My Offering for Mother Earth for Earth Day

I haven’t stayed true to the original post schedule I had because life is happening. But I always find a way to combine some of what I have been hoping to share so I don’t get too far behind. Here I am now, combining some reflections on songwriting and taking time to create a song offering to Mother Earth for Earth Day.

As I have mentioned before, I love songs and lyrics. For a long time now I have kept journals of original song lyrics. Typically, I start with lyrics when writing a song and then a melody comes to me...eventually. Then I figure out what chords fit. Sometimes I will noodle around with various chord progressions to help a melody develop. Sometimes I get a song complete in minutes and other times it takes years!

Often my songs are inspired by my own feelings and life experiences. I try to have lyrics that embody what I went through, but are also relatable for others. I like to try song structure patterns and challenge myself to explore different sounds to make each song unique. Today, I like to use SoundTrap to record and add loops to my songs in order to add some more complexity to a song.

To be honest, I haven’t written an original song for myself in a while. So while I was thinking of an offering I could give the Earth for Earth Day, I figured I could try a song. Where I live, it was a bit cloudy and I was unsure if it would rain, so I didn’t spend time outside like I “should” have.

I took time to meditate and connect to the earth from inside my home. I held a drum, and when ready, just played a steady beat until words came to me. For this song, I was open to improvising words and melody as it came during the meditation. I did have some moments of second guessing myself, but I found a flow. I sang and chanted words that seemed to flow from the Earth. The words reminded me that the Earth is a giver of life that carries us.

Within that flow, I remembered a song called “Roots” I wrote several years ago. It was about wanting to settle roots down with someone and not live life alone. I felt called to return to this song. I remembered the melody but not the cords. I know I threw some funky one’s in the mix and the song structure had three separate parts that were then repeated: ABC ABC.

With my meditation in mind, I sat down to rewrite the lyrics to reflect the ways the Earth supports me and how I can give back to it as I build a deeper spiritual relationship with Mother Earth. Below are the lyrics I have started:

Sometimes I need to sit in the quiet

Under the canopy of the trees

The earth below holds me still

The roots comfort me

Alone, Eyes closed, ears open

Listening to the rustle of the leaves

Thankful for the sanctuary

Mother Earth provides to me

I am here to fortify you...

She says in tender tone

Now release your burdens

Let your hopes have room to be grown…

It is a work in progress because I need to figure out the chords I used in the past! I am hoping to add more about my gratitude and reflect on what I can actually do to give thanks. But I keep getting a message of “Let me take care of you!” Like I need to let Mother Earth mother me. But I know the Earth is calling out for love as well. I am going to plan to pick up trash in my neighborhood again, which could also be a great time for a walking meditation to connect with the land.