In honor all of the types of love-- they're all rooted in self-love. 

Happy Love Weekend!

It Begins With Self Love

Water is life. Water is sacred. Water is in us. Water moves. Water carves. Water heals.

I wrote this song in spring of 2017, asking for water to help me heal and cleanse. I took this photo about a year later at the beautiful Divina Floresta Farm located in Barra Serra, Brazil. I have had the opportunity to share this song with waters all over- in the US, in Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. I'm so grateful. I hope this song moves the water inside of you, inside of all of us in some way. <3 Joyous

Ukulele, lyrics, whistle and harmonies: Joyous Dawn

Mantra

A song I'm sharing to hopefully bring some momentary ease your heart and nervous system in the midst of these times. I love you fam.  Let's continue to hold each other up. 

Recorded with the loopy app on my phone, an mbira from my friends house, and my voice. <3

Lullaby For The Times

Shared during my FIRST Self Produced Show/Musical/Poetry Offering Sept 2018 at Spiral Gardens in Berkeley, California.

The sounds come from my journeys in Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil between June 2017-April 2018 and include nature sounds, protests, and cherished memories. I invite you to consider while listening, what is a journey you are on (literally or figuratively) and or what is a journey you'd like to take?

Please take a few moments to read the more detailed political and social context below for certain sounds you will hear. Nothing is in a vacuum-- not these sounds, and not this moment. Thank you for taking this all in. <3

Sounds and locations:
1. Mama Ocean- Las Tunas, Ecuador
2. Meditative Guitar Riff- Joyous Dawn, Vilcabamba, Ecuador
3. Pond Ambiance- Vilcabamba, Ecuador
4. Delphine and Joyous Dawn Duet- Vilcabamba, Ecuador
5. Rainforest Companion- Puyo, Ecuador
6. Sweet River- Valle De Cocora, Colombia
7. Dina's beautiful song duet w. Joyous Dawn- Tabitinga, Colombia
8. Flamingo fauna n flora- Camarones, Colombia
9. Maracatu Band from Manaus New Years Day- Alter Do Chao, Brazil
10. Acai do Totoa car advertisement- Alter Do Chao, Brazil
11. "I Learn from You" Delphine n Joyous Dawn- Riverboat from Manaus to Santarem, Brazil
12. * Protect River Xingu- Convergence of activists, locals and anthropologies about mining in the Amazon- Belem, Brazil 
13. Women's Forro band - Sao Paolo, Brazil
14. ** Por Marielle (For Marielle)- Sao Paolo, Brazil
15. Tent company- Barra Serra, Brazil
16. Victor's Song- Bombas Quilombo- 12 km walk from Barra Serra, Brazil
17. Sister River - Barra Serra, Brazil

DEEPER NOTES ON THE RECORDINGS:
*12 -- Although many of my English speaking friends won't be able to understand the speaker in # 12, I wanted to include a full snippet of their powerful words. With illusions to the spiritual and ancestral connections locals have to the Xingu river, the speaker makes a plea for people to care for the fight to protect the river. The Xingu river is in the Amazon region of Brazil and is facing major destruction as a result of mining and deforestation. Under the presidency of Bolsanero, the Amazon region faces further threat...

The speaker says: "Xingu [is] the house of the gods. We are the river Xingu, we are these waters of Xingu, we are the forests of Xingu, we are the rivers that form the heavens, immense corridors, rapids, waterfalls, of this immense river Xingu. We are....Therefore we have to defend this immense river with all of our [force], with all our life, with all our soul, for the present and future generations."

More information about Bolsanero & a Threatened Amazon www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46039996

**14-- Literal translation: "For Marielle I say no, I say no to the [military] intervention"
Marielle Franco was a very popularly elected Black and lesbian councilwoman representing the Partido Socialisto e Liberdade in Rio De Janeiro. She denounced former President Temer's order for military intervention in Rio De Janeiro to increase “security” and was a public voice speaking up against racism towards black people in Brazil. Shortly after I left Rio de Janeiro where I lived for about a month, she was viciously assassinated by “unknown suspects.” To people with open eyes, it was so clear who was threatened by her voice, and who would want her out of the picture. This was a horrific moment-- a brilliant and black woman lost her life for speaking out for justice and what is right. In response, all over the country of Brazil (and world), people mourned and mobilized actions and marches. This recording comes from a protest I attended with my friend Beth in Sao Paolo on March 18, 2018. I share this In honor of Marielle's life and light. Marielle, presente.

More information: www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…-a8259516.html

Just Here Just Now Alive -- Sound Collage

"Sometimes I'm afraid
Sometimes I don't know
Where I'm goin' tomorrow
What comes after today

Sometimes I'm afraid
Sometimes I don't know
Where I'm goin' tomorrow
What comes after today

Sometimes I cry the night, 
Cause I feel so afraid
Sometimes I have to let go of things that are good
To make room for things that are great

Sometimes I cry
Oooh it's hard to say goodbye
But I trust that my insides know the way
And I know that I'll be okay."

Makin' Room For the Great

Mothers Day- May 10, 2020 

A song for those grieving today.

Those who don’t have a mother. Had to say goodbye to their mother. Those mothering themselves. Finding mothers in others. From my heart & voice to you. <3

Today I want to share a little something for all of you who might be having a hard time. You are always held, in love. A song meditation for you.

You Are Always Held

Singer-songwriter of original music inspired by the richness of this human experience in love, in loss, in healing, and in nature.

Check me out too at: https://www.facebook.com/joyousdawnmusic/

Joyous Dawn Music

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