The Blessing Lyrics

Autumn cold drapes her dark shawl

Upon this Turtle - upon us all

A gentle drizzle sparkles the fire

A wonderful heat of restrained desire

Something Sacred has control

Something Sacred feeds the soul

The Earth feels warm and ripe

Alive beneath and within The Pipe

Gathered around this fire of the heart

Naked in towels prepare to depart

Inside the Turtle Dome's power

Where life is a moment - a couple of hours

The Coyote sits beneath umbrella

Flute in his lap a mysterious fella

Jasmine tea warms his hands and lips

Patiently awaiting their departure trips

The Swallow arrives at the blessed heat

Dressed in hair, a towel, and bare feet

The fire is stronger than the Autumn rain

An unknown song The Coyote contains

Newcomers learn from the Swallow's words

Preparing them for a flight with Nature's birds

The loading of The Pipe - the sacred time is now

Richard requests a song - a blessing prayer somehow

I can feel the richness of the Earth

I can feel a cosmic birth

I can feel the importance of what we do

I can feel the relationship of all of you

Something Sacred has control

Something Sacred feeds the soul

The Earth feels warm and ripe

Alive beneath - within The Pipe

No planning or rehearsals - this song is free

Perhaps the key of "E" - something inside me

Allowing the song to flow out smooth

The energies and directions are relaxed and soothed

The Pipe has been filled in a sacred manner

The colored flags are the spiritual banners

A buffalo skull between the fire and dome

This halfway point between birth and home

The seekers inside chant and sing

The drum beats along with the heartbeats' ring

As prayers blend together I stand outside

Chatting with the Fire Keeper and a woman of the Pipe

They teach me - they talk - preparing me for a test

Everything makes sense - when the mind is at rest

Today at the Y - during the Pipe Ceremony

A Red Stone Pipe was given to me

Jule and Kim teach about carrying The Pipe

Rules and responsibilities I like

As a Sifu - a teacher - this path is being walked

A new focus becomes clear in the hours we talked

The Turtle flap again opens - it is time for their smoke

Richard Swallow requests my flute be awoke

Standing before the glowing red coals

A song pours slowly for the Sweat Lodge souls

Something Sacred has control

Something Sacred feeds the soul

The Earth feels warm and ripe

Alive beneath and within The Pipe

"That was nice," Richard states with his head out the door

"But a little too short" - Jule whispers, "Better play some more"

The same song - yet different - making further still

Silhouettes of Rocky Mountains - I aim for the hills

The song is being pulled, pushed, flowing around me

Slowly I turn and aim it differently

Subtle changes feel and grow inside my song

Allowing my fingers to play - no note can be wrong

Turning in a circle - counterclockwise I unwind

Pulled by The Directions - introduced to what I find

Back at the beginning - back at The Center

Within the Sacred Powers - now I have entered

Something Sacred has control

Something Sacred feeds the soul

The Earth feels warm and ripe

Alive beneath and within The Pipe

Convinced of my strength - purity of my direction

The women tell the Holy Man to make my connection

In Lakota tradition my Pipe is awakened

Richard Swallow holds my Pipe - the Earth is somehow shaken

He questions me and speaks to the others gathered 'round

All silently watch his words - and feel his sound

Standing in The Center - his hands extend to me

Then The Pipe withdraws back to him very quickly

Four times he offers - I watch think and respect

The responsibility given is mine to also reject

Within my heart it builds one - two - three - four

My first reach wasn't quick enough so I grasp with all my power

Richard Swallow smiles, "You all here are witness"

This Holy Man has created another spiritual fitness

Standing with The Pipe - its feather and coyote foot

A warmth fills upward - through my body - through my Pipe - through my flute