Song Lyrics for A Meaningful Exchange

VERSE 1

Marriage the highest of Meaningful Exchanging’s

A meaningful Exchange of energies

A meaningful Exchange of one’s soul, One’s vibration In this universe.  

A couple gives their souls to one another.  They give the greatest gift of all

Love.

CHORUS

Every exchange is energetic

Every exchange sets the tone

What a meaningful exchange

What a meaningful exchange

VERSE 2

At a wedding, we share with you this wondrous occasion,

with another meaningful exchange

A set of spoons, a citrus zester.

Things you will certainly remember who gifted to you

A registry. Of meaningless things.

Isn’t that tacky?

Is that what we need to start a life these days?

CHORUS

Every exchange is energetic

Every exchange sets the tone

What a meaningful exchange

What a meaningful exchange

VERSE 3

Has money seeped into our traditions?

Corrupted traditions that no longer have spiritual meaning  

Do we disconnect ourselves on purpose

A community of apparitions half living

Simulating a system of what we think life looks like

What a meaningful exchange.

What a meaningful exchange

The Bug of Beauty

Butterflies.  These magical flying fairies that everyone seems to giggle when they bare their presence; making any scene more beautiful as they fly around your shoulder, kiss your knee, land on your hand.  They fly around your body and love on your being, your existence.   Why does everyone love butterflies, coo and oooh and ahhh when they show up?

Butterflies bring beauty wherever they go because they do nothing but spread love.  They flutter around with seemingly no other purpose but to exist and bring light and radiance.  They fly over a flower and seem to change the scene to another level of serene grandeur. Even a sight that might not be conventionally beautiful such as a tossed aside plate of food at an outdoor restaurant… but with a butterfly fluttering low above the crumbs, the discarded meal can look picturesque.

Butterflies seem to capture everyone’s attention, stop them in midst conversation for people to turn around, point and comment, “Look! Look at that beautiful butterfly,” until the pair can tilt their head in admiration of the flying fairies splendor.  

What did the butterfly do to deserve such acclimation's? Why do some insects have a better reputation than other?  People do not oooh and ahhh at the flying beetles with their multicolor tonation of brown shelled wings.  Beetles do not enhance any scene, stop people in their tracks to pay attention to their glory.  In fact, some harmless insects elicit a strong negative reaction in people.  

Is it a correlation to our cultures values of beauty? Does the butterfly represent the elite insect… the BUG OF BEAUTY… The BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY…

Perhaps. Or possibly it IS the seemingly endless love that exudes from this magical pixie.

Bandersnatch Booby Trap: Flipside 2013

Your shadow will follow you wherever you go. You cannot escape your darker half.

It is a part of your essence, your being, you.

Only in the darkness does it disappear; The darkness enveloping your entire self, all consuming. 

Part of you feels the need to tuck your darker half into the shadows.  Unnoticeable. Pretend it is Nonexistent.

Let your shadow see the light.  Dance in the sun, dance with your shadow, acknowledge it is a part of you. Although dark, and inescapable, share your shadow as you will learn others have a darker half as well.  Acknowledging your shadow to others will enlighten others to display their shadows too.

We are not perfect beings; the darkness makes us real.  You are not alone. 

As sure as the sludge at the bottom of my kava bowl and my primitive mind can comprehend

I stood at the edge of the snow peaked mountain, the entire world underneath me, the entire universe above me.  Cutting wind sliced my skin like it could reach my insides and turn me frigid from the inside out.  Tears reached the corners of my eyes, unknown from the cold, whipping wind or from the emotion inside; standing on the edge of beauty and destruction.  Where are you a voice echoed? Is this my mind or is this reality? I drew a long deep breath until my lungs hit their capacity, and when I couldn’t fill my lungs any further with the moist, crisp air, I drew another quick breath until it felt as though I would explode like an oversized inflatable.  I squeezed my eyes shut and imagined the lightness. Tears rolled down my flesh, hitting my lip until I could taste the air colliding with my tears. My fingers outstretched in all directions, my palms taught and outfacing, hanging beside my body; my entire body tense and in suspense. And then I let go.  I screamed.  I screamed until it echoed to the heavens.  I screamed until the elk in the valley’s looked to the sky.  I screamed until I saw the world vibrate.  My chest heaving up and down, and then I screamed again.  I screamed until it rippled the river, moved the snow, and shifted the clouds. Here is my impact. Let me leave my mark.

I fell to my knees and I looked up to the heavens.  The wind was now still.  The sky was now dark as ink.  I fall backwards to my back and that’s when I saw two specks floating above me which appeared to be stars.  They were so low it looked as though I could touch them.  I lifted my arm to grab them.  The stars floated higher, my stairwell to heaven ascending. I couldn’t blink.  Rid me of what does not serve me. This ripple, this portal, this stairwell, let it be the boat that carries me away. Let me float, don’t let me fall. No. Let me fly. I roll over to my belly until the snow hits my cheek. I welcome the sting of cold sensation. It is real. Let my reality by a mythical story tale. 

I crouch to my knees and bow my head in prayer, spiritual prayer.  And that’s when it happened. An eagle appeared and seemed to be suspended in the air for about a minute, staring me in the eye.  We had a conversation with our eyes as we reached to the core of our one another’s being.  Such magnificent power sent from divinity.  The bird disappeared as fast as it had come, leaving behind a single feather. 

I gathered the feather, some snow into a jar I had brought with me, and a stone from the mountain. I will be reminded of this reality.  I will be reminded of my connection to mother earth, to the animal kingdom, to the elements, and to myself. 

Thank you for this day.  And those to follow.  Stand on your mountain.  Test the edge.