Positive, Poetic, New Thought, Toltec and Native American all describe the inspired music of this award-winning songwriter and messenger. Acoustic/electric with cello, N.A. flute, drumming and more.

11 MP3 Songs in this album (48:12) !
Related styles: NEW AGE: Spiritual, FOLK: Modern Folk



Details:
It was three years ago that the CD All Creation was released. At that point I felt I had nothing more to say. Earlier this year (2008), I began to feel that urge, that fire, once again. I began booking studio time with Duane and proceeded with the faith that "if I book it, they will come." The songs, that is. They did and I am grateful once again for the divine hand that I believe guides me through these blessed challenges. - James

A few words about the songs...

Three Petals - Inspired by a beautiful Peruvian despacho ceremony I attended in 2007 in California (Summer Celebration of Love).

Hovenweep - A decade ago Dawn and I walked through the ruins of Hovenweep in the Four Corners area of the Southwest. We felt a mystical energy there in the haunting silence. A decade later, I was asleep and dreamt I had pen in hand and was writing a new song. Aware that I was dreaming, I wondered what I was writing. At the top of the page I found the word "Hovenweep". When I awoke, I finished it - a tribute to the ancient Anazasi people.

Love Is not a Verb - As Dawn was teaching the Intent Mastery group in Tennessee one Sunday morning, she spoke these words. I'd never heard her say them before and it sounded like a song title. Sitting there, I quickly thought of a chorus. Later, at home, we finished it. We often blame love for causing us problems but, the truth is, love is blameless...love is love. What hurts us are the skewed beliefs and unrealistic expectations we have of love.

Mariposa - The butterfly is a symbol for transformation. It was October of 2005 and we sat in a circle at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. There were about twenty-three of us in the group. The butterflies rose up from the earth below, joining us - attracted, I believe, by our own transformations.

Mystic Maiden - Two days after I met Dawn, I wrote "Waiting for Dawn." A few months later, she inspired "It's Only Natural" and "We Were There" (all on the Mirror Boxes and Diamond Rings CD). After the passing of more than a decade, I thought it time to celebrate her again.

Jaguar Mural - This song tells of my dreaming experience in Teotihuacan at the temple of Tetetla, while sitting before an ancient mural.

Piney River (I Am One) â I had just returned to Tennessee after a visit with my dying father. While contemplating his inevitable passing, I stepped from my office at The Ranch, spying a bald eagle as it flew up the Piney River. It dove at a grounded flock of Canada geese. Even death, I thought, is a part of the beautiful miracle of life. The moment took away my breath and the seed of creation was planted.

Stories - Is it possible to allow every day to be blissful? Perhaps. This is an ode to the storyteller of the mind and the lies he tells.

That's Life - In creating our lives, we can choose what we create. Peace or chaos, joy or sorrow, heaven or hell, love or fear⦠This song speaks to the âvictimâ of a lost relationship.

Song of the Crone - Written for a croning ceremony in 2004 to honor elder women. As a woman moves from the role of mother to elder, it is also considered a shift from knowledge to wisdom. Crones of old were revered in clans and tribes as healers and midwives and so much more.

The Pools of Tepantitla - Sitting in a dream at the Temple of Tepantitla, I was visited by an old shaman. The short poem here reflects his words to me, as he stirred the pool of water with a staff, merging my reflection with those of the stars.

Liner Notes

Dreaming into painted portals
of ancient days,
palindromic paths converge
and millenniums melt.
Creatorâs hand reaches out,
sowing sparks in tinderbox hearts.
To the breathless loverâs thirsty eye,
this masterpiece is never dry.
Divinity dances
between the brushstrokes.
- In gratitude,
to the Toltec artists of Teotihuacan,
- James

Creators and Creations

1. "Three Petals"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocal & acoustic guitars
Ron de la Vega: Cello
Duane Sciacqua: String arrangement
Dawn Zurlinden: BU vocals

2. "Hovenweep"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocal, acoustic guitars, N.A. flute, harmonica & hand drum
Duane Sciacqua: Electric guitars & rain stick
Brian Hinchliffe: Bass
Kevin: Djembe & shaker

3. "Love Is not a Verb"
(Words and Music by James Nihan and Dawn Zurlinden)
James Nihan: Vocal & acoustic guitar
Dawn Zurlinden: Vocal
Duane Sciacqua: acoustic lead guitar

4. "Mariposa"
(Words and Music by James Nihan and Dawn Zurlinden)
James Nihan: Vocals & acoustic guitar
Duane Sciacqua: Electric guitars
Brian Hinchliffe: Bass
Steve Holland: Drums & tambourine

5. "Mystic Maiden"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocals, acoustic guitars, N.A. flutes & wind chimes
Ron de la Vega: Cello

6. "Jaguar Mural"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocals, acoustic guitar, jaw harp, hand drum & ocarina
Kevin Ball: Djembe
Duane Sciacqua: BU vocals

7. "Piney River (I Am One)"
(Words and Music by James Nihan and Dawn Zurlinden)
James Nihan: Vocals, acoustic guitar & N.A. flute
Becky Hobbs: Accordian
Kevin Ball: Djembe

8. "Stories"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocals & acoustic guitar
Duane Sciacqua: Electric guitar
Brian Hinchliffe: Bass
Steve Holland: Drums
Dawn Zurlinden: Tambourine

9. "That's Life"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocals & acoustic guitar
Duane Sciacqua: Electric guitars & BU vocals
Brian Hinchliffe: Bass
Steve Holland: Drums & shaker
Dawn Zurlinden: BU vocals

10. "Song of the Crone"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocals & acoustic guitars
Duane Sciacqua: Acoustic lead guitar
Ron de la Vega: cello
Kevin Ball: Djembe
Dawn: BU vocals & tambourine

11. "The Pools Of Tepantitla"
(Words and Music by James Nihan)
James Nihan: Vocal & acoustic guitars
Duane Sciacqua: Ambient sounds