Reflecting the Feminine Devine

Reflecting of the Feminine Devine

An Interview with Snatam Kauer Khalsa

February 28, 2011

Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Reflecting the Feminine Devine

The generously granted one hour interview with Snatam Kaur was to take place at 4 PM., though there had been some delay for the fact that I had to have not come call you back several times before we could begin due to the fact that I couldn't get the telephone plugged into the correct jacket that would give me access to the recorder. Eventually, and with some frustration I conceded to the conditions at hand. I was not going to be able to record this interview and I was going to have to rely on memory to record our conversation. So we were going to have to wing it. Or should I say it was I who was going to have to pay attention to every occurrence that should up in our interview.

It was a good thing that I had meditated before our meeting. It was also made apparent to me that my interview partner had done the same, for as she later revealed to me she takes every communication seriously and applies herself with thoughtfulness to the words that proceed from her. This was so much evident to me that I was reminded of the mind-full attentiveness with which Hazrat Inayat Khan, a Sufi mystic and teacher of the early 20th century to whose life up until and around 1912 had solely been devoted to playing music and singing sacred songs that he declares himself to have become the instrument upon which The Divine did play and so much so that it became clear to him that there was power in the word, every word to move and inspire others that he discovered such a inner devotedness toward spreading those words in lectures. For him, it had become necessary to discontinue singing and playing and leave that for others more whose direct calling it was to chosen to follow. It is clear to me that Snatam is one of these whose calling it is, at least at present to convey those words of the Divine that so touch and move our hearts and these she chooses well as evidenced in the times that she first would pause presenting long moments of silence before addressing any one of the questions posed by me.

After I calmed down a bit, having accepted my fate of transcriber, I posed my first question

D.L. So, how are you doing today? S.K.K. Im feeling well. I just returned from a recording session after being away for a couple of months.

Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Reflecting the Feminine Devine D.L. Are you recording a new album? S.K.K. I was recording with Thomas Berkey with whom I've already done several. D.L. What is the name of it? S.K.K. Well we don't know yet, something having to do with reviving the planet or keeping the earth in a better way than we have.

D.L. (tentatively) perhaps seeing that most of your titles have consisted of one to three words how about the restoration of Gaia or Divine Gaia or what do you think? S.K.K. (Laughing quietly) I don't know, that might be good; well have to think about it. Do you write your own lyrics or are the lyrics all taken from the gurbani kirta or GURU GRANTH SAHIB (sacred text)? Have I said that correctly?

S.K.K. No, he wrote a combination of Hymns to describe the teachings of the tradition to us who seek, so that he could send these traditional writings out ahead of himself, wherever he went or wherever he himself could not be present, particularly throughout northern India so that they would bloom, and that these recitations would flourish by filling the people with the energy of the words so they could gain an understanding of the original scriptures. I have, written several my self, but most of them come directly from this text. There were actually nine other gurus whose writings make up the sacred text as well and these have been carried forward into what now comprise the whole of the teachings or sacred text. D.L. I understand and have heard from others, who have stated that they feel the text is very similar to that of traditional Islamic texts. What I mean to say is, there is a sense that the text is somewhat masculine sounding and it seems that your voice brings more of a feeling of the feminine. Are, the lyrics of a masculine or feminine origin?

S.K.K. Well people each person is entitled of course, to their own experience. If that is the experience they hear that is what they will hear. I actually see it as the flow of energy emanating through the lyric that is neither feminine nor masculine or is possibly even both, but without gender, more of an inspiration that comes from and through the text supporting its traditional writings. There is an elevated sense of space and energy in the words and if I'm not in the flow of the synergy with the words they don't come forth. I suppose you could say in this day and age there is quite a focus on bringing in the feminine energy to heal our selves and Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Reflecting the Feminine Devine each other and the planet as well, of calling forth the feminine. This is perhaps because of there being such predominant unpleasant consequences of so many centuries of the masculine energies.

So, yes I wouldn't say that it is intentional although, I am a woman and therefore I would necessarily bring the feminine to the text, but whether was a man or woman who were singing the lyrics the lyrics themselves possess the spirit of their sacred intent. Question: You said, some of the lyrics are your own, correct? S.K.K. I write at times, at time in English and sometimes in Spanish. Sometimes I translate the material. Sometimes it's simply inspiration from the text that gets me to writing. For the most part I base it, my writing of the song itself, from the inspiration that comes from the sacred words. So it's text based a lot of the time. At times the English really moves me. I learned of early age in my early career at the core of the music really comes from the sacred words. I learned this from my teacher Yogi Bhajan. He wrote many lyrics and many songs, some specifically for children. He began the summer camp for children in New Mexico and opened a school in India for children. D.L. Ah yes the album you did for children feeling Good Today did Yogi Bhajan write these? Is he still with us?

S.K.K. No, he passed away in body in 2004 and yes he is with us in his writings. I did Feeling Good Today in 2008. In writing the song for Feeling Good Today I really called on my own up bringing of having sung most of the songs and Hymns when I was a child. The songs really come out of my life and the principles by which I live. I want to say that my singing reflects my lifestyle which includes a specific diet, meditation, clothing that reflects the traditions and reminds me of my faith or religion if you will, and reminds me of my practice. D.L. I went to a website to look up in Wikipedia works Sikhism and learned a lot about that tradition. I discovered too, that there is no delineation between the rights for women and rights of men and that such lines of demarcation are not present in comparison to a lot of other religions, that for example, of Islam, Judaism and even Christianity. Although this is straying away a little bit from the music, could do tell us something more about this and how this affects you personally? S.K.K. Well we're fortunate that we have a history of from about the 1500s to 1800s, that without fail women have had to stand up for their rights. This is simply due to the fact that Sikh men and women have moved to so many different parts of the globe and have been affected by the particular backward practices in the places in which groups have formed. So there is still that struggle to maintain Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Reflecting the Feminine Devine

these equal rights, this balance although it is that Sikhism is a religion where their equality is emphasized, our teacher Yogi Bhajan really made a point of keeping this particular facet of Sikhism powerful and earnestly encouraged this point in his teachings to us. In the Wada Gurdrawa, women are very important. It is the female who does the mothering and the caring for the children and the family. It is this feminine spirit that is all-present and this is acknowledged in our practice as Sikhs. D.L. Is there a book that explains more about the feminine in the Sikh faith from which our readers might benefit and gain some understanding pertaining to what we are talking about here? S.K.K. (there is a pause, and with a smile in her voice- as if in surprise and with an unspoken recognition as to being saying, thank you for asking), Yes, there is a book that was published by the kundalini research Institute is entitled I am A Woman and this book really gives some clearer images of the feminine, male-female equality in Sikhism. You can go to the website of the group that I perform with, Spirit Voyage, spiritvoyage@Spiritvoyage.com and also look up more information pertaining to the Sikh religion itself.

D.L. Thank you. It seems that much of this understanding comes through your music. I know that you have done a lot of songs in English and I know how important it is that people be able to understand the true meaning of what is being spoken and what is being sung. I know you know as well that so many people in many faiths throughout the ages and especially in this day and age, have been told to repeat a certain mantra and all else will be added unto you, what ever your heart desires, without people ever having to know what they are singing or saying. So, Id like to make a bold request that you sing as many songs in English as well as the language of Guru Mukhi, so that people will come know the true meaning that the spirit of the words may nonetheless convey.

S.K.K. Yes, I'm really glad that you bring up this point and we will make an effort. At concerts we do translate before engaging into the songs. Early next year I'm doing a new album and I hope to able to teach more of the true meaning in the history of this language and bring that forth through the mantras. D.L. Thank you. I am certain that everyone will benefit from it. I understand you give retreats in Costa Rica?

Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Reflecting the Feminine Devine

S.K.K. Yes! And, there's also a lot of online teaching I'm involved in as well at present . Live streaming for example. There is one session that were going to be doing, talking about one mantra at a time and delving into its meaning. Theres the band's page on Facebook one can go to and we have a newsletter. Theres one today were going to do and its going to bring the mantras to life and talk about the common sense. Our teacher talked so much about common sense. Today, (this was the date of this interview, the 28th of March.) is the first day of a 40-day global sadhana. In the first portion were doing will be the 11 minute pranayama called Burn Inner Anger And then 11 minutes and then finish with 11 minutes of chanting "Guru Guru Waheguru Guru Ram Das Guru" (from Snatam Kaur's album Shanti.)We will also have a dedicated Burn Inner Anger/Guru Ram Das Sadhana discussion board on our Facebook page.

D.L. Ill make sure to be part of it. Are you going to play the violin on Wednesday? (March 2.,the day of the up-coming concert.) S.K.K. (With the lilt in her voice) Yes I am. D.L. Thats great. I'm looking so much forward to hearing and I'm looking so much forward to Wednesday night. So, one last question for you before we go; there are so many people whom I know, who desire to form groups of their own, and to perform spiritual music similar to the way you do and Spirit Voyage does. What would you say to people who, and I understand that you started practicing and were introduced to music at the relatively of five, who perhaps may not have had that opportunity, and who nonetheless would like perform. S.K.K. I would tell them, you know, the key to making music for me is and has been having everything come out of a sense of service, of serving others and serving spirit and oneself as well, This has been the most important thing but I have learned it's very important to keep the balance between the marketing and being true to the music, true to the essence of the music. I believe it would be very difficult for anyone doing this if one were only focusing on the marketing side of music, at least that's been my experience Ive had to really keep myself focused and on purpose to that of being of service and remaining true to myself within and I give a lot of attention to this. D.L. Could you elaborate? How do you keep that balance? How do deal with the marketing part. S.K.K. (With nervous laughter), Well, for example, having this interview. D.L. From this interview I really get that you're very balanced.

Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Reflecting the Feminine Devine S.K.K. Yes, its very important to keep one's balance and stay true to one's purpose. D.L. Well, Snatam, I want to thank you very much for this wonderful interview and I look forward to seeing you with group on Wednesday night. I hope that we can have a picture together. S.K.K. Yes that would be a very nice. Let's see how that unfolds.

Interview/ Snatam Kaur Khalsa