Heaven, Hell and Magical Soup: A Tapestry of Words & Song

By Joe Williams

Poems and the stories they tell are such a rich way to reach the heart of things. Such are the magical stories of Joe Williams’ book, Heaven, Hell and Magical Soup.

Joe is a singer, songwriter, performer, house builder, and holder of sacred ceremony. I have had the pleasure of knowing him since he played and sang at the memo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph R Williams
• Release date: May 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9780692896280

Joe Williams

Joe Williams is a proud Wiradjuri First Nations Aboriginal man born in Cowra and raised in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Joe played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for many years before switching to professional boxing in 2009 and winning two welterweight championships despite suffering severe mental illness. Joe currently spends his time between Australia and the United States, travelling across both continents delivering workshops and talks to inspire people to think differently about their mental health.

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to thank Shari Claire for her dedicated, professional, and loving work she performed on this project in editing, formatting and designing this book. I also thank her for her gentle suggestions and guidance which I had sense enough to take seriously. Thank You!

My gratitude to grandmother Redbird, the keeper of the fire.

To Tall Pines who has crossed over as the keeper of the veterans so that none are left behind.

To Chief Spotted Horse, keeper of the Eagle Dance, ancient ceremonies, and sacred prayers.

To Chief Grey Wolf, war chief, gatekeeper, and master artisan.

To Chief Love Heart for his work in protecting and preserving the heritage of all descendants of Native Americans and to his family and the tribe.

Special gratitude to Grandmother Ula Rae, keeper of the Great Smoky Mountain sound chamber and spiritual guide of dancers and questers.

Thank you to Moira Bridgit, Shaman, healer, and keeper of ancient Celtic ceremonies. Guide and friend.

A special thanks to you, Jo Levkoff, for being a strong witness to my stories and allie on my path.

To Ralph and all the folks at OREPA for standing tall and singing at the gates of hell.

My Canadian friends Dave and Harriet who tend the Creator’s gardens.

Thanks to Amber Palo for designing the graphic image of Ragman.

Deep gratitude to Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow) for his teachings of Being and Vibration.

MY COMPANION SKYE for your love and support.

ALL THE ANCESTORS

Thank you, Creator. OHO

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

DEDICATION

FORWARD

INTRODUCTION

Heaven

THE TAVERN

Let's All CUT THE CRAP!

Bad Man

Lust for Dust

Mother

Child of Darkness

Magical Soup

Time to Wake Up!

Naughty and Nice

THE TAPESTRY OF PATHS

THE MAGICAL RAGS OF RAGWOMAN

When Doors Were Unlocked

Rock Your Troubles Away

The Universe and You

The Poisonous Dart

Our Long Journey Home

JOYOUS RAGMAN'S SONG OF RAGS

A Raggedy Rag

The Song of a Story—The Story of a Song

The Gift of Song

Going to Water

The Song

THE RAGS OF BUHDA / BHUDA / BUDHA / BUDDHA RAGMAN

Something and Nothing

Mumbles

The Egg of Grace

That Which Is and That Which Isn’t

Little Birdie

CHRIST RAGMAN AND THE RAGS OF UNSETTLING TRUTHS

Where was Love?

The Dreamer Inside of a Dream

The Eye of a Storm

A Breath Away

Storms

The Wind Blows Hard

THE RAGS OF PETTY RAGMAN

Another Card Fell

The Whirl Wind

Lights Go By

Beer in My Tear

Depression

THE RAGS OF ANGRY RAGMAN

Kiss my Old Sweet Ass

Faggot Loving Communist Hippy

Thief in the Dark

RAGS OF THE CRAZY OLD MAN

Splattered on the Road

Duke

If You Ever Need a Friend

Change

The Page and I

THE BEGINNING

About the Author

Appendix

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my good friend Rene Richer whose generosity and grace funded the printing and editing of this book. You have been an inspiration to me all of my adult life.

Good journey ‘til we meet again as mischievous old friends.

FORWARD

Poems and the stories they tell are such a rich way to reach the heart of things. Such are the magical stories of Joe Williams’ book, Heaven, Hell and Magical Soup.

Joe is a singer, songwriter, performer, house builder, and holder of sacred ceremony. I have had the pleasure of knowing him since he played and sang at the memorial service of a friend’s brother.  I got even better acquainted when he did some repairs and renovations to my home.  We started with a very small list to which I kept adding until he had worked for me for what seems like the whole summer. I am sharing this because Joe made even renovation easy. And that is a sense that comes flowing out of the stories and poems in this collection. Not that some of the stories don’t have a bite to them, a little squirm because he shows the side of ourselves that we like to pretend isn’t there.

His characters are Ragmen. The Ragman is a character Joe performs from which he extracts the dark underbelly of society. Ragman tells of that place we prefer not acknowledge. The old woman pushing a shopping cart of all her belongings; the dirty looking fellow holding up the sign looking for work, or food, or gas for his car; the one-legged war veteran with his cap out on the sidewalk collecting change that might be enough to buy a bottle of cheap alcohol and let him forget the horrors for a night.

Not that all the Ragmen are desolate. Some are Joyous, or Christ-like. In fact, on a certain night of the year, there are seven who gather to sing and tell their poems and stories. You may encounter them sometimes in a bar nearby. You have heard the Angry Old Man give forth on what is wrong with the world. He is often joined by Crazy Old Man who is offering a wake-up call. Or Joyous who gets called down by Petty, who finds nothing to be joyous about.  The Ragwoman who used to be a girl with stars in her eyes, a mother, or lover. You may have shared a night with her once and never