Kelmti Hora – The Song of Freedom

“I am those who are free and have no fear. I am determination that doesn’t die. I am the voice of those who do not give in. I am meaning in the middle of chaos. I am the right of those oppressed which is sold around by the dogs, who plunder the home’s wheat and shut the doors before the blaze of thought. I am those who are free and have no fear. I am determination that doesn’t die. I am the voice of those who do not give in. I am free and my word is free.”

Amel Mathlouthi

You know what’s going on in Tunisia, Egypt, and the other countries where the people are saying enough to oppression, poverty and corruption. The old system is crumbling down, unfortunately with violence and clash of citizens with authority. I am watching with both sadness and hope, with both grief and joy, knowing that these people are acting on behalf of all of us, they are suffering and even sacrificing themselves not only for their own rights and dreams of a better life, but for our collective dream of a better world. Authorities, power poles, control mechanisms are all falling apart. Today we know that a crack in the system in Tunisia or Egypt will very much affect all of us, in every corner of the world. We are more connected than ever in humanity’s history, for better and worse, and we are witnessing history in making.

Then, today I found this video and I was awestruck. During the uprising in Tunisia, a young singer songwriter, Amel Mathlouthi sings her own song – Kelmti Hora – in the middle of a protest. I couldn’t believe the symbolism in this video. You can hear the chanting of protesters in the background, you see a crowd of men, women and children huddled in together in solidarity and this beautiful young woman – right in the middle of the chaos – sings her song of freedom with her sweet, gentle voice. Although I didn’t know the meaning of her words, I was so moved by her image and her voice, that in that moment I knew of her and her people’s struggle and longing for freedom, tears of compassion fell, for this is the voice and calling of the Sacred Feminine.

Listen to her, she’s saying “I am the meaning in the middle of chaos”

As the old system falls apart and chaos unfolds – and it is very likely that it will touch us and our loved ones too – we will need these heart songs, we will need to ground ourselves in her calling for wisdom and courage. I remember Neda, the young Iranian woman who was shot dead in front of our eyes as she was demanding freedom during Green Revolution in Iran. She was silenced, but now Amel is singing for her too and for all of us:

I am free and my word is free.

May our heart songs bring the freedom and unity consciousness that for so long, we have been waiting and longing for.