Friday, October 21, 2016

October 18, 2016

Dearest Human Family,

         As Grandmother Moon wanes and the wide portal of this past weekend begins to shift into a new phase, I offer you greetings & blessings. Brothers and sisters, I spent the weekend in ceremony with an intimate circle of powerful people and I have a message to share of the re-birthing and unification of all people and a new awakening to the big shift we are in now.
This weekend on the land of our beloved Grandmother and master seed holder Flordemayo there was a gathering of prayer warriors, some traveling from quite a far distance: an Okinawan Grandmother shaman, Kazumi Oishi, a holy family from the Osun lineage with Father Olu, child Omolulu and mother Yeye Omileye. I had the honor of standing in this universal circle of prayer as the Song Carrier.
         There was a clear message transmitted that the Great Mother and all of her children are moving through a huge suffering in order for a new life and way to emerge. We were told that we must hone our spiritual strength now more than ever to be able to move through this sacred passage. We can consciously choose to step into this new dimension through daily prayer, not only during the special ceremonies but every day; we can be a very necessary walking, breathing prayer.
         Dear Ones, pray for the elementals to balance and harmonize and, in turn, we will likewise be balanced. The elementals too are going through this great transformation. The weighty things of our past may disappear fast when we commit and surrender to this shift now!
         In the teachings this weekend, there was an emphasis on honoring the wisdom from our own lineages (physical and spiritual). We were told to honor the many ancestral lineages but not become biased to our own or to only one. We cannot remain in our own boxes of culture, religion, race – we must stretch into a circle of Oneness. This is the time of making alliances and of a universal coming together in prayer so that all beings awaken and realize the light and love that we are as divine earthly beings  made of all of the elements.
         And we must remember to make Spirit offerings when we pray. This is the way to let the elementals and Holy Ones know how much we love and appreciate their presences and collaborations with us. We must also ask for forgiveness in our prayers. Lie down upon the Mother Earth and offer your tears and tender touches to her. Speak your contrition and commit yourself to loving her and all of Life.
         The waters were a central part of the work of this visioning the new world birthing. Waters were offered from over 300 sources from around the world. The Earth holds a sacred golden bundle in her womb and we are all a part of this birthing of a New Earth.
         Grandmother Flordemayo urged us to refer to each other as light beings and not get too caught up in being a man or a woman – to treat each other equally and with honor. The work of the Great Shift is all of ours to participate in.
         As I am currently carrying a new forming life within, my womb was blessed symbolically in the ceremonies as the holder of the next generation. Many songs were sung and the women present stood hand-in-hand encircling me and praying together over the little child that is growing in me. The men stood around the women in an outer circle as the protectors of Life. The men prayed with such vulnerability and tenderness that sacred waters flowed.
         In two days, we truly became one family in spirit and when we departed from each other’s physical presence, there was a knowledge that we were intricately connected through the water lines around the Earth. And that we need to go to the waters more and more to feel that essential connection to all. Good seeds were planted on Grandmother’s holy land indeed.
         And while there were mentions that there is and will be more great sufferings and painful injustices on this Earth, it is through listening deeply to the heart of the Mother and laying our hands on her umbilicus (from where we all emerged and are forever connected) that we will remember our essence and know what to do. The message even came that we humans may significantly change or even disappear but a seed of our original DNA will forever remain.
         Now I am back home…I sit in my earthen sanctuary…integrating and digesting all that occurred in this weekend’s ceremony…holding medicine…knowing this moon ushered in new beginnings…I breathe deeply into my solar plexus, listen…and hear… SILENCE and the SONG of CREATION within…once again I offer myself to Life, commit again to pray for every form of Life with each breath…I offer cornmeal and water and say aloud: Aho, Arigatou, Wado, Mitakuye Oyasin!
         And until we gather again in prayer with our loved ones and community, make your life a living prayer of presence and awakening to this abundant life in the midst of great shiftings.

To learn more about:
Grandmother Flordemayo:  http://followthegoldenpath.org

Yeye Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis M.Ed, NCC, LPCA
and Chief Olu Derrick Lewis: http://www.yeyeosun.com

Kazumi Oishi & Omileye: http://watersongline.com

Song Carriers & Madi Sato: www.madisato.com

AND Mark your calendars for the next Song Carriers Winter Solstice Community Ceremony & Celebration with distinguished grandmother, Pat McCabe. Sunday, December 18th, 2016, 4pm at the IAIA Hogan, 83 A Van Nu Po, Santa Fe, NM 87508.









Tuesday, August 18, 2015

A New Offering this Fall 2015

Dearest Lovers of Song, Sweet Women of the Waters,

Last fall, after twelve seasons of intensive work with the feminine voice, I heard an inner messenger speak clearly to me, “Slow down, heal, simplify, listen, dream—wait and let the New be seeded in your heart”. After a year of immersion in the blessed darkness, I am rejuvenated and newly inspired and very excited to reenter our community with a fresh way of being in circle with women through song, dance, and prayer.

During my sabbatical, a dream came to me: I saw women of all lineages and backgrounds gathered in a circle around the waters, praying under the moon, dancing for Mother Earth, and singing more beautifully and fully than I had ever heard before. It was breathtaking and I felt a design was gifted to me, one that I am meant to actualize now—a circle of sacred women guided by the listening heart; singing, dancing, and praying under the mentorship of the Moon to raise the vibration of the waters of our bodies and the body of Mama Earth.

It also became apparent to me that we must meet in the energy of both the New and the Full Moon to align with the timeless flow of seeding and harvesting that our bodies know so well. It is our divine calling as women to consciously plant good seeds of wellness, balance and creativity in all that we do, in the way we live and strive to integrate our shadows and our light.

This community will be more like an ancient circle than a modern choir and, instead of complicated choral arrangements, will honor the medicine songs of our ancestral grandmothers. These songs—created in dialogue with the Earth—hold powerful spiritual energy and promote health, balance, abundance and inspiration for we humans and for the plants, animals, star beings, elements, and more. We will also consciously listen for and co-create songs of this moment in a beautiful process of spontaneous oral composition.

So, I warmly invite you to join me in a beautiful gathering of women for an eight-session series titled: SONG CARRIERS Women’s Circle. We will meet twice a month on the Wednesday evenings closest to the new and full Moons from 6-8pm at the Arco Iris Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The dates are: September 16 & 30; October 14 & 28; November 11 & 25; December 9 & 16. The season will culminate on Sunday, December 20th with a Community Offering at 4pm where we will share songs and dances with our friends and loved ones. The tuition for the Song Carriers Series is $220. Please inquire about financial assistance on the basis of need.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this opportunity. My sincere hope is that if you are called to enter the circle, the universe will open wide the way for you. To register, please respond to this email and you will receive further information.

I pray for all women to awaken their holy and earthly voices and to sing in beauty and harmony with all Creation! Aho, Wado.


Lovingly,

Madi

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Happy Spring Equinox! 

My husband, Timothy, and I will offer a concert tomorrow night (March 21st) in Albuquerque. It is in conjunction with the Art Deco of Japan exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Admission is free. Please see attached poster for more details.
You are all welcome!



We are in full swing this season singing songs for spring, peace and abundant love. Please join us  at our offering celebration, Saturday, May 11th at 4pm. Location is the Center for Spiritual Living, 505 Camino de los Marquez in Santa Fe. Free admission.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sing for Joy! continues with exciting news...


Dearest Beloveds in Song, 
Warm greetings of beauty and love to each of you. All is very well in my heart. My husband Tim, daughter Anjamora, and I eagerly await the arrival into breath and light of a baby boy due this October! As such, I will be on maternity leave until the new year. 
In the meantime, I am delighted to share news of a continued opportunity to sing through the Fall in the Sing for Joy! style. It is my honor to announce Carol Williamson as interim teacher while I am away. Carol has been a student of mine for the past three years and will offer a Vocal Meditation Practice on Thursday evenings. Please view the details of her class offering below.
I will return in January with the full practice and choir. Please see the flyer below for more information on the  Sing for Joy! Choir session for Winter/Spring 2013.
Until we meet again, happy singing!
With love and light,
Madi Sato
                    “Sing For Joy!”
Vocal Meditation Practice

This class will be offered on Thursday evenings through October and November. The course is an opportunity to explore breath, tone, sound and silence and to awaken the authentic voice.  It is open to all women, regardless of prior singing experience.

The practice will be facilitated by Carol Williamson who has studied for three years with Madi Sato in the “Sing for Joy!” Choir and has studied with Silvia Nakkach in the Yoga of the Voice.  (Carol will serve as an interim instructor while Madi Sato is on maternity leave. Madi will return in January with the full practice and choir.)

DATES:  October 4, 11, 18, 25 and November 1, 8, 15
TIME:  Thursdays, 5:00-6:30pm
LOCATION: Center for Spiritual Living (505 Camino de los Marquez)

COST: 7 classes for $90 (Drop-ins most welcome at $15)
To register:  
Please email your Name and Phone number to Carol Williamson at:Cwilliamson2005@yahoo.com

For more Information: 

Visit: www.MadiSato.com for more details

Monday, September 17, 2012

Saying Yes Concert of Poetry and Song.


Concert at the Center for Spiritual Living in Santa Fe, NM. Saturday, September 15th, 2012, 7pm
New Moon
It was a magical night of poetry, song and prayer. Thanks for the presence of so many and for the divine collaboration with David Cragin and Nolan Eskeets! It is heaven to be in union with my husband through song and poetry. Arigatou  

Madi Sato


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Saying Yes: A Concert of Sacred Music and Sacred Poetry


Warm greetings to all! As autumn approaches, Tim and I invite you to share in a special evening of sacred music and poetry that we will offer next weekend. The show will be on Saturday, September 15th, 7:00pm at the Santa Fe Center for Spiritual Living (505 Camino de los Marquez.) Ticket price is $15 and doors open at 6:30pm. Please see the attached poster for more details. 
We hope to see many of you there.This will be our last public performance before burrowing inward for the birth of our son! 

Blessings in poetry and song,
Madi S. and Timothy P. McLaughlin






Thursday, July 12, 2012

An evening of Poetry and Chant

with Singer, Madi Sato and Poet, Timothy McLaughlin
Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 8:00pm. 
Paradiso Cafe Des Artistes
1413 Paseo de Peralta


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

SING FOR JOY! Women's Choir Summer Session


Enter into the devotional art of communal singing. Learn sacred repertoire from around the globe through traditional oral techniques. Explore breath and tone, sound and silence, and awaken your authentic healing voice. Join this spirited group of women alive with the joy of singing! All are welcome. No experience necessary. Directed by Madi Sato.
SUMMER SESSION DETAILS:
August 9th - September 27th, $175 early $200 regular
Thursdays 5:00-6:30PM
Center for Spiritual Living, 505 Camino de las Marquez
To register:
1. Email your name and phone number to madisato@gmail.com
2. Please send payment to Madi Sato at 4772 Vista Del Sol Santa Fe, NM 87507
For more information call 505-660-2526.

CHOIR TESTIMONIALS
"Being a part of Madi's Sacred World Choir has been an uplifting, expanding,nurturing, harmonizing, and healing experience!  Our voices together are the river of life."                                         Marcia Fitton

"I want to thank you for the profound gift of your choir and your presence. It touches me so deeply. I love having a way to express my voice in sacred sound. You are a wonderful teacher, I have known sound and sound healing were next in my spiritual life and the choir is so perfect. Thank you so much!"
                                                                                                                             Christine Warren

"Thank you for creating a place where I can feel safe and supported in expressing myself.  Even though the choir is a group setting you have this rare and wonderful gift of making each one of us feel that our voice is unique and beautiful and worthy of hearing and sharing with others.  Often times I would come to choir after a long and chaotic day at work feeling either exhausted or completely stressed out but I would leave an hour and a half later feeling calm, serene, and connected to not only myself but also to rest of the community.  I think of the choir as medicine for the soul and I really cherish that time with you and the other women."     
                                                                                                               Allison Moore

Sing for Joy! Women's Choir Musical Offering and Celebration


You are invited to an ecstatic musical celebration with the Sing for Joy! Women's Choir on Sunday, June 3rd. We are offering music from around the world, songs to remember where we come from, Native American chants, Irish lullabies, blessing invocations and much more. We have spent several months diving deep into the devotional art of the choir and we invite you to receive the beauty and miracle of many voices singing as one!
With gratitude,
Madi Sato, choir director
DATE: Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 at 4pm
LOCATION: Center for Spiritual Living, 505 Camino de las Marquez.
Open to the Public. Donations are appreciated.

Madi Sato and Kenny Endo to perform at the 100th Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC


Madi Sato and Kenny Endo performed at the 100th Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC
Tuesday, April 10th 4:30pm, Sylvan Theatre, Washington National Mall
Inline image 12 
It was a lovely spring day in DC. Kenny and I offered traditional Japanese songs and original compositions. Here are some photos from our concert. Thank you to all those who came out to the Washington mall to hear the music. 
With love and gratitude,
Madi Sato






Thursday, April 5, 2012

Return to the River Concert, April 1, 2012

On Sunday April 1st, 2012, Madi Sato offered a concert to honor the one year memorial of the devastating tsunami and earthquake in Northeastern, Japan. 
It took place at the beautiful St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cerrillos, NM, which is close to one hundred years old and is currently led by its pastor, Father Francis Malley. 

The concert opened with a 3,000 year old Shinto chant called the Amatsunorito (Heavenly Prayer).

Madi Sato performed songs from her new CD titled, Return to the River, in dedication to her father, Tadaharu Sato whose name means "the faithful spring".(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLVpyqX5PM )The album features Japanese traditional chants and folk songs as well as Madi's orginal songs; it was recorded live in a Zen Buddhist monastery. Proceeds from the sale of this album go to the non-profit organiztion, KASA: Kindness America Sendai Alliance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLVpyqX5PM), providing relief to the smaller villages near Sendai, Japan.

The concert featured artists from Madi's new CD,

including Taiko drummer, Koji Nakamura, from the Shiga prefecture of Japan, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcc_E2MDrE

Koto player, Yukiko Matsuyama, from Osaka, Japan, 
producer and pianist, John Rangel from Santa Fe 

and Madi's husband, Poet Timothy P. McLaughlin.

The Crestone Kaminari Taiko (http://www.shumeicrestone.org/taiko/)offered two group pieces.

Crestone Kaminari Taiko is lead by Masakazu and is the official taiko group for the Shumei International Institute in Crestone, CO.

From left to right, Masakazu, Koji, Yuka and Ikunori.

The intention of the concert was to meditate on Japan and send prayers through the Japanese instruments and songs. It was a beautiful marriage of the powerful music of Japan inside the sacred space of a Catholic church.

Madi spoke of her recent trip to Sendai and her moving experience of sharing music in the temporary housing communities of Rokugo and East Matsushima.
The concert concluded with a new arrangement of "furusato", a Japanese folk song about longing for your hometown. Koji Nakamura recreated the feeling of a tsunami on the taiko, Madi represented the voice of suffering and rebirth, and Timothy McLaughlin offered a poem about kindness.
To hear Madi sing Furusato please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUahEEQI2c8

May our prayers reverberate to the lands and people of Japan.