Meditation
Written for his newborn nephew, also named James, James Taylor wrote this lullaby both as a tribute to the gift of a new life, and in reflection of his own childhood. Loneliness permeates the lyrics, as Taylor paints a portrait of solitude on an endless journey, with only the spirits of the moon and his cattle for company. In adulthood, we lose the soft nurturing we receive as children through lullabies and soul tending. The responsibility returns to us to nurture the child that lives within us, that on occasion needs comfort and warmth; that sometimes needs a lullaby.
How do you self-nurture when you feel lonely, frightened, or in need of support? What practices help you to sleep? When you welcome new life, what comforts do you wish to pass on?
Brianna Curran, Washington, DC
