Singing the Body
Today as I look forward to rehearsing with Sahara Peace Choir for an upcoming concert, I recall the teachings of sound healer Gina Sala. Awhile back, Gina led Kirtan devotional chanting at the Yoga Sky Temple, high above the bay in Yelapa a fishing village south of Puerto Vallarta. She mentioned that when she feels herself being judge-y about someone, she sings about the person in order to bring herself back to heart. Gina’s practice of singing about a person encourages me to call on that mysterious part of me that can bring me to larger heart. Gina went on to speak of the Oneness, but in a manner juicier than I had ever heard before in the description of a spiritual path. Her love of God is happiness, she said. It is power! It gives her a refreshment, in the way sleep gives refreshment! Her happiness overflowed into her voice like a waterfall. I left the Sky Temple longing to be as juicily devoted to the Great Mother as this young teacher/healer was.
Next day, at a voice healing session, she shared a hands-on practice called Greeting the Body, a practice she never omits, even when she might omit every other practice. In Greeting the Body, certain syllables are sung to certain parts of the body; one’s eyes are open, one’s hands are on that body part, stroking, patting — saying good morning! Gina described the practice as an act of love and affection, an offering to the self. The point is a daily sincere greeting of oneself as Divine.
My recollection of these may not be completely accurate, but here they are as I now sing them:
Hamah, top of head;
Meme, face; (pronounced may-may)
Hahamah, neck; (accent first syllable)
Yaya, heart;
Rera, ribs;
Vava, pelvic bowl;
Lala, tailbone area and legs.
Though Gina grew up in an ashram, her path to the Divine by taking pleasure in body buzz is beautifully Pagan. Let’s all sing. We don’t need to join a choir. Let’s sing our longings and confusions, our offerings and petitions. Let’s sing to keep ourselves aware of the Divine during each passing day of our short lives. Let’s sing to the Beloved within us as we wake, as we walk down the street. We can sing so softly no one else can tell we’re singing. Let’s use this stunning human capacity to craft our lives into a juicy song of love.
