Blessing (Peacemaker) – (Sacred Circle)/Germany [Friedel Kloke-Eibl]
Blessing (Segen) is a simple sacred circle dance choreographed by famous German Sacred Dance instructor and founder of Meditation des Tanzes – Sacred Dance (sacreddance.de), Friedel Kloke-Eibl (YouTube). The dance is choreographed to the mesmerizing drum pulses and ethereal drones of the song “The Peacemaker is Born” by Native American artist Joanne Shenandoah (1957-2021), who was member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation in central New York. I came across the dance while searching for Irish Blessing on Andrew Carnie’s site.
| Dance Name: | Blessing |
| Country of Origin: | Germany |
| Aliases: | Segen (German) |
| Choreographer: | Friedel Kloke-Eibl |
| Taught in USA by: | Steve Kotansky |
| Dance Type: | Circle/Chain/Line: non-partner |
| Dance Category: | Sacred Circle |
| Dancer Formation: | Closed Circle |
| Hand Hold: | L-position |
| Leads to: | R w/R |
| Song: | “The Peacemaker is Born” by Joanne Shenandoah Peacemaker’s Journey, 2000 |
| Time Signature: | 2/4 |
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
| Energy Intensity: | Gentle |
| Date Taught: | 4/9/2024 |
| Teacher: | David |
| Published: | April 7, 2024 |
| Updated: | April 8, 2024 |
Joanne Shenandoah
Initially labeled a Native American Enya, singer-songwriter Joanne Shenandoah proves herself much more on PEACEMAKER’S JOURNEY. Seeing violence in Kosovo, schoolyard massacres here at home, and discord within her own native community over land rights, Shenandoah reflected upon a story from her Iroquois heritage. It relates of a time 800 years ago when strife and violence were ended when the tribes listened to the prophet Skennenrahowi, the Peacemaker. Shenandoah, whose music has been used on the television shows Northern Exposure and How the West Was Lost and the film The Indian in the Cupboard, turned to her native tongue to compose a song cycle illuminating the course of the prophet’s life and decisions, from “The Peacemaker Is Born” through the work of peace (“Aiionwatha Forgives”), to “Planting the Tree of Peace” and “All the Earth Will See.” Producer Tom Wasinger’s multiculti arrangements (guitars, cittern, duduk, dulcimer, ocarina, and resonating stones are a few of the instruments employed) frame but never distract from Shenandoah’s warm, engaging delivery—the voice of a storyteller whose message transcends language.
Notes from Peacemaker’s Journey album on Bandcamp
Unfortunately, the sentiments of Shenandoah’s album Peacemaker’s Journey are as pertinent as ever. In 2000, Shenandoah could relate the past to Kosovo and school shootings. Today, in 2024, we can relate the need for a Peacemaker in the continued face of senseless violence, needless loss of life, and cruelty, now in Gaza, Ukraine, and so many other places, and, perpetually, gun violence in USA.
Further reading about Joanne Shenandoah
Lyrics
Joanne Shenandoah sings “The Peacemaker is Born” in the Oneida/Iroquois language. This song is only the beginning of the story of the Peacemaker, Skén:nen rahá:wi, as told through the songs of Peacemaker’s Journey. You can read the full story of how Creator sent the Peacemaker to unite the waring nations of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca people. Or if you prefer, here’s the Wikipedia version. The lyrics to each song on the album are simple and repeated with building instrumentation and vocalizations. There is a set of lyrics or translation of lyrics on the web (riseupandsing.org) that is said to belong to this song, but it is obvious that this is not the case. However, I present them at the end of the page, because they also express the need for a Peacemaker. The lyrics presented below come from the CD booklet.
Ska:lahowe K^tho lonaklatu
Owiskla Nikan^yo:t^ Watunyatu
Kahuwe:ya: Yahoy a;thewe'
ukwehuwe'hne Lohdenohses
The Peacemaker (Skén:nen rahá:wi) was born.
A white stone canoe carried him
to the original people …
the People of the Longhouse (Iroquois).
Dancing Examples
Music
English Lyrics to Another “The Peacemaker Is Born” Song (from Rise Up and Sing)
I’m not sure to what tune this lyrics translation or set of lyrics belong, or if you are supposed to sing it to the tune of Joanne Shenandoah’s “The Peacemaker Is Born,” which is actually quite a difficult task. Rise Up and Sing, which publishes songbooks, etc. along the lines of Pete Seeger, lists the lyrics below as the translation, but the song doesn’t have that many words. The proper translation is given above, but this is an interesting and moving read, for whatever it may happen to pertain.
Translation:
A soldier boy falls to his knees
And a woman cries in joy & pain
When will we live in peace again?
A child is born where the wild wind blows
In a country torn from the south to the north
And a family runs from day to day
When will we see our home again?
When will we see the simple truth
The only thing that's worth a damn?
Life of a child is more than a forest
Life of a child is more than a border, could ever be
A child is born in the desert sun
A tiny life has just begun
And a mother cries for her hungry baby
When will I feed my boy again?
A child is born to an ordinary home
East or west, it could be anyone
But we all wanna know, will my child survive to see the day
When we will be secure again?
When will we see the simple truth
That the only thing that's worth a damn
Life of a child is more than a forest
Life of a child is more than a border
Life of a child is more than a region
Life of a child is only a heartbeat from eternity
We must believe for the sake of humanity
Oh, we must believe
For the sake of humanity, we must believe
A soldier boy falls to his knees
And a woman cries in joy & pain