In his newest release “The Water Poem”, Ram Dass invites us to turn our attention to the secrets of water, awakening messages and memories that live in the water that are part of us and part of every living being.
As part of his upcoming album ‘And Now He Has Wings’, where we are immersed in a story of parenthood, love, life, death, grief, healing and reconciliation, water found its way to accompany this musical journey.
Water is a carrier of life, the connection between everything that lives, the memories of all life on this planet, the power of feeling, the eternal wisdom, and her cleansing and purifying qualities. Water can be a balm to the human heart, if we are open to listen, to perceive in stillness and learn from her, through our tears, through the water that nourishes our bodies, and through rivers, lakes and seas.
Ram Dass holds a very special relationship with this element, and we had the opportunity to talk with him to learn more about it.
How would you describe your relationship with water?
I experience water as being one of the few constants in my life and as a source of rejuvenation, cleansing, and help. If I’m not feeling well emotionally or physically, I try to get in a hot shower or bath to reset. I feel better when I’ve been immersed in water every day. I notice when I’m on tour that I tend to like being in the cities where there is a river running through. I try to remember water as being sacred in every moment that I can.
Can you tell us a story about a meaningful personal experience with water in your life? Where did the inspiration for this song come from?
I was on tour, stopped at Niagara Falls when I found out there was something wrong with my son’s pregnancy. It was my first time there and I had just taken a selfie when I got the phone call. I still have that picture and see it as the last moment before my life changed drastically. It felt so poignant that I was witnessing this rushing, crashing water when I got the news. Since then I have heard many teachings about water and how for countless indigenous people, it is one of the most sacred forces or entities in the universe, not just a commodity.
So, when I was thinking about the themes I wanted to represent with this music, it felt important to represent water in this way. I composed the water motif on the guitar and then it only took a little exploration with Bogdan and Mati to fully form the piece.
How is water connected to your process through grief?
I’m aware that when I let my feelings move like the water, I feel healthier and happier. Plus, tears are water from within me being expressed. I was taught to drink water around grief and hard feelings to help soothe myself. So, beyond the story of how this song was born, water is intricately entwined with my body, my feelings, and grieving.
You have been spending a good amount of time recording in Tulum, México were water is predominant being a beach town and full of underground rivers. How has this place impacted your relationship with water?
The presence of water in Tulum is so apparent and beautiful. When we walk on the streets, I remember that the land beneath me is totally porous and the water is running through it. The water within the cenotes (caves) is pure and blue— its beauty is unsubtle and very obvious. I think, more than it having impacted or changed my relationship with water, its presence there has deepened my awareness of it, and helped to get itself onto this record.
Can you share about the creative process for this song?
Generally what we did was to sit down with a guitar riff, violin motif, or chord progression and just start playing together. We’d generally then program a beat with the drum sequencer and then track the vocals, guitar, and violin live together, sometimes adding live percussion on top of that. We tried to minimize how much we thought about the music intellectually, and instead leaned into the feelings that the music brought up for us.
You’ve previously mentioned that water is a messenger, how can we deepen our connection to understand the messages through water?
For me, it’s just about paying attention to it. I practice that attention when I drink water, bathe, when I make tea… We’re made of water, so maybe we just need to get to a place of stillness where we can listen inside and hear parts of ourselves that need to be heard.
Listen to The Water Poem now.