TODAY’S LYRICS:

There aren’t any. Seriously. It’s vocables, sounds rooted in the Ojibwe language, Anishnabemowin. Sometimes, we don’t need words. It’s all about our intentions and our presence.

Ya way hey ya ha wayii ya

— Vocables from “Missing You Memorial Song” by Brenda MacIntyre

Every now and then I miss one or both of my parents. I lost them both when I was a teenager. I’ve gone through enough of the heavier grief over the years to be able to enjoy and appreciate the good memories, sit with the ones that weren’t so good, have a few tears every now and then, but feel like I’m not “in grief” about my parents anymore. I still miss them sometimes, but it doesn’t hurt me like it used to. With my son, it’s different. It’s been very public, with the media involved and court dates seeking justice. Losing my only son – it’s not the natural order of things, so it can mess with me sometimes. I don’t know if the grieving will ever stop. I certainly can’t imagine ever not missing my son.

Sometimes there are just no words. What really needs to be expressed is emotions, and we don’t always need words for that. Maybe it’s just tears, or your body will get you moving, or you feel it in your stomach, or some other part of your body. Maybe your body will stop you in your tracks and you can do nothing at all. In between the words we and others try to tell us lives that quiet in between place. That place of healing, of coming back to ourselves piece by piece.

TRY THIS: Put on a timer for 5 minutes. Sit where you are and just breathe and notice. Notice what comes up, without the pressure of having to change anything or judge anything. Just be with you and your breath and your thoughts and your body. Maybe look out a window or put on ocean sounds or rain or something else that feels good to hear on YouTube. Just soak up the silence, or the ocean sounds. Soak up the experience. Even if you start to feel pain, remind yourself that it’s only for a few minutes. Then give yourself some big love and appreciation.

Final thoughts: Sometimes words just get in the way. Maybe you don’t even need to read any of this. Maybe, all you need is to be with yourself and whatever wants to show up with you.

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!