Simply Free - Tis a Gift

Even Spirit does not control us, we all have that freedom from within.
 

Simple Gifts" was written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community in Alfred, Maine. These are the lyrics to his one-verse song:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.^[5]

Several Shaker manuscripts indicate that this is a "Dancing Song" or a "Quick Dance." "Turning" is a common theme in Christian theology, but the references to "turning" in the last two lines have also been identified as dance instructions.^[1]

Ra Divakar Too bad about the "no sex" edict! I looks like they were a dynamic community, who could have kept it going if they had mated. Or maybe that is why they were a "dynamic community"! I guess the circle dance helped them sublimate their sexual desires?

Evelyn Leonard Wright They would actually dance themselves into a trance like state during their services--sort of like the Whirling Dervishes--they were uber organized! What destroyed them was their generosity--during the Civil War, they did not take sides--but as battles moved around, sometimes Union troops and sometimes Confederate troops would stay nearby. The Shakers would provide food and medical care--and they never financially recovered...and yes, the looked only to converts, adopted orphans and so forth...

 

Ra Divakar Thanks for all that info, however it sounds that lack of mating led to their demise mostly!

Ron Alexander Evelyn Leonard Wright - thanks for all your info. however I would have to agree with Ra Divakar about the actual reason for their demise!