I had a notably upsetting experience yesterday. Today I'm feeling a lot better, though still a bit shaken and troubled. I took a hot shower just now and spent most of it singing circle songs to myself, which made me feel a bit like a cat purring to help her own broken bone heal.
The genre - women's circle songs - is one I just became aware of a few years ago when I was able to participate in a singing circle for the first time. They are simple songs or chants, designed for women to teach one another and sing at length together at gatherings, usually with feminist or nature or spiritual themes. Or all of the above. One piece of the precious heritage of the women's movement.
So here's one for you to enjoy too, "Winter Solstice Round" sung by the choir Libana. On this past winter solstice I buried myself in a veritable snowdrift of blankets when bedtime came, and hummed myself to sleep with this one.
Deep down in the belly of the night
Dream deep winter dreams
And lie safe in your grandmother's arms
Still as a seed, still as a seed
