Eights

The woman who loves herself
though she may be shaken
the woman who loves herself
will never fall. x2

I am singing this song for her freedom
I am singing this song for her healing
I am singing this song for her wholeness
I am singing this song for love

The man who loves himself
though she may be shaken
the man who loves himself
will never fall. x2

I am singing this song for his freedom
I am singing this song for his healing
I am singing this song for his wholeness
I am singing this song for love

The children who love themselves
though she may be shaken
the children who love themselves
will never fall. x2

I am singing this song for their freedom
I am singing this song for their healing
I am singing this song for their wholeness
I am singing this song for love

Cara Gevurah!, Tali Weinberg, Yona Smith, Aliza Hava, and Shirah Netanya bringing it down in the synagogue at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center Fall 2006. Casey-Baruch on camera and audio editing; Shir-Yaakov on audio with SuperBen.

Do you know who wrote this song?

I love these people so much:

I've just released five full length albums and one EPon last.fm! You can listen to some selected tracks with the radio player on the upper-right hand corner of eights.org.

Melody received in Damanhur; lyrics received from Hebraic Tradition (Talmud Bavli, Sukkot 53a) and Shmot (Exodus) 15:11: 

A short clip from last night's concert here in Damanhur:

My Sister in California got this audio to Italy.... It includes the English verses and the more recently added Hebrew:

I'm here, my dear,
    I'm clear
        and bright
            and true.

With
    every single breath,
    every single simile.
    Every single step, of
    every single mile.

The truth
    comes slowly
        And that's okay (or so they say)

I choose
    to be with you,
        to see it through

Both
    night and day
    so I can say...

Tonight, at one of the two weekly serate ("evenings") where the entire community is invited to come together to discuss various topics, we continued to ask the question, What is Damanhur? I actually took the microphone and inserted my opinion tonight (archived editions are available of the live webcast: Damanhur.it/incontri/) Then Falco shared one of his definitions:

    A place to overcome disenchantment.

Earlier today, I attempted to return to blogging by taking a linear approach to the last three weeks. That was an overwhelming and not-so-fun way! Shama shared that she always begins any definition of Damanhur with, "it's a 360° experience."

    A place to overcome disenchantment!!!

What most people first hear regarding the Federation of Damanhur must be The Temples of Humankind.

I could go on and on about this "eighth wonder of the world" — built in secret... by hand... continuously for the past 30+ years — but I wont.... The Damanhurians say the sacred service of digging into the mountain (currently, the Templi are only 10% complete) is only a metaphor for the work of the Soul.

Even MORE phenomenal than this stunning Temple, are the People and their Vision. I imagine I'll add to this blog in a fairly non-linear fashion, discussing the wildly fascinating and unique cultural aspects of this Community. For now, I just wanted to inform you, my Friends and Family, that I've extended my stay here indefinitely and have many wonderful plates spinning. In one of my first conversations with Falco, the spiritual leader and founder of this community, he pointed out that you can touch many more spheres when you juggle them — and one core Damanhurian meditation is to "think with your hands." So I'm keeping busy, and bustling with joy!

Con Te (With You), S

I heard the call and the voice of laughter
I looked around, I was alone
I heard this song and the words came after
That’s how I found I am never alone

Adam Olam Katan, Olam Adam Gadol
Everything that we see is a reflection
Of the Great Mystery surrounding and filling me
I submit willingly to this perfection

Adam Olam Katan, Olam Adam Gadol
Everything that we see is an expression
Of the Great Mystery surrounding and filling me
I submit willingly to this perfection

I heard the call and the voice of laughter
I looked around, I was alone
I heard this song and the words came after
That’s how I found we are never alone