Recently, Michael Passons of Avalon (famous Christian music group in the 90s who came out in 2020) and Ty Herndon (popular country music artist who came out in 2014) recorded a song by Avalon, “Testify to Love.” When this came across my social media feed, I was curious. I was a big Avalon fan in the 90s, amongst my evangelical Christian period. When I was a teenager, I was heavily involved in the church. I had a CD holder that held 250 CDs and multiple sleeves in my CD holder were from Christian artists. I had CDs of Avalon, DC Talk, Jaci Velasquez, Rebecca St. James, Carmen, Point of Grace, Steven Curtis Chapman, WOW the 90s, Newsboys, Third Day, and 4 Him. I sang many of these songs in front of my church. I thought I was hot shit and a witness for Jesus when I blasted DC Talk coming into the parking lot of my high school.

When I came out in my early 20s, I was shunned by the church. I lost my community and my faith for embracing my authentic self. It took 15 years to come back to any semblance of spirituality, even though it was something I yearned for after being rejected from the church. I had significant spiritual experiences throughout those 15 years when I was in nature, among elder trees and animal siblings.

I started working with an astrologer, Liz Gunn, in 2023 at the encouragement of a fellow therapist. Through working with Liz, I learned more about my self through my birth chart and astrology. Astrology is a language and lens that makes sense to me. Through Liz, I met my shaman, Carol Asiaghi and have worked with her for 2 years now. I remembered and embraced my gifts that I felt when I was a teenager, a deep connection to the Divine.

So, back to that Avalon song. I thought it was really interesting that 2 gay men did this song again. I took time and listened to the song. Of course, I could remember every.single.word! As I listened, I heard the song through my soul now, which is drastically different than my soul when I was a teenager. Now, I have my own sense of spiritual, sacred work. I don’t feel I need to align with rules and doctrine that don’t feel true for me in order to be accepted in a faith.

Here are the lyrics for reference:

[Verse 1]

All the colors of the rainbow

All the voices of the wind

Every dream that reaches out

That reaches out to find where love begins

Every word of every story

Every star in every sky

Every corner of creation

Lives to testify

[Chorus]

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

I'll be a witness in the silences

When words are not enough

With every breath I take

I will give thanks to God above

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

[Verse 2]

From the mountains to the valleys

From the rivers to the sea

Every hand that reaches out

Every hand that reaches out to offer peace

(Give peace a chance)

Every simple act of mercy

Every step to kingdom come

All the hope in every heart will

Speak what love has done

[Chorus]

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

I'll be a witness in the silences

When words are not enough

With every breath I take

I will give thanks to God above

For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

[Bridge]

Colors of the rainbow, voices of the wind

Dream that reaches out where love begins

Word of every story, star in every sky

Corner of creation testify

Mountains to the valleys, rivers to the sea

Hand that reaches out to offer peace

Simple act of mercy, step to kingdom come

Every heart will speak of what love has done

Colors of the rainbow, voices of the wind

Dream that reaches out where love begins

Word of every story, star in every sky

Corner of creation testify

As I listened to this song now, it lands differently. In the lyrics, I hear a lot of what I believe about love, and the connection of all things. I feel like everything brings me back to love. Maybe it’s my Leo rising and being ruled by the heart. I feel like I need to come from a place of love and I see this mirrored back to me in ordinary reality and non-ordinary reality. As I walk through this life, I want to radiate love and compassion. I feel everything stems from love. If we love Turtle Island and Mother Earth, we will take care of them and fight against what harms them, like AI Data Centers. If we love our neighbor, we will fight against ICE detention centers and advocate for social services. If we love our community, we will work with local officials to develop accessible housing. If we love our country, we will vote for representatives that preach love, not hate.

One line that stood out to me as a description of my work as a therapist and sacred space holder is “I’ll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough.” This hits me right in the feels! I feel this is my gift and calling. I am able to sit with people in their darkness and big feelings in order to witness when language escapes the moment. These are the most holy, most sacred spaces I have the honor to hold. Now, this is a new song added to my Transformation playlist!