Johnny Schaefer

Lyrics

This recording is really what gave rise to my recording an album. I am a cantor at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, CA. On Pentecost I was singing the Golden Sequence, a beautiful chant sung before the Gospel just on that day which invokes the Holy Spirit. It was written around 1200 AD and has been attributed to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It occurred to me how it was very similar to Marianne Williamson’s beloved opening prayer, “A Way In.” Marianne is a best-selling author and lecturer on spirituality whose wisdom has nurtured my soul for decades. When I laid the prayer next to the chant, I was taken by the similarity in arc and intent. I composed music utilizing instruments from around the world to act as a foundation for the interplay of the chant and the prayer. I use a drone on didgeridoo that on an A throughout to help tie everything together. The key of A is associated with the third eye chakra. At the end, I lift to a B, after a moment of silence, which is the sound of the crown chakra. Marianne often talks of "lifting the vibrations." So, if the drone represents the earthly vibrations of this life, we are lifted up through meditation and prayer and the Holy Spirit's answer to our invitation. The result is contemplative and transformative music that I think will truly move people. Be sure to watch Michael Canyon Drebert's exquisite video.

Track 13: Invocation: The Golden Sequence and "A Way In" featuring Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson: "A Way In"

Johnny Schaefer: The Golden Sequence

circa 1200 AD, attributed to the Archbishop of Canterbury

Come, thou Holy Spirit, Come And from thy celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine

We see in the middle of our mind

a little ball of golden light

and we watch this light as it begins to grow

larger and larger

until now it covers the entire inner vision of our mind

Come, thou Father of the poor, Come, thou source of all our store

Come within our bosoms shine

And we see for ourselves within this light a beautiful temple

Thou of comforters the best;

Thou, the souls most welcome guest

and we see a garden that surrounds the temple

and a body of water that flows through the garden

Sweet refreshment here below

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe.

We see that the inside of the temple is lit

by this same beautiful golden light

shed a ray of light divine

larger and larger

O most blessed Light divine,

Shine within these hearts of thine

And our in-most being fill

and here we are

for we have been drawn together

by the power and in the presence of God

Where thou art not man hath naught,

Nothing good in deed or thought,

We devote our time spent together

all of our relationships to one another

and our experiences of each other to Him

Nothing free from taint of ill

and we ask that His most Holy Spirit

enter into the deepest regions of our thoughts

and our feelings

Heal our wounds , our strength renew

On our dryness pour thy dew

Wash the stains of guilt away

and lift us up above and beyond the limitations,

the fears and the thought forms of this world

Bend the stubborn heart and will

Melt the frozen, warm the chill

Guide the steps that go astray

Rearranging our perceptions

On the faithful who adore and confess thee evermore

In thy seven-fold gift descend

to the love and to the peace that lay beyond

Give them virtue's sure reward,

Give them thy salvation, Lord

May we become happier, more peaceful, more loving human beings

Give them joys that never end.

And so it is

Together we all say

Amen

Amen, Alleluia

©2012-Johnny Schaefer, Auditory Verve Music, ASCAP

Marianne Williamson’s recordings and materials are used with gratitude by permission and are the sole property of Ms. Williamson. To learn more about her work, visit www.marianne.com © 1983, 2013 Marianne Williamson

Michael Canyon Drebert's terrific video is a Milenia production. www.milenia.com