Ritual, the Transformative Power of

My theme this week is inspired by this song! Rain Dance by Valerie June.



Ritual lifts us out of our mundane existence into a transformational plane where change is of a higher order. We use candles (take care, cats and children!), music, breath, water, really - all elements, to put our brains into a state in which messages, creativity, and, ultimately, peace and unity can flow freely.

I'll be interviewing Michelle Webb and Valerie June today. I HIGHLY recommend you go to see them live: Dec. 5 at Joe's Movement Emporium and Dec. 9 at the 5th & K Sts. location of Busboys and Poets.

These are the songs that I have selected to further elucidate the concept of ritual:

• Fire In the Rhythm, Carmen Lundy, Solamente
• Feelin' Good, Carmen McRae, Women Talk (Remastered)
• Waterfall, Cris Williamson, The Changer And The Changed: A Record Of The Times
• Bad Spirits (Bani), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Red Earth - A Malian Journey
• What a Difference a Day Makes, Dinah Washington, Compact Jazz: Dinah Washington
• Higher Ground, Elizabeth Shepherd, Parkdale
• Air, Erin McKeown, We Will Become Like Birds
• Fired Up, Freshlyground, Ma' Cheri
• I Made A Lover's Prayer, Gillian Welch, Soul Journey
• Expression, Joyce Cooling, This Girl's Got to Play
• The Air That I Breathe, k.d. lang, Drag
• The Whirler, Layne Redmond, Invoking the Muse
• Fire, Magdalen Hsu-Li, Fire
• Change the World, Magdalen Hsu-Li, Smashing the Ceiling
• Old Time Spiritual, Mary Lou Williams, Mary Lou's Mass
• Have A Little Faith, Mavis Staples, A Tribute To Great Women Of Style
• Quiet Fire, Melody Gardot, Worrisome Heart
• Change, Mindi Abair, Stars
• Sophie's Theme, Pam Parker, Imagine
• Zen, Rokia Traoré, Tchamantché
• Fire, Stephanie Rooker, Tellin You Right Now
• Breaths, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Breaths
• Prayer To The One, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Sacred Ground
• Strong, Valerie June, Mountain Of Rose Quartz
• Rain Dance, Valerie June, Mountain Of Rose Quartz
• Summertime, Michelle Webb
• Wildwood Flower, Michelle Webb