Hello Again!
NYC and surrounding areas, look out for Three Women and the Truth. We’re headed your way May 12-14.
Later this month I’ll be at the Strawberry Music Festival in California and the Kerrvillle Folk Festival in Texas.
And be sure to join me in June for a 3-Day Intensive Songwriting Workshop in Nashville. We still have a few spots available!
In the meantime, here is the latest update on my book, which I am continuing to write in between tour dates from planes, vans, hotel rooms & green rooms!
I wrote the story below as a student at a wonderful writing retreat last month. Surrounded by other writers, and an amazing instructor, Suzanne Kingsbury, the words poured out of me, and on to the page.
Here’s a bit of what I came up with: "Mercy (and Love)"
Mercy and love are who we are, unwounded. Songwriting (and all the arts) are how we explore the depths of our being to ask the big questions of meaning, purpose and value. The process is one of self discovery, more than self expression.
When we choose to listen to the soft voice deep inside us, and surrender the ego to that gentle knowing, truth rises up through the gut, through the heart, through the soul, onto the page, into the song, onto the canvas, and out of the door, up and up and out, into the hearts of fellow travelers, who will receive it with gratitude because the truth is what's needed before all other things.
The need for truth is Primal, as necessary as food and water. And what is the truth? We belong to each other. We need each other. Mercy (and love) are the roads we travel, home. Spirit blows truth through songwriters on the winds of the creative process, and our creations have the power to free us from untruths.
Dr. King began writing his mighty book "Strength to Love" when jailed for holding a prayer vigil outside Albany City Hall. In his jail cell, Dr. King wrote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” So it was then, so it is now.
We are all writing from one kind of jail cell or another, working to free ourselves.
Our songs are conversations, not sermons. They move out into the world as dialogues, not only to entertain, but to engage. They come to us to show us the way, and we offer them as gifts, generosities, to those who might receive them.
As always, thank you for being a part of my journey!
~ Mary Gauthier
