Songs in this playlist are spontaneous creations of intuitive artist Michael Stillwater recorded during Honoring Ceremonies, ChantWave evenings, and Personal Songportraits.  

Songs from 2022 & 2023 tours, retreats and online events, plus three from a Personal Songportrait in 2019.

Songs are all original voice/guitar recording together with orchestration by Michael (added after the event). Each song description includes origin date, event, location and recipient.

Words, Music & Arrangements by Michael Stillwater

Songs are born in response to participant themes- special thanks to those who offered their themes, intentions, heartfelt wishes and declarations of inner truth, as well as to all who participated in these events, holding space and clarity in which the songs emerged.

Video about the Honoring Ceremony and Intuitive Songmaking:
vimeo.com/455763823

For schedule of all events, including ChantWave Online and SongLife Training: 
innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training, either Residential or Online. Three pathways, one creative pulse: guitar artistry / songwriting / intuitive songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; many choose to stay for more than one season.

see details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Selected Intuitive Songs from Michael Stillwater

All songs are spontaneous creations recorded during the Honoring Ceremony, held during retreats from September 4-17, 2022, in Kirkkonummi, Finlad, co-led by Michael and Doris Laesser Stillwater. 

Words, Music & Arrangements by Michael Stillwater

Songs are born in response to participant themes- special thanks to those who offered their themes, intentions, heartfelt wishes and declarations of inner truth.

Video about the Honoring Ceremony and Intuitive Songmaking:
vimeo.com/455763823

For schedule of all events, including ChantWave Online and SongLife Training: 
innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training. Either in Melle, Germany in October, or online.

Online Course: Three pathways, one creative pulse: guitar artistry / songwriting / intuitive songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; you may choose to stay for more than one season.
see details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael online, and allows for the possibility of three original 'medicine' songs for your ongoing journey, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Honoring Ceremony Katve

Jam of a Lifetime

The One That I've Been Waiting For
Intuitive Song for Christel
music, words & arrangement by Michael Stillwater
from the Honoring Ceremony in Bad Herrenalb, Germany
October 29-31, 2021  / Beate Frey, Host

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded during an Honoring Ceremony, in which the music is created and recorded by Michael in response to participant themes.   Original guitar/voice recording orchestrated in studio after event.

You are invited to attend online honoring ceremonies- see www.innerharmony.com 'events'   For a schedule of all events, including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars and retreats, and SongLife Training, visit:  innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training Online. Three pathways, one creative pulse: Guitar Artistry / Songwriting / Intuitive Songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season';  many choose to stay for more than one season.    See details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Thank you for listening!  

Contribute to further musical creations at:
paypal.me/MichaelStillwater



Lyrics:

Now is the time for me to see
That all of the parts, the parts of me
Are here to be received
Are here to be accepted
Are here for me right now
To let it all be, to let it all be
Exactly as it is inside
Exactly as it is inside

O I've come a long way and now I find
That here so deep inside my mind I'm free
As I let myself be

As I surrender to the one I really I am
I remember and I truly understand
That everything has brought me here to be
The one that I've been waiting so long to see
Yes everything has brought me here to be
The one that I've been waiting for

I'm the one that I've been waiting for
I'm the one that I've been waiting for

The One That I've Been Waiting For

A Simple Life
Intuitive Song for Bettina
words, music & arrangement by Michael Stillwater
Original recording: May 13, 2019, Bielefeld, Germany
Studio arrangement: July 20, 2022, Helsinki, Finland

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded as a Songportrait, during which original music and lyrics are created, performed and recorded by Michael in response to recipient themes. Orchestration woven into the original recording.

Video about the Honoring Ceremony and Intuitive Songmaking:
vimeo.com/455763823

For a schedule of other events with Michael Stillwater,  including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars,  retreats, and SongLife Training, visit: innerharmony.com/events/

If you find intuitive song creation inspires your own creativity, you are invited to join SongLife Training Online, either online or residential. Three pathways, one creative pulse: Guitar Artistry / Songwriting / Intuitive Songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; many choose to stay for more than one season. See details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish for a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Thank you for listening!

Lyrics:

A simple life I’m here to live
A simple life I’m here to give to you
A simple life I’m here to live
Take the moment and be true

A simple life I’m here to live
With time to enjoy
The sunlight on my face and in my heart
Simple joys of living

And as I give myself the gift of simplicity
I’ve got more time for you
And I’ve got more time for me

A simple life to live in harmony
A simple life to live it true
A simple life to be with me
And do what I need to do

And as I live simplicity
I come back home and see
That everything that needs to be done
Is done more easily 

In this simple life
In this simple life

A simple life I share with you
I share with you to let it be
A simple life we live it true
We live it as our destiny

And as we live simplicity
We come back home to what feels right
And as we live simplicity
We feel it every day and night

A simple life that we can share
A simple life without a care
A simple life for me and you
A simple life we’re living true

And everything gets done that needs to
As we take the time for joy
Everything gets done that needs to
As we take the time to let it unfold

A simple life has been waiting now for us
A simple life it’s been waiting for our trust

To trust that it can be this good
Can be this good and fine
To trust that it can be the dream of yours
The dream of mine

A simple life that’s lived most every day
A simple life that we know
Walking the garden and smell the air
And let the breezes blow

A simple life that takes us where we need
Where we need to go
A simple life whether it be raining or even in the snow
A simple life, every day, every night,
Every time is right for us, right for us
A simple life is here taking care of us, taking care of us
A simple life

A Simple Life

Perfectly Me
Intuitive Song for Bettina
words, music and arrangement by Michael Stillwater
Original recording: May 13, 2019, Bielefeld, Germany
Host: Christina Gürtler
Studio arrangement: July 30, 2022, Helsinki, Finland

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded as a Songportrait, during which original music and lyrics are created, performed and recorded by Michael in response to recipient themes.  Orchestration is added in studio to the original recording.

Video about the Honoring Ceremony and Intuitive Songmaking:
vimeo.com/455763823

For a schedule of other events with Michael Stillwater, including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars, retreats, and SongLife Training, visit: innerharmony.com/events/

If you find intuitive song creation inspires your own creativity, you are invited to join SongLife Training Online, either online or residential. Three pathways, one creative pulse: Guitar Artistry / Songwriting / Intuitive Songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; many choose to stay for more than one season. See details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish for a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Thank you for listening!


Lyrics: 

I try to be perfect
Keep trying to work it
Want things to be 
Perfect as they can be
But sometimes it doesn’t look that way

So I’m learning to let go
Learning to let down my perfect,
My perfect demand upon my life
And upon the world I see
My perfect demand upon my life
And upon the world I see

Takes a lot of energy
To keep things lined up perfectly
To keep things like I want them to be
It takes energy, sometimes I just want to let down
And want to be found by peace

I’m here to let peace find me
Just the way I am
I’m here to let peace find me
Now I understand

That not everything needs to line up straight
Not everything needs to turn out great
Not everything needs to be the way I want it to be

And when it is just the way that it is
And I let it now live the life it lives
And I learn to let things be 
Then peace it comes to me, peace it comes to me
Peace it comes to me, peace it comes to me
Peace it finds me just as I am
Peace it finds me now I understand

And somewhere in my heart I remember
Somehow things are perfect the way that they are
Sometimes I just remember
Sometimes I remember to see
Sometimes things are simply perfect
That’s all they need to be

Just the way they are
Don’t have to look very far
It begins with me, I let perfect and let perfect be

Just the way I am, just the way I am
I let perfect be just the way I am
I’m perfectly me, I’m perfectly me, 
I’m perfectly me, don’t need to be anyone else,
Don’t need to be anyone else,
‘Cause I’m perfectly me, 
Yes, I’m perfectly me
Yes, I'm perfectly me
I am perfectly me

The Honoring- Bettina van Amerongen

Perfectly Me

Connected
Intuitive Song for Doris H.
words, music & arrangement by Michael Stillwater
from Honoring Ceremony during Song Sanctuary Retreat
hosted by Michael & Doris Laesser Stillwater
September 9, 2022
Katve Retreat, Kirkkonummi, Finland

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded during an Honoring Ceremony, in which the music is created and recorded by Michael in response to participant themes.

For a schedule of all events, including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars and retreats, and SongLife Training, visit: innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training, either residential or online.

The residential course is held in Melle, Germany, in October. The online course offers three pathways with one creative pulse: Guitar Artistry / Songwriting / Intuitive Songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; many choose to stay for more than one season. See details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Thank you for listening!

Lyrics:

I'm connecting with all of me
I'm connecting right now
From the highest place 
To the deepest sea inside of me

I'm connected with all of me
Everywhere I go
Doesn't matter 'bout yesterday
'Cause right now I truly know
That I am connected just as I am
With the deepest parts of me

At the center of my life
I know there is a light that's shining (repeat)
It's the light of me, the light of me

And I have a mountain inside I'm climbing
And when I relax and let myself play
This mountain it's suddenly a place for playing
'Cause I can ski down this mountain every day
I can ski down this mountain, I can play
Can ski down this mountain every night and day

Yes, I'm connected to who I am
I'm connected and now I understand
That everything that happened before today
It led me to where I am
And all of the music inside of my soul
It never fades away

It's just waiting to come out, 
Waiting to come and play (repeat)

I am connected to who I am 
And have always been (repeat)
Here inside my skin
Yes I've always been
I'm here for me

Connected

I Know the Way
Intuitive Song for Anne
words, music & arrangement by Michael Stillwater
from Honoring Ceremony during Song Sanctuary Retreat
hosted by Michael & Doris Laesser Stillwater
September 9, 2022
Katve Retreat, Kirkkonummi, Finland

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded during an Honoring Ceremony, in which the music is created and recorded by Michael in response to participant themes.

For a schedule of all events, including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars and retreats, and SongLife Training, visit: innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training, either residential or online.

The residential course is held in Melle, Germany, in October. The online course offers three pathways with one creative pulse: Guitar Artistry / Songwriting / Intuitive Songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; many choose to stay for more than one season. See details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Thank you for listening!

Lyrics:

There's a river in me always flowing
Flowing to you, always growing
Like a stream down to the sea
Life is living through me
And it's finding its way, this I know

And this river of life it's always showing me the way
This river of life it always shows me where
Where the energy leads me, where the energy needs me
Needs me to be, where it all is leading me
Where it all is leading me
Don't have to know
Just have to let go and let the river carry me
Just need to let go and let the river carry me

And as it carries me I know that I am on my way
Into the place where I feel the grace of my soul
As it carries me I know I'm on my way
Into the heart of the sea, into the heart of me
Into the heart of the sea, into the heart of me
Right now, into the heart of me right now
Into the heart of me right now

And when this treasure inside needs to flow
Where it's going I do not need to know
I'm just trusting more and more every day
I'm just trusting more and more that I know the way
I know the way for me

I know the way for me
Yes, I know the way, I know the way  (repeat)

And the river keeps flowing on
It's living at the heart of my song
The river keeps flowing, bringing me along

I Know The Way

Never A Time (When You Were Less Than Love)
Intuitive Song for Evelyn
words, music & arrangement by Michael Stillwater
from Honoring Ceremony during Song Sanctuary Retreat
hosted by Michael & Doris Laesser Stillwater
September 14, 2022
Katve Retreat, Kirkkonummi, Finland

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded during an Honoring Ceremony, in which the music is created and recorded by Michael in response to participant themes.

For a schedule of all events, including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars and retreats, and SongLife Training, visit: innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training, either residential or online.

The residential course is held in Melle, Germany, in October. The online course offers three pathways with one creative pulse: Guitar Artistry / Songwriting / Intuitive Songmaking. Each course is a seven week 'season'; many choose to stay for more than one season. See details here: innerharmony.com/songlife-training-online/

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/


Lyrics:

There never was a time 
When you were less than beautiful
There never was a time 
When you weren't precious
There never was a time 
When you were less than beautiful
There never was a time 
When you were less than precious

Who you are just as you are
Nothing to do to make it so
Who you are just as you are
Nothing else to do
Who you are just as you are
Nothing to do to make it so
Who you are just as you are
You are beautiful

Precious as the light of the morning
Beautiful as the sky
Yes, you are worthy to be
Without doing anything at all
You are beautiful just as you are, just as you are

There was never a time 
When you were less than precious
There was never a time 
When you needed to do anything to make it true
Just as you are shining like the evening star
Nothing to do to make it true
There was never a time 
When you were less than precious
But I guess you knew it already 
And I'm glad that you remember

There was never a time 
When you were less than love  (repeat)

And I know you know it's true
In your heart you know it's true
There was never a time 
When you were less than love.

Never A Time (When You Were Less Than Love)

There Is A River
Intuitive Song for Karin
words, music & arrangement by Michael Stillwater
during Honoring Ceremony/Song Sanctuary Workshop
May 6-7, 2023 at Kirche der Stille, Hamburg, Germany
hosted by Irmgard Nauck/translation by Raaja Fischer

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded during an Honoring Ceremony, in which the music is created and recorded by Michael in response to participant themes. www.innerharmony.com

Thank you for listening!

Lyrics:

There is a river, a river in me that’s flowing
There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love

There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love

And I know, I know what to do
In every moment I’ve got a clue
I know just where, where I need to be

There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love

And it’s always, it’s always true
It knows what’s good for me and you
It knows just when to flow on to your heart

There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love

And I am trusting more and more
Every day an open door
That lets me see right in, right into my heart
Yes, I am trusting more and more
Every day's an open door
That shows me where I need to go today

There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love

Wherever I am, I am at home
Wherever I am I’m not alone
Wherever I am I feel the wind of life
Blowing through me and it soothes me

There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love
Of love, of love, of love (repeat)

I can see you as you truly are
And from me I now open up my heart
I can see you as you truly are
And from me I now open my heart

There is a river, a river in me
It’s always flowing onto the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love
Love, love, of love (repeat)

There Is A River (original)

In the Name
Words, Music & Arrangement by Michael Stillwater
Recorded during Voices of the Heart evening
Freising, Germany
May 24, 2023

Lyrics:

We sing in the name of the one, eternal infinite being
Who has many names yet is beyond all names and forms
We come together for healing, revealing who we are

In the Name

There Is A River
Words, Music & Arrangement by Michael Stillwater
Recorded at ChantWave
St. Clare Kirche, Nürnberg
Hosted by Georgina Demmer & Michael Grubert
19. May, 2023

From original intuitive song for Karin during Honoring Ceremony in Hamburg,  6. May, 2023.

There Is A River

I can see you as you truly are
I can see you as I open up my heart  (repeat)

There is a river, a river in me
It's always flowing on to the sea
There is a river, a river in me of love  (repeat)

There Is A River

Healing Rain
Intuitive Song for Maui Ohana and Aina
words & music by Michael Stillwater
recorded during ChantWave Benefit Online
August 19, 2023

As a former Maui resident, my heart is moved to honor the spirit of Maui, the Ohana (family), and resilience of the community in moving forward.

This song, Healing Rain, was spontaneously created and recorded during an online program including participants from Hawaii, mainland US, UK and Europe.  

Some orchestration was added to the recording after the event.

Donations appreciated to Maui Strong Fund
https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong

For more music and calendar of upcoming events, visit www.innerharmony.com

Lyrics:

Let the rain, let the rain fall
In your heart
Let the healing rain fall right now
Upon every part

Let the healing, the healing rain
Fall upon you now
Let the healing, the healing rain
Fall upon you now

Alway here, always with you
Every day and night
Always here, always with you
Always in your sight

Let the healing rain
Let it fall on down
Fall upon your face
Let the healing rain now
Fall upon and fill you with grace

Let the healing rain fall on down
Let it fall upon your face
Let it comfort you and bring you peace
And fill you now with grace

Let it heal you and comfort you
Let it find you in your place
Let it be the rain that soothes your soul
And fills you now with grace

Let it be the rain that soothes your soul
And fills you now with grace
Let it be the rain that heals you now
And fills you up with grace

Healing Rain

Let Go And Be Free
Intuitive Song for Brigitte
words, music & arrangement by Michael Stillwater

from the Honoring Ceremony, SongLife Weekend
hosted by Anne Clement
Recorded at MorgenAbendLand, Bern
Center of Brigitte Schildknecht

September 23, 2023

(Scroll down for Lyrics)

This is a spontaneous, intuitive song recorded during an Honoring Ceremony, in which the music is created and recorded by Michael in response to participant themes.

For a schedule of all events, including ChantWave, Song Sanctuary seminars and retreats, and SongLife Training, visit: innerharmony.com/events/

If you find this way of intuitive music inspiring for your own creativity, I invite you to join my SongLife Training, either residential or online.

If you wish to have a personal songportrait with Michael, visit: 
innerharmony.com/songportraits/

Thank you for listening!

Lyrics:

Deep in my soul I hope I’m ready
Deep in my soul I hope I’m ready to let go

Let me let go of control
Let me let go this I know
Let me let go of control and be free

Let me let go and be free
Let me let go this part of me
Let me let go, let go of control

Let me let go and be free
Let me let go this part of me
Let me let go so that I may know who I am

Now I let go and I’m free
Now I let go this part of me
Now I let go so I know who I am
I know who I am, now I know yes

Now I know just who I am
When I let go I understand
Now I know, I know just who I am
As I let go, I let it go, yes

Now I know who I am
This is how I understand
Now I let go of control and I’m free

I let go now and so I see
That I have always been quite free
Behind the veil of my control

I let go now and see that
Truly I’ve always been free
Behind the masquerading in me

I choose, I choose to let go
I choose, I choose to let go
And know that I am free
I choose to let go that part of me
That believed I was truly in control

Let go and truly be
The one who has come as me
I let go to be the one that I am

I let go and all is fine
As I let go I know that I’m mine
I’ve always been, I’ve always been here with you

As I let go I come back home
As I let go I’m not alone
As I let go I’m connected with everything

As I let go I come back home
As I let go I’m not alone
As I let go I’m connected with everything

As I let go I truly know
As I let go I come back home
As I let go I know that I’m the one who came as me

I let go and come back home
I let go, I’m not alone
I let go and know that I’m always free

Let Go And Be Free

Michael Stillwater is an innovator with music, words, and images.
An award-winning songwriter, recording artist and filmmaker, he provides
artistic and transformative reflection upon core societal issues, catalyzing
creative expression in people of all ages.

musical artist / songwriter / filmmaker / intuitive musician / educator / producer


MUSICAL ARTIST/SONGWRITER: Stillwater’s interfaith chants and healing songs are enjoyed in singing circles, gatherings, churches and communities worldwide, with multiple recordings by other artists as well as himself. An interfaith minister through the Chaplaincy Institute, he ministered through Heavensong, a
non-denominational church based in California and Hawaii, from 1978 through 1990.

FILMMAKER: Through Song Without Borders, the nonprofit creative arts agency he co-founded, Stillwater produced films and other programs applying song to personal and societal transformation. He created his first film, Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen (2012) together with his wife, Doris Laesser Stillwater. Acclaimed ‘a heartening rarity’ by the Wall Street Journal, the film received four Best Documentary awards at US film festivals and enthusiastic response from a global audience, including Europe and South Africa. The movie tells the story of the life and music of National Medal of Arts
recipient Morten Lauridsen, recognized as the most performed choral composer of recent times.

The Stillwater’s second film, In Search of the Great Song: Fifty voices. Twelve countries. One question. (2016), received two Best Documentary awards, including at its US Premiere, Moondance Int’l Film Festival in Boulder, CO. Providing an existential and metaphorical context, the film serves as a conversation starter for exploring our inherent creativity and essential spiritual unity. With interviews recorded worldwide, including at the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, the film was screened at the Parliaments in both Salt Lake City (2015) and Toronto (2018).

Their third film, Beyond the Fear of Singing: Unlock Your Voice, Release Your Song (2019), winner of three film festival awards, focuses on the inhibition so many feel about their singing voice, together with healing pathways for overcoming limitations and the rewarding discovery of expressing one’s voice.

INTUITIVE MUSICIAN/EDUCATOR: Stillwater’s unique intuitive recording artistry provides a way for people to feel seen and supported at an essential level. His intuitive songportraits demonstrate empathic connection, while Song Sanctuary seminars and retreats combine a variety of interactive elements in a
one-day, two-day, or longer program. SongLife Training serminars, both local and online, provide anyone with a forum for unlocking their musical aspirations individually and with others.

PRODUCER/AUTHOR: With Emmy-award winning film composer Gary Malkin and Swiss contemplative psychotherapist Doris Laesser Stillwater, he co-authored Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying (over one million readers/ listeners) and Care for the Journey: Messages and Music for Sustaining the
Heart of Healthcare, created for reducing stress in healthcare and palliative care practitioners. 

Since 2020 he has published a monthly column in Meer, an international online magazine. Together with his wife Doris he leads Song Sanctuary Retreats in Europe and America, providing support through contemplative, creative and personal growth practice. A resident of Europe since 2005, he now lives in the Alps of Switzerland, travelling frequently, offering online and local musical events and creative educational programs.