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Ora Vida Life

by Ora Vida LIfe

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1.
Ora.Vida.Life - Como no voy a cantar : feat Xiuh 05:36
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Como no voy a cantar si tengo todo para cantar Como no voy a cantar si tengo todo para cantar Si tengo luna Si tengo sol Si tengo estrellas Si tengo amor Como no voy a danzar si tengo todo para danzar Como no voy a danzar si tengo todo para danzar Si tengo luna Si tengo sol Si tengo estrellas Si tengo amor (Kāren) I sing to the moon, as she moves the waters of the oceans, the rivers and the sea. Thank you Mother Moon for the graceful rhythm you buried within me. I sing to the sun, as he gives light and life to all living things. Thank you Father Sun for your humble strength that illuminates stone, bird, flower and tree I sing to the stars, high apon high over land over sea For the guidance of ten thousand generations and the portal of wonder we see. We sing for love, and love surrounds we in my community We sing for love as it calls me to stand tall with my people beside we We sing for love because there is nothing else that matters to we We sing for love for our ancestors and the children running free. Chorus Como no voy a reir si tengo todo para reir Como no voy a reir si tengo todo para reir Si tengo luna Si tengo sol Si tengo estrellas Si tengo amor (Xiuh) Chorus Como no voy a rezar si tengo todo para rezar Como no voy a rezar si tengo todo para rezar Si tengo luna Si tengo sol Si tengo estrellas Si tengo amor (Brooke) Why wouldn't I sing when I was gifted with a voice? Why wouldn't I dance when I was born into this earth? Why wouldn't I laugh when my heart speaks so much joy? Why woudn't I pray when I am grateful for this day?
2.
Ora Vida Life - Sofia 05:30
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Papatūānuku Pachamama Gaia Sofia Tonantzin Unci Maka Mother Earth Thank you for the water Thank you for the wind Thank you for the fire And the wheel that spins within Thank you for forgiving me Thank you for accepting me Thank you for loving me Exactly as I am Thank you healing me Thank you for teaching me Thank you for sharing your Sacred gifts with me Thank you for sheltering me Thank you for nourishing me Thank you for caring for me As I am your child Thank you for your body Thank you for your diversity Thank you for your beauty For being my home The plants, the minerals, The rocks and the stones, The crystals, the gems The precious ones The ones so small we cannot see The ones who live beyond this reality The two legged ones, the four legged ones The ones who fly The ones who swim The ones who crawl The ones who live in the sky We seed, we fruit, we flower, We are dying hour by hour Returning home to your body The sacred home of all humanity We share you, we honour you We pray for you, we love you Thank you, thank you, thank you Mother Earth.
3.
Ora Vida Life - This Gift 04:40
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This gift of air I breathe Thank you Mother Earth This gift of water I drink Thank you Mother Earth This gift of food I eat Thank you Mother Earth This gift of fire to warm Thank you Mother Earth This gift of life I live Thank you Mother Earth heya heya hey heya heya hey heya heya ho heya heya ho Ko Tawhirimatea Tenei te mihi ki a koe Ko Tangaroa Tenei te mihi ki a koe Ko Rongo-ma-tane Tenei te mihi ki a koe Ko Māhuika Tenei te mihi ki a koe Ko Hineahuone Tenei te mihi ki a koe heya heya hey heya heya hey heya heya ho heya heya ho
4.
Ora Vida Life - Burn in the Fire 07:31
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Burn in the fire Cleanse in the river Stripped by the Gale Erupt from the Earth Transformation (Karen) As I burn these molten layers of ego I realise it’s imperative to kneel and let go Of the need to control My only authority is internal Take these thoughts of destruction And bury them deep in the earth Let me decompose what no longer serves To bring about my rebirth Let go let live is my innermost chant I’m trying to rise above thinking I cant Cleanse my soul Feel my love So I may rise again From my cycle of pain My eyes unblinking as the tears fall Open my heart to freedom
5.
Ora Vida Life - Io i te ata (Be Here Now) 05:20
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Io i te ata Io i te po Io i te ahiahi I te rā kātoa We are all walking side by side hand in hand shoulder to shoulder were are walking each other home Be Here Now Be Here Now Ram Das said Be Here Now! I'd rather Be Here Now! --------- We call on the rocks and stones with their roots buried in the earth Hear them singing for freedom We call on the gentle wind, the clouds on high Floating free above us on a long strong sigh The falling rain The raging tide The ocean of emotion into which we dive The rays of sun, Blazing down, Healing all the creatures and the growing ones We call on each soul each bird, worm, tree each with a right to live autonomously We’re singing for freedom with every breath Dancing in the fire burning in our breast We’re singing for freedom with every breath Dancing the fire burning in our breast We each have the choice to look within To wrestle and to reckon with our own demons _ to stay present with what is to learn first and formost to forgive holding up our mirror, third eye to eye, take a long long look before we die We all are here together on a one way ride Making the most of this gift of life
6.
Ora Vida Life - Where is the Peace? 02:58
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Where is the peace? Where is the love? Where is the freedom for everyone? River flows through the rocks to the sea Kereru high in the Puriri Kauri stands above the canopy Pohūtukawa flowers in the sun Here is the peace Here is the love Here is the freedom for everyone

about

Ora Vida Life was formed on the weekend of the Pluto / Saturn conjunction in January 2020. Xiuh, Brooke and myself ( Kāren Hunter ) were at Solrise festival on the side of Karioi maunga, Whaingaroa, Raglan, New Zealand. We asked the ( by now legendary ) videographer Cadby Kong to capture us playing a song, by Mike O'Donnell, in the bush.

Our videos are here www.youtube.com/@OraVidaLife

Our energy as a trio was incredible right from that moment. For me, as a seasoned performer, it was intoxicating to feel the power of the feminine. I was thrilled when Brooke and Xiuh agreed to continue to perform as a trio and write a set of medicine songs together.

The concept was to create original songs that could be sung in sacred ceremony by anyone who felt moved by the song. It's been a three year journey so far of acoustic performances, ceremony sharing, festival performances with loops, sound journeys and online offerings. Finally I have something I'm happy to offer as an album.

Brooke has created our beautiful cover as the icing on the cake. Her ceremonial musical and artistic work, including tattoo designs is blossoming and you can find her here www.stonetosky.com

Xiuh has created a life, Norah. The ultimate gift, the gift of life.
TIHEI MAURI ORA!!

Xiuh offers Te Mezcal / traditional Mexican Sweat Lodge, on each new and full moon.
www.facebook.com/XiuhJanikiVeeus

My offerings are music and astrology. linktr.ee/karen.hunter.nz

We each bring our creativity to the world with the purest of hearts.

The proceeds from the Bandcamp sales of this album will be donated to the Kōrero Kids programme @Artworks Community Theatre, Waiheke.

ORA! VIDA! LIFE!

credits

released September 20, 2023

Please check each individual song for writing credits and lyrics.

Brooke Hayley - Vocals, field recordings, inspiration and cover art.
www.stonetosky.com

Andria Pablo Sanchez ( Xiuh ) - Vocals on Como no voy a Cantar.
www.facebook.com/XiuhJanikiVeeus

Matiu Te Huki - Taonga Puoro on This Gift and also for helping with the lyrics in Te Reo Maori on that song.
www.rainbowwarrior.nz

Tash - Cello on Where is the Peace?

Kāren Hunter ( me ) - Everything else.
www.karenhunter.com

I would like to acknowledge with deep gratitude:

Te Arai Roa (Waiheke Island), the ancestral home of Ngati Paoa, the natural wonderland of beauty in Tikapa Moana (The Hauraki Gulf) where this project was written and recorded.

Johnny Fleury who lent me his bass guitar for these recordings.
Etai Gillard who helped me with those great eq presets for the bass and drums all those months ago.
Julz who gifted me the amazing Ovation mandolin.
Ross Hill who gifted me the stunning Rod Capper guitar.
Tamari Lazirus for the long term loan of your silver flute.

Musical Instruments are gifts that keep giving <3

Josh, Hannah and Mo for your friendship, songs, support, love and spiritual guidance. Not to mention for putting up with the rehearsing, recording and mixing stages of this project for all those months in the Valley of Peace.

Mike Moksha and Jin for sharing so many deep moments together in prayer.

Aastha Valeria who has been present for the opening of so many portals of light.

Maya Meijer for your continued friendship and support.

Uliai Williams for hosting my Artist Residency at Wingsong Sanctuary where most of this material was originally written.

Bex Gunson for your sisterhood, dance and support with this project.

Osher River Oriyah and Kashmir Pastel. I have deep gratitude and respect to you both for your continued practical and artistic support. You really are Angels of Light. Two shining miracles. Bless you both dearly.

Sybilla Merkel for the glint in your eye and your healing touch.

Caroline Mae for your wicked ways and for leading me into the dark.

So many more wonderful Waiheke souls ; Janna & Micheal. Amelia. Ylia & Nigel.The Guerin whanau. Simone Denny. The Holly's. Amandeep & Valleske of Shambhala. Tala & his precious Mother. Marco. Facundo and Violeta. Russell Walder. Island Print & Design. Artworks Community Theatre. Ritual Cafe. Ostend Market. Island Grocer. Greenspace.

Waikato whanau;
Mike O'Donnell for all the taonga you have shared with me and the sacred seeds and earthen vessels that grace my altars and workspaces. The melody you created for Papatūānku, Ranginui, Wairua, Aroha, was instrumental to the formation of Ora Vida Life. You are part of this project. Ngā mihi mahana e koro.

Te Rangimarie & Rob Carter for inspiring me to chant, drum and pray.

Especially to Andria Pablo Sanchez for putting the Vida in Ora Vida Life, for introducing me to the ways of Te Mezcal, the Yollotlpachtli drum and all the Wild Women.

Finally to Brooke Hayley, what we have shared together is nothing short of a true miracle. Blessed be Sister. May our music outlive us.

Dedicated in tender memory to...
Darling Caroline Robinson for showing us all what unconditional love means, right to the very end.
&
My musical inspiration Leraine Horstmanshoff whose spirit lives on in my heart.

Both of these incredible women passed over during the recording of this project and their energy permeates my very being. They both transcended this plane with such class. Rest in Peace sisters, I'll see you soon x x x

license

Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.

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Karen Hunter image

Karen Hunter Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealander Kāren Hunter uses guitar, voice, mandolin and loops to create heart charged soundscapes that draw deep from the well of our collective spirit.
These are love songs to Papatuānuku / Mother Earth, freshly baked under the fire of Ranginui / Sky Father.

Each album has it's own role in her collection, from rootsy songs, Celtic dub to Yoga music, Kāren is a diverse and eclectic composer. ... more

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