Scripture ~ “Praise God with castanets and dance, praise God with banjo and flute;
praise God with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise God with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!” Psalm 150
Spiritual Focus ~ “I am a hole in the flute that the Christ’s breath moves through listen to this music. I am the concert from the mouth of every creature singing with the myriad chorus.” Hafiz, 14th century Persian poet
Breath Prayer ~ Hallelujah
Devotion ~ The lyrics of “What a Song Can Do,” by country singer Lady A, wander through all the ways that music moves us: dancing, crying, loving, even changing your mind. Songs remind us of good times as well as challenging times. Music often sets the stage for important moments in our life. Music often helps us to connect to something inside or outside of ourselves whether in a sacred space, a worship setting, or as we hum along walking through a mall. For many of us, music is foundational to our faith and spiritual journey. Interestingly, several famous singers across the sacred/secular landscape trace their love of music back to singing in church.
Over the years Sunday morning worship at Yogadevotion retreats has featured music that weaves together the sacred and secular to create an experience of God’s presence. Yogadevotion worship opens with an invocation of “Morning Has Broken” made popular by Cat Stevens, and acknowledges God’s presence within and among us. When we come into child’s pose, we name the obstacles we see in our relationship with God as the Beatles’ song, “Let it Be”, accompanies our confession quietly in the background. Throughout the service, Gregorian chant and instrumental renditions of favorite hymns frame a time of practicing in the presence. The worship concludes with a final blessing and sending song “Day by Day” from Godspell which sends us from our yoga mat out into the world.
Traditional yoga does not use music. Western yogis still debate whether we should practice with music or the simple sound of our breath. Honestly, there is a place for both the silence of breath and the gentle melodies that, when played in our minds, in class, or in the world around us, connect us to God. Music is a gift that helps us to listen. It has the potential to move us inward in our practice as well as the potential to move us outward into the world to sing and celebrate!
