The Gods Have Meant That I
Should Dance
Lyrics, Attunements,
Attributions, Track List & Photos!
Songs, Dances &
Walking Meditations in the spirit of the
Dances of Universal
Peace
Celebrating Many of
the Spiritual Traditions of Our Earth
Lovingly Presented By
Anahata
Iradah (w/Lilliha the dancing cat) & Prema Dasara
© Copyright 2001, All Rights Reserved
All
music arranged by Anahata Iradah with assistance from Prema Dasara
Recording Engineer: Robbie
Cribbs, “The Sound Trap”, Whidbey Island, WA, USA Email:sts@whidbey.com
1. Take Off Your Shoes 4.48
Words
& Walking Meditation: Anahata Iradah
Tradition:
Universal
The music was written when I first stepped onto the earth in South India. It is a walking meditation and sets the atmosphere for the whole CD. It integrates within a Dances of Universal Peace setting as an opening walk. The metaphor of the holy ground originated with the story of Moses and the Burning Bush in Exodus 111 Verses 2, 3 & 4. The same image overwhelmed me as I stood for the first time in the South of India.
Take off your shoes you are on holy
ground
Take off your shoes you are on holy
ground
Take off your shoes you are on holy
ground
Burn with the light of love.
Burn........Burn......Burn with the
light of love
Burn........Burn......Burn with the
light of love
Open your hearts.........
Open your mind......
Let go of shame........
Let go of guilt..........
Burn with the light of truth
Dance in the light of love
Dance in the flame of love
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Alto Recorders, Swar Sangham, Guitar/Sitar
2. Divine Grace Is Dancing 6.34
Words: Apocryphal Acts of St. John
Music: Anahata Iradah
Dance: Prema Dasara & Anahata Iradah
Tradition:
Christian
This long dance was
inspired by words attributed to St. John, in his Apocryphal Acts. I found these
words so inspiring they were immediately destined to become a Dance of
Universal Peace! A few of the phrases contained in this recording found their
way into a celebratory dance. From a much longer text these are the words
selected for our musical rendition:
"And he gathered us all together and said:
'Before I am delivered up unto them
Let us sing a hymn to the Father'.
He bade us make a ring,
holding one another's hands
and himself standing in the midst, and said:
'Answer Amen to me'.
To you who gaze a lamp I am
To you who know a mirror
To you who knock a door I am
To you who fare the way.
Dance Ye all, Divine Grace is dancing
The heavenly spheres make music for us
All things join in the dance
Ye who dance not, know not what we are knowing
I move to the music of holy souls
Glory to the Father, Glory to the Word
Glory to the Holy Spirit Amen.
Fain would I pipe for you! Pipe for you, Pipe for you.
Thus my Beloved having danced with us
The Lord went forth".
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Alto Recorder, Piano, Keyboard
3. Love One Another
5.09
Words:
Jesus & Ananda Tara Shan
Music
& Dance: Anahata Iradah
Tradition: Christian
This piece was
inspired by the commandment of Jesus to “Love One Another”. When Prema had
surgery for her broken leg in Australia, she came out of the anesthetic saying
over and over again, "You must love one another". She was not yet
conscious I was very touched by this repetition. A four part choral work
immediately followed, part of which found it's way onto this recording. The
main phrase, "Love One Another" is accompanied by an English phrase
mantra that is given to students of the Theosophical Fellowship in Daylesford,
Australia. Used with permission it is:
"Jesus in my heart
Jesus in my mind
Jesus in my body
Jesus in my soul,
Jesus in my spirit"
“Jesus”
love one another
love one another
You must love one another
As I, as I have loved you”.
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Recorders
4. By Their Fruits!
5.08
Words: Matthew 35-40, 5/14 & 7/16, Luke 8/48
Shlomo Elaykoun
is the Aramaic for Peace Be With You, in the dialect spoken
by Jesus.
Music:
Anahata Iradah
Tradition: Christian
This song was inspired by gestures of generosity of a friend in Tucson, Arizona. It is also based upon an experience many of us had at the Atlanta Olympics. We had 2 weeks of special gatherings of Dances of Universal Peace as a contribution to world peace. One day, whilst dancing with the crowds on the platform of a metro station, a street person by the name of John joined in the dance. When the crowds dispersed, John lingered and ended up coming home with us to the Friends Meeting House for dinner. During the meal, he requested the group be silent, and he made a speech which included the sentiments:
“When I was hungry you gave me food
When I was thirsty you gave me drink
When I was a stranger you took me into your home”
The whole DUP delegation was speechless and touched by his
gratitude.
Many years later, I felt the same gratitude towards our
friend Peggy Hitchcock and wanted to honor her on Thanksgiving Day 1999.
Any thing you did for my brothers you did for me (Matthew 35-40)
Any thing you did for my sisters you did for me
When I was hungry you gave me food
When I was thirsty you gave me drink
When I was a stranger you took me into your home
You are the light of the world (Matthew 5/14)
By their fruits you will know them (Matthew
7/16)
By their fruits you will know them
Your faith has cured you, go in peace (Luke
8/48)
Shlomo Elaykoun
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Recorders
5. Ask & Ye Shall Receive
2.37
Words:
Jesus
Music
& Dance: Anahata Iradah
Tradition:
Christian
In 1996 I interviewed Murshid
Moineddin Jablonkski for the video production "Eat, Dance & Pray
Together". I asked Murshid if he had anything he would like to say to
inspire the world at this time. He quoted the words of Jesus, "Ask and Ye
Shall Receive, Seek and Ye Shall Find, Knock and it shall be opened unto
you". Then Murshid added the statement........."and that's practice
enough for anyone". Soon after the interview this music and dance arrived
to commemorate this blessing.
Ask and Ye Shall Receive,
Seek and Ye Shall Find,
Knock and it shall be opened unto
you.
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Recorders, Guitar/Sitar
6. I Don’t Want To Dance
Unless You Lead Me! 4.17
Words:
Mechtild of Magdeburg
Music:
Anahata Iradah
Dance:
Prema Dasara
Tradition: Christian
This piece of music and dance
was inspired by the sassy words of the
Christian mystic Mechtild of Magdeburg. In a chapter about Mechtild in "Women Saints East and West" the author says: "The soul dances round her center and ascends a spiral through all states of consciousness until the Divine Consciousness, Absolute Consciousness is reached".
In her love for God she wants
only the highest. Once she had a vision of the paradise where all souls meet -
united with God day and night. The saints were calling her to Dance and God
asked her soul to join them. But she refused. She only wanted to dance with the Lord and said:
"I don't want to dance unless
you lead me
If you want me to dance you must
sing yourself
Then I will jump into love
From love into devotion
From devotion into realization
From realization into all human
hearts."
These words from a female Christian Saint are so wonderful and I believe this dance captures the spirit of them.
Mechtild also says,
"Original Dance is a mystical exercise used to purify the different planes
of consciousness making them fit to receive the cosmic forces."
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Guitar/Sitar
Prema
Dasara: Jymbe
& Shaker
7. The Gods Have
Meant That I Should Dance 7.01
Words: Ruth St. Denis
Music
& Dance: Anahata Iradah & Group of Mentees
Tradition: Universal
A few years ago I co-faciliated a week long training to my mentees at the Southwest Sufi Community in New Mexico. Every afternoon I presented an extended music/creativity class. One day the group interactively worked with the inspiring poem "Calling" by Ruth St. Denis. Music and movements emerged from the poem and a joyous group process was the result. We revisited the piece every day until the end of the retreat. It took a while longer past the retreat for the movements to settle, and now the dance is celebrated in many places of the world. The words of "Calling" were what Miss Ruth requested to have carved on her grave stone.
"The Gods Have Meant That I Should Dance
And by the Gods I will!
For in some mystic hour
I shall move to unheard rhythms
Of the cosmic orchestra of heaven,
And You will know the
language
Of my wordless songs,
And will come to me -
For that is why I dance."
The Gods Have Meant That I Should Dance
And by the Gods I will!
I shall move to unheard rhythms
Of the cosmic orchestra of heaven,
For that is why I dance.
Anahata
Iradah:
Lead Vocals, Guitar, WX11,
Prema
Dasara: Jymbe
& Shaker, backing vocals & poetry
8. Eternal Ecstacy Of Being
3.09
Music
& Dance: Anahata Iradah
Tradition: Universal
This piece was also
inspired by a poem of Miss Ruth called: Dance Luminous
"My whole body
Has become filled with light.
I pour forth my spirit
Into joy!
I sing!
I dance!
I am arrayed in white,
For my suffering and fears
Have departed from me.
I dance the eternal ecstasy of
being."
I sing!
I dance!
The eternal ecstasy of being.
I pour forth my spirit
Into joy!
My suffering and fears have departed
My body is filled with light.
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Keyboard Percussion
9. Truth & Love
7.07
Words:
Ruth St. Denis
Music
& Dance: Anahata Iradah
Tradition: Universal
This jazzy track was also
inspired by another poem of Miss Ruth. I loved the image of the interplay
between the circle and the square which I explore in the dance.
Truth & Love
"We move in the divine
rhythm of Truth and Love.
We are mated of these two.
Truth is the square line of
our design,
And love is the circle of our
beauty.
Upon the world's mind we trace
The patterns of Eternal
Verities.
We draw the great circle of
Love.
We point out the Divine square
of Truth.
We are Love, and we move
towards Truth.
We are Truth, and we move
towards Love".
We are Love, and we move towards
Truth.
We are Truth, and we move towards Love
We move to the rhythm of Truth and
Love.
Truth is the square line of our
design,
And love is the circle of our beauty.
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass Guitar
Prema
Dasara: Jymbe,
Backing Vocals
10. Take One Step 4.33
Words: Sri
Karunamayi & Anahata Iradah
Music
& Dance: Anahata Iradah
Tradition:
Hindu
This piece was written for a South Indian Saint,
Sri Karunamayi, for whom we danced on the South India pilgrimage in January
2001. The opening statement is what she tells her devotees.
If you take a step towards me children
I will take a thousand steps towards
you.
I will take a step towards you Mother
Please take a thousand steps towards
me.
Divine Mother, Shanti Devi
I will take a step towards you.
Divine Mother, Saraswathi
Please take a thousand steps towards
me.
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Alto Recorder
11. Take Him In Thy Parental
Arms 4.38
Words: Pir O Murshid Hazrat
Inayat Khan & Divine Attributes of Allah
Music:
Anahata Iradah
Tradition: Sufi
This piece was written for
Murshid Moineddin Jablonski, on the day Quan Yin Williams sent word that
Murshid would likely pass within a few hours. It opens with the Cherag(a)
reading of that day. The piece also contains several Divine Attribute names
that remind me of Moineddin's service to humanity.
Take him/her in thy parental arms,
Raise him/her from the denseness of
the earth
Take him/her in thy parental arms,
Allah, Allah
Take us in thy parental arms,
Raise us from the denseness of the
earth
Take us in thy parental arms,
Allah, Allah
Ya Wakil The Trustee
Ya Hadi The
Guide/Leader
Ya Rashid Righteous
Teacher
Ya Mani Preventer
of Harm
Ya Ra'uf The Kind
Ya Hamid The
Praiseworthy
Ya Salaam Source
of Peace
Ya Haqq" The
Truth
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Guitar/Sitar, Alto Recorder, Keyboard
12. Prashanthi Nilyam 6.22
Words: Confucius & Satya Sai Baba, crafted by Anahata
Iradah
Music & Dance: Anahata Iradah
Tradition: Hindu/Taoist
Prashanthi Nilyam means "The Abode of the Highest Peace". This dance was created for our visit to the Ashram of Satya Sai Baba on the South India pilgrimage. It opens with a set of words that are attributed to Confucius.
When there is righteousness in the heart,
There is beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the character,
There is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home,
There is order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There is peace in the world.
Om Sai Ram
Prashanthi Nilyam
Om Sai Ram
Peace on Earth.
i
Musicians:
Anahata
Iradah:
Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Keyboard
13. White Tara
11.45
Words:
Traditional White Tara Mantra (used with permission of Dagmala Kushok Sakya)
& Ananda Tara Shan (used with permission)
Music:
Anahata Iradah & Dagmala
Kushok
Dance: Prema Dasara & Anahata
Iradah
Tradition: Tibetan Buddhist
The concluding piece on the CD
invokes the blessing of White Tara, the Tibetan Buddhist deity who bestows long
life and good health.
The recording contains the long Mantra of White
Tara. It was written as a prayer & dance for the healing and long life of
our teachers, families, friends. Dagmala Kushok, our Tibetan Buddhist teacher
of the Sakya lineage in Seattle, gave us permission to work with this mantra in
public. Dagmala (which means Respected Mother in Tibetan) sings near the
beginning chanting the mantra as it is done in her tradition, and this merges
with our version for the Dances of Universal Peace. It is most often presented
as a short dance, where the group uses the abbreviated version of the mantra
"Om Tare". A long version of the dance exists where each syllable of
the mantra is explored for healing.
The words to the opening of
the dance are crafted by Anahata from a transmission by Ananda Tara Shan for
the Theosophical Fellowship in Daylesford, Australia.
Tara the White
She's the Mother of light
She opens her arms
Walk into her heart.
Om Tare Tutare Ture Mama Ayuh Punye
Gyana Putim Kuru Soha
Om Tare Tutare Ture Mama Ayuh Punye
Gyana Putim Kuru Soha
Grant us long life, and good
fortune,
Grant us wisdom and good health,
For all beings, wherever we may
be
Grant us long life, wisdom and
health.
Precious Mother heal us,
Precious Mother feel us,
Precious Mother inspire and guide
our way.
Precious Mother watch over us,
Precious Mother touch us,
Precious Mother inspire and guide
our way,
For all beings, wherever we may
be
Grant us long life, wisdom and
health.
Anahata
Iradah:
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Alto Recorder, Keyboard, WX11
Prema
Dasara: Visualizations,
Jymbe,
Backing Vocals
Dagmala Kushok: White Tara Mantra
1.
Take Off Your Shoes 4.48
2. Divine Grace Is Dancing 6.34
3.
Love One Another 5.09
4.
By Their Fruits! 5.08
5.
Ask & Ye Shall Receive 2.37
6.
I Don’t Want To Dance Unless You Lead Me!
4.17
7.
The Gods Have Meant That I Should Dance 7.01
8.
Eternal Ecstacy Of Being 3.09
9.
Truth & Love 7.07
10.
Take One Step 4.33
11.
Take Him In Thy Parental Arms 4.38
12.
Prashanthi Nilyam 6.22
13.
White Tara 11.45
TRT 1:13:08Have
Have Meant
To
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May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Be Free
Svaha!
