Rollin' on The River

In 1969, John Fogerty penned a song that became a big hit entitled “Proud Mary”. Fogerty wrote the song shortly after being discharged from the National Guard. Its most oft repeated iconic lines are:

Big wheel keep on turnin’

Proud Mary keep on burnin’

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river

The following explanation of the song from Wikipedia offers an excellent synopsis of its basic storyline:

“Proud Mary’s singer, a low wage earner, leaves what he considers a “good job” which he might define as steady work, even though for long hours under a dictatorial boss. He decides to follow his impulse and imagination and hitches a ride on a riverboat queen, bidding farewell to the city. Only when the boat pulls out does he see the “good side of the city”—which, for him, is one in the distance, far removed from his life. Down by the river and on the boat, the singer finds protection from “the man” and salvation from his working-class pains in the nurturing spirit and generosity of simple people who “are happy to give” even “if you have no money.” The river in Fogerty’s song and traditionally in literature and song is a place holding biblical and epical implications. Indeed, the river in “Proud Mary” offers not only escape but also rebirth to the singer.”

I believe there is much we can learn from the artists of the world, whether painter, sculptor, poet, songwriter, or musician. They are more often than not, tapping into the collective unconscious, bringing us wisdom, messages, and creations that are timeless and sacred. To me, it’s no coincidence that rivers are a frequent topic in poem, song, and art. Water is the essence of a river, and it plays both a symbolic and literal role in our lives.

In astrological terms, water, is indicative of emotional energy. Water is the great synthesizer, taking all that has come before it, fire, earth, and air and retaining it in the emotional memory. Water is the domain of the intuitive self. This is why rivers seem to strike such a deep chord within us, reaching into the realm beyond mental comprehension. No surprise that we as humans, inhabit bodies that are sixty- percent water. Our very entrance into this world is marked by an event commonly referred to as a woman’s “water breaking”.

As we ponder rivers, it’s important to point out that in the shamanic world view, they are living things; beings of light. The shaman traditionally has an intimate relationship with rivers and rocks. This of course goes back to the oneness of it all and our inner-connectedness. We all need to recognize that we are riding the river of life. The trick, I believe, is getting to a place where we are not fighting this river, but rather letting-go of things in our lives that are not serving us, and reaching an understanding of the changes we need to make.

We also need to determine what boundaries we need to set; what level of balance do we need to strive for, what thoughts and daydreams do we choose to work with in our minds, and what are we calling into our lives to strengthen us. This is the initiatory process that the river that washes over us, is attempting to elicit, like a siren call bringing back memories and giving us intuitive insights into why we are here.

So, as we ride the river of life, I wish to remind you, dear reader, this river is trying to take us to someplace beautiful, it’s not trying to hurt us. Imagine an artistically carved canyon you have visited. Over the years, some elemental exposure chipped away at the rock, eventually to leave a beautiful creation. This same process is happening on some individual level to each of us. Flow with it, trust, and embrace what it brings. In that river, all the answers you seek can be found.

Written by: Urban Shaman