those times when a song sets out to get written by you.)

I kept "Boogie" tucked away for a long time. I thought it was a little over-the-top goofy. But Ric insisted he wanted to use it at the Center one month. With a whole band adding the funk, it instantly became my new favorite song! It's amazing what some good music can do for the goofy-factor in lyrics.

13. Jump

by Ric Sharette

I trust God in me.

All of life is here for me.

I take a leap of faith and see,

All I want comes easily.

I jump into my life,

Abandon fear and strife.

Wake up my desire.

Jump into the fire.

I'm flyin' higher.

This song started with my intention to write an upbeat, rock tune and use a melodic bass line to build the song on top of. I composed a bassline for a verse and played with it a long time as I thought about how my lyrics would fit. The only lyric line I had was “I trust God in me. All of Life is here for me” I really wrestled with this tune, lyrically and musically. But finally, I had found a way to fit my lyric line into the rhythmic bassline and the rest of the song fell in place. This is a fun and easy sing-along tune that allows other ideas to ‘come and play’ as well.

At the end of one of our last recording sessions at Ken Kruckenberg’s studio, Sonic Pathways, Ken shared an idea of a pseudo-rap bit poured into the arrangement to add some more rhythm elements and turn up the personality of the song. We recorded him giving an example of his idea and went home to consider it. After some consideration, we decided to go for it. We had a lot of fun with the new additions and they have raised the roof on the energy and personality of the song! We were also inspired to build upon Ken’s ideas. We smile and laugh every time we hear it now! We wish the same for you! “Jump right in – the fire’s fine” Chamaigne says

This song supports themes about Boldness, Confidence, Trust, Faith, Divine Flow

Lyrics and Stories

14. Imagine America

Imagine by John Lennon

Alternate Lyrics and arrangement by Ric & Chamaigne Sharette

America the Beautiful - Music by Samuel A. Ward; Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates

My Country Tis of Thee - Music by Traditional; Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith

Imagine we're in heaven.

(Oh beautiful for spacious skies.)

It's easy if you try.

No hell below us.

(Just amber waves of grain.)

Above us only sky.

Imagine all the people

(Purple mountains, majesties,)

Living for today

(On the fruited plain.)

You may say I'm a dreamer

(America)

But I'm not the only one

(God shed His Grace on thee.)

I hope someday you'll join us

(with brotherhood from sea to sea.)

Imagine peaceful countries

(My country tis of thee)

It isn't hard to do

(Sweet land of liberty)

Nothing to kill or die for

(Where my fathers died)

Religious freedom too

(Land of the pilgrim's pride)

Imagine all the people

(from every mountainside)

Living life in peace.

You may say I'm a dreamer

(America)

But I'm not the only one

(God shed His Grace on thee.)

I hope someday you'll join us

(with brotherhood from sea to sea.)

You may say I'm a dreamer

(for all the world.)

But I'm not the only one

(seeing God in every face.)

I hope someday you'll join us

(One family.)

And the world will live as one.

When I first heard Michael Gott begin singing John Lennon's "Imagine" with a revised lyric, "Imagine we're in Heaven" I was transfixed. What a beautiful way to "bring Heaven to Earth". For some people, Heaven is a place. For others, it is a state of consciousness. Whatever else it is, Heaven is a "mental equivalent" - a vision of what existence could be like without the seemingly immutable realities of life on Earth, where people fight and die over religion, politics, land, and possessions.

As a songwriter, I feel a deep respect for John Lennon's original intent. He dreamed of a world in which there was nothing to fight over. Some have pointed out that "Imagine" makes a good anthem for the communist manifesto. No countries. No religion. No possessions. Lennon acknowledged that the song did fit, but said he had a different inspiration. Dick Gregory had given him and his wife Yoko Ono a Christian prayer book that inspired the song. Lennon said, "The concept of positive prayer...if you can imagine a world at peace, with no denominations of religion - not without religion but without any of this my-God-is-bigger-than-your-God thing - then it can be true."

Ric had the idea to make a medley with Imagine when we were preparing for a July 4th celebration one year. He put several songs for us to consider on the kitchen table. When he sang, "Imagine we're in heaven", my eyes fell onto the words, "Oh beautiful for spacious skies" and I got goosebumps. We spent the next hour or so shaping this medley.

We settled on making a few more lyric changes:

"No countries" became "peaceful countries".

"No religion" became "religious freedom".

The poetic juxtapositions we present in this song could have many possible interpretations. Our intent goes something like this:

Many ancient teachings say that the Kingdom of Heaven is here - within us, at hand, among us, etc. It appears, though, that we are not fully awake to it. To step into new ways of being, we first must imagine it. Everything that is expressed in form (or ways of being) was an idea first.

So, imagine you're in Heaven. You've arrived. Any longing for Heaven or worry about Hell is irrelevant now. You've arrived.

Now open your mind's eye, and look around with curiosity. What you see isn't clouds or fields of flowers with indescribable colors that don't exist on Earth. Rather, what you see when you open your eyes are amber waves of grain and majestic purple mountains. This is the divine paradise you've been waiting for and wondering about. It's right here on Earth.

Now, turn around and see that the whole world has awakened with you. No one is longing for or fearing the future. There's nothing more to fight about. Everyone's needs are abundantly met, and will be forever. There is nothing to do but love and enjoy and cooperate and create. You cannot help but love everyone you meet because their divine nature is so apparent, and so beautiful.

If it's hard to imagine the whole world in harmony like this, imagine just your country, or just your city, or just your family.

In your previous state of being, whenever you had problems with other people, you have felt that they didn't understand you. They didn't see you. They didn't see the purity of your intent and the depth of your being. Now, they see you. And you also see in them a depth of being that is breathtakingly beautiful. Is this possible on Earth? Well, if it is possible, imagining it is the first step.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. The United States was founded on principles so lofty that it has taken us time to grow into them and realize their full significance. We are still growing into full embodiment of these principles.

The Declaration of Independence famously says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...” We have grown and continue to grow in our understanding of this truth. Who we consider to be “men” has expanded from “white men” to “all men” to “women and men".

We like to tell the story of pilgrims with a dream of religious liberty for all. Actually, most of the religious groups in the early colonies dreamed only of religious freedom for themselves. Some turned around and persecuted other religious groups and tried to set up boundaries within which there would be only one religion practiced. Over time, we grew into the bigger idea that for anyone to have religious freedom, everyone must have it.

The original immigrants to what is now the United States had a dream of being free from political, economic, and religious oppression. Someday, the dream of an America with "brotherhood from sea to sea" will come to full fruition. For this to happen, we will need to wake up to the bigger idea that for anyone to be free, everyone must be free.

This is true for a country, and for the world. “A World that Works for Everyone" only works if it truly includes everyone.

Whatever else Heaven may be, it is also among us and within us right now. Recognizing it involves looking for it. You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one seeing God in every face. I hope someday you'll join us. "And the world will live as One".

We're honored that you have spent time with our music and our stories.

Love and Light,

Ric & Chamaigne Sharette