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Be Who You Are, Say What You Feel
GATHERING OF ANGELS: The Story Behind the Song
By Sandi Kimmel

I'm sure every songwriter faces the same question I often do - which comes first, the words or the music? I usually wiggle out of answering directly, because the truth is that inspiration comes before anythingÉand that comes in many, many forms. Following is the story of one of my most popular songs:

I'd been walking my talk for a few years, learning to relax and let myself be guided by my intuition. I was a voracious reader of books that supported my newfound spirituality, and I sought out workshops to further my growth. One such workshop was an amazing weekend led by Jean Huston and Peggy Rubin, held at Rowe Camp & Conference Center in rural Massachusetts.

At one point during the weekend, Jean called us a Gathering of Angels. I got goosebumps when she said it and loved the idea of that, and I wrote it down in my notebook.

A few months later, I had a strange clairaudient experience in the wee hours of the morning. I heard a gentle, male voice whisper in my ear. It clearly said, "Be who you are, say what you feel."

I sat bolt upright in bed and looked around. There was no one in my room, and since I lived alone, I wasn't really expecting to find anyone. Who was that? It was so real I even felt the warmth of his breath in my ear! My heart was pounding. I reached for the pad I kept by my nightstand and scribbled the down the phrase. I never know where the next song idea will come from, and I never miss an opportunity to hold on to a good line.

And hold on I did. Four years passed. Then one day, quite unexpectedly, I started to write a new song. The first verse tumbled out quickly and easily, as if it had always been there, waiting for me to notice it:

There was a gathering of angels
Even seraphim were there
And the light was bright in all their shining eyes.
They are connected to the spirit that connects all living things
And they offered this advice:

Hmmm. Now what? That was sure a puffball set up for something - they offered adviceÉbut what advice? Then I heard it. Clearly.

Be who you are, say what you feel
Only the moment that you're in is real.

Aha! So that's where the line belongs!

The next line summed up all of the 'be here now' and mindfulness meditation practice I'd been learning:

Only the moment that you're in is real.

The rest of the song fell into place with a clink. The second verse synthesized the Teachings of Abraham-Hicks and the principle of the Universal Law of Attraction into a few simple lines:

They say they're following vibration
To the place that brings them joy
And that freedom comes from following the heart.
They were connected to each other and to every living thing
All of us, we have a part.

Be who you are, say what you feel
Only the moment that you're in is real.

The third verse brought home the REAL message, and it's the verse that touches the most deeply. It's just a tiny tweaking of the first verse, but that tweak makes all the difference in the world. Many people weep when they hear it...because they recognize the truth of it:

This is a gathering of angels,
Even seraphim are here
And the light is bright in all your shining eyes.
You are connected to the spirit that connects all living things
And that spirit never dies.

Be who you are, say what you feel
Only the moment that you're in is real.
Be who you are, say what you feel
Only the moment that you're in is real.

© 2000 S. Kimmel, Sandessence Music, (BMI)

The song GATHERING OF ANGELS (some call it their anthem) was my first Law of Attraction song recorded on my first CD, TRANSITIONS. It has inspired t-shirts, artwork and Google searches, and has opened many a heart. It serves as a positive musical affirmation to support the journey to authenticity, a song that helps you sing yourself into remembering that no one else can be who you are.