What are your musical memories of childhood? I hope you have many good ones – I know I do!
My early years were filled with wonderful music from all over the world. When my grandparents emigrated from Austria in 1906, they brought cylinders with recordings of their favorite bands plus some tracks that were recorded just for them! I’m guessing they must have acquired a gramophone or phonograph (that’s a record player for you young moderns!) as soon as they settled into their new home.
My dad continued to collect music and when my siblings and I were young, sometimes he would declare a Music Night! We would go dashing for the parents’ closets and a lot of giggling and dressing up ensued. Then, we were ready to dance and sing the night away!
I’ve inherited those albums and the instant I hear any of the songs, I am right back in that Happy Place of Childhood Music!
A Song in the Heart
I’ve written before about my experiences when I danced with the Child Goddess – and all the music that came out of that period. Now, I am talking about why that is so very important for our Pagan kids – and for all of us, really.
The little songs of Sunday school and early elementary days were often mnemonics that set concepts and spiritual mythology deeply in the memory. How deeply? Sing the opening bars of Jesus Loves The Little Children at a senior home and pretty soon you will have a chorus going – even in the Memory Unit!
When I moved away from the spiritual beliefs of my parents, my own children were adolescents. As they grew and married, I watched my grandkids arrive and grow, and I wanted that same gift for them. I think the Muse smiled, knowing what She had in store for me!
Little sing-songs like The Farmer in the Dell and If You’re Happy And You Know It took on a wider view as they evolved into The Lady’s In The Wood and If You’re Magic And You Know It – still happy earworms, but now they are teaching young pagan children basic vocabulary and concepts of how we can live and connect with Spirit and all the magic in our world!
Growing in a Musical Garden
Here we all are on a world that’s blue and round,
Under a sun that comes up and then goes down.
Many, many colors, shapes and sizes all are we,
We’re all of the things that a rainbow needs to be!Selected lyrics from “Human Beans” by Ginger Ackley from her album “Connections.”
Music is an essential tool for shaping how children grow to see their world. Think of how television shows have influenced our thinking. Sesame Street has been a major factor on how more than one generation was encouraged to be tolerant of others, to care for the environment, and even to think critically. When kids grow up with the mnemonics of inclusion – especially when their adults live it out – we will all be better for it!
One of the phrases I love sharing is, “If you want it to go fast, sing it!” That has been true from the beginning of time, seeing that all the spiritual paths employ chants and songs. Some ancient structures were actually built to amplify certain frequencies. Churches certainly utilized architecture to include the power of sound!
Music Is Magic!
It’s Silly Magic! My Silly Magic! A happy, slappy ritual for me!
Oh, yes, it’s Magic! My Silly Magic! And when it’s done,
I’ve had some fun and I’m happy as can be!Selected lyrics from “Silly Magic” by Ginger Ackley from her album “Wee Folk Stomp.”
One song, Silly Magic, has taken on a life of its own – and demonstrates that the idea of “child” or “kid” is not truly bound by the number of years a person has lived. Indeed, some of my favorite Kids are in their 80s and I call them my K.O.A.A. – Kids Of All Ages!
That little song was written to let youngsters know that they were not powerless, that they could actually DO something to change how they felt. They didn’t need permission or special tools. The magic was already there in the everyday and mundane things within easy reach. All that was needed was that wonderful shift in thinking: Intention!
Silly Magic sprouted wings and is frequently requested on our pagan internet radio stations. Last year, it became the foundation for a community healing event that brought so many folks together. There was a huge thunderstorm during that event but with the Magic of Music, everyone left feeling lighter and happier. It tickled my heart that I actually heard kids and grownups singing bits of the song as they left!
It’s Elemental!
The songs I have written and sung for children sparked a bright flash of understanding for me – that Music and Song engage all the Elements at once.
Consider this:
The Element of Air provides the energy to produce a musical sound, even if it is just a single note you hum softly. Then the Air Elementals, the Sylphs, take that sound and carry it as far as they can, to the ears and hearts of those who listen. (That includes the singer, by the way!)
The Element of Fire gives the spark that makes us want to sing and make sounds. The Fire Elementals, the Dragons, the Drakes, the Salamanders bring the passion that energizes both listener and singer.
The Element of Water smooths the sounds that form in our mouths and lungs and the blood that flows in our bodies, as our heart beats its rhythm. The Undines, the Water Elementals, provide a liquid atmosphere that vibrates the tones in our ears.
The Element of Earth holds our bodies as they react to the sounds of music, allowing our spirits to soar and sing along. The Earth Elementals, the Gnomes and Elves, give us a magical link with the planet, as the rhythms of music fill our beings, helping us to recall our true connection to our Mother.
And, of course, Spirit is always there, bringing everything together and making it Sing!
Modern science has now shown that certain frequencies have strong and definable effects on the human brain and body – for both good and ill. Music and sound can heal. Sound waves can help you sleep and dream or enter a trance to connect with Spirit. There is a fascinating science called “Cymatics” that studies the incredible physical patterns that different musical tones produce! (For more information on cymatics, check out Nigel Stanford’s page on the subject.)
So, for our children, for those we are raising and teaching, for those we care for regardless of age, Music and Song are powerful vehicles that educate and engage the memory in ways that will last a lifetime.
- Give children the gift of Music to carry them through their lives.
- Music can shape memory.
- Music can elevate a moment.
- Music can be mysterious and hide secrets.
- Music can not only make you happy when you are sad, but it can acknowledge and honor your sadness and help you deal with the progression of grief, large and small.
- Music can give you a touchstone for the phases of your lifetime.
- Music can let us speak to the gods, connect with the elements, and allow our souls to reach the heights and depths needed throughout life.
Sing on, then … for our children and for the Child that lives within all of us!
For more information about Ginger Ackley, including her collected articles here on Pagan Song, her bio, and links to Ginger’s sites on the web, check out Ginger’s page on Pagan Song.
The featured image The Enchanted Flute is by Josephine Wall.
Click here for more Pagan Song articles on Pagan Kids and Pagan Parenting.
Please subscribe to the Pagan Song blog, to receive our blog post each week. Don’t miss any of the musical magic!
Visit our homepage to see the full list of the musicians who write for the Pagan Song blog.
Pagan Song has a fan club on Patreon. Join for as little as $3 a month for exclusive features! Click for info.