"Suicide is a permanent solution to a
temporary problem."
According to the Centers
for Disease Control, child suicide in the United States of America is at
an all time high. Each year in this country, youth die more by suicide
than any other cause, except traffic accidents. Most of these acts are
committed by males using firearms. Up to 11% of gay, lesbian and
transgendered teens and up to 30% of Native American teens die by their
own hands, annually. Suicide among HIV+ teens is increasing at an alarming
rate. While most teen suicides in the US are committed by caucasian males,
since 1980, the sharpest increase of child suicide has occured among males
of African descent; up more than 20%, generally; up more than 300%
among African American males 10 to 14 years young. "...this moment
of Silence..." is designed to help The MÈRE Project Charitable Trust
help others to decrease these statistics.
® The MÈRE Project, © de
Cygne.
"...this moment of Silence..."
In "...this moment of Silence..." (the
recording artist "Michael de
Cygne") uses progressive/alternative pop and solo voice chant to
interpret the ancient Greek story of Persephone and her descent into the
Underworld, (i.e. the Dark, the Abyss; the realm of Shadow in the
Unconscious/subconscious Mind). The songs of "...this moment of
Silence..." form a suite which expresses Persephone's entire
progression from her initial plunge into hopelessness and despair, through
her cycle(s) of Transformation to her Self-empowerment and Rebirth (with
the aid of the Dark
Goddess, Hekate). It is a classic story illustrating a cycle
of inner transformation that is so deep and prolonged and pervasive
that it overshadows every area of the individual's life. Persephone's
story helps us to understand that, even in our deepest, darkest
cycles, (which are only temporary), we have a constant
Friend, Companion and Protectress within us Who nutures us and
lovingly, carefully and successfully guides us through the crossroads of
our personal Abyss to self-discovery, empowerment, recovery and personal
Rebirth. In brief, here is Michael's interpretation of the story, also embodied in the artist's e-EP, Songs from the Well:
Note: "...this moment of Silence..." began as an Internet consciousness raising project and has evolved to become Michael de Cygne's new e-EP, "Songs from the Well". The EP is sold in two versions, with and without "...this moment of Silence...", (depending on how much free space you have on your hard drive for the record, 26Mb or 45Mb, respectively). The cost of [both versions of] the EP is $5(US). $2.60(US) from each sale of "Songs from the Well" will go directly to The MÈRE Project Charitable Trust to advance its suicide prevention efforts and to enable it to assist other organizations founded and operated for the prevention of child and adolescent suicide.
[April 6, 2001 -- The server feeding our Real Audio samples of "...this moment of Silence..." has passed into non-existence. We're changing servers. Until the change is completed, we have disabled the links to the Real Audio files. We anticipate reactivating the links circa April 8-10, 2001. Until then, please visit the artist's site to hear samples of the album there.]
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The Story
- Persephone, daughter of [Goddess aspect] Demeter, is playing alone in an orchard. Her inner
beauty and innocence attract Pluto, God of the Underwold, who
becomes obsessed with desire for her. Pluto rises up from his Dark
domain and abducts her, taking her to the Underworld where she is
enveloped by despair;
(song #1, Cry
Darkly). Solo Chant. [Live!]
- Hekate (aspect of the Great Mother who meets our spirit
in the Dark places of the Subconscious Mind, Triune Goddess of the
Mysteries of Light and Shadow) comes to Persephone and leads her
by torch light down the paths of the Subconscious into the
knowledge of the Powers available to her in the Abyss, teaching
her how to use, not fear, the Dark;
(song #2, Love
is the Only Rule
). Progressive Pop. [Live!]
- Persephone discovers her own Voice as Hekate teaches her how
to tap into and develop the Magic of her Heartsong;
(song #3, Invocation).
Solo Chant. [Live!]
- Happy to have Hekate's companionship, Persephone dances
through Night with the "Goddess of the Shadowlands";
(song #4 Beat
of my Heart). Progressive Pop.
- Having gained Persephone's trust, Hekate leads her deeper into
the Abyss, into the Valley of the Shadow where all her illusions
and self-delusions are stripped from her;
(song #5, Shadow of the
Valley). Solo Chant. [Live!]
- In the Valley, Persephone is confronted by the sadness of her
personal Shadow, her "Dark Lover", that part of her Soul Which is
her constant Companion and closest ally, Which she has continually
denied and Which she must be united with to become One with All
that she is;
(song #6, The
Girl I Can't Get To). Ballad: Voice/Piano.
- In Silence, Persephone reconciles and unites with her Shadow, thus activating her deepest inner healing and regenerative processes.
(song #7,
Sanctuary
of the Dark Moon). Solo Chant. [Live!]
- At One with herSelf, Persephone completes the final cycle of her initiation into
the Mysteries of Light and Shadow, truly awakening into her own
Divinity as an Initiate of the Dark and as a Goddess in her own
right.
(song #8, Spiral
Dance). New Age: Voice/Computer/Frame drums/Pedal
Harp.
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Summary:
"...this
moment of Silence..." helps us to re-view our personal Dark times as a
natural aspect of our lives as spiritual beings (regardless of our
personal religious orientation). This re-viewing [seeing the Dark from a
different point of view] enables us to tap into the wellspring of Life
issuing from the Higher Power(s) we all have freely available to us,
hidden in the depths of our innermost being. The experience of being
plunged into our personal Underworld, (with or, as is usually the case,
without our apparent consent), is not one to despair and languish in; it
is NOT an indication that we are helpless or that our lives are hopeless;
it is an opportunity to encounter and aquire new capabilities from the
most powerful aspects of who we are as spiritual beings in a way which
enables us to use those capabilities to consciously produce
positive, revolutionary change and progress in our personal
lives. The message and the music of "...this moment of Silence..." are
vital to all persons, everywhere, who are transiting intense, personal
crisis, particularly those we know and love who may be quietly considering
ending their lives.
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As "...this moment of Silence..." illustrates, silence, as a meditative tool, is essential to stress reduction, self growth and inner healing. Silence allows us to still our thoughts and emotions in order tap our inner resources so we can deal with our most challenging feelings. However, being silent about suicidal feelings, ours or someone else's, can be a deadly decision. For more information on the warning signs of suicide (for persons who are considering
suicide and those who seek to help them), please consult the links page of
The National Suicide Prevention
Directory [NSPD] or contact any of the organizations listed in the NSPD. If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal and/or exhibiting such warning signs, please do not keep these feelings or signs to yourself; speak up, let someone you trust know
now!
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