Today’s Wellness Wednesday is a chant that I learned from some fabulous music therapists here in Portland! I’ve been finding that different music therapy communities tend to have their own collection of songs that are well-loved and well known. As Kim and I have been getting more involved with this community we’ve had the opportunity to learn some fantastic new songs and chants to use in our own work!

I learned this particular chant the first day that I started working as faculty at Marylhurst University. We were using it as a way to help transition the students into a brand new term, but the words really resonated with me as well. Since then I’ve often reflected on the words of this chant during times of stress and uncertainty as a way to feel a little more grounded.

The words of this chant were written by author and activist StarHawk. I’m not exactly sure who put them to music (if you know, please let me know in the comments!), but recorded below is the version I’ve learned.

Standing Like a Tree

Standing like a tree with my roots dug down.

My branches wide and open.

Come down the rain.

Come down the sun.

Come down the fruit to a heart that is open to be

Standing like a tree.

This chant also works quite well as a round.

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