The Song of the World: Permission to Express
The Song of the World: Morning Reflections on Expression, AI, and Humility.
This morning, I found myself sitting at the top of my staircase, looking east toward the Four Peaks mountain range.
The birds were just beginning to wake. The horizon glowed with that soft light that belongs only to the first moments of day. Everything seemed to be singing.
And perhaps that is what this reflection is about.
Song.
Expression.
The simple miracle of being alive.
Recently, I heard a beautiful definition of humility from Swami Sarvapriyananda of the Vedanta Society of New York. He described humility as seeing the greatness in others.
I love that.
And I would add this:
Humility is seeing the greatness in others, celebrating that greatness, and encouraging one another to express it more fully.
When we truly recognize the beauty, gifts, and uniqueness of another being, something remarkable happens. We create space. We create welcome. We create safety.
And safety matters.
Much of my recent work has centered around the nervous system and the question:
How do we create a greater sense of safety in our lives?
Not by controlling the world, but by tending to what is within our sphere of influence.
Prayer.
Gratitude.
Yoga.
Presence.
Posture.
Even something as simple as lifting the chin slightly and gazing toward the horizon can communicate a powerful message to the body:
You are here.
You are aware.
You are safe.
From that place, expression becomes more natural.
More authentic.
More joyful.
The older I get, the more I recognize that creativity is not something we own. It is something we participate in.
The words I speak were given to me.
The songs I sing arrive from somewhere beyond my individual self.
The ideas, poems, stories, paintings, and conversations that move through our lives feel less like possessions and more like gifts.
Expressions of a much larger intelligence.
A much larger whole.
This is why I find myself celebrating creative expression wherever I encounter it.
A song shared around a campfire.
A first-time painter.
A grandmother writing her memories.
A teenager creating videos.
A friend recording a podcast.
Someone finally publishing the book that has been living in their heart for years.
I want more of this in the world.
Not less.
I want people to feel safe enough to share what they love.
Safe enough to create.
Safe enough to participate.
Recently, I've heard concerns about artificial intelligence and creativity. While thoughtful discussion is important, I find myself looking at AI through a slightly different lens.
What if it is another form of collective creative intelligence?
What if it helps someone find words they couldn't quite access before?
What if it helps create an image that expresses something deeply felt?
What if it opens doors for people who may not have had access to teachers, mentors, books, or educational opportunities?
If a tool helps another human being express what is in their heart, I find myself saying:
Wonderful.
Create.
Share.
Sing your song.
This morning's random book opening brought me to a chapter called The Song of the World from Jacqueline Freeman's beautiful book Song of Increase.
In it, she describes bees not merely collecting nectar and pollen, but participating in a vast web of relationships involving flowers, minerals, soil, insects, plants, and the living intelligence of the Earth.
The image stayed with me.
Everything is participating.
Everything is communicating.
Everything belongs.
The bees.
The flowers.
The minerals.
The mountains.
The birds singing outside my window.
And us.
Perhaps we are all part of the same great song.
Each voice unique.
Each expression valuable.
Each contribution adding something beautiful to the whole.
My wish is that we create more circles of trust.
Places where people feel welcomed.
Places where people feel seen.
Places where creativity is encouraged rather than measured.
Places where we celebrate the greatness we discover in one another.
May we create lives that support authentic expression.
May we listen deeply.
May we encourage generously.
May we sing our songs freely.
And may we remember that we are all participating in the Song of the World.
With gratitude,
Julie
May all beings be free.
May all beings sing their song.
May all beings know safety, belonging, and love.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
