Episode 7, entitled New Moon, New Year, celebrates the December 30th “black moon,” and the impending new year, commencing with Michigander Carrie Newcomer’s video for the song “Sanctuary.” This beautiful song was inspired by a letter she received from her good friend, Quaker writer Parker Palmer, who was responding to her wanting to know what can we do now, when things seem so bleak. Parker’s response is both hard and easy — we do what we can, and when we falter, we need to find sanctuary and refuge where we can, in the beauty nature still retains, in friends and family, and in the wisdom of artists, writers, and thinkers. This song and video is a beautiful summary of Parker Palmer’s trenchant advice, which is certainly apropo as we approach the new year ahead.Next up is “Prayer For Peace,” written by Seth Handelman, and performed by Mark and Deb Bonds, who hail from New Hampshire. “Prayer For Peace” laments a world rife with unnecessary wars, and calls for a new era of peace, to be ushered in by the collective power of millions of fervent voices.The next song and video is from activist songwriter Purly Ray Gates, who urges us to “Wake Up Now” — because we have a lot of urgent work to do to make the change that we seek. It IS up to us, and we need to start right now.The final song is an anthem, “Peace, Salaam, Shalom,” from Emma’s Revolution, the folk duo partnership of Pat Humphrey and Sandy Apatow, whose name is inspired by the anarchist and revolutionary Emma Goldman. Their song was written in response to the 9/11 attacks, but is equally relevant in today’s context, where global warming, toxic pollution, and geopolitical strife threaten us all.
