In Beauty May I Walk

I got to spend all weekend up in Estes Park with the phenomenal women of Sound Circle. Our fall retreat was very productive and my soul has been refreshed by the time spent surrounded by so many amazing people, and the breathtaking winter beauty that currently graces the Park. Our Solstice show this year is going to feature a piece we are composing that is called Requiem to Roadkill. The concept is to acknowledge the impact that we as human beings have on the environment around us, and to inspire respect for all of the creatures that we touch. We spent a lot of time talking about possible elements of the piece, and creating sounds that evoke those thoughts and feelings.

This was surprisingly a very emotional process for me. I internalize so many things, and the general ignorance and apathy of humanity towards animals is heart-wrenching to me. I have considered eating vegetarian before, and this weekend confirmed that at my core, I share those beliefs. However, I also understand the cycle of life and our dependence on protein in order to sustain ourselves. For me, the empathy I feel for animals that are injured or killed by humans is related to disruptions in that cycle. IE, not when an elk is hunted for a winter's worth of meals, but when a dog is beaten or a fox is run over and left suffering to die on the side of the road. So many times we cause interruptions like this and turn away, leaving a path of literal destruction in our wake. I am desperately saddened when I think about the world our generation's grandchildren will inherit if we continue to avoid acknowledging the damage we generate.

I have been inspired by another singers' mantra to First Do No Harm, and the knowledge that we must live the changes we want to see in this world.