A Child’s Song of an African tribe,
sung throughout its Life
There is a tribe in Africa where the birth date of a child is counted not from when they were born, nor from when they are conceived but from the day that the child was a thought in its mother’s mind. And when a woman decides that she will have a child, she goes off and sits under a tree, by herself, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child that wants to come. And after she’s heard the song of this child, she comes back to the man who will be the child’s father, and teaches it to him. And then, when they make love to physically conceive the child, some of that time they sing the song of the child, as a way to invite it.
And then, when the mother is pregnant, the mother teaches that child’s song to the midwives and the old women of the village, so that when the child is born, the old women and the people around her sing the child’s song to welcome it. And then, as the child grows up, the other villagers are taught the child’s song. If the child falls, or hurts its knee, someone picks it up and sings its song to it. Or perhaps the child does something wonderful, or goes through the rites of puberty, then as a way of honoring this person, the people of the village sing his or her song.
In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them.
The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.
And it goes this way through their life. In marriage, the songs are sung, together. And finally, when this child is lying in bed, ready to die, all the villagers know his or her song, and they sing—for the last time—the song to that person.~o~
You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn’t. In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little warbly at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you’ll find your way home.
Dobri Dobrev, the Bulgarian altruist,
who begs for money to give away
In Bulgaria, 98 year old Dobri Dobrev, a man who lost his hearing in the second world war, walks 10 kilometers from his village in his homemade clothes and leather shoes to the city of Sofia, where he spends the day begging for money.
though a well known fixture around several of the city’s churches, known for his prostrations of thanks to all donors, it was only recently discovered that he has donated every penny he has collected — over 40,000 euros — towards the restoration of decaying bulgarian monasteries and churches and the utility bills of orphanages, living instead off his monthly state pension of 80 euros.
Elephant Prosthesis in Asia
((_,-.
'-.\_)'-,
) _ )'-
,.;.,;,,(/(/ \));,;.,.,
✧
OK, crying now.
Faith in humanity restored again
(✿◠‿◠)
♡
=^•֢•^= from Russia?
Loving kindness rocks.
Fox cub
and the Hound
=^•..•^=
Scruffy dog has chance encounter with school kids in UK park. What was I worried about?
♡
** Credits are below, but in actuality the top two posts were re-blogged a fair few times before they got to me.
Which shows not just how brilliant they are, but also how meaningful it is to this generation that these things happen. Such beauty is worth recording, sharing and celebrating!
~o~
Dedicated to the Pulminary Fibrosis support group, LEEP, I helped out at today. It was a discussion there that really got me thinking about current values, and prompted this post. So thanks guys, for being inspiring 🙂
☆ And thanks to the hospital staff there for restoring my faith in what the medical profession’s really there for.
Credits
via Tumblr:
A child’s song via: starseedthoughts / thegodmolecule
Dobri Dobrev via: starseedthoughts / amysphoenix
Elephant Prosthesis via: self-assassin, Babydoll1976, et al
Elephant Assii art by PjP
Bristol school kids by Jas
Jun 19, 2013 @ 22:22:11
Just Beautiful!
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Jun 19, 2013 @ 23:50:31
Yes :”) aren’t they.
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Jun 20, 2013 @ 10:44:24
Selfless love is a thread I perceive running through these posts. The African tribe
giving their support and love through a childs perpetual song.
The Bulgarian begging and donating the proceeds to charity, I wonder how many see past the tattered clothes and see his beautiful soul.
Love for creatures, to give the elephant an artificial leg, to the dog in the park who gets a cuddle from the boy in park, who does`nt know the dog, but extends his love to make the dog happy and feel worthwhile.
Good to hear there are nursing staff who are committed to healing and caring.
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 12:41:49
Thank you Mummaz, the Summer Solstice this year seems to be a time when many people are feeling the cosmic energies of unconditional love circling the earth. And you’re right, it does run through those links, and many others I keep finding. (added the one about the fox cub :~)
Meditate on those feelings of love I would, they are way powerful the now.
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Jun 20, 2013 @ 12:10:53
Moved to tears… Thank you for sharing these stories. They merit being passed along as often as possible.
Your blog posts are wonderful.
~Meredith
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 12:48:53
Oh, we can learn so much from these stories, can’t we? They seem to hit something deep inside with their innocence and love.
Your blog is a bit brilliant too. You share some lovely poems and images.
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 13:41:41
Yup. Touches the centerpoint and radiates.
Thank you for your comment about my blog. I am working through a transition with it… and some days, I close my eyes and grit my teeth when I hit ‘publish.’ Your affirmation means a lot.
Meredith
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 16:55:51
I like that, ‘touches the centerpoint and radiates.’
I’m finding that this blog is naturally changing as time goes on. I know that great writers say writing is akin to pulling teeth, but it seems that to keep our blogs authentic, they really need to speak to who we are?
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Jun 25, 2013 @ 18:12:41
(smile) … and there it is.
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Jun 25, 2013 @ 18:40:15
{{{{{Meredith}}}}}
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Jun 20, 2013 @ 15:12:43
Love your posts and especially the elephant with the artificial leg– beautiful, truly beautiful. Also the story above it.
Still doing distant Reiki Fridays for you. Do you remember me?
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 12:30:23
It’s a lovely image, isn’t it. Painting his toenails is a nice touch 🙂
Thank you for the Reiki. Your 9am is 2pm in the UK isn’t it?
* You’re in my Reiki / dedications book and anybody in that little Book of Magic gets prayers and healing sent their way. I’m afraid my grasp of time is a little lax, but it’s definitey happening Fri early afternoon.
I hope you’re fairing well Ellen.
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 15:03:17
Yes, it is a lovely image and the story about the song for each child is very beautiful, too. Thank you for sharing such utter gems to lift the spirits.
Yes, I have been doing the distants 2PM your time but today have to do it tonight so you may be sleeping or just getting up. Thanks for the energy and I do hope you are well, too. xx ellen
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Jun 21, 2013 @ 17:05:45
Thank you _(*)_ I’ll be abed in a few hours, but Reiki is said to work best when the recipient is relaxed.
This was a lovely post to do (even with the tears!) Have just added another quick video as well :~)
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Jun 22, 2013 @ 18:18:28
Yes, the video was great, too. A totally lovely post all in all!!
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Jun 22, 2013 @ 19:43:11
Yup! Faith in humanity truly restored. Glad you liked it 🙂
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Jun 24, 2013 @ 06:56:32
Thanks Jas. I am a bit late in reading this what with work and all that outer entanglement stuff. this post brought tears of joy to me!
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Jun 24, 2013 @ 08:14:10
Truly Jon, you are not alone in that :”)
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