We’ve loved singing these songs and chants at gatherings and with our friends. I compiled them in 1996 as a blessing for our new home and baby, Kaya (her name is from the song Tula Kazeya). Thanks to all those who have sung them with us over the years, and special thanks to:

Most of these are living songs which are re-created every time they are sung. As with most songs learned orally, many versions may exist.  

Since collecting these songs and chants, we've found a few books containing some of these and similar songs.  These include:

Listen, Listen, Listen
Paramahansa Yogananda

 Listen, listen, listen to my heart song
Listen, listen, listen to my heart song
 I will never forget you, I will never forsake you
I will never forget you, I will never forsake you

Return, Return, Return, Return

The earth, the water, the fire, the air
Return, return, return, return

May the Long Time Sun

May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your way home

This Pretty Planet

This pretty planet, spinning through space
You're a garden, you're a harbor, you're a holy place.
Golden sun going down,
Gentle blue giant, spin us around.
All through the night.
Safe 'til the morning light.

It's in Every One of Us

 It's in every one of us to be wise
Find your heart, open up both your eyes
We can all know everything, without ever knowing why
It's in every one of us by and by (last time: you and I)

Thula Klizeo
Joseph Shabalala

 Thula klizeo nala pasa kaya
Thula klizeo nala pasa kaya
Hey kaya, nala pasa kaya
Hey kaya, nala pasa kaya

(Translated: "Be still my heart, for even here I am home.")

Mi Ato Agblema

 Mi ato agblema, mi ato agblema
Agblema kulo, agblema kulo, aye

Blessed Am I

 Blessed am I, spirit am I
I am the infinite within my soul
I can find no beginning, I can find no end
All this I am

Holding Hands, In A Circle

 Here we are, once again
Holding hands, in a circle
Mother earth, gives us birth
Father time, brings us changes

We Are A Circle

 We are a circle, within a circle
With no beginning, and never ending

 All I Ask of You

 All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you
Ishk allah ma bood le lah, ishk allah ma bood le lah
Ishk allah ma bood le lah, ishk allah ma bood le lah

The Earth is Our Mother

 The earth is our mother, we must take care of her
The earth is our mother, we must take care of her
Hey yunga, ho yunga, hey yung, yung
Hey yunga, ho yunga, hey yung, yung

(Her sacred ground we walk upon,with every step we take)

 (The sky is our father, we must take care of him)

 (His sacred air we breathe it in, with every breath we take)

Can't Kill the Spirit
Naomi LittleBear Morena
(Copyright 1975)

CHORUS:
You can't kill the spirit, she's like a mountain
Old and strong, she goes on and on and on

VERSES:
Nobody can push back an ocean
its gonna rise back up in waves
And nobody can stop the wind from blowin'
can stop a mind from growin'
Somebody may change the words I'm sayin'
but the truth will live on and on

Nobody can stop a woman from feeling
She's gonna rise up like the sun
Somebody may stop my song from being sung
but the song will live on and on

 Strong Like the Ocean

 Strong like the ocean, gentle like the rain
River wash my tears away, Aphrodite

We all Come From the Goddess
Z Budapest

We all come from the Goddess
And to her we shall return
Like a drop of rain,
Flowing to the ocean

We all come from God
And to him we shall return
Like a spark of fire
Soaring to the heavens

Witchi Tai Tai

 O witchi tai tai, witchi tai oh
O witchi tai tai, witchi tai oh
May we all be like eagles*, flying so high
Circling the Universe, on wings of pure light

(*butterflies)

Witchi Tai Tai

 Witchi tai tai, tu me rai, hoah nika, hoah nika
Hey hey, hey hey, noah
When I get this feeling runnin’ round my head
Makes me feel glad that I’m not dead.

Corn and Grain

 Corn and grain, corn and grain
All that fall shall rise again
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that die shall be reborn

 Burn Fire

Burn fire, burn bright
Pure vision come to me
Guide my path tonight
With your strength and light

We Are the Flow
Shekhinah Mountainwater

We are the flow, we are the ebb
We are the weavers, we are the web
She is the needle, we are the thread
She is the weaver, we are the web

She Changes Everything She Touches
Starhawk

 She changes everything she touches
And everything she touches changes

Changes, touches,
Touches, changes

Spreading our Long Tail Feathers

 Spreading our (wearing my) long tail feathers as we (I) fly
Spreading our (wearing my) long tail feathers as we (I) fly
 We (I) circle around
We (I) circle around

 The boundaries of the earth,
The planet of our (my) birth
|The sacred mother earth

Humble Yourself

 Humble yourself in the eyes of the (mother)*
Bend down low and
Humble yourself in the eyes of your mother
You've got to know what she knows and

We shall lift each other up
Higher and higher!!
We shall lift each other up
(You’ve got to…)

        * father, brother, sister, children, etc.

Protection and Guidance

 Protection and guidance is what I call forth
To heal my heart, to lead me home
Protection and guidance is what I call forth
To heal my heart, to lead me home

(Joy)* is descending, to the earth plane
And yes! I am ready, to feel (joy)* again

        * use other words on subsequent verses:  love, truth, peace, justice, etc.

Air I Am

 Air I am, fire I am
Water, earth, and spirit, I am

Earth My Body

 Earth my body,
Water my blood,
Air my breath,
And fire my spirit…

Love, Love, Love

 Love, love, love, love
People we are made for love
Love each other as yourself
For we are one

Dear Friend

 Dear friend, dear friend
Let me tell you how I feel
You have given me such riches
I love you so

From Thee I Receive
Nathan L. Segal

 From thee I receive,
To thee I give
Together we share,
And from this we live

There's a Circle of Light

 There's a circle of light around you,
There's a circle of love in your heart
There's a circle of family around you,
There's a circle of you around me
 

Oh (family)* we love you,
(Family) we want you to know
Oh (family) we love you,
(Family) you help us to grow

        * substitute other words or names

Prince of Peace
Leon Thomas

 Prince of peace, won't you hear my plea
Ring your bells of peace, let loving never cease
Om al-lah, hey om al-lah, hey
Om al-lah, hey om al-lah

We Are All One

 We are all one with the infinite sun,
forever and ever and ever
We are all one with the infinite sun,
and ever and ever

Kiawate, Leno Leno, Mahotay
Heyno, Heyno, Heyno
Kiawate, Leno Leno, Mahotay
Heyno, Heyno, Heyno

(We are all one with the moon and the sun,
forever and ever and ever)

 (We all come from the infinite one,
forever and ever and ever)

Om Nama Shiva

 Om na ma shiva, om na ma shiva
Om na ma shiva, shiva om nama

If We Have Courage

 If we have courage, we can be healers
Like the sun* we shall rise
If we have courage, we can be healers
Like the sun* we shall rise

We are alive, and the earth is alive
We have the power to create our freedom

(*moon)

May Your Journeys Be Safe
Imani

 May your (our) journeys be safe
May your (our) worries be few
May the gods always watch over you (us)
May you (we) grow like a tree (forest)
Headed straight towards the light
Grounded in the Mother Earth

Rise Up Old Flame

Rise up old flame by thy light glowing
Show to us beauty, vision, and joy