Story Behind the Song
NOTES ON OCEAN WOOD
Ah, what can I say about this dream?
I can tell you where it came from.
When my life was very difficult, in full on urge of transition but with no aim or outcome in sight, full of stress and fear, I dreamed the beach hut at the shores of the Universal Ocean and I met my guardian there. He was just there and didn’t speak to me and all I did was to go to the bed and sleep, listening to the ocean sounds, and I do believe it kept my sanity and this simple thing helped me so profoundly, I have absolutely not the words to describe it.
In the nights that followed, I would go there deliberately to sleep and rest, without a dream or rememberance of what happened; at first I thought it was a launch point to something more important but in the end I understood it was the act of sleeping under the vigil of my guardian and in the presence of the ocean itself which was the reason, the point, and represented the healing.
Many months later I let my mind drift with the thought of what would be on the second HypnoDreams album and I found myself writing about this place – it was so wonderful to me, I wanted to share it. Writing it became a very powerful experience in itself and I think you can hear this in my voice also as I tell the story, and I was absolutely stunned to find myself writing at the end that “I would be the guardianâ€. It was a most extraordinary shift in perception and as a state of being; it also taught me something about the true meaning of service.
To be honest, I could not believe that whatever it was in me that makes me write the words as it does would think me able to perform this – I would call it a holy duty, an ancient ceremony, something very profound indeed. To accept this and move into it made this act of service into the act of accepting myself as far, far more than I had thought I could ever be or ever become; a truly extraordinary experience in all ways. And so in Ocean Wood, for me personally, service had become a kind of incredible honour and reward, a total turnaround from the usual construct understanding of service as some form of evil slavery.
It is true that there is absolutely nothing I would rather do, nowhere I would rather be; and my own guide had tried to have me understand that when I slept in the bed and would often thank them for their stalward service and their patience, and ask if they did not have anything better to do or if there was something they expected from me in return or as a reward.
But this is my experience as the guardian, and if or how you will experience something like this for yourself as a direct result of allowing yourself to take the Ocean Wood healing experience to heart, of course I cannot say or know.
On a far simpler level, being able to give all you need to give to the patient, ancient ocean, quite unconditionally and as a matter of fact, without fear or hindrance, without record or repercussion, is a wonderful thing indeed and outperforms any human father confessor a million times over.
This is absolutely a kind of absolution – a washing away of your constructs fears of sins and of the past; a powerful and necessary in-between step that allows us to let go of some things that cannot be let go of anywhere else but MUST let go off in order to lighten us, release us, and have us be ready to rise to the new.
There are levels and levels to this particular experience that I can sense but cannot explain in linear words or even thought – this whole idea of the true self being still and the universe rushing around it because it wishes to be of service is in and of itself quite breath taking, and there is a lot more to Ocean Wood than that. Either way, it is a wonderful experience and I truly hope you enjoy it as much as we do, and get as much out of it as we have!
Lyrics
Ocean Wood
You know, I know a place
far, far away from here –
a place of healing and of rest
quite unlike
any other.
Would you like to go there?
You are unsure?
No worries, we can go by magic
you can
be there and back
and all it takes
is a slow, deep breath
a gentle closing of your eyes.
Now if you will, simply
sense a whispering
a rushing sound of speed that
lets you know you’re on your way
and yet you are in utter comfort
and it is the universe itself
that shifts for you
so you may rest
in long deserved tranquillity
no work for you to do,
no willing, trying striving –
we’ve had quite enough of that,
too much, by far!
Now here
the worlds and worlds beyond
align themselves for you alone
a star you are, a precious jewel and a gift
the center that deserves attention
and the more attention you are given
the more beautiful and precious you
reveal yourself to be –
accept the homage of the universe as
it shifts for you whilst you are
still
in your perfection, resting and in comfort
and at ease.
And so you watch the worlds rush by,
the nameless distances of no concern,
until you sense a slowing
slowing more and more
until a settling tells you that
we have arrived.
(Where am I?)
These are the shores
of the universal ocean.
Look!
(This is so familiar ...)
You have been before.
Moist the air, soothing and subtle,
breathing moisture that eases you
can you feel this?
Waves upon waves, rhythmically,
rushing and receding – can you hear this?
(I can hear but I can also feel their rhythm
in my very core)
Come.
We walk along the beach,
soft sand, moist beneath our feet.
Look.
There is a house, a small single house
which has been here since long ago.
Its made from smooth old wood
that weathered and withstood a thousand storms
the memorance of waves and wind
inside its very structure
it is in truth a part of this,
a shelter that is not a barrier at all
but softens wind and sea
becomes a bridge for you
to be entirely you,
entirely safe
and yet to
know it all,
to touch it all.
We enter and we se
a single bed of ocean wood,
entirely simple and it has
no need for carvings, fitments
which in truth would break the flow.
A most inviting blanked and the sea green pillows soft and fresh –
oh yes, sit down, and feel the invitation in your marrow – it is right
lie down and be at ease,
snuggle up.
Just go to sleep now.
Just listen to the ocean’s sound,
it is the ocean speaking
telling you about
those things you need to understand
in turn of ebb and flow,
rushing and receding
you breathe so freely
and you give the ocean
all you need to give –
oh but it is
enormous
and it will with gladness take
your messages,
your questions old and new
and all you
simply cannot tell another
or yourself at that –
you can entrust your oldest burdens
and the secrets that you
thought could never be revealed
those things you had to hide within
your deepest realms and all
those things which weighed you down
and pressed the breath from your lungs,
the joy from your heart
and the bright star of hope from your eyes –
give what you will to the ocean this night
to be cleansed, to be tumbled and shaped
to smooth round rocks, to pebbles and to sand.
The ocean is endless and this night
it is for you alone,
star child so precious,
so beloved,
ah but we would give you all
and so much more,
we simply wait
for your permission
so we know
that you are ready
to regain the flow
and give and take in equal measure,
holding neither back
and judging not
beyond the beauty of the flow itself.
This is a very special place,
a very special place
a very special space
of rest and healing.
This is where we come
to help us ease into the flow,
with the patient ocean steady,
simply here to meet and greet,
the oldest and the wisest,
it remembers you
as you remember flowing
with the ancient ocean in return
Now, close your eyes completely
Be at ease and listen to the ocean,
sense and feel the oceans tide and sleep.
Dream.
I will remain here,
I will be your guardian on this night
and sit as still as any statue,
watching over you as is my honour now
for once, I slept and dreamed right here,
and then there was for me another
and they kept me safe in gentle silence
so I knew that I could sleep at last,
no fear remaining and
when I awoke in wondrous calm
and deep alignment,
my guardian would smile
and take me home.
17. 04. 2003
|