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Jul 9: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience

What : Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience When : Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Where : Wal...

Thursday, July 4, 2024

July 7: Dances of Universal Peace, a.k.a Sufi Dancing



Sufi Dancing
(AKA Dances of Universal Peace)

Sunday, July 7, 6:30 to 8:45 pm
Twin Cities Friends Meeting House
1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul (map)
https://tcfm.org/

Watch the MN DUP Meetup.com for future events! 

Donations accepted, but not required-

Come and weave a circle of sacred presence and harmony with shared movement and song. All spiritual traditions of the world are honored in a circle of universal prayer.

No former experience is necessary (And... seasoned dancers and dance leaders are more than welcome to bring their wisdom, dances, and shared leadership:)

Jul 26: Spirit of Peace Online Meditation


It feels like a season to invite folks to a public practice of the Spirit of Peace Meditation.

If you feel called to join with others in 1) recommitting to "give our strength ... that love may reign and war may cease" and 2) to practice seeing the love and light in one's self and others, please consider yourself welcome to the next public online practice.

What: Spirit of Peace Meditation*
When: Friday, July 26, 4:30-5:15 p.m. Central Time USA (UT-05)
Where: Zoom Meeting ID: 941-277-002; Password: DUP

At this time we will meet monthly online. It may shift to in-person and more frequently, so sign up for the Spirit of Peace newsletter on this page to be most up-to-date.

If you have interest and delight in supporting this public practice of dedicating one's spirit to peace and seeing the holy love and light in each person, please reach out and let us know. Use the contact form here or send an email to listening@pointsoflightmusic.net.

--

Interested in history of the practice? Follow this link of posts tagged with "Spirit of Peace Walk" including *how we adapted it to zoomland,

Jul 25: MSP MMC gathering!

Music that Makes Community in Minneapolis-St. Paul!

WHEN:
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 3:00pm - 4:30pm

WHERE:
University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

If you are looking for a new way to foster vulnerability, trust and connection in your worship, meetings or gatherings… if you enjoy oral singing tradition… or if you need a place to rest your soul and be filled…

Join Conie Borchardt, Maria Anderson-Lippert and Liesl Spitz for a Paperless Singing Practice Group. This gathering is for anyone who loves to sing, churchy and non-churchy alike. 

Questions? Contact hello@musicthatmakescommunity.org

PoLiMu recommends: Samara Jade + Mica Sun (Jul 6)

 

Samara Jade, the song catcher of "Endless, Boundless Gratitude," "The journey to the center," "Carrying water," and so many more songs in our aural tradition canon will be travelling through Minneapolis this weekend with creative and life partner, Mica Sun.  

Catch them in the western suburbs on Saturday night, July 6.  More details here!

Jul 9: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience



What: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience
When: Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Walker/New City Church,
3104 16th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407 (map)
With: Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute and GOOD TROUBLE

REGISTER HERE: Eventbrite
Facebook event page 

How do we find our way through personal, cultural, and systemic trauma towards resilience?

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Setlist from June 13 Retrain Your Lizard Brain

Here are the songs we sang at the second Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience at Walker/New City Church on Thursday evening, June 13, 2024. Enjoy the links to online recordings for your at-gome remembering pleasure!

* no online recording available. If you discover one, please let us know in the comments!

Here are some of the Resources we promised to share:
  • About the Card Decks: Having a tangible tool to sit with and reflect our feelings back to us helps us slow down, process, and make space for emotional work and intentions we otherwise tend to ignore. In May we spread out the Rest Deck by Tricia Hersey and the Artist Grief Deck, made by hospice workers in the pandemic.
  • Instruments we use: 
Thank you to the crew who jumped in to retrain their lizard brain!  The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the world we're working towards!

Many thanks to Mni'sota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute for offering the amazing Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Resilience (STAR) training that Liz and Conie took in June 2023 and to being interested in partnering with us when we expressed interest in offering a hand-on offering.  Please checkout their offerings and consider taking a webinar or the full training.

We're planning to make this session monthly because the work of Trauma Awareness and Resiliency is long and slow!  The next Retrain Your Lizard Brain session will likely be Thursday, July 9, 2024; stay tuned for details on this blog as they unfold or sign up for the In-person Singing and/or the Good Trouble Songleaders newsletters

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

June 28: Community Sing for Sacred Lands

WHEN:  FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 7-8 P.M.
WHERE:  FAITH MENNONITE CHURCH, 
2720 22nd St, Minneapolis

Come join song leaders Doe and Conie, from the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and Music that Makes Community, as they share songs submitted to their playlist project collaboration on Sacred Lands. The songs will connect to stories from the Coalition's growing network for Indigenous justice. For more information on the playlist project and/or to submit an original song, see here: https://tinyurl.com/sacredlandsplaylist

We will be indoors, so masks are strongly encouraged, as is taking a Covid test prior to attending.

This is an opportunity for local Twin Cities folks to connect with other members in the Coalition's national network for Indigenous justice and decolonization, as many of our members will be in the Twin Cities for our Annual Gathering June 28-July 1.

PoLiMu Recommends: Ahlay (Jul 22-23) + Lawrence (Aug 8)

AHLAY BLAKELY


DETAILS FOR AHLAY BLAKELY:  

- MONDAY, JULY 22:  Facebook + Registration
- TUESDAY, JULY 23:  Facebook + Registration

 

Lawrence Cole



DETAILS FOR LAWRENCE COLE:

- THURSDAY, AUGUST 8: Facebook + Registration




Jun 21: Songs In Your Body On This Land


We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these monthly song circles.

WHEN:  Friday, June 21, 6-8 p.m.
WHERE: Beautiful Studio, #214, 2242 University Ave W, St. Paul (more details below) 
 Hidden Falls Park (North Gate), St. Paul (map/more details below)
Facebook event

****UPDATE:  We wanted to be down by the river but it's supposed to Thunderstorm all of Friday (HELLO SOLSTICE) so we are moving indoors to the Beautiful Studio in St. Paul.
Beautiful Studio, #214, 2242 University Ave W, St. Paul
There's a parking lot in the back; you'll need to text us to get in (look for signs on the Hamden doors) and holler with questions!
No masks required this month but strongly welcomed + encouraged.

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, aka Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips and grab a shaker if you're feeling it...

Community potluck meal starting at 6 pm, singing starting at 7 pm and/or woven through

Down by the river at Hidden Falls Park; follow the north entrance drive all the way down to the parking lot and look for the SING HERE flag on the beach.

--
Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Setlist from May 24 Songs for Tending Our Hearts @ Yess Yoga

Friends,

Here are the songs we sang at Songs for Tending Our Hearts at Yess Yoga on Friday night, May 24, 2024:
  1. Holding Song (Ian Carrick)
  2. One by One (Michael Stillwater)
  3. Be with me, Yah (Koach Baruch Frazier)
  4. Haida* (words & music: traditional Jewish niggun)
  5. Keep it open (Ahlay Blakely)
  6. Let my soul dance in the rain* (unknown; learned from Scott Skoog)
  7. My soul’s home* (Shireen Amini)
* An online audio or video recording has not been found.  Let us know if you find one in the comments!  

Some of you asked about the Resources we shared. Here's a short list...
We are grateful to you if sang with us and to Yess Yoga for hosting.

Bimonthly dates for this grief song circle at Yess Yoga have been scheduled for 2024. Pencil these dates into your calendar:
  • July 19* Revised date
  • Sept 20
  • Nov 22
If you'd like reminders, sign up for the In-person Sings/Good Trouble mailing list here to get an email beforehand. Or just check the Yess Yoga's website.

Keep singing and stay warm, graceful, and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. GOOD TROUBLE

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Jun 14: Spirit of Peace Public Meditation ONLINE

 

It feels like a season to invite folks to a public practice of the Spirit of Peace Meditation.  

If you feel called to join with others in 1) recommitting to "give our strength ... that love may reign and war may cease" and 2) to practice seeing the love and light in one's self and others, please consider yourself welcome to the next public online practice.

What:  Spirit of Peace Meditation*
When:  Friday, June 14, 4:30-5:15 p.m. Central Time USA (UT-05)
Where:  Zoom Meeting ID:  941-277-002; Password:  DUP

At this time we will meet monthly online.  It may shift to in-person and more frequently, so sign up for the Spirit of Peace newsletter on this page to be most up-to-date.  

If you have interest and delight in supporting this public practice of dedicating one's spirit to peace and seeing the holy love and light in each person, please reach out and let us know.  Use the contact form here or send an email to listening@pointsoflightmusic.net.

--

Interested in history of the practice?  Follow this link of posts tagged with "Spirit of Peace Walk" including *how we adapted it to zoomland

Jun 13: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience

 


What: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience
When: Thursday, June 13, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Walker/New City Church, 
3104 16th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407 (map)
With: Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute and GOOD TROUBLE

REGISTER HERE:  Eventbrite
Facebook event page

How do we find our way through personal, cultural, and systemic trauma towards resilience? Our culture is honestly pretty terrible at having community rhythms to process this and tools to live towards growth. Singing and somatic practice are one container offering a space to practice working through our grief, pain, and conflict towards finding joy, courage and connection.

Inspired by the STAR* training, you’re invited to a monthly community song circle of simple songs, taught call and echo, and somatic practices to check in with how our bodies are processing. You don’t need to “be a singer” - we’re not singing to perform; we sing because it changes us.

What to Bring:
To make the most of our time together, please remember to bring the following items:
  • Water to stay hydrated throughout the event
  • Clothes that are suitable for easy movement
  • Yoga mats, pillows, and blankets for your comfort during somatic practices
  • A journal and pen for any reflections or insights you may wish to jot down
Donation Guidelines
We request a donation for tickets to this event - any amount between $10-$50; we use a sliding scale in order to make this work as accessible as possible to people. For reference, we consider:
  • $10 is a Sliding scale solidarity rate for folx who would not otherwise be able to come
  • $25 is a Full price ticket that allows us to break even for this event
  • $50 is a Benefactor rate that allows more people to attend by covering costs for our community.
If you want some help thinking through what you might be able to donate, we've found this graphic really helpful in thinking through the amount of financial privilege you carry and how it might apply: https://www.transgendertraininginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Sliding-Scale-Guidance2.png

COVID-19 Precautions:

Summer 2024 Heart Songs

 


What: Heart Songs: Lament, Longing, & Love (an online community space for you to bring your heart and your voice)

When: 6:30-8p CDT (05-UTC until Daylight Savings Time ends)

Dates for Summer 2024:  over the summer we meet less frequently because Mni'sota summers are amazing and it's hard to be inside!
  • June 17
  • July 8
  • August 19
Where: Online: https://zoom.us/j/431161455 (see call-in options on Heart Songs' main page)

Gather for an informal singing time to re-center our hearts in community. Simple songs will be led paperlessly/taught by ear by Conie Borchardt, other song leaders, and you, if you have a song to share.

Join us. Bring friends. (Signup for the email reminder here; select Heart Songs)

Songs will be about the human experience and in that way, spiritual in nature, but not specifically religious.

This is a space intended for self-care, however that shifts for you in every moment. Bring water. Come and go. Sit in a chair, lie on the floor, or stand as you need to.

June 2024 Mn'sota DUP Tour

The Dances of Universal Peace are spreading around Mni'sota!

With gracious support from the MRAC's Arts Impact Fund, these activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.  


The Dances of Universal Peace are easy circle dances with singing. Everyone is taught call and echo.  Bring yourself and an openness to try something new with others!  Lead by Certified Dance Leaders: Conie Borchardt, Adam Wolter, and others.  Learn more about the Dances here.

Tour Dates

Sunday, June 2, 6:30-8:45 p.m.
Twin Cities Friends Meetinghouse
1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul (map)

Friday, June 7, 7 p.m.
Svalja Yoga
N 1st Ave W, Duluth (map)

Saturday, June 8, 7 p.m.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
715 S. Central Ave, Ely (map)

Sunday, Jun 9, 2 p.m.
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church
501 NW 16th St, Grand Rapids (map)

Saturday, June 15, 2 p.m.
A Place to Move
714 Columbia Ave, Morris (map)


Monday, May 6, 2024

Setlist from May 2 Retrain Your Lizard Brain

Here are the songs we sang at the very first Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience at Walker/New City Church on Thursday evening, May 2, 2024.  Enjoy the links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure!  
* no online recording available. If you discover one, please let us know in the comments!

Here are some of the Resources we promised to share:
  • About the Card Decks: Having a tangible tool to sit with and reflect our feelings back to us helps us slow down, process, and make space for emotional work and intentions we otherwise tend to ignore. In May we spread out the Rest Deck by Tricia Hersey and the Artist Grief Deck, made by hospice workers in the pandemic.
  • Instruments we use: 
Thank you to the crew who jumped in to retrain their lizard brain!  The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the world we're working towards!

Many thanks to Mni'sota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute for offering the amazing Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Resilience (STAR) training that Liz and Conie took in June 2023 and to being interested in partnering with us when we expressed interest in offering a hand-on offering.  Many thanks to Jean for their supporting hands-on support to bring this into being!  

We're planning to make this session monthly because the work of Trauma Awareness and Resiliency is long and slow!  The next Retrain Your Lizard Brain session will likely be Thursday, June 13, 2024; stay tuned for details on this blog as they unfold or sign up for the In-person Singing and/or the Good Trouble Songleaders newsletters

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Setlist from April 28 edition of Tending Your Fire, Tending Your Heart

Dear Friends,

If you're reading this, you might have attended the Tending Your Fire, Tending Your Heart gathering on Sunday afternoon, April 28 in South Mpls.

We invited folks who have been carrying a load for their community, in a season of deep service, organizing, and/or mutual aid work to lay it all down for a weekend and receive some spaciousness and care.

Here is a list of the songs we sang over with links to online recordings.
Here's a list of Instruments: 
May all of these resources support you in your work and in your rest.

Liz and Conie, a.k.a. GOOD TROUBLE  

Monday, April 22, 2024

Upcoming Visiting Songleaders: Shireen *May 9-10* + Ahlay

We are so excited that two fantastic song leaders are traveling through the Twin Cities soon! Check out the details below and make plans to join us in singing with them.

Shireen Amini is in Minneapolis, May 9 & 10!  A fantastic musician, healer, song leader and incredible non-binary (pronouns: she/her/elle) human of Puerto Rican-Iranian heritage, Shireen Amini will be holding a Drum Song workshop on Thursday night and a Community Song Circle on Friday night.  Come for both if you can!  I had the opportunity to participate in her virtual Drum Song series and it was sooooo good online; this will be amazing! 

Drum Song Workshop with Shireen Amini

Thursday, May 9, 5:30-8 p.m.
Center for Performing Arts, 
38th & Pleasant, Mpls









Community Song Circle with Shireen Amini

Friday, May 10, 6:30-9 p.m.
New City/Walker Church
, 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA
Register here.








Ahlay Blakely is back in town in July!  

Mark your calendar for July 22 & 23 and check back for more details as it gets closer!

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Setlist from April 19 Songs In Your Body On This Land @ The Beautiful Studio

Here are the songs we sang at the BIPOC+Mixed Race song circle, Songs In Our Bodies On This Land at the inclement weather location of The Beautiful Studio in the Dow Building on University Ave on Friday night, April 19, 2024 with links to online recordings for your at-home remembering pleasure.
  1. Comfort* (Heather Wilson)
  2. River Water Flows* (Earth Practice)
  3. Let Go and Move (words: Candance Butler/music: Velma Frye)
  4. One by One (Michael Stillwater)
  5. One Body (Ahlay Blakely)
  6. Holding Song (Ian Carrick)
  7. We breath together / Stop the occupation (adrienne maree brown) plus harmonies and Ceasefire refrain by Rise Choir Collective
  8. The Cure for the Pain (text inspired by Rumi; tune: Yam)
  9. It’s not yours to carry anymore* (Liz Digitale Anderson)
  10. PLZ PLZ Universal Soul (Lyndsey Scott)
  11. The Way Knows the Way (Lyndsey Scott)
* no online recording available. If you discover one, please let us know in the comments!

Here are some of the Resources we promised to share: 
  • The World Wide Labyrinth Locator
     - an online resource to find labyrinths near you and around the world that are in public and private places.  
  • My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem - Book recommended by Pauline.
  • About the Card Decks: Having a tangible tool to sit with and reflect our feelings back to us helps us slow down, process, and make space for emotional work and intentions we otherwise tend to ignore. In April we spread out the Rest Deck by Tricia Hersey and the Earthcraft Oracle Deck (Hay House).  
  • Instruments we use

Thank you to the crew who sang with us! The right people were there, tenderness, grit, and support were shared. Community was tended. This is part of the dream Liz and Conie are working towards!  

And many apologies to you if you didn't hear about the location change until too late.  We don't make a decision to change details of an event lightly and believe we made the right decision considering the wind and coolness.  

Many thanks to Michael G for lending us the cozy Beautiful Studio for us!
  
It takes more than desire to keep this BIPOC song circle going. Your contributions, energetic, trades, and financial, a0re welcome and needed! If you missed the big blue-green tip jar, contributions can be sent through Paypal or Venmo or a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 11791, St. Paul, MN 55111.

The next BIPOC+Mixed Race Song Circle will be a special one!  On Friday, May 10, 2024 we are directing everyone to join us in singing with guest songleader Shireen Amini, an amazing Puerto Rican-Iranian musician and non-binary human (she/her/elle).  More details here for Friday night's song circle and Thursday night's Drum Song class!  After that, we'll should be at the river on Friday, June 21, around the summer solstice!  Stay tuned here or signup for the "Soul Songs BIPOC/Mixed Singing Space" list here.

Keep singing and stay warm, hydrated and creative!

Love, Liz and Conie, a.k.a. Good Trouble

May 2: Retrain Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma & Resilience



What: Train Your Lizard Brain: Somatic Singing for Trauma Awareness + Resilience
When: Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Walker/New City Church, 
3104 16th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407 (map)
With: Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute and GOOD TROUBLE

REGISTER HERE:  Eventbrite
Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/wDVOicsyt

How do we find our way through personal, cultural, and systemic trauma towards resilience? Our culture is honestly pretty terrible at having community rhythms to process this and tools to live towards growth. Singing and somatic practice are one container offering a space to practice working through our grief, pain, and conflict towards finding joy, courage and connection.

Inspired by the STAR* training, you’re invited to a monthly community song circle of simple songs, taught call and echo, and somatic practices to check in with how our bodies are processing. You don’t need to “be a singer” - we’re not singing to perform; we sing because it changes us.

What to Bring:
To make the most of our time together, please remember to bring the following items:
  • Water to stay hydrated throughout the event
  • Clothes that are suitable for easy movement
  • Yoga mats, pillows, and blankets for your comfort during somatic practices
  • A journal and pen for any reflections or insights you may wish to jot down
COVID-19 Precautions:

Friday, April 19, 2024

Apr 19: Songs in Your Body On This Land (BIPOC-Mixed Races Song Circle)



We'd like to welcome People of the Global Majority (Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, and Mixed Race) to these monthly song circles.

When:  Friday, April 19, 2024, 
6-8 p.m.
Where:  Hidden Falls Park, North Gate (down by the boat launch!) INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN UPDATE: BEAUTIFUL STUDIO.  See details below

Led by GOOD TROUBLE, aka Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. We teach songs for joy, courage, grief, hope, and justice in the oral tradition, call and echo. You don't need to "be a singer" or "know what you're doing", you just gotta be willing to breathe and open your mouth and echo back. Maybe even move your hips and grab a shaker if you're feeling it...

We will be down by the river at Hidden Falls Regional Park-- take the main drive past the picnic area all the way down to the parking lot and we will be on the sand probably close to the boat loading dock (look for the SING HERE flag). We plan to have a bonfire and be outdoors even if it's cold, so layer up!
Feel free to bring snacks to share

>>>If it's raining, please check this event page for updates!
RAIN PLAN IF NEEDED:
We'll meet at The Beautiful Studio #214, 2242 University Ave West, St. Paul
(There is parking in the lot behind the building; you'll need to text us to get inside.)
**We will be requesting that folx mask up for the sake of collective community health if indoors. Thank you for understanding**

--
Photo by Mankwe Ndosi: Preparing the Unburdening Ground, Say Their Names Cemetery at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis