Ruth Barrett
The Year Is A Dancing Woman
Goddess Chants, Songs, and Invocations for the Wheel of the Year
Lyrics, Credits, and Notes
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Featuring Amanda Barrett, vocals
Dena Drotar, Diane Miller, and Kerry Noonan on chant chorus vocals
Harvest Brown and Holin Badger Shu-bad on percussion
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Song notes by Ruth Barrett except where noted
Dulcimer arrangements by Ruth Barrett
Group chants arranged by entire chorus
Vocal arrangements by Ruth and Amanda Barrett unless otherwise noted
Percussion arrangements by Harvest Brown and Holin Badger Shu-bad
Environmental sounds and synthesizer drones by Scott Fraser
VOLUME ONE: WINTER SOLSTICE THROUGH MAY EVE
Opening:
1. LADY OF THREE – Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett, voice
Lady of moving form, seen and unseen.
Enter, I ask of Thee, in colors three.
You who birth the living seed,
Universe, and melody.
Charge the center of the spark,
We who call you from the heart.
Lady of moving form, seen and unseen.
Enter, I ask of Thee, in colors three.
Keeper of the living tree,
Queen of Love and Mystery,
Charge the center of the spark,
We who call you from the heart.
WINTER SOLSTICE (December 21)
This holiday, also known as Yule (meaning “Wheel”), celebrates the longest night. The Goddess in Her guise as the Hag of Winter conceives Herself, initiating the return of the solar cycle. In Sweden, young girls dressed in white, crowned with evergreen and candles, represent the Sun Goddess Lucina. They bring sweets and blessings for the new solar year
2. LUCINA CHANT - Kay Gardner
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Celebrate the birth of the sun
Light the way, Oh Lucina
Dance the round on Sabbat night
Blessed be the Great Mother
3. ON THAT DAY - Adapted by Ruth Barrett from “On The Hay” by Florence Hawkins
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals
The Mother laid her baby down
On that day
She wrapped her warm in rays of dawn
On that day
The stars shone bright up in the sky
The Goddess sang a lullaby
The Mother laid her baby down
On that day.
The earth rejoiced to see her there
To warm the soil and seedlings bare
Lucina was the baby’s name
The rising sun returns again
A ring of candles round her head
To wake the living from the dead
Her holy lamp lights up the sky
Open the heart, open the eye
The light is born within the night
To guide our path in love so bright
4. MOTHER HOLLE - Kerry Noonan
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Mother Holle (variously known as Frau Holde, Perchta, or Berta in different regions) is a Germanic Goddess associated with Winter, the time around Yule, pools of water, children, and spinning. Holle is both a sky and an earth goddess. When she shakes her feather mattress, the snow flies, and she is often thought to live underneath a pool of water. She has survived in Grimm’s folktale “Mother Holle” in which she rewards a good sister and punishes a bad one. In folk belief in Germany Holle is sometimes thought to be the leader of the Wild Hunt that courses through the skies in Winter; the spirits accompanying her are often believed to be the souls o unborn children. In some regions Holle wa thought to visit houses at Yuletide, bringing luck to those who left food or milk out for her. (Song note by Kerry Noonan)
In the darkness winds are blowing
Far to the north snow is falling
She shakes her featherbed, see how it flurries
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Crone of darkness, darkness is keeping
In Midwinter it’s you we are seeking,
Mother of bears, sleeping warmly
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Dark your cloak, silver your tresses
Cover the world as the daylight lessens
Sparkle of starlight in Your eye.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Bless us with your darkness so deep
Grant us dreams as bearlike we sleep
Outside it’s cold, the hearth fire warms us
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
Come Mother Holle, be here now.
BRIGID (February 1)
This holiday of the waxing light is named after the sovereign Celtic Goddess Brigid, who is associated with fire and water, smithcraft, divination, healing, poetry, and cattle. Also called Imbolg, meaning, “in the belly,” this holiday marked the first day of Spring in ancient Ireland, and celebrated the awakening of the land after Winter’s sleep.
5. INVOCATION TO BRIGID – Ruth Barrett
Spoken by Ruth Barrett
Written at Kildare, Ireland July 1998
Bright Arrow soaring,
flowing through the air
like your healing waters,
from womb flower spilling
to bathe the weak, the sorrowful, the forgotten.
Compassionate Healer, Muse of poets,
the inspiration of artists forging elements to form,
speaking true words to open ears, riddles to closed hearts.
Listen, listen, listen to my sweetness,
My stillness is at the center of all things.
You, who breathe, and have a shape, come and drink of me.
Sing my praises, walk my land, forever bound to me.
Great Goddess,
Bless your women.
Bless the children.
Bless the wakening lands.
In the still soft voice is the one language that all may understand.
6. AVE LUNA (Prayer to the New Moon)
Words from the Carmina Gadaelica, Hymns & Incantations Collected in the 19th Century from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Alexander Carmichael, pg. 305, Lindisfarne Press, Hudson, NY 1992. Original title, arrangement, and musical setting by Ruth Barrett.
Ruth Barrett, voice and mountain dulcimer, Amanda Barrett, voice
Spoken prayer introduction from the Carina Gadelica:
Glory to thee forever,
Thou bright moon, this night:
Thyself art ever
The glorious lamp of the poor
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
Guiding jewel of gentleness,
I am bending to thee my knee,
I am offering thee me love.
I am bending to thee my knee,
I am giving thee my hand.
I am lifting to thee mine eyes,
oh, new moon of the season.
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
Joyful maiden of my love,
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
Joyful maiden of the graces.
thou art traveling in thy course,
thou art steering the full tides,
thou art illuming to us thy face,
oh, new moon of the season.
Ave, ave luna
Ave, ave luna
Ave, ave luna
Ave, ave luna
Hail to thee, thou new moon,
Guiding jewel of gentleness,
I am bending to thee my knee,
I am offering thee me love.
Thou, queen, maiden of guidance,
Thou, queen ,maiden of good fortune
Thou, queen, maiden, my beloved,
Thou, new moon of the season.
Ave, ave luna
Ave, ave luna
Ave, ave luna
Ave, ave luna
7. WAY TO THE WELL – Starhawk and Rose May Dance
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
We will never, never lose our way
to the well of Her memory.
And the power of Her living flame
it will rise, it will rise again.
SPRING EQUINOX (March 21)
The Maiden Goddess emerges from the underworld and brings with Her the renewal of the life on earth. This holiday celebrates the eternal connection between mothers and daughters as the life force returns and rejuvenates all in Nature.
8. COME INTO OUR DREAM – Carolyn Hillyer
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals
You are born to the many, and born to the one.
In the lap of your mother you are held by us all.
Chorus:
Come into our dream, come into our dream,
Come into our dream, come into our dream,
Now its yours…
Can you feel our protection as we bind you a spell
Do you hear our blessing you beautiful child?
There is a coil of all women encircling time
We are dancing through mirrors, an unbroken line
From mother to daughter, to daughter to babe,
At the breast of one woman you are fed by us all.
To the earth house of life you have quietly returned
We greet you with honor and welcome you in
Come into our dream, come into our dream,
Come into our dream, come into our dream,
Now its yours…
(repeat several times)
9. PEACEFUL WARRIOR CHANT – Nicki Harris
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
This chant is also perfect for the Autumnal Equinox
Balancing dark and light.
Balancing strength and might.
Peace on earth is our birthright.
Balancing….
10. MAIDEN RISING
Traditional Jacobite song, with original words by Ruth Barrett
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals
Vocal arrangement from the singing of Maddy Prior and June Tabor.
Oh who will play the silver whistle,
When Maiden Spring from darkness rises?
The Earth prepares, prepares Her coming.
The barren trees give way to blossoms.
A waiting world receives her daughter.
With arms of longing filled with laughter.
To welcomes Her in, branches are reaching.
The time of cold bitter winds has ended.
And tiny seeds awake from slumber
To seek the one who brings the springtime
Upon Her head, the crown of glory,
The Maiden Queen, herald of the morning,
O welcome to you, fame and honor
Fiddles and choice tunes attend you.
I will be dancing, I will be singing
And I will play the silver whistle.
And I will play the silver whistle.
11. LAUGHING MAIDEN - Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Laughing Maiden is a borning,
Laughing Maiden is a rising*
Laughing Maiden is a flying
Spring is come, Spring is come.
MAY EVE (April 30)
This holiday marks the first day of Summer, and celebrates the flowering of the Earth. In the mythic cycle of the Goddess, the Maiden becomes initiated into womanhood through Her first bloods. With the onset of menarche, passion awakens as girls begin their transition to becoming young women.
12. INVOCATION - Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett, voice
You who dwell in wind and water,
Tongue of flame, dark valley
Enter here, we call thee.
Muse, weaver, womb and reaper,
Source of life, love and blessing
Enter here, we call thee.
Spinning Dancer, Spirit, Teacher,
Mother, Child, Crone and Lover,
Bless us here to know thee.
Enter here, we call thee.
13. SACRED BLOOD CHANT -Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett, voice and mountain dulcimer
Sacred blood of the Mother runs through my veins
And with each lunation, scarlet She rains (reigns),
Mother to daughter, passes this gift,
Blessed be the Mother, within us She lives.
14. STAINES MORRIS -Traditional English adapted by Ruth Barrett from the singing of Shirley Collins
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals, and percussion
Come you young ones, come along, with your music, dance and song.
Bring your lovers in your hands, for tis that which Love commands.
Chorus: Then to the Maypole, haste away!
For tis now our holiday!
Tis the choice time of the year, and the violets now appear,
Now the rose receives its birth, and the pretty primrose decks the Earth.
And when you are well content with kisses you your sweetheart take.
Take them all again and more, it will never make them poor.
When you girls have spent your time til the day be past it’s prime,
To your beds repair at night, and dream there of your day’s delight.
15. BLESSED BE THE FIRE - Sue McGowan and Delyse
Ruth Barrett and ensemble
Blessed be the fire, of our desire.
Blessed be our courage,
Blessed be our love.
16. WEAVE AND SPIN – Starhawk
Ruth Barrett and ensemble
Weave and spin, weave and spin,
this how the work begins,
Mend and heal, mend and heal,
Take the dream and make it real.
Strand by strand, hand over hand,
thread by thread we weave the Web.
Closing:
17. FREE TICKET TO HEAVEN – Shekhinah Mountainwater
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Let the path be clear before me
Let all go as I will
And the past be clean behind me
Let all go as I will
And the ones I love beside me
Let all go as I will
And the goddess light above me
Let all go as I will
And the solid earth beneath me
Let all go as I will
And my own true self within me
Let all go as I will
18. TRIPLE GODDESS CHANT - Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
From women we are born into this world,
From women we are born into this circle.
Maiden, Mother, Crone, we are one.
We are one.
VOLUME TWO: SUMMER SOLSTICE THROUGH HALLOMAS
Opening:
1. THROUGH ALL THE WORLD BELOW - Colonial hymn, adapted by Susan
Rothbaum, with polishing from Holly Tannen, Catherine Madsen, and Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett, voice and mountain dulcimer, Amanda Barrett, vocals
Through all the world below She is seen all around.
Through hills and valleys through, there She’s found.
The growing of the corn, the lily and the thorn,
The pleasant and forlorn, all declare She is there.
In the meadows dressed in green, She is seen.
Her streaming waters rise, fountains flow, rivers run.
Her mist that veils the sky hides the sun.
Then down Her rain does pour, Her ocean loud does roar,
And beats upon the shore, and all praise in Her ways.
The One whose glory streams through our dreams.
The Sun with all Her rays sings of Her as She flies.
The comet in Her blaze, Her name cries.
The shining of Her stars, the moon as She appears,
Her awesome names declare, see them fly through the sky.
And join Her joyful sounds all around.
And join Her joyful sounds all around.
MIDSUMMER SOLSTICE (June 21)
In the mythic cycle of the Goddess the Maiden Goddess experiences the joy of union with Her creative, sensual self and become pregnant with Her creations. Thus, this holiday begins the Goddess’ transition from the Maiden to the fertility cycle of the Mother Goddess as Maker/Creatrix, and we, Her daughters, celebrate our passion, union, and creativity.
2. WE ARE THE FIRE - Sue McGowan
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
We are the fire burning bright,
We are desire in the night,
We dare to call her to our lives,
Dancing, changing we are.
3. FIRE CHANT - Starhawk
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
And we can rise with the fire of freedom
Truth is the fire that burns our chains
And we can stop the fire of destruction
Healing is the fire running through our veins
FIRST HARVEST (August 1)
The sunlight noticeably begins to decline as the Wheel of the Year turns toward the dark half of the year. The beginning of August marks celebration of the First Harvest, also called Lammas (“Feast of the Bread”). The fertile Earth Mother is ripe with life as evidenced by the golden fields of grain and the ripening fruits of Autumn. Like the cornucopia, She pours forth Her blessings of abundance.
4. LABYRINTH - Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett, vocals and mountain dulcimer, Amanda Barrett, vocals
Hear the secret music from deep within the earth,
Feel your cells awaken to its call.
Magic that has never left, dreams that went untried, untried.
Listen to the melody written from your soul,
Kiss the dreamer as you wake, and cry for all you’ve sold.
Music from an old mad rhyme, just enough to save you from the hands of time.
Begin again, begin again,
Take a walk in the labyrinth.
Weave the pattern as you will, colors dance and colors spill,
Thread by thread and spool by spool walks the sacred fool.
Losing your identity, what you’ll find to your surprise is possibility.
Begin again, begin again,
Take a walk in the labyrinth.
Where silence and knowledge meet, a melody of music sweet,
That bids your heart to trust and reach where all true seekers seek.
Wind your way down ancient paths,
Where old steps move you forward to a new dance
Begin again, (spiral in)
Begin again (and round again)
Take a walk in the labyrinth.
All ways lead to center when your path is clear,
Speak the question in your mind and louder then your fear.
Step by step into your fate, as you create the way for a new day.
Begin again, (spiral in)
Begin again (and round again)
Take a walk in the labyrinth,
within Her spin…
4. CELEBRATE – Lori Richards
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Celebrate Her ripening spirit
Celebrate Her blossoming truth
Celebrate the fruits of our labors
Mother Goddess we celebrate you!
FALL EQUINOX (September 21)
In the mythic cycle of the Goddess, the Mother Goddess is completing the physical activity of creation. Analogous to the peri-menopausal years, She ceases to bleed and birth and begins Her physical transition to Crone with Her descent toward the world of Spirit. This is a time to taste and give thanks for the personal harvest of our hands and the land.
5. HOLY MOTHER’S PROTECTING CHAIN - Shaker hymn
The chorus is “spirit” language from the Shakers.
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals
With my blessing I have blessed you,
Oh my children!
With my comfort I have comforted you
Yay, with my love I have loved you.
Vo o’ vo nee
O har ka e ’on a se’
With my power I’ve inspired you,
O my children!
With my glory I have glorified you.
Yay, from my store I have nourished you.
Vo o’ vo nee
O har ka e ’on a se’
By my wisdom I have guided you,
O my children! With my beauty I have beautified you
Yay, with my grace I have clothed you.
Vo o’ vo nee
O har ka e ’on a se’
6. EARTH MOTHER – Ani Williams
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Earth Mother, I honor your body.
Earth Mother, I sing to your stones.
Earth Mother, I enter your body.
Earth Mother, I honor your bones.
7. PENTAGRAM – Shekhinah Mountainwater
Ruth Barrett, vocals and mountain dulcimer, Amanda Barrett, vocals
Earth witch, ear to the ground, listening to Her heartbeat.
Water witch, arms in the stream, reflecting on reflection.
Fire witch breath to the flame, kindles passion.
Air witch, throat full of song, spinning sweet spells.
Spirit witch, embracing the stars, imagining Her Magick!
HALLOMAS (October 31)
This holiday, also known as Samhain (meaning “Summer’s end”), marks the first day of Winter, as the life-force withdraws back into Herself to rest until renewal. Within the mythic cycle of the Goddess, in Her aspect as Wise Crone, the Goddess deepens into Herself and enters the dreamtime, the liminal space where past, present, and future are all present simultaneously.
8. GO TO THE VERY EDGE - Carolyn Hillyer
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Go to the very edge,
where the old world ends,
And something else begins.
Something else begins.
9. GRANDMOTHER CHANT – Lakota chant, adapted
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals
Grandmother I see you sitting in the East (South, West, North, in my heart, etc)
You are sacred.
I pray to you, pray to you, you are sacred,
And you are looking at me.
10. WE ARE THE FLOW - Shekhinah Mountainwater
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
We are the flow, we are the ebb,
We are the weavers, we are the web.
We are the weavers, we are the web,
We are the spiders, we are the thread.
We are the spiders, we are the thread,
We are the witches, back from the dead.
11. HECATE - Ruth Barrett
Hecate is an ancient goddess from the pre-Hellenic period of myth. As Queen
of the Underworld, She brings about change and regeneration. One of the original trinity of Maiden, Mother, and Crone, Hecate is known for Her gifts of prophecy and knowledge of magical arts. She give us dreams and visions leading to wisdom and clarity.
Ruth Barrett, voice, with percussion
She walks the roads every moonless night.
Watching the stars to Her heart’s delight.
With a blazing torch and whispered song,
The path of destiny She travels on.
She moves through darkness like a knife.
Her dreams are seeds of future’s life.
To taste the sweetness with the pain,
Is to know how much the flower needs the rain.
The place She waits is where three roads meet.
The past, the present and future greet.
To meet Her there where the horned owl flies,
Is to ride the pale stars down from the skies.
She’ll take you up, then She’ll take you down.
She’ll take you under and turn you round.
And when She’s done, at the dawn light’s rise,
You’ll meet every gaze with brighter eyes.
Oh Old One of the midnight rhyme,
Bless your daughters in our time,
As we take to roads in the moonless night,
To seek the wisdom of your ancient sight.
12. SPIRAL IS TURNING - words by Holin Kennen,
music by Carolyn Hillyer
Ruth Barrett with ensemble
Spiral is turning,
Season is changing
Old One is waiting.
Blessed is She
Closing:
13. REVOCATION - Lori Richards, with additional verse and adapted refrain by Ruth Barrett
Oh magic Earth, body of the Mother,
Here in your presence we touch one another.
Refrain:
Go as you must, blessing our will,
Within and without we remain with you still
Oh magic Water, river of courage,
Here in your presence we cleanse and we nourish
Oh magic Fire, burning with passion,
Here in your presence we spark into action.
Oh magic Air, breath of deep knowing,
Here in your presence inspired and growing.
Oh magic Spirit, cauldron of changing,
Here in your presence, transforming and naming.
14. SEASONAL MAGICK - Shekhinah Mountainwater
Ruth and Amanda Barrett, vocals, with percussion
The year is a dancing woman, who is born at the coming of Spring.
The year is a dancing woman, of Her birth and death we sing.
In Spring She comes to power when the red of Her moon bloods come,
Then dances and spins toward Summer, to the beat of Her passion’s drum.
Tis then She becomes so fertile with the life that is to come,
And She flows with the love that feeds us til the Harvest time is done.
Then She dances and spins toward darkness all dressed in Autumn’s fire,
To descend to the time of shadow, and rest from the world’s desire.
Now Her hair is touched with silver, Winter’s wisdom claims Her soul,
And She births the Spirit within us, giving light and joy to us all.
Igniting a blaze in the darkness to kindle the coming Spring.
Then rest til Her resurrection, and Her story again begins.
The year is a dancing woman, who is born at the coming of Spring.
The year is a dancing woman, of Her birth and death we sing.