Wheel of Wonder July 4 2010

This week on Wheel of Wonder: A pagan perspective on the Fourth of July. I've been trying to look at our major national holiday: Independence Day. The Fourth of July is like a fire festival as the Celtic Wheel of the Year would see Lughnasadh, Imbolc, Beltane, Samhain. It is also considered a celebration of the United States' independence from British rule. This makes it much like a right of passage ceremony; the new, young nation standing alone, separate of its British forebears. That's not to say that since then the United States government have done everything right. No, I think these administrations, past and present, have done some things that are very wrong.

From the Pagan perspective though, one could see Independence Day as a mixture of fire festival and rite of passage ceremony. Barbecues, fireworks, celebration feasts drawn from the harvest now in season. Very much similar to a pagan fire festival. While also celebrating a "parent country's" "off spring" choosing to stand up as their own self-governed authority. A message from the Wiccan reclaiming tradition's way of engaging the world that seems to apply here is: The spirit of revolution and declaring independence can still be celebrated in these times not necessarily by calling up the old ghosts of British and colonial bloodshed, but in the spirit of declaring self-sovereignty and revolution. Today's revolution, to improve things in our very own country, nonviolent actions taken to ensure greater social and environmental justice, that is a good reason to celebrate the United States of America, a land with potentially more freedom to dissent from the injustices of the sitting government. People of America taking control of their own destinies as opposed to blindly following leaders who do not seem to have our best interests at heart, that is my pagan take on this holiday. I'll speak of fire festivals and rites of passage from different cultures and hopefully we'll connect the dots to how some modern social/political movements reflect a similar purpose to those intended by these rituals from the past, and how that applies to the present.

The picture to the right is from the Vancouver Fireworks Show, as posted on the blog Boga Yoga by Donna K. I hope to include some of this wise woman's quotes this week on the show.

Wheel of Wonder June 6, 2010

This week on Wheel of Wonder I'll begin a several part series on the Five Elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Spirit with Water! The series may be interrupted by our annual Litha special on June 20. This week though, we'll explore some of the myths and legends and eco-news of the life giving Element of Water.

The photograph to the right was taken at Deception Pass

Wheel of Wonder May 23, 2010

Gaia Theory: Where science and magic meets. This week on Wheel of Wonder Gaia is exactly what we'll be speaking of. What is gaia, in that place where science and belief meet? According James Lovelock, the scientist who first proposed the Gaia Hypothesis, now often referred to as the Gaia Theory "Most of us sense that the Earth is more than a sphere of rock with a thin layer of air, ocean and life covering the surface. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. Long ago the Greeks, thinking this way, gave to the Earth the name Gaia or, for short, Ge. In those days, science and theology were one and science, although less precise, had soul. As time passed this warm relationship faded and the life sciences, no longer concerned with life, fell to classifying dead things and even to vivisection. Now at last there are signs of a change. Science becomes holistic again and rediscovers soul, and theology, begins to realise that Gaia is not to be subdivided for academic convenience and that Ge is much more than just a prefix for Geology and Geography." (from the writings on his website; see the entire statement here) All scientific theorem begin with a hypothesis which when proven through observable facts becomes a theory. This theory is based on the idea that the biomass self-regulates the conditions on the planet to make its physical environment (in particular temperature and chemistry of the atmosphere) on the planet more hospitable to the species that constitute its "life." Life supporting life, so much like a function of spirit. Indeed what other function does spirituality (not dogma) serve? Though of course, even though I'll be speaking of Gaia Theory and quoting some of the work of James Lovelock and others, as you would expect we will still have much music this week on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture above is one of the amazing creations of British artist Josephine Wall. Please visit her gallery its worth it.

Wheel of Wonder April 4, 2010

This week on Wheel of Wonder will be focused on the Wiccan Reclaiming Tradition. Many of the public Spiral Dances one might attend in your area are drawn from this Tradition. Some of the traditions' leading advocates and teachers include Starhawk, Macha Nightmare, Vibra Willow, and even T. Thorne Coyle. we will have some installations of their thoughts and writings this week. A great deal of what is defined as Neo-paganism today can trace its roots back to the Reclaiming Tradition. One thing that is a very important part of the reclaiming tradition is that one's path of faith and political action are both integral parts of this tradition. So this week's music sets will include some straight American Folk Rock, not necessarily pagan, but definitely about political viewpoints. You'll hear Arlo Guthrie and Holly Near, as well as our usual amazing miscellany of independent label Pagan Musicians. Please tune in to Wheel of Wonder this week as we rock and rotate our way through the Reclaiming Tradition!

The picture to the right is called "Triple Goddess by Lady of Gaerdon" and came from the ever popular photobucket site, whether that is to say Lady of Gaerdon created or just uploaded it, or both I don't know. Lady of Gaerdon has many excellent pictures in her online album.

Wheel of Wonder February 28, 2010

This week on Wheel of Wonder, we'll share the stories of some of the great mythic works of northern and western Europe. We'll hear words and music from the great poetic Eddas of Iceland. If you were like me when you were a kid, you may have read some of the amazing stories of the Norse gods and giants. Or you may remember earlier Wheel of Wonder references to the Egil Saga. All these things come from the Icelandic Eddas. We'll hear new music this week inspired by these great works, classical and folk rock in the sound they'll carry across the airwaves. We will also hear new music drawn from the great Finnish epic, The Kalevala, actual sung runos this week! Plus more music from Gjallahorn, and songs and tales from two of the three major mythic story cycles of Ireland. Let us not forget tales and songs from the Welsh myths of the Mabinogian and new and wholly American retelling of classic tales by the very talented Tricky Pixie and SJ Tucker! Why have these legends carried through time still inspiring the spirits of human beings for so many thousands of years? Listen and decide this week on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture above and to the right is Finn Mac Cumhail as interpreted by Hannah M Friedrichs. For more great work by such artists checkout elfwood.com.

Wheel of Wonder November 22, 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder we'll talk about Hellenic (Greek) Paganism in the modern age. There are many regional groups dedicated to this form of Paganism, I don't know of any groups in America practicing Hellenic Reclamation, but we will speak of The Hellenic Reclaiming Tradition, currently striving to survive against great discrimination in Modern Greece. I'll share modern Pagan Interpretations of the ancient Greek Gods. I will also introduce brand new tracks by Greek Musicians Daemonia Nymphe (big thanks to Louisa John Krol for suggesting this group to me). As well as other tracks from the collection carrying the Greek theme, including ones by Wendy Rule, Eleusyve productions, and Spiral Dance. Tune in to Wheel of Wonder, this Sunday Morning, Pacific Standard Time.

Picture to the right is one of the fantastic creations of Andy Park! To see his more current work (which might not be as pretty) jump to his website from here

Wheel of Wonder September 20 2009

The Autumn Equinox, also known as Mabon is one of my favorite holidays, as Autumn is one of my favorite seasons! It's a time of Harvesting , both the seeds you've sown over the past year, and the physical food that has been growing all through the Spring and Summer. Even living in the city you can go out into the crisp outdoors and harvest Blackberries, Apples, Plums, Pears, and chestnuts,as these plants grow, practically naturally in temperate climates, other things will grow in other climates as well. The Summer is fading , people are parting ways, or preparing for new adventures and how things have gone in the past year is reflected in the interactions of these endings and these new beginnings, as every ending is a beginning again.

This episode will include new music from Sharon Knight and T. Thorne Coyle, Gaia Consort and a brand new track from Christy Moore's newest Album. This episode will also include some tracks from the first ever Wheel of Wonder in a Weekly time slot. I'll be elsewhere this Equinox, But Dancing the Universe's late night voice Dillon Dise will be in the Studio bringing you Wheel of Wonder bright and early Sunday morning. The episode will also include passages from Kristin Madden's great book Mabon; celebrating the Autumn equinox. Merry Mabon from Wheel of Wonder!

Wheel of Wonder September 13 2009

This week on Wheel of wonder we'll explore the Shaman's Journey, from the perspective of the conscious dream. What are some of the modern Shamanic Beliefs that these people, believed to be Healers, carry with them on their Shamanic Journeys? Many indigenous cultures throughout time have always felt the Dreaming world is just as real as the Waking, five senses world, we all live in. In some of the more spiritual traditions, it is considered more real. But how do dreams and "soul journeys" interrelate? By working on remembering our dreams, can we truly achieve insights that carry over into the knowledge set that have a real effect on how we live our lives? With some reference to the Insights of Robert Moss, author of Conscious Dreaming, and some new music by Louisa John Krol, and Gaia Consort we'll consider the spiritual meaning of travelling through dreams, the place where the conscience and unconscious meet.

Wheel of Wonder August 9 2009

Faeries, a Universal symbol of Whimsy, Playfulness, and awe. Some will say they have seen them, some will say they are merely a scent, a feeling, or perhaps a passing thought . The silver dust of a fading dream. Others will say they are all in the spirits of you and me. Whichever way you experience the fay, they represent magic, and ancient knowledge beyond the limits of Mortal time. These images tap into the universal web of feeling and awe, that place that shares its existence with music and stories. This is how we''ll be experiencing faerie this week on Wheel of Wonder. There will be much new music from SJ Tucker and Tricky Pixie, Sharon Knight, Faun, and it will be my great pleasure to introduce you to the music of Vixy and Tony and the work of T. Thorne Coyle . We will also hear an interview with Woodland singer, Faerieworlds co-organizer, and soloist Kelly Miller-Lopez. Find your Fairy Frequency this week for Wheel of Wonder!

The picture above is by Amy Brown, Found on freewebs.com

Wheel of Wonder July 5th 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder we will walk the mythic threads that tie all human cultures together. We'll flow like rivers to the sea from Native American Myth and Legend to Celtic, Yoruban and Hindi Mythology, are we all one people with one common vision? Diversity exists, but Mythic Similarity does too. Hear the mythic stories, with passages from Gaia Eros by Jesse Wolf Harding, new music from Gaia tribe and some great references from the book Wisdom of the Mythtellers by Sean Kane. We also will touch on the Mayan Prophecy and what it may mean to our changing world. Join me on the journey through the legends that shape so many cultural views on Wheel of Wonder!

PS: I have no Idea what that little guy's head is doing down in the bottom of the picture. Perhaps he too, is very interested in Sacred Geometry.