When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is
pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few
friends and together they pray and meditate until they
hear the song of the child. They recognize that
every soul has its own vibration that expresses its
unique flavor and purpose. When the women attune to
the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to
the tribe and teach it to everyone else.
When the child is born, the community gathers and
sings the child's song to him or her. Later, when the
child enters education, the village gathers and chants
the child's song. When the child passes through the
initiation to adulthood, the people again come
together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person
hears his or her song.
Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this
world, the family and friends gather at the person's
bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing
the person to the next life.
which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time
during his or her life, the person commits a crime or
aberrant social act, the individual is called to the
center of the village and the people in the community
form a circle around them. Then they sing their song
to them.
The tribe recognizes that the correction for
antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and
the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your
own song, you have no desire or need to do anything
that would hurt another.
A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it
to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you
are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark
images you hold about yourself. They remember your
beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are
broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your
purpose when you are confused. You may not
have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song
to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always
reminding you when you are in tune with yourself
and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are
doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it
doesn't.
In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing
it well. You may feel a little warbly at the moment,
but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing
and you'll find your way home.
