Music with a Message Series Episode 9: Grieve

TODAY’S LYRICS:

Feel the love
Let the love bring the tears
Let yourself take your time
Grieve

— Lyrics from “Grieve” by Brenda MacIntyre

No wonder we human beings are barely breathing.

We suppress grief over and over again whenever we have little or big losses of any kind.

We gloss over our feelings. Nah, I’m fine. I’m good. Are you really, though?

The original title of this song was “Breathe” because I wanted to give you that reminder to BREATHE. When we experience any kind of loss, we tend to tighten up and stop breathing fully, which cuts us off from love, because love is literally life force energy that is in the air we breathe.

I literally got pneumonia for the first time ever, while I practiced this song. We carry grief in the heart and lungs. I had to cry, cough, wheeze, gasp and finally breathe my way through this song before I could sing it without losing it.

When we allow ourselves to breathe fully, we open up our connection to ourselves and to Source. While I was practicing this song, and losing my way with it, my son Quinn came through. It was like we were one being and suddenly I found my way with the lyrics. I could see him bouncing with me, almost like he was telepathically coaching me, his big smile and that excitement about rap and trap music he had. It was such a gift.

I couldn’t stop crying and kept practicing over and over. He stayed with me, helping me to get the song how I wanted, about 4 times through. Quinn truly is my angel.

My song Grieve was inspired by what may well have been the very last beat my son produced. It was the last one he posted on his Instagram just 10 days before he was murdered. My elder told me my son’s higher purpose was to leave the planet with a bold message – gun violence awareness. Now, my song will carry Quinn’s spirit’s message, along with helping you to have some hope and healing on your own grief journeys.

TRY THIS: Letting yourself feel the love really does bring the tears but also brings healing. If you’re feeling, you’re healing. This past week or so, what or whom have you lost? Take a few moments to acknowledge the love you feel, or felt, for whatever/whomever you’ve lost. You might not feel too loving about the loss, but you did have love for the person or thing or situation before the loss. Tap into that love and let it flow, however you want. Maybe you take a “day in the life of” trip down memory lane, going somewhere you loved to go with that person. Maybe you look at old photos and let the tears flow. Maybe you just breathe and see what happens.

Final thoughts: When unexpressed, unfelt grief clogs up the system, we are clogging up our connection to all the good that is available to us. When you allow yourself to feel and express the grief, it has less power over you. When you get to the point of being able to feel and express the pent-up love, you create space within you and your life for more good to flow in, and for more healing to happen.

Hope this helps. Please feel welcome to share it with friends you know who are experiencing grief, trauma, loss or chronic pain.

Love & Light,

Brenda MacIntyre, Medicine Song Woman

In Memory of Brenda MacIntyre’s son Quinn Taylor, this album features 2 songs inspired by Quinn’s trap music. The songs on this album span reggae, soft rap and indigenous hand drum singing, with Brenda’s usual soulful vocal flavour and a hint of funk and R&B.

Just like Brenda’s last 3 albums, this one is being created in ceremony, infused with specific intentions and emotional and healing energy, to help people to feel love, connection and joy even alongside grief, chronic pain, identity crisis or trauma.

PRE-ORDER YOUR CD TODAY!