Shawna Carol Goddess Chant CD

Music Review by Ming Yuan Spirit of Change January/February 2001 Shawna Carol Goddess Chant - Sacred Pleasure "In 1986, I was meditating when a fully arranged choral chant came to me.A large choir was singing the pagan ritual blessing "Blessed Be." I realized that I was being asked to create a new style of sacred music.Over the next nine years, these sacred seed chants for the Goddess came to me..." With the above introduction, Shawna Carol validates the origin of her inspiration and direction in honoring the divine feminine, the Goddess, Mother Earth.This devotion led Shawna to realize the powerful healing available for rebalancing the male-female power of the planet.The lyrics are brief and succinct, on average no more than 5 lines per selection.These brief stanzas, however, are both powerful and full of power.A sample case in point is "Be Still": "Be still and listen/know that I am/you are/Goddess." Shawna's strong but angelic vocals and prayer bell accompanied by drone vocals, synthesizer and the glorious guitar pickings of John Mason convey an awe-inspiring tonal beauty beyond description. Much of the essence of Ms. Carol's work can be discovered in her impressive accomplishments as a composer, singer, recording artist and sound healer.In addition to composing and performing, she founded and directs SpiritSong Center in Bedford, MA, and has facilitated SpiritSong workshops at the Omega Institute, New York Open Center, Julia Cameron's "Creating Camp," Dance New England and at Paul Winter's "Living Music Village." Acclaimed Zen author Joan Halifax sums up Shawna Carol's impressive ability to make contact with her listeners thusly: "All who hear (Shawna) cannot help but be moved by her gift, Of dozens of Goddess CDs received for review by Spirit of Change we truly feel this is one of-if not the best-bar none!"

Recording information: Mason Studio, Brookline, MA.

Arrangers: John Mason ; Shawna Carol.

Personnel: Shawna Carol (vocals, guitar, organ, bells); Julie Woods, Joan Huntsberry, Tom Cobb (vocals); John Mason (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Stan Strickland (saxophone); Nurudafina Pili Abena (congas); Ubaka Hill (djembe).

Audio Mixers: Tom Cobb; John Mason ; Shawna Carol.