The Keeper's Path

These are most of the songs and chants I’ve learned and collected over the years. I came across most of these before there was an internet, and definitely before there was a YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, or many other such sources to look up and listen to things.

I’ve tried to give proper credit when possible, but some of these I don’t know when they were created or by whom. Lots of them are so popular and have changed so much over time with different variations and additions that it’s hard to track down an original creator.

If you can’t find the music to learn the rhythm and such, don’t worry. I suggest you try coming up with one on your own. The fun, reverence, and celebration is in the singing itself. Don’t let not knowing how something sounds to another stop you from singing it. That’s how the songs all ended up with variations anyway.

Enjoy!

Air I Am

Air I am: Fire I am: Water, Earth and Spirit I am

By Andras Corban Arthen ©1982

Air Moves Us

Air moves us, fire transforms us, water shapes us, earth heals us
And the balance of the wheel goes round and round
And the balance of the wheel goes round

By Cathleen Sheil, Moonsea and Prune of RECLAIMING

Ancient Mother

Ancient Mother, I hear you calling
Ancient Mother, I hear(sing) your song(sound)
Ancient Mother, I hear(share) your laughter
Ancient Mother, I taste your tears

O la mama wa ha su kola
O la mama wa ha su wam
O la mama kow wey ha ha ha ha
O la mama ta te kayee

Autumn Time

Autumn Time, red leaves fall
The weeping sky looks over all
Demeter sadly walks the land
The dying grasses in her hand

Barge of Heaven

Your crescent shaped barge of heaven
So well belayed, so well belayed.
Full of loveliness like the new moon
Your fertile fields well watered
The hillock lands well watered too
At your mighty rising
The vines rise up and the fields rise up
And the desert blooms in green
Just like a living garden

In the heat of the sun you are shade: A well of water in a dry dry land
Swelling fruits to feed the hungry: Sweet cream to quench our thirst

Words adapted by Starhawk from Sumerian text (tr. T. Jacobsen, D. Wolkstein and S. N. Kramer)
Music by Starhawk, arranged by Lunacy.

It’s the blood of the Ancients that runs through our veins
And the forms pass, but the circle of life remains

By Ellen Klaven & Charlie Murphy

Burn Bright

Burn bright, flame within me: Kindled of eternal fire.
Of the people I do be: And the people part of me,
All one in many parts: A single fire of flaming hearts!

By Nicholas Sea

By the Gods Above

By the gods above and by the goddesses so mighty,
Help us to remember who we are and what we will be.

Cauldron of Changes

Cauldron of changes; feather on the bone
Arc of eternity; ring made of stone
We are the old people, we are the new people, we are the same people wiser(stronger)  than before

Cernunnos Chant

Cernunnos, Horned One
Cernunnos, King of the Sun
Herne the hunted and hunter
Stag-God of the Earth

By Kate West

Circle Fire Dance

Spirits of fire come to us: We will kindle (the) fire
Spirits of fire come to us: We will kindle (the) fire
We will kindle the fire: Dance the magic (sacred) circle round
We will kindle the fire: We will kindle the fire

(back chant)
Fire Fire Fire: Kindle our spirits higher
In thy flame naught remains: But Fire Fire Fire

A Circle Is Cast

The circle is cast again and again and again and again and..

By ©Anna Dembska, of LIBANA

The Circle is Open

The circle is open but unbroken
May the Lord and the Lady be ever in your heart
(or: May the peace of the Goddess be always in your heart)
(or: May the love of the Lady be ever in your heart)
Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again

Variation 2 by Starhawk 

Circle ‘Round The Fire

Circle ’round the fire: To raise the cone of pow’r
To bring what we desire: So mote it be

By Selena Fox copyright 1977

Closing Song

By the air that is her breath
By the fire of her bright spirit
By the waters of her womb
By the earth that is her body

Our circle is open yet unbroken
May the peace (love, joy) of the Goddess
Be ever in our hearts
Merry meet, and merry part and merry meet again

Earth Is My Body (Temple Version)

Earth is my body: Water my blood: Air is my breath and: Fire my spirit

back chant: Earth, water, air, fire

(The) Earth Is Our Mother

The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of her
The Earth in our Mother, we must take care of her

Chorus: Hey Yanna Ho Yanna Hey Yon Yon, Hey Yanna Ho Yanna Hey Yon Yon

Her sacred ground we walk upon, with every step we take (x2)
The Earth is our Mother, she will take care of us (x2)

Alternate verses:
Chorus: Hey Yanna Ho Yanna Hey Yon Yon, Hey Yanna Ho Yanna Hey Yon Yon
(or: Unite my people be as one be as one, Unite my people, be as one, be as one)

The Sky is our Father, we will take care of him (x2)
The Sea is our Sister, we will take care of her (x2)
The Forest is our Brother, we will take care of him (x2) etc..

Traditional, Hopi

Earth Mother

We are healing the earth, we are healing the earth: We are healing the Earth Mother
Earth Mother, we are coming to your aid: Earth Mother, we are coming to your aid

Earth My(Our) Body

Earth my(our) body, water my(our) blood: Air my(our) breath and fire my(our) spirit

(The) Earth, The Air, The Fire, The Water

The earth, the air, the fire, the water: Return, return, return, return
The earth, the air, the fire, the water: Return, return, return, return
Aye ay aye ay aye ay aye ay: Aye oh aye oh aye oh aye oh
Aye ay aye ay aye ay aye ay: Aye oh aye oh aye oh aye oh

Eko Eko

Eko Eko, Aradia: Eko Eko, Hecate, Freya
We’ll teach our children year after year
To love with their hearts: And live without fear

Exerpt. By Kenny & Tzipora Klein

Elemental Chant

Nurtured by earth: Guided by winds
Forged by fire: And tempered by water

By Cory Baumhouer

Evening Breeze

Evening breeze, spirit song
Come to me when day is done
Mother Earth awakens me
With the heartbeat of the sea

Flow and Ebb

We are the flow, we are the ebb
We are the weavers (and), we are the web

We are the weavers, we are the web
We are the spiders (and), we are the thread

We are the spiders, we are the thread
We are the flow and, we are the ebb

By Shekhinah Mountainwater

For The Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth: For the glory of the skies
For the love which from our birth: Over and around us lies

Refrain: Lord of all to thee we raise: This our hymn of grateful praise

For the wonder of each hour: Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower: Sun and moon and stars of light

For the joy of ear and eye: For the heart and mind’s delight
For the mystic harmony: Linking sense to sound and sight

For the joy of human love: Brother, sister, parent, child
Friends on Earth and friends above: For all gentle thoughts and mild

For Thy Church, that evermore: Lifteth holy hands above
Offering up on every shore: Her pure sacrifice of love

Experts from “For the Beauty of the Earth” By Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1864.

From Every Direction

Chorus
From every direction the earth is singing, change it, change it
From every direction the earth is singing change it now

Open your heart to the song of the East (South, West, North)
Open your heart to the East (South, West, North) Open your heart to the Air! (Fire, Water, Earth)

Full Moonlight Dance

Under the full moon light we dance: Spirits dance, we dance
Joining hands, we dance: Joining souls, rejoice!

By ©Karen Beth.

Gentle Loving Mother

Gentle loving Mother, hold me in your arms
Hold me, rock me, soothe me, keep me safe from any harm

By Jean Frances

God And Goddess Chant

Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Pan, Poseidon, Dionysus, Cernunnos, Loki, Apollo

Isis-Astarte by Deena Metzger, Caitlin Mullin, Will Shepardson and Greenham Common
Pan-Poseidon by Lady Bridget

Goddess Is Alive

The Goddess is alive and magick is afoot! etc.
Alternate: The Horned One is alive and magick is afoot!

 

Lord and Lady guide the homeward steps of parting friends
Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again

Honored Maiden Huntress/Silver Shining Wheel

Honored Maiden huntress, Artemis, Artemis
New Moon come to us
Silver shining wheel of radiance, radiance
Mother come to us
Honored Queen of wisdom, Hecate, Hecate
Old one come to us

Horned One, Lover, Son

Horned One, lover, son: Leaper in the corn
Deep in the Mother: Die and be reborn

By Buffalo

Ho Spirit

Ho spirit, air spirit
Golden wings come dance with me
Ho spirit, fire spirit
Crimson passion burn in me
Ho spirit, water spirit
Tears and ocean blend in me
Ho spirit, earth spirit
Stone and crystal steady me

Ho spirit, ho spirit, ho spirit

Hymn For The Pagan (Russian) Earth

If the people lived their lives: As if it were a song
For singing out of light: Provides the music for the stars
To be dancing circles in the night

By Yuri Zaritsky & Eugene Friesen

I rejoice in the beauty of the earth
I rejoice in the colours of the earth
I rejoice in all the living things with whom I share this world
I rejoice, I rejoice, I rejoice

By Gladys Gray.

I Will Be Gentle

I will be gentle with myself: I will love myself
I am a child of the universe: being born each moment

 

Kaleidescope Bardic ’97 Chant (exerpt)

Ooo feel the warmth of the fire: Ooo feel the kiss of the air
Feel the water flow like magic: Through the bosom of the earth
And everywhere

From fire to water to earth and to wind
The circle of life, the dance without end
So merry meet and merry part: And merry meet again

By Pashta MaryMoon(?)

 

Mill of Magick

Air Breath and Air blow: Make the Mill of Magick go
Work the Will for which I pray: Io! Dia! Evohe!

Fire Flame and Fire Burn: Make the Mill of Magick Turn
Work the Will for which I pray: Io! Dia! Evohe!

Water heat and Water boil: Make the Mill of Magick toil
Work the Will for which I pray: Io! Dia! Evohe!

Earth without and Earth within: Make the Mill of Magick Spin!
Work the Will for which I pray: Io! Dia! Evohe!

 

Mill (Wheel) of Magick, Version 2

Air breathe, Air blow: Make the wheel of magic go
Work the wish for which we pray: Eo-dea-ah-hey-hey-yeh

Fire blaze, Fire burn: Make the wheel of magic turn
Work the wish for which we pray: Eo-deo-ah-hey-hey-yeh

Water bubble, Water boil: Make the wheel of magic toil
Work the wish for which we pray: Eo-deo-ah-hey-hey-yeh

Earth without, Earth within: Make the wheel of magic spin
Work the wish for which we pray: Eo-deo-ah-hey-hey-yeh

 

 Moon Phase Chant

Where is the Moon when the Moon is new?
It’s a sliver to the right getting bigger every night

Where is the Moon when the Moon is round?
Rising as the sun is going down

Where is the Moon when the Moon is waning?
Sliver to the left till there’s no Moon remaining

 

Moon, Sister Moon

Moon Sister Moon, shining so high
Smile down upon me, full face in the sky
Moon Sister Moon, with your silver glow
Whisper your secrets, tell me what you know

 

Mother Earth And Father Sky

Mother Earth and Father Sky: We are the children you and I
Flame of their flame, light of their light: Let us burn hot, let us burn bright
They are the power in everyone: Every daughter, every son
Earth below and sky above: Married together in sacred love

 

Mother/Father Hear Us

Mother, daughter, sister, lover: Hear us, hear us
It is you we seek within us: Goddess guide us

Father, brother, son and lover: Hear us, hear us
It is you we seek within us: Horned One guard us

 

Mother/Father Of Darkness

Mother of darkness, Mother of light: Earth beneath us, soul in flight
Songs of love and love of life: Guide us to our hearts

Father of darkness, Father of light: Sky above us, soul in flight
Songs of joy and joy of life: Guide us to our hearts

 

Mother I Feel You

Mother I feel you under my feet: Mother I hear your heart beat
Mother I hear you in the river’s song: Eternal waters flowing on and on
Mother (Father) I can see you when the eagle flies: Flight of the spirit’s gonna take us higher

 

Mothers and Fathers of Old

From far beyond this mortal plane: Mothers and Fathers of old,
We pray that you return again: Mothers and Fathers of old.
To share with us the mysteries: And secrets long untold,
Of the ancient ways we seek to reclaim: Mothers and Fathers of old.

Come and tell of a distant age: Mothers and Fathers of old.
Of King and warrior, bard and mage: Mothers and Fathers of old.
To share with us the mysteries: And stories long untold,
And the ancient ways will live once again: Mothers and Fathers of old.

Verse 1 by Sable. Verse 2 by Gwynne Green

 

My (Our) Love Is A Garden

My (our) love is a garden enclosed: A sacred fountain
A well of living water and: All green in our bed

Exerpt. By Catherine Madsen

 

Now And Forever

Now and forever, we are the threads of her (your) loom
Now and forever, we are the blood of her (your) womb

Now we will feel, now we will heal: Now we’ll reveal her (your) name
Now we will grow, now we will know: Now and forever again

Lyrics by Pashta MaryMoon. Melody by Loreena McKennitt.

 

Now I Walk In Beauty

Now I walk in beauty
Beauty is before me
Beauty is behind me
Above and below me

Traditional Navajo

 

(The) Ocean Is The Beginning of the World (Earth)

The ocean is the beginning of the world (earth)
The ocean is the beginning of the world (earth)
The ocean is the beginning of the world (earth)
All life comes from the sea: All life comes from the sea

By Delaney Johnson & Starhawk.

(back chant) Run river, flow river, run river, water, daughter

The Air is (the breezes are) the beginning of the world
All breath (joy) comes from the wind (the breeze)

The Fire is the beginning of the world
All power (strength) comes from the flame (the hearth)

The Water is the beginning of the world
All life comes from the sea

The Earth is the beginning of the world
All strength comes from (the womb) within

By Delaney Johnson & Starhawk.
Backchant by Naomi

 

Oh Ma Ma Ma

The wind is blowing, oh Ma Ma Ma
The fire is glowing, oh Ma Ma Ma
The water is flowing, oh Ma Ma Ma
The earth is growing, oh Ma Ma Ma

Oh Ma Ma Ma Ma, oh Ma Ma Ma,
Oh Ma Ma Ma Ma, oh Ma Ma Ma.

 

Oh Tell Me Why

Oh tell me why, oh tell me why
Tell me why must the clouds come to darken the sky
Oh tell me why, oh tell me why
Tell me why must the clouds come to darken the sky

This is the wake of Lugh the Sun King
He lost his life on the Solstice day
This is the wake of Lugh the Sun King
He steps into the dark and guides the way

By Raven Moonshadow.

 

Old And Strong

Old and Stong: She moves on and on and on
Can you feel the spirit: She is like a mountain

She is like the ocean
She is like the mighty river
She is like the wind (draw out wind)
She is like the fire etc..

By Little Bear Morena

 

Old Ones Hear Us

Old Ones hear us, Old Ones rejoice
We are the children sending our voice
No more destruction, no more remorse
Dancing the heartbeat back to the source

 

Pentagram Glow Chant

Hey, ho, pentagram glow: Guard this hearth, this home, this land: And we shall be merry
Hey, ho, pentagram glow: Bring us peace and health and light: And we shall be merry
Hey, ho, pentagram glow: Speed our love, our strength, our power: And we shall be merry
Hey, ho, pentagram glow: Grant our dreams, our wish, our will: And we shall be merry
Hey, ho, pentagram glow: North and East and South and West: And we shall be merry

Traditional melody. Lyrics by Selena Fox

 

Power From The Earth

Power from the Earth: Power taking form
Rising to rebirth: Rising to be born

 

Powerful Song

Powerful song of radiant light: Weave us the web that spins the night
Web of stars that hold the dark: Weave us the earth that feeds the spark

Descant:
Strand by strand, hand over hand: Thread by thread, we weave the web

By Pandora, Starhawk and Rose May Dance.

 

Powerful Woman

I am a powerful woman I am, I am a powerful woman I am
I connect with myself and everything, I am a powerful woman I am

I am a passionate woman I am, I am a passionate woman I am
I express myself with a power and love, I am a passionate woman I am

I am a feeling woman I am, I am a feeling woman I am
I except all the things expressing through me, I am a feeling woman I am

I am a loving woman I am, I am a loving woman I am
I love myself and everyone, I am a loving woman I am

I am divine woman I am, I am divine woman I am
The Goddess is fully awake in me, I am divine woman I am

Reclaiming

We are reclaiming the air (fire, water, earth)
Giving the air (fire, water, earth) divine names.

Possibly by Reclaiming.

 

Return To The Mother

Return to the Mother: Return to the Mother
Return to the Mother: Die and be reborn

 

Rise With The Fire

And we will rise with the fire of freedom
Truth is the fire that will burn our chains
And we will stop the fire of destruction
Healing is the fire running through our veins

By Starhawk.

 

The River is Rolling,

The river is rolling, rolling and flowing
The river is rolling, down to the sea
Oh Mother, carry me, child I will always be
Oh Mother, carry me, down to the sea.

A River Of Birds

There’s a river of birds in migration: A nation of women with wings

 

The River She Is Flowing

The river she is flowing, flowing and growing
The river she is flowing, down to the sea
Mother Earth carry me, child I will always be
Mother Earth carry me, down to the sea

Other collected verses:
The wind it is blowing, blowing and rolling
The wind it is blowing all through the trees
Gentle wind carry me, spirit shall always be
Gentle wind carry me, so I may be free

The moon she is waning, waning and waiting
The moon she is waning until we are free
Sister moon shine on me, on Earth I’ll always be
Sister moon shine on me until we are free

By Libana

Spiral Dance Song

Men sing:
Turning, re-turning, transforming, our heart’s fire is (repeat)

Women sing:
Winding, binding the seeds we’ve sown, weaving the truths we’ve known
And drawing them home again (repeat)

By Pashta MaryMoon

Spirit All Around Me

Spirit above me, spirit below me, spirit before me, spirit behind
Spirit all around me, spirit am I

Love is above me, love is below me, love is before me, love is behind
Love is all around me, loving am I

Spirit Am I

Spirit am I, Woman (Pagan) am I: I am the infinite within my soul (self)
I can find no beginning I can find no end: All this I am

 

Spirit Elemental Chant

Spirit of the Air (Fire, Water, Earth) carry (calling) me
Spirit of the Air (Fire, Water, Earth) carry (calling) me home
Spirit of the Air (Fire, Water, Earth) carry (calling) me home to myself

By Craig/Star Williams

Spirit of the Cloven Hoof

Spirit of the Cloven Hoof is running wild on the land.
Spirit of the Cloven Hoof is running wild on the land.
Horned God of this land we call to you, we call to you.
Horned God of this land we call to you, we call  to you.
Pan, Herne, Cernunnos
Pan, Herne, Cernunnos

By Jana Runnalls

Spirit of the Wind carry me
Spirit of the Wind carry me home
Spirit of the Wind carry me home to myself

Spirit of the Ocean, depth of emotion
Sprit of the Sea, set myself free

Spirit of the Rain, wash away the pain
Spirit of the Storm, help me be reborn
Spirit of the Sun, warm light healing me
Spirit of the Sky, spread my wings and fly

Spirit of the Earth, help me with my birth
Spirit of the Land, hold me in your hand

Spirit of the River, blessed forgiver
Spirit of the Shore, shows me more and more

By Brooke Medicine Eagle

 

Summer Solstice Chant

Sun spirit shine with might
Godess rock us through the night
Living, breathing, lighted flame
From deep within they rise again

By Cricket, written for the Ottawa Temple’s
Summer Solstice ritual, 2002

Sure as the wind 

Sure as the wind my people and sure as the rain
Sure as the sun does shine we will raise our song again

By ©Terry Dash of LIBANA.

By Cricket, written July 4th, 2004.

Way To the Well

We will never, ever lose our way to the well of her memory
And the power of her living flame, it will rise, it will rise again

She is hidden, but Her children have not forgotten, they will worship her
In the meadows when the moon is full it will rise, it will rise again

By Starhawk and Rose May Dance
Melody adapted from a South African Freedom Song.

We All Come From The Goddess/Hoof And Horn

We all come from the Goddess: And to her we shall return
Like a drop of rain: Flowing to the ocean

We all come from the Horned One: And to him we shall return
Like a flash of light: Shining from a fiery storm

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn: All that dies shall be reborn
Corn and grain, corn and grain: All that falls shall rise again

Some additional lyrics (source unkown):
Sage and Crone, Sage and Crone: Wisdom’s gift shall be our own
Crone and Sage, Crone and Sage: Wisdom is the gift of age

We All Come From the Goddess by Z. Buddapest ©1971.
Hoof and Horn by Ian Corrigan ©1997(lyrics adapted)

We Are A Circle

Chorus: We are a circle within a circle, with no beginning and never ending. (3 times)

Verse 1 – Air:
You hear us sing, you hear us cry,
Now hear us call you Spirits of Air and Sky.

Chorus (3 times)

Verse 2 – Fire:
Inside our heart there glows a spark,
Love and desire, a burning Fire.

Chorus (3 times)

Verse 3 – Water:
Within our blood, within our tears,
There lies the altar of living Water

Chorus (3 times)

Verse 4 – Earth:
Take our fear, take our pain,
Take the Darkness into the Earth again.

Chorus (3 times)

Verse 5 – Closing:
The Circle closes, between the Worlds,
To mark this Sacred Space where we come face to face.

Chorus (5 times)

By Rick Hamouris ©1986 All Rights Reserved

*A note from the song’s creator – “Sung in this manner, your circle has been cast in song. The chorus structure invokes the triple goddess 5 times, the verses invoke the four directions and elements and close (create) the circle. The closing chorus invokes the 5 points of the pentacle. The 20 total repetitions of the chorus invoke the higher power of 2 (cooperation and partnership) Just add participants and simmer until done. 🙂

The chorus has been used, on its own, to produce trance state very successfully.

This song has been given up into the folk process in the hope that people will make it their own (such as changing lyrics, melodies, instrumental compositions, etc like a game of telephone)  As the chorus states, the process will never be over. I provide this document as a cornerstone in order to understand where it all began. And who holds the copyright 😉 Permission to perform or record given upon request. I have, thusfar, denied no one…”

We Are A Circle Moving

We are a circle moving one with another, we are
Moving together, we are one.
We are a circle moving one with another, we are
Moving together, we are one.
I am spirit and I flow in you. You are spirit and you flow in me.

By Marae Price, ©1996

We Are One/The One Chant (back chant)

We are one, we are one: In this task we’ve begun
What we will shall be done: We are one, we are one

Back chant:
We are one, we are one, we are one, we are one, etc..

We Are One With The Lady/Lord

We are one with the Lady: We are one with the Lord
We are one with the chalice: We are one with the sword
And we pray that the balance will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Pagan by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know that we are Pagan by our love

We Are Opening

We are opening up in sweet surrender: To the luminous love light of the one (bis)
We are opening: We are opening (bis)

By Gladys Gray.

We Are The Old Women (People)

We are the old women (people): We are the new women (people)
We are the same women (people): Stronger (deeper, wiser etc..) than before

By Morning Feather and Will Shepardson.

We Are the Walking Breath

We Are (I am) the walking breath, We are (I am) the spirit of the earth
We Are (I am) alive and walking, where we are (I am) is beautiful

By Jana Runnalls

Wearing My Long Wing  Feathers

Wearing my long wing (white) feathers as I fly
Wearing my long wing (white) feathers as I fly
I circle around, I circle around
The boundaries of the Earth: The endless universe

Arapaho Ghost Dance Song. Melody by Judith Foster (NROOGD)

We Have Gathered

We have gathered in their names: Now we sing them home again

Wiccan Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, how sweet the earth
That formed (bore) a witch like me
I once was burned, now I survive
Was hanged but now I sing. (I’m free)

T’was grace that drew down the Moon
And grace that raised the sea
The magic of the people’s will
Will set our Mother free