The Angel Songbook: Songs and Stories from The Angelic Embassy
Collected by Parker Dickson and Margaret McDonnell
BK011
$35.00
Spiral-bound, facsimile edition, 8 1/2" X 11", 270 pp
The Angel Songbook (pdf)
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This is the whopper book of songs and commentaries based on work ideas and the angelic way of life-with a heavenly dose of humor and pathos! Songs are printed with melody line and chords. Section headings include Angels Anonymous, The Village of the Idiots, The Alchemist Said, and so on. Besides stories prefacing each group of songs, the editors included photos by Bill DeGroot and others, and drawings by Thomas X. and Lin Larsen. Songs from this collection are available on several recorded albums, including Songs of the Angels and Workstation, featuring upbeat new versions by rock guitarist Jimmi Accardi.
Briefing Notes:
Main Themes:
Esoteric Knowledge and Practice: The songbook is steeped in references to esoteric traditions like Sufism, alchemy, and Fourth Way teachings. It uses symbolic language and humor to point towards hidden truths and methods for self-transformation.
The Nature of Ego and Self: Many songs grapple with the illusion of the ego and the search for the true "I". They explore themes of self-deception, habitual patterns, and the need for self-awareness to achieve liberation.
Spiritual Journey and Transformation: The songs chart a path of spiritual awakening, emphasizing practices like self-observation, surrender, and conscious effort. They offer guidance and encouragement for navigating challenges and finding one's purpose.
Humor and Paradox: The songbook utilizes humor, often dark and satirical, to deconstruct conventional beliefs and highlight the absurdity of the human condition. It employs paradox to challenge linear thinking and point towards a deeper understanding of reality.
Most Important Ideas and Facts:
Invocation of Angels: The songbook alludes to a method for invoking angels, suggesting the songs themselves hold keys to this process. This implies a link between sound, vibration, and spiritual connection.
The Fourth Way: Explicit references to the Fourth Way, a system of esoteric development popularized by G.I. Gurdjieff, appear in songs like "Do It the Fourth Way". Concepts like self-remembering, chief feature, and work on oneself are highlighted.
Sufism: Sufi imagery and terminology permeate the lyrics, with mentions of zhikr, tekkia, and the "Streets of Bukhara". The songs hint at the Sufi path of spiritual purification and the annihilation of the ego in the Divine.
Alchemy: The songbook draws parallels between the alchemical process of transmutation and the spiritual journey, using metaphors like turning lead into gold to represent inner transformation. The song "The Alchemist Said" exemplifies this.
The Clear Light: Songs like "Clear Light Prayer" invoke the concept of the Clear Light, a state of pure awareness and ultimate reality found in Tibetan Buddhism. The lyrics suggest the Clear Light can be experienced through dedicated practice.
Three Great Laws: "Three Great Laws" outlines fundamental principles governing existence, emphasizing the inevitability of change and the existence of a higher, unchanging reality. It encourages aligning oneself with these laws to achieve liberation.
Key Quotes:
"There are keys to the method of invocation of angels woven into this song." - This sets the stage for the songbook's esoteric nature and suggests a deeper layer of meaning.
"Make the outer as inner, the inner as outer, The gravity center inside." - "The Alchemist Said" offers a concise instruction for achieving spiritual transformation.
"Oh, a man is never free as he imagines himself to be, He's a product of conditioning and law." - "Three Great Laws" highlights the illusion of free will and the impact of conditioning on the individual.
"You can talk of Jove and justice, Of faith and charity, Mercy and compassion And such philosophy. If you can't sell your soul to anybody else, How the heck you ever going to sell it to yourself?" - "Paying Too Much" satirizes the limitations of intellectual knowledge and emphasizes the importance of embodying spiritual principles.
"This plane don't carry no sinners, this plane. This plane don't carry no sinners, this plane. This plane don't carry no sinners, or saints, this plane. This plane is real." - "This Plane" challenges conventional notions of good and evil and points towards a reality beyond duality.
Overall Impression:
The Angel Songbook is a complex and intriguing collection of songs offering a glimpse into esoteric teachings and practices. It uses humor and paradox to convey profound truths about the human condition and the path to spiritual awakening. Further study and contemplation of the lyrics are necessary to unlock their full meaning and potential.