Mystery in Music

Last updated on: April 3, 2010 at 6:22 pm by Star Foster

Mystery in Music 2010-04-03T18:22:37-04:00 Star Foster

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Pagans recognize both the mysteries of the spirit and of the mundane, natural world. Childbirth, sunrises, vine-ripe tomatoes, slimy snails and voices lifted in song are all mysteries worth our attention. Music is our ship and we often sail into mystery with a song in our sails.

Here’s a few songs by Pagan or spiritual musicians that explore some facet of mystery. Each link will open a video in a new window, so you won’t lose your place as you take a musical tour through Pagan musical mysteries:

1. Bruce Cockburn “Mystery”

When you have encountered a true deep mystery you are adamant of it’s existence. This song is a joyous celebration of both the infinite Universe and the simple loveliness of humanity’s daily existence. I don’t know who these folks in the video are, but they obviously love the song and are enjoying a rainy afternoon.

2. Emerald Rose “Fire In The Head” and Medieval Baebes “Summerisle”.

The inspiration for the next two songs comes from the Song of Amergin, an ancient Irish poem of shape-shifting and the transmigration of the soul. We shape shift when we change our hair, grow a beard, get a tattoo. We grow from infancy to youth to maturity to begin to shrink into old age. Some believe our soul has been many things before it attained a human form. The mystery of transformation touches us all.

3. Kate Bush “Lily” and Lon Milo Duquette “Sweet Babylon”.

Ceremonial magick has it’s own flair for mystery. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram places us at the Center of the Universe surrounded by blessings and protections. Kate Bush demonstrates a version of it in the video for her song “Lily”.

Lon Milo Duquette reminds us that the things we consider sacred, such as female divinity, sexual love and sensual pleasure, are not always embraced by other faiths. For those of us who converted from more ascetic traditions “Sweet Babalon” should resonate.

4. Gaia Consort “Just Because”

Sometimes we need to be reminded the most important mysteries are right in front of our eyes, and need no justification or reason to be delightful and good.

5. Damh the Bard “Lady of the Silver Wheel” and Robert Gass & On Wings Of Song “The Circle is Cast”

Many of us grew up with a male vision of God and so the Goddess(es) hold a special place in our hearts. We become enamored with the Female Divine.

6. The Waterboys “This Is The Sea” and Ani DiFranco “The Atom”

Our faith is nature-based and what magnificent mysteries are the primal forces. Some are the same forces the ancients marveled at, and some are the revelations of nature given to us by the atomic age.

How do YOU explore mystery through music? Do you sing? Dance? Play an instrument? Have you had a revelation while drumming? Did you connect to the Universe while chanting in a group? Share your stories below!

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