Conference Resources

Song Texts and Contemplations
By Panel Topic

Political Polarization Panel

O virtus Sapientie
By Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)

O virtus Sapientie 
que circuiens circuisti
comprehendendo omina 
in una via que habet vitam 
tres alas habens 
quarum una in altum volat
et altera de terra sudat
et tercia undique volat.
Laus tibi sit sicut tedecet, 
o Sapientia

O power of Wisdom
which circles circling,
uniting all
in one journey that holds life,
you wield three wings,
one soars into heaven,
and another draws moisture from the earth,
and the third flies everywhere.
Praise be to you, as is your due,
O Wisdom. 
Pozzi Escot translation

Compassion Phrases
May I be kind to myself.  May I be kind to others.

Climate Change Panel

Whose Garden Was This?
By Tom Paxton (b. 1937)

Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely
Did it have flowers? I've seen pictures of flowers
And I'd love to have smelled one.
Whose river was this? You say it ran freely
Blue was its color, I've seen blue in some pictures
And I'd love to have been there.

Chorus
Tell me again, I need to know
The forests had trees, the meadows were green
The oceans were blue, and birds really flew
Can you swear that was true?
Whose gray sky was this? Or was it a blue one?
At night there were breezes, I've heard records of breeze
And I'd love to have felt one
Whose forest was this? And why is it empty? 
You say there were bird songs And squirrels in the branches 
But why is it silent?

Dakota Hymn, LAQUIPARLE  
By Joseph Renville (1779-1846)

Wakantanka taku nitawa tankaya qa ota;
mahpiya kin eyahnake ça,
maka kin he duowanca;
mniowanca śbeya wanke cin, hena oyakihi.

Many and great, O God, are your works, maker of earth and sky.
Your hands have set the heavens with stars;
Your fingers spread the mountains and plains.
Lo, at your word the waters were formed; deep seas obey your voice.
Translation by Philip Frazier

Compassion Phrases
May I be kind to myself.  May I be kind to others

Armed Conflict Panel 

Dona Nobis Pacem - Traditional Round

Give us peace.

Compassion Phrases
May I be of true benefit to others —  with the recognition that self and others aren't as separate as they seem.

Activism Panel 

Beatus Vir
By Orlando di Lasso (1530?-1594)

Beatus vir qui in sapientia morabitur, 
et qui in justitia sua meditabitur, 
et in sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei.

Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom,
and that shall meditate in his justice,
and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.
Sirach 14:22, Douay-Rheims translation

Now I Walk In Beauty, Navajo Prayer
By Gregg Smith (1931-2016)

Now I walk in beauty, 
Beauty is before me, 
Beauty is behind me, 
Above and below me.

Compassion Phrases
May I be of true benefit to others —  with the recognition that self and others aren't as separate as they seem.