Together We Will Weather all the Storms

Together We Will Weather all the Storms

Capo III

A                                  E

I’m no good at writing love songs

D                     A
I’m too used to sharing pain

Too used to broken promises

And efforts spent in vain

But my pen can’t leave this paper

As I write what’s in my heart

And send these words across the miles

To find you where you are

I’ll wrap you up in words of love

Of comfort for your tears

I’ll hold you close and heal those wounds

You’ve gathered through the years

You’ll find the strength to carry on

The work you’re meant to do

As you and I combine our paths

We’re stronger when we’re two

            Bm                              A

You’ve been alone and lonely
Bm                                          A
Suffered through heartache and pain
Bm                                          A
You’ve grown to be the man before me
Bm                                         E
Laughing and smiling in the rain

A                                                      G
Hold me in your arms and we can weather all the storms
D                                             A
Raging ‘round your heart together
(A)                                                       G                             D
I’ll be here with you when there is nothing left to do but wait—

     F                         G                      A             G         D         A
And we’ll wait here in our calm within the storm

There’s a different kind of yearning

A softened lover’s grace

That longs to see your gentle smile

And waits for your embrace
There’s a burning deep inside that glows
and smolders in the dark
Igniting us to blazing every time
We make a spark

The distance seems cold and lonely

With so much to do on our own

We’ve grown in love and trust on our journeys

10,000 Tuesdays soon in our own home

I know it can be hard when I’m so far from where you are

But we’re under the same stars together
And deep within the night when you feel lost without the light
Just wait—

I’ll soon be on my way back to your arms

A
Alone we’ve grown
E
As one we’ll soar
D
Alone we’ve hurt
A
As one we’ll heal
A
Alone we’ve cried
E
As one we’ll try
Bm                                               E
To heal our memories with our song

Make Fire with me, my love, as we embrace the love above—

The love that’s streaming down upon us

And deep within your soul when hear my voice you’ll know I’m yours—

            F                      G                     A          G         D

And together we will weather all the storms
    F                        G                     A                G         D

Together we will weather all the storms

    F                       G                       A
Together we will weather all the storms

Winter Solstice Vigil: A Song for the Earth Mother and the Return of the Sun

As the darkness descends upon the land
and all is blanketed in night
As the silence consumes the passing year
and all that was is left behind

Feel the Earth beneath your feet
(Though she sleeps, though she sleeps)
Feel her breath upon your cheeks
(Though she sleeps beneath your feet)

On this night we keep the fires burning bright
The longest night of all the year
We give our thanks for all the blessings we have known
And pray the sun will reappear

The Mother sleeps and all is cold
(The Mother sleeps and all is cold)
The darkness yields and there behold!

Behold, Behold! The Return of the Light!
Behold, Behold! The triumph o’er the night!
Behold, Behold! The darkness fades away!
Behold, a brand new day!

Drop Box Recording

Blessings Upon a Mendicant

Quiet, my soul,
Beneath the pale Autumn moon.
Still the night,
The breeze alone stirs in the wild.
Darkness and cold descend.
Quiet, my soul, in a quiet world.

As my mind’s eye is turned skyward,
Toward the myriad stars shining,
Shimmering like moonlight
On the inky pool of the sky
Beyond which lies the heavens,
Below which lies my love in his slumber,
My heart stirs and swells,
Riding the waves of the night
In cascades of devotion.

Shining Stars above,
Hear how my heart beats for him,
See the love blaze in my eyes as I gaze up, up, up
And onward to beseech you.
See my desire for his health and joy,
See how I long for his triumph and glory,
See my dedication to the desires of his heart
That they be manifest in his waking life.
See them, take them up as a mantle of strength and healing
And encompass him, enshroud him, blanket him
With my unending desire for his happiness and success.

And thusly cloaked in love and luck,
May he rise to greet the sun with pride and virility
To carry his works into the world,
To serve the folk,
To love the land,
To honor the Gods, the Ancestors, and the Spirits of the Earth
In perfect love and graceful humility.
So be it.

Nine Offerings for Those who Exemplify the Nine Noble Virtues

1. We begin by calling to Lady Idunna of the Golden Apples, she who tends the tree of immortality with loving care, maintaining its health and well-being that she may give those blessings to the Aesir and Vanir of Asgard. Idunna, who embodies generosity through her careful tending, and hospitality through her willingness to share.  Idunna, we honor you.
   
2. Next, we call once more to Heimdalr, lays order to the world and keeps watch over the realms, he who takes not more than his fill nor more than his hosts are able to give without complaint, He of Stilled Mind that hears the wool and grass grow, he who sees all. Disciplined, sharp, ruler of his own destiny that he may serve others. Heimdalr, we honor you.
   
3. We call to Lady Freyja, Mistress of the Honored, Chosen dead; Brising-Magic Maiden of Seidhr and Foresight, She who loves without fear, She who makes no apologies for following her heart, Valkyrie, Mardoll, Strongest of Women, Lady of the Vanir, She who had the courage to fill Hrungnir’s Horn when no one would approach him. For courage and boldness, Freyja, we honor you.
   
4. We call also to Fertile Freyr of the fields of Alfheim, God of Bountiful Harvest, Rain and Sun, Bestower of Peace and Prosperity, Defeater of Beli with Antler for Sword. Teaches us to remember not to battle, to lay down our weapons, and to put our energy instead into cultivating the land and our relationships with one another through determination and hard-work, for the best rewards we receive are those we reap from what we have sown.  Freyr, we honor you.
   
5. We hail Skadhi, who lives alone in her mountain home, the Woman who Runs with the Wolves; She who marched upon Asgard to demand recompense for her Father’s death, to demand respect be paid to her--and received it in Odin’s Hall. For teaching us responsibility and the art of respect, Skadhi, we honor you.
   
6. We give hail toAsa-Thor, Son of Odin, Ruler of Mjollnir, Jotun’s Bane, Slayer of Hrungnir, Geirrod, and Thrivaldi, enemy of the Midgard Serpent, Drinker of the Sea who runs against thought and challenges Fire to a feast. For your strength, endurance, and steadfastness, Asa-Thor, we honor you.
   
7. We pay homage to Frigga, Goddess of the Spindle Hearth, She who sees all and yet does not wag her tongue with idle gossip, Goddess of Hearth and Home, Keeper of the Fallen Children, Queen of Asgard. For fidelity and Frith, for loyalty and honor, Frigga, we honor you.
   
8. We give great tribute to Odin, Alfather. Lord of Wisdom, Keeper of Thought and Memory, He who outwits and outthinks even Loki, Lord of Wit and Trickery. Sacrificer who gives way to knowledge and vision, taking them up screaming! That he may be bathed in truth and wisdom. Odin, we honor you.
   
9. And we call to Lord Tyr, Leavings of the Wolf, He who sacrifices of himself for the good of the tribe at great cost to maintain order. Fenris-Binder, Gloved-Spear, North Star, Granter of Direction, and Keeper of Oaths. As the eye is sacrificed for vision, so, too, must the right hand be sacrificed for justice. Tyr, we honor you.

Surrender it All

Surrender It All
By: Rev. Melissa S Burchfield, ADF Master Bard

Tune: E A B E B E
(Tune: D A D G A D)

E5  Bsus4   A9   A9
(D   A/E       G₁   G₁)
I call to you softly in my hour of need

And I make my offerings to the flame

In times in life like these when I am driven to my knees

I bring my fears to you through the flame

A9/C#         E5    A9            A9
(Gsus2/F#   D    Gsus2/B  Gsus2/B)
In a world that leaves me cold and alone

I hear you through the flames as you call me your own

E5  Bsus4   A9   A9
(D   A/E       G₁   G₁)
As the darkness falls and the shadows descend

And the silence greets me like an old friend

The light upon my shrine is my beacon of hope

And the silence fills with the voices of my Gods

A9/C#         E5    A9            A9
(Gsus2/F#   D    Gsus2/B  Gsus2/B)
“Through your good deeds and your offerings

You have given of yourself completely

Let us come to you in your hour of need

Give us all that you are suffering”

C#m7   Bsus4    A9   A9
(Bm7   A/E    G₁   G₁)
So I surrender myself

I relinquish control

I surrender it all and

Let the Kindreds make me whole

A9/C#         E5     A9             A9
(Gsus2/F#   D    Gsus2/B  Gsus2/B)
Make me whole, make me whole, make me whole (2X)

E5  Bsus4   A9   A9
(D   A/E       G₁   G₁)
When our voices resound in the Well

When our roots run deep with our branches overhead

When our fires of piety

Light up the sky and we

Pour out our offerings

Unto the Kindreds Three

We give our gifts and in *ghosti they receive

A9/C#         E5    A9           A9
(Gsus2/F#   D    Gsus2/B  Gsus2/B)
When we call forth the Blessing

The Kindreds have for you and for me

We must open up our hearts to receive

What they wish to give so freely

C#m7   Bsus4    A9   A9
(Bm7    A/E         G₁   G₁)
So we surrender ourselves

We relinquish control

We surrender it all and

Let the Kindreds Bless us all

A9/C#         E5    A9             A9
(Gsus2/F#   D    Gsus2/B  Gsus2/B)
Bless us all, bless us all, bless us all (twice)

C#m7   Bsus4    A9   A9 (Four times/Vamp)
(Bm7     A/E       G₁   G₁)

E5  Bsus4   A9   A9
(D   A/E       G₁   G₁)
I call to you softly in my hour of need

And I make my offerings to the flame

Invitation to Saga

By the stream of memory, she dwells,
Saga of the Sinking Beach,
Of the Land of Flowing Waterfalls,
Seeress of Frigga’s Court,
She who drinks from the Golden Chalice
Holding audience with Alfather,
Lady of Memory and History.
Saga, we call to you.
Saga, we give you this gift
And beseech you to allow us a draught
From the Cup of Inspiration.Grant us a sip from your Chalice
That our words may be inspired,Guided by truth and wisdom,
And be pleasing to the folk and the Gods.
Saga! Accept our offering!

My Heart is Racing

My heart is racing
beating as to the cadence of a far-off drum
to the rhythm of a distant tribe
a distant time
a distant place
a distance—where you and I become we

Yet time passes slowly
each beat of my heart
seemingly stretches on for an hour
for an eternity
for eons
when I am without you

I hear your voice in my thoughts
softening the countenance of my days
I see your smile in the trees
Hear your laughter on the wind
Feel your arms in every imagined embrace
Your breath upon my cheek
and I long for you in the silence of my room
Mine own thoughts are plotting
to steal moments of our time-touched love
and hide them away
keeping them safe and sacred
until I cannot stand the distance
that separates us across the miles
Only then do I bring them forth as conduits
as I call out to you with all that I am
and open the way between us
to allow the flood of you to wash over me
The way is not shut
The way is full of light and promise
The way is full of hope
The way is full of you

And in this moment between heart beats
When the silence is louder because of your absence
I hold onto the hope of holding onto you