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[Note: Before you read the following, you might want to watch the video. That said, unless you have some idea of what you're looking at, you might find it too simple or boring at first. So, read first, or watch first -- take your pick.]

Dante is a very gifted child. Some might call him an Indigo or Crystal for his spiritual sensitivity and love of nature. Certainly he is connected to
spiritual reality, perhaps partly due to a near-death experience he had a couple of years back.

I had the privilege of spending a couple of weeks with Dante and his mother, Zhenya, in late October, early November of 2006, when they came all the way from Hawaii to visit Angeliea, Zhenya's aunt and Dante's Godmother.

From the start, Dante and I shared a special connection. He was full of life and wonder and energy, and it was a real gift to get to hang out with him. He reminded me a lot of how I was at his age, even down to certain facial features.

One day or so after Halloween, we decided to go out in the backyard here (in Naples, Florida) and get some footage of Dante jumping on the trampoline. I had no idea what Dante would do or say, we were just going to
go with the flow, play it by ear.

At first Dante was just jumping around like any kid would, having fun. When I suggested he say "Om Shanti" (because of my yoga background), he obliged me and said it a few times. And then suddenly, as if some secret fire in him was ignited by the chanting, he launched into this long song (about 15 minutes -- not all of it is on the video) about love and peace and God and the "healing power," a phrase which he repeated again and again.

The whole time this was going on, i was just filming, saying nothing, except for one point when Zhenya came out to see what we were up to, and i told her (it's on the video) not to break his flow, that he was channeling this amazing song. I really had no idea where it was coming from, and neither did she, but no doubt it was partly from bits and pieces of songs that Dante had heard or sang before. That said, and not to get too romantic or mystical here, but that to me doesn't explain why Dante was going on and on so, or his intonation and earnestness, and certain phrases like "silver love" and "silver boats," not to mention "silver teapots." Anyway, those who have eyes to see and ears to hear with see and hear, and those who don't probably aren't still reading this, but if you are, know that perhaps you have something to learn from Dante, and from other young children. Besides the above quote, a great teacher once said, "Let the little children come to me and do not stop them, for to these belong the Kingdom of Heaven." We have much to learn from young children, perhaps as much as they have to learn from us. I want to thank Dante for this beautiful gift and just his presence, because he has helped to reconnect me to nature and all of creation.

One last thing: Please forgive me, Dante, for taking certain liberties here with the video, but what i was hearing here was a tribute to the ancestor spirits, the medicine men and women and shamans (and womans) of past and present. So I included them here. I also took some creative license in other ways, too, but I should note that Dante's song is untouched and that is what is important that you hear, I feel. Anyway, at some later date i will put up the complete, unedited version. Mahalo Dante and Zhenya, and Aloha!

Here's a tentative transcription of Dante's song/chant:

Om Shanti, Om Om Shanti (repeat)

(heh)
Om Wanti
down to the earth
see you make
obey
hope you rake
you shall make
a boom of betty boom (boop?)
Shanti
way up Shanti
shanti shanti man

down to the earth
up is the sky
i shall be the sheen? down

to the sheen of your love
now you shall bend down
for your meg/make
of beauty beg
you may like? the home of Love
a home of family

if you know now
by now
you should do what God says
boom waha ha ha


way home Shanti
bend down
you may love
the Healing Power

you shall make
a Healing Power
for your love
down to peace
you shall
on the earth


up is the sky
down in the earth
oh now
i shall be of love now

Healing Power
bend down
a/aye you love
the Healing Power

down loving
now holding
now holding love

you shall bend
the love
of Healing Power
now's the time to be approached
now you shall be
the Healing Power

[to be continued -- OM DANTE!]