Wheel of Wonder April 12, 2015

This week on Wheel of Wonder, I'm happily giving over the second hour of the radio broadcast to the Interview and Music of Aradia.  This week will seem a little bit Electronica for those who listen to the broadcast regularly, a natural selection of subject and philosophy that follows that for me is the New Age movement.  This movement, along with a few neo-pagan others offers a unique welcome to spirituality in the information/computer/space age.  Interesting information I found on the New Age Movement from religioustolerance.org :

The New Age Movement is in a class by itself. Unlike most formal religions, it has no holy text, central organization, membership, formal clergy, geographic center, dogma, creed, etc. They often use mutually exclusive definitions for some of their terms. The New Age is in fact a free-flowing spiritual movement; a network of believers and practitioners who share somewhat similar beliefs and practices, which they add on to whichever formal religion that they follow. Their book publishers take the place of a central organization; seminars, conventions, books and informal groups replace of sermons and religious services.
Quoting John Naisbitt:

"In turbulent times, in times of great change, people head for the two extremes: fundamentalism and personal, spiritual experience...With no membership lists or even a coherent philosophy or dogma, it is difficult to define or measure the unorganized New Age movement. But in every major U.S. and European city, thousands who seek insight and personal growth cluster around a metaphysical bookstore, a spiritual teacher, or an education center." ₁

New Age beliefs:

A number of fundamental beliefs are held by many -- but not all -- New Age followers; individuals are encouraged to "shop" for the beliefs and practices that they feel most comfortable with:

	Monism: All that exists is derived from a single source of divine energy.
	Pantheism: All that exists is God; God is all that exists. This leads naturally to the concept of the divinity of the individual, that we are all Gods. They do not seek God as revealed in a sacred text or as exists in a remote heaven; they seek God within the self and throughout the entire universe.
	Panentheism: God is all that exists. God is at once the entire universe, and transcends the universe as well.
	Reincarnation: After death, we are reborn and live another life as a human. This cycle repeats itself many times. This belief is similar to the concept of transmigration of the soul in Hinduism.
	Karma: The good and bad deeds that we do adds and subtracts from our accumulated record, our karma. At the end of our life, we are rewarded or punished according to our karma by being reincarnated into either a painful or good new life. This belief is linked to that of reincarnation and is also derived from Hinduism
	An Aura is believed to be an energy field radiated by the body. Invisible to most people, it can be detected by some as a shimmering, multi-colored field surrounding the body. Those skilled in detecting and interpreting auras can diagnose an individual's state of mind, and their spiritual and physical health.
	Personal Transformation A profoundly intense mystical experience will lead to the acceptance and use of New Age beliefs and practices. Guided imagery, hypnosis, meditation, and (sometimes) the use of hallucinogenic drugs are useful to bring about and enhance this transformation. Believers hope to develop new potentials within themselves: the ability to heal oneself and others, psychic powers, a new understanding of the workings of the universe, etc. Later, when sufficient numbers of people have achieved these powers, a major spiritual, physical, psychological and cultural planet-wide transformation is expected.
	Ecological Responsibility: A belief in the importance of uniting to preserve the health of the earth, which is often looked upon as Gaia, (Mother Earth) a living entity.
	Universal Religion: Since all is God, then only one reality exists, and all religions are simply different paths to that ultimate reality. The universal religion can be visualized as a mountain, with many sadhanas (spiritual paths) to the summit. Some are hard; others easy. There is no one correct path. All paths eventually reach the top. They anticipate that a new universal religion which contains elements of all current faiths will evolve and become generally accepted worldwide.
	New World Order As the Age of Aquarius unfolds, a New Age will develop. This will be a utopia in which there is world government, and end to wars, disease, hunger, pollution, and poverty. Gender, racial, religious and other forms of discrimination will cease. People's allegiance to their tribe or nation will be replaced by a concern for the entire world and its people.

The ideas of the New Age movement are for some, another great guide toward how to live an enlightened life, evolving in the mind and spirit to create a better world.

Wheel of Wonder April 14, 2013

Hello, well its catching up time again!  Week before last on Wheel of Wonder we completed the Elemental Episodes with the fifth Element:  Spirit.  Or as we saw defined on the website gnosticteachings.org:  spirit: mid-13c., "animating or vital principle in man and animals."  In the belief systems of the five spiritual Elements (Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Spirit; sometimes called Ether). Spirit flows through everything, often when I think about the Pentagram, I think about it as the Fifth Point, it could also be represented by being of the place that is the center in the sacred circles some earth spiritualists call forth in ritual.  It was interesting to look at the online gnostic teachings available on this subject.  Gnosticism is of course Christian Mysticism, and some say relate to very powerful energies, so be aware and proceed with respect and caution if you should choose to investigate them.
The week that followed as I was running through my thoughts on what should be our next topic of discussion, eventually I decided to grab a deck of Celtic Tarot Cards, do an Alchemists spread and see what came up.  The overall message I found in that Tarot drawing involved many "swords" cards but almost all in relation to the signifier card of "The Sun." because of that significator, it was overall about as positive a message as you can get from 5 cards, three of which are swords.  The message I found was one of Humans becoming more aware of, or  perhaps, remembering the spiritual dimension of we Human Beings, and using that knowledge to create a better world.  That is the time this reading said we live in.  What a wonderful message!
This week is very important though, because this week is the week of the KAOS membership drive.  KAOS gives me a medium through which to share these neat Pagan, Indigenous, Sustainable, and New age ideas live on FM radio!  The only reason I can do that is because KAOS remains a non-commercial radio station, it doesn't matter if corporate media does not see Wheel of Wonder's message as important or profitable for there bottom line, because the people who listen to KAOS ("One of the top 10 non-commercial stations in the USA" according to Performer magazine, and The Princeton Review) donate actual money to support it.  There are not very many fully independent media outlets left in this country and I hope whether you enjoy listening to Wheel of Wonder, or just reading the blog, or if you are indeed one of the select and wonderful artists I play the music of, or one of the great thinkers I direct traffic to the websites of, that you will consider donating money to KAOS,  this week.
Blessed Be
---Radio Ray

Celia Farran! Three concerts in the area.

Hello friends, Pagans, and Listeners of the show! Its been such a pleasure to bring you Wheel of Wonder for the past three years, through the seasons, through the awards, and just recently, on the radio station voted best radio station in Olympia, WA. (nice, cause there are about four or five stations in the town). Its also been a great pleasure to meet so many great Pagan Musicians, New Age Thinkers, and independent artists!

One of those artists I've met is then warm and wonderful Celia; A musician, activist for equality, songwriter, comedienne and (going out on a limb here) earth spiritualist. This very talented musician is coming into the area next weekend to do three concerts (and I believe, a house concert too).

Don't miss her if you can possibly make it to one of these shows:

Benefit Concert for the Bards of Caer Pugetia

Saturday, April 21, 6:30-10pm

Ballard Oddfellows Hall

1706 NW Market St Seattle, WA 98107

I belive this event includes a Raffle, Concessions and definitely a performance by

Avery Caldwell, Bard of Caer Pugetia, and an excellent singer and songwriter herself!

Tickets $10.00, available through brownpapertickets.com, or at the door, the night of the event!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/239911

Fundraising Concert in Olympia

Sunday April 22 7pm-9pm

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church

2300 East End St NW 98502

Tickets $10.00 at the door

A benefit for the OUUC Memorial Garden

Celia in Concert

Monday April 23, 2012 7pm-9pm

Crystal Voyage Metaphysical Bookstore

2601 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Tickets $10.00 at the door

To find out more about Celia, go to the link on the left, or celiaonline.com

Also worthy of mentioning; the KAOS spring membership drive runs from this Monday, April 15 to Sunday April 22. The not-fo-profit public radio station that brings you Wheel of Wonder each week has lost a lot of their funding in the past year or two, so please Pagans, Spiritualists and any independent Musicians that have found their way to Wheel of Wonder, consider seriously starting or renewing your memberships on this fund drive week! Wheel of Wonder, the only Pagan focused Radio Show broadcasting live in the USA is only on the air because KAOS memberships make it happen. To support independent, local radio and shows like KAOS supports please call 360 867 5267 during the drive with your pledge, or if your living in a different part of the world , or a less convenient timezone, start, or renew a membership at kaosradio.org

I know this entry sounds a bit commercial. Fear not, I'm as independent as you are individuals. I don't work for corporate America, and Wheel of Wonder has always been intended as a Spiritual, educational Journey! Thanks for listening and following the blog!

-----Radio Ray

Wheel of Wonder January 15, 2012

Once I received a call in the air studio of KAOS while broadcasting a piece about Irish Traditional Witchcraft. Irish Traditional Witchcraft is a spiritual practice passed through certain lineages, those that practice it are known to feel strongly about protecting their family practices. They don't teach them publicly. Some feel there are a lot of good spiritual practices to be gleaned from what these traditionalists make public about their processes.

The question the caller put towards me on that day: " How do you define the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation?" There was a bit of a debate going on in town about a public ritual at the time. This week I'm going to try to address this issue on Wheel of Wonder.

Many people these days are trying to find their true spirit paths, an experience of the divine that makes sense to them on a very personal level, some awakening or epiphany that cannot be found within the limitations of the faith or spiritpath they're raised in, or owe lineage to (perhaps people have always been experiencing this). Can a person's individual truth be limited to only what their race, ethnicity or social class have been taught all these years? Or is the world of Spirit much larger than that? Could perhaps, experience of the divine be beyond racial limitations?

With some insights from well written articles in Thorn Magazine (thornmagazine.com) and music from Pagan artists' expressions of what they feel is divine, we will approach this topic this week on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture "one view" to the right, can be found here

Wheel of Wonder Twelfth Night Post

Welcome to Wheel of Wonder midwinter blog. I write this in the middle of the Twelfth Night Celebrations. The original "12 days of Christmas" fall between the Winter Solstice and the beginning of the Roman New Year (about December 21 - January 1). Its the time of the Saturnalia, Alban Artuan, The Festivals of Lights, and Yule! Last week I shared the silversongs of solstice, and the response was great. Nearly 1/2 dozen phone calls (unusual for an early Sunday Morning). I had occasion to share information on observances of the Solstice and neo-pagan public rituals of the modern age! It also was an occasion for Poetry, inspired by the season.

as Math, son of Mathonwy
would hear it on the wind
so do I...

The snowy whoosh of winter
skis shooshing down their tracks
Thrilling the wind as they ride
smoothly down curvaceous hillsides

The Hare has turned ivory white
The pale Lynx follows
pounces fast
Icy, wintry jaws of death
clamp down

like the crusty snow, surrounding limbs
of the sacred, naked, oaken tree
a haze of frost paints needley fingers
of the silver-blue, and dark green trees

The fir tree has its winter coat too
and bobbles, bangles, and ribbons as well
dressed for its wake
after its final, deadly fall
And yes they celebrate that too

all this, I hear
I hear it on the wind

written by Ray, solstice 2011

I hope you enjoy the blog, and Wheel of Wonder. Now going into its third year!
The picture to the right was found on a great blog: celtic queens.blogspot.com

Wheel of Wonder December 11, 2011

This week we had a Lunar eclipse upon the Full Moon. The night began clear, white frost covered the rooftops glowing in a sparkling blue hue underneath the pale moonlight. Enchanting. Then a misty presence began to form in the night sky, it became cloudy. as the Lunar eclipse began, it looked as though the moon was ducking behind her ethereal vail, so far away in fact she seemed to disappear from sight. Then the misty clouds would move and there she drifted, one more portion of her surface hidden behind the penumbral shadow. I lay awake watching the shadow dance, feeling that energy and wondering..."Am I know present in a time when it would be good to work with one's shadowself?"

The penumbral eclipse, for those who follow the craft of Moon Magic is considered a strong time for craftwork. It is seen by some as a time when the sun and the moon are in perfect union. Some choose this time to work with the dark goddess, while others choose to work with the Sidhe, the Shining ones and Fairy Magic. As one watches the lunar eclipse through the lens of envisioning the threefold Goddess, one sees her go through all three of her phases from rebirth through renewal, to finally, feminine strength. Joining with the shadow of the masculine as the sun plays its part.

This week on Wheel of Wonder, we'll journey through the theme of Moon Music and the story of Pan and Artemis, ending in the ritual of the full moonlight dance. All this through independent music and sourcework of pagan writers, craftworkers, commentators on line, and in print. Enjoy the soundscape, this week on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture to the right is from Starry Skies.com

Wheel of Wonder December 2011

As the year is drawing to a close, I am already resolving to post more often on the Wheel of Wonder site. As the moon and the seasons change, so is Wheel of Wonder changing. Honestly the whole world is changing, look at the occupy movement and the surprisingly recent recognition in the UK of Druidism being a recognized religion, instead of a cultural celebration, as I understand it used to be. Times like these it seems the world is out of balance, but change is afoot. In the near future of Wheel of Wonder I'll not only be covering the interesting perspectives of Bards and Earth Spiritualists, but the rather New age, but still important, ascension ideas as well. I will also try to bring you info about the economic and cultural progressives ever more common in this twenty-first century world.
I feel concepts like Geomancy, multiple dimensions, and energy work are worthwhile topics for Wheel of Wonder too! Don't worry, I'll still bring you great independent music from Bards and Earth Spiritualists, share legends and stories, and interviews with artists, but now, Interviews with writers, spiritual thinkers and environmentalists as well. This truly is a time of wonder. Thank you for taking some of your time to join me on this journey!

Wheel of Wonder October 15,2011

This week on Wheel of Wonder its the Fall Membership drive for KAOS!
KAOS is the great community radio station that has enabled me to bring you Wheel of Wonder since 2009! If you like what I'm trying to do with this Pagan/New Age/Environmental outreach radio show. Please pledge money to keep the wheels turning.
The whole world is turning, I like to think, into a better more spiritual place. People are waking up and getting fed up with the status quo of Corporate Consumption, Religious Persecution, and Environmental Degradation. Independent voices, songs and stories, like you can find on this community radio station are helping to move this process of global growth along. I hope you'll support these efforts. I also hope all of these wonderful artists whether they be from America, Australia, Canada, northern Europe, or the UK,will help in these efforts to share this good message and give a greater voice to their songs and philosophies with their own donations too!
I was looking over this blog and website again before deciding what to post. Wheel of Wonder has evolved and I have also changed in the past few years. It will soon be time to reflect that in this blog. It will still be about Music, Spirituality, pagan and progressive, and wonderful independent music, but I'm beginning to see there is more poetry and philosophy to share. So it will be changing . This time though, for this membership drive, I'm going to take it back to its roots as expressed in the introduction.
This Sunday I will be sharing stories and songs in musical form throughout the whole episode. Once again you can hear Fiontullach, SJ Tucker, and yes of course Damh too, on this episode of Wheel of Wonder! Please tune in and help keep the discs turning and the message continuing on its journey this membership drive week on Wheel of Wonder!

The fine Celtic Design above and to the right was found on the website: Coolchaser

Wheel of Wonder October 2, 2011

Greetings again! Thanks for your patience in waiting for my posts. At Home PC's are expensive! According to the language of nature in this part of the world, the wheel has turned and we've moved into Autumn again. The time of the Oak king is "Past and Passing" (as the Tarot readers would say). But he'll return. The Holly Lord is preparing to take the crown. Of course I'm speaking of the Dynamic, Active energy of Nature, the "Male" polarity if you will.
I've just recently come across a fine meditative/Cyclical approach to engaging the Green Man from the perspective of the honorable Druid/ Author John Matthews. Its about change and "the song of the Green Man, and how Humans engage this aspect of Nature. We''ll share some of that with you this Week on Wheel of Wonder.
And, in the spirit of change, and the past and passing aspects of this civilization we humans live in, I will also share with you some essays of activists from a book I recently found in my local Peace and Justice Library. What are the next generation of Adults and Young Adults doing to put an end to Tyranny in the 21st Century? Especially, what Non-Violent actions are they taking in the face of violence from "The Old Order?" These are Hopeful essays.
Of Course, we will also be hearing lots of great Folk Rock, Rock,New Age, and Pagan Music just as you would expect from Wheel of Wonder! The Wheel starts a'turning at 7Am PST this Sunday Morning on KAOS Olympia 89.3 fm. Streaming at kaosradio.org I hope you'll join me for the Journey.

The Picture of the Autumn Green Man/Druid (see the symbol behind?) was found on this site. Artist unknown to me.

Wheel of Wonder August - September 4, 2011

Has it really been a month since I posted on Wheel of Wonder? August has come and gone, in the Northwest it was finally the month of Summer. As we're going through the clear 8o degree Farenhiet days here, the evenings are beginning to be coller and some few leaves are becoming blushed with the tinge of Autumn. But the Cedar still stands, grand in her stillness and the creak still runs, laughing across the river rocks.
The people involved in the Community Supported Agriculture movement are finally sharing their produce, bountiful enough in my opinion, to show a slow recovery from two rough summers for farmers. Many more farm stands are appearing now as people look toward their local farmers for food, a pleasent cultural movement, better for the environment.

The Earth seems out of balance sometimes. Climates changing, glaciers melting, Natural Disasters occuring, Its the 21st Century. The world's not the same as it once was. Many Lightworkers and like minded people will tell you these changes, especially the ones called Natural Disasters, are a matter of the Earth getting herself back in balance, as Gaia moves into a different physical relationship with the flow of energy in the Universe.

There is also a belief that we as Humans have the ability to relieve Gaia of some of this stress, and excess energy of the changing electromagnetic field , and the stronger shift of the continental plates, that some relate to the over mining/extraction of oil. As sure as Humans can feel the pull of the Spirit on their concepts of existence, Humans can also channel these energetic changes through their bodies, when they work in cooperation with others, in rituals often referred to as Magic, provided they then complete their ritual through creating healing energy for the Earth Mother in return.

At the same time the Human power of the intellect can adapt and create new techniques and technologies for seeing all our basic needs met, and new ways to teach ourselves, through cooperation with others to become resilient to the damage of these natural disasters. This is a balance of Science and Magic. Perhaps exactly what we need to learn in this; the 21st century.

This week on Wheel of Wonder we'll be talking about balance and adaptation, punctuated as best I am able, by the fine Earth Spiritualist and Expansive thinking styles of music you've come to expect from Wheel of Wonder!

The Picture above is called "Presence of Gaia" and is by Josephine Wall

(Promise I really will try not to ever let so much time pass again between postings!)

Wheel of Wonder July 24 -31 2011

The Wheel Spins and so we've reached Lughnasadh and Lammas, The Time of the first harvest, although here in the Northwest we've had such a cold, wet Summer, just about all of our harvestable crops are running a bit behind! This reminds me of a presentation about climate change I had attended while pursuing my Masters in Environmental Science Degree. The presenter explained one of the likely results of Climate Change on the Northwest could be shorter, wetter Summers and earlier Autumns. I've been watching the trees. The trees always know what time of the year it is, and seem to stubbornly follow their usual yearly cycles at the appointed times regardless of we misguided Humans and our altering of the climate through pollution. So it was no surprise to me the other day when I saw my first advertised as "zero emissions" compact car in town and it was called the "Leaf." (put out by Nissan). Maybe, as the Druids would advocate, people can and are learning wisdom from the Trees.

But what about this obscure (to some) holiday called Lughnasadh, or Lammas? What's that about then? One thing that occurs in my experience (over and over again) is that this time of the first harvest is also the symbolic death of the Oak King, Some would call him John Barleycorn, the Green man turned Golden, or call this shift of seasons the rise of the Holly King. It is the time when the wisdom of the Paternal, the survivor, the thoughtful and insightful aspects of the male polarity of nature come into power, harsh yet wise, to help us through the winter. It is another one of those 'times in between" of ritual, and sacrifice, as referred to in song and legend and in the burning of the Wicker Man (strikingly not similar to the Hollywood movie of the same name).

We still can look forward to the great festivals of Mabon; the Autumn Harvest, and we can also still enjoy the hot, sunny days of the late summer. Last week on Wheel of Wonder I covered Lughnasadh well in song and thought and story. This week, while I'm out experiencing the long last days of Summer and perhaps some of the rituals that go with it, friend to Wheel of Wonder; Bridgit will be sitting in for me from 7am-10am, spinning Celtic Music for your listening pleasure. Still festive jigs and reels wot? I'll return next week to Wheel of Wonder. Happy Lughnasadh, Lammas, Vacation, or whatever you might call it. Thanks for listening to Wheel of Wonder, and following the blog!

Hot new tunes to check out;

Pipes of Pan (CD)

Australian Musicians Louisa John Krol, Wendy Rule, Adrienne Piggot, Dandelion Wine, and many more created this tape , produced in connection with P.A.N; The Pagan Awareness Network (International Not-for-Profit). Check out this Link

---Radio Ray

Wheel of Wonder July 10-17, 2011

Ever wondered about those famous divinities the Tuatha De Danann? They are the Children of Danu, The original Irish Celtic Gods, Led by Nuada, the Dagda, and Lugh. Last week I came on the air at 6:45 am to share the stories of the Tuatha De Danann, Their Conquest of the Firbolg and the striking similarities we find between the names and legends of these Celtic Gods and some of the Legends, and Stories, and Gods of Wales. There is even a Similarity between the Cauldron of the Dagda, The Cauldron of Cerridwynn, and the Magic Sampo of the Finnish Pagan Legends! Interestingly enough, the Tuatha De Danann are described in legend as coming from the Cities to the North, with the four Talismans that helped them achieve their victory. These Treasures: The Cauldron, the Sword, The Rock of Fal, and The Spear of Lugh are universal archetypes for the ancient Treasures of the Spirit World, versions of which are even used in Rituals and Tarot readings today. They exist in both British and other Celtic traditions of Legend and Symbiology.
I enjoyed starting early to share the information. This week I aim to be starting at 6:30 am PST on KAOS, or streaming live at kaosradio.org. This week we'll have a veritable Cornucopia of good music, great legend and philosophy riding the airwaves, an amalgamation of many themes and philosophies we've met on the past two years and some months of the Journey. Please listen in on Wheel of Wonder this week from about 6:30 am to 10am on KAOS Olympia Community Radio!
The picture to the right is of a road at Cascade Pass, WA. Photograph by Ed Farell

Wheel of Wonder June 26, 2011 - July 3, 2011

This week Wheel of Wonder Begins at 7am on KAOS89.3fm, streaming at kaosradio.org (though there may be a glitch in the stream around 9am, I understand. But its supposed to be a short one)
Last week on Wheel of Wonder I was inspired to share a bit of information about Druids and The Sacred Grove (A good place to revisit from time to time). This week I'll be sharing a Pagan Approach to the Fourth of July "Independence Day" in the USA.
I mentioned last year, around this time that Fourth of July, from a Pagan Perspective is much like a Fire Festival and Rite Of Passage. A Rite of Passage for the creation of a new country. Even today though this country celebrates War , even more than Humanitarianism, or Art. There have been some improvements over the past Century or so, in this but it seems like there is still a long ways to go. Let's not forget the Wars and even some injustices that led to the Independence of the United States of America.
Forgetting the past dooms one to repeat it in the Future. So I will have a section of Wheel of Wonder Today that is dedicated to the memory of what some of the Indigenous people went through as this country was formed. As well as other interesting information about Fire Festivals and Rites of Passage (from several cultures, not just modern America) . I'll have new music from Heather Dale and some great World Music for you this week on Wheel of Wonder! Join me for an ear pleasing, culturally expansive show this Week!

The picture to the right is called Fire Festival and I found it on another blog called "Secret Sun" that also speaks somewhat about Pagan and New Age subject matter.

Wheel of Wonder June 5 - June 19, 2011

Time to get caught up on the Blog Again! For starters; Happy Litha! Merry Alban Hefin! This week's Wheel of Wonder is the episode closest to The Summer Solstice, so thats what this Wheel of Wonder will be about. Solstice is known by many names Vestalia, St. John's Day, Whitsuntide, and even Sun Blessing. Cold as this Summer's been most of the time in the Great Northwest so far, we sure would like to be blessed by the sun, with the occasional Rain, to keep things clean and smelling nice. The two aspects of this Sabbat I'll be focusing on both recognize the joy of celebrating the warmer days of Summer, and the strength of the Masculine Polarity of Nature"The Sun God"if you will, and bringing this sense of being part of the active outdoors into your being, to bring out your internal flame (passion, desire, creativity) and live fully in synchronicity with nature in this phase of the year. I hope our music and information this week will help you to feel this and consider this dynamic perspective so your Summer will be more fulfilling and worthwhile! This week we'll have new Music from Heather Dale too!
Time notice: Wheel of Wonder is running this week from 8am to 10am Pacific Standard(Seattle, WA. USA) time.
Heather Dale, Wendy Rule, and SJ Tucker all three put on a wonderful concert in this area last week, Heather Dale strikes me much like a traditional Celtic Bard, her music does reflect this. Sj Tucker was as wonderful as ever, and if you had the opportunity to tune in last week I hope you to heard the Interview with Wendy Rule, a woman who has a sense of Spiritual Existence as deep and rich as the voice she brings to her songs! These artists are all performing at the Faerieworlds Festival in Mt Pisgah, OR. USA this weekend.
And of course, on the weekend of the 5th, we explored the importance of Place Spirits and this belief system's incredible ability to connect people deeply and respectfully with the land they live, walk, and travel through life with. We even covered some of the importance of Genus Loci, especially as relates to the Bards of the British Druid Order within the Seattle Area, how "Pugetia and Pugetius (the Genus Loci; or place spirits)" relate to their philosophy in relationship to this region. Many fine subject matters on Wheel of Wonder, I hope you'll travel the stream or the radio waves to join us, and even expand your awareness through the many links to Music and Information you find on this site!
The picture of Stonehenge above is from paranormalutopia.com I do not know the credibility of this site, but there is a lot of information there.

Wheel of Wonder May 8 - 15, 2011

Hello again

This is another compilation post to the Wheel of Wonder blog. Last week I did a Mother's Day special on Wheel of Wonder the focus was of course on honoring mothers and the Mother goddess. It is too bad lack of easy access to a home PC circumvented my posting here for responses. I received some very good messages through my Email: radioray.wheelofwonder@gmail.com
I'll share a little of them with you, leaving the senders anonymous, unless they should contact me and say "why don't you put up my whole message?" In which case, I will.

"....the true meaning of Mother's Day. It's not how we all blew it out for Hallmark and $. I enclosing again. We should worship Mothers EVERYDAY, EVERY MINUTE, Not just once a year, as well as everyone celebration/holy day.
From Marianne Williamson: "Mother's Day started when mothers from the South who'd lost sons during the Civil War joined with mothers from the North who'd lost sons in the war, trying to inspire the women of the world to stop war altogether. Let's make Mother's Day a day when we all make a stand for peace, beginning with where we stand within ourselves..." (& you thought Hallmark Cards began it?)"
and another:
Goddess Isis – Early Egyptian Roots
One of the earliest historical records of a society celebrating a Mother deity can be found among the ancient Egyptians, who held an annual festival to honor the goddess Isis, who was commonly regarded as the Mother of the pharaohs. Her stern, yet handsome head is typically crowned by a pair of bull horns enclosing a fiery sun orb. She is most often depicted sitting on a throne.

Last week I mentioned the creator/destroyer/ rebirthing Mother Goddess Icon. In a positive way of course, Death can just be another word for the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. In the process of this I mentioned revisiting the Yoruban episode of Wheel of Wonder. Yoruba is of course Traditional, pre-christian African religion, and still exists though through some changes today. So this week I will be running a Wheel of Wonder with three philosophies of interest: Yoruba, Santeria, and Voodoo. Spooky huh? Well, hopefully not by the time I'm done sharing the information and music with you. Its always good to see things broadmindedly what? Misconceptions can sometimes cause greater problems down the road for people outside of mainstream religion. If something on Wheel of Wonder strikes your interest, investigate it yourself , intelligence intact, and enjoy Wheel of Wonder.

The picture above and to the right is "Isis" by Linda Hunt. Check out her Gallery here

Wheel of Wonder March 13, 2011

Sunday's Wheel of Wonder occurred on the date closest to the first ever broadcast of the show on the Olympia Airwaves. The first ever broadcast of Wheel of Wonder was on March 18th, 2009, as a "Rookie Radio" installment. So I chose this episode to be a "2nd year Anniversary Special ," went right back to the roots and re-created a Celtic Wheel of the Year show. I followed through song, information, and ideology the meaning of Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh (lammas) and back around to Mabon. I will hope to see posts and opinions around it soon.

The key purpose, the string of meaning through observing these ancient Holidays, beyond the harvest and fun, seems to be in living in closer awareness to the natural flow and energetic cycles of the Earth Mother. I am idealistic enough to believe this could very well be one recognizable path towards living in better relationship with the land and each other.

I think agrarian, indigenous, and environmentalist people know this, even if it does not fit their faith path to consider themselves "Pagan" or "Shamanic." That is the appeal of learning about ancient belief and perhaps even new age, ways of thinking.

I hope you have been enjoying Wheel of Wonder over the past few years, and the information I've tried to make available on this blog. The picture above and to the right is from my Garden.

Wheel of Wonder February 27, 2011

A Bard I once met would tell me "if a story's worth telling, its worth telling more than once!" and isn't that at the heart of the oral tradition anyway? I say, if its new music that fits into the Wheel of Wonder radio show's genre, it should be played there. So it is this week on Wheel of Wonder. Once again, like the virtual Troubadour, I've ventured out, sought the songs, and brought them back to share with all ye listeners. Songs inspired by the Mythic Cycles of Ireland. Together, this week by the LCD lights of your chosen radio or Internet device we'll visit through word and song Mythic Ireland and the Evils of Balor, the Heroics of Lugh, the Tragedy of the Children of Lir, and the sorrowful life of the beautiful Diedre. We'll be reminded of the miraculous birth of ChuChulain, and the transition of time between the Milesians and the Fianna. We will also hear of Finn McCool and of the son of he and Sadbh; Oisin.

Perhaps with some history from The Book of Conquests and certainly new music Classical, Celtic and even edgy Metal from Robert Lamb, Anuna, and Cruachan (watch for new Artist Links to appear soon in the list on this blog). So feel free to build a fire in your fireplace, picture yourself around a campfire and think of the radio waves as smoke carrying the medium of knowledge when you tune in today to Wheel of Wonder.

The Painting to the right is called "Ossian awakening the spirits on the banks of the Lora with the sound of his Harp"painted in 1801 by French Romanticist Francois Gerard. The character Ossian is a Scottish variation of Oisin, son of Finn McCool. There is some discussion as to whether Ossian is based in History or Scottish imagination. Either way, I like this work of Classic Art.

December 19, 2010

Merry Silver Solstice from Wheel of Wonder! This week's broadcast is the one closest to Midwinter's Eve in the Northern Hemisphere, so you can expect a Yule program!

Whether its called Alban Arthuan, Yule, or the deep midwinter, it is also known as the Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year when all seems darkest, but as in many different cultures , on the very darkest night the Sun is reborn as the baby sun king! Bringer of light and hope! Even while the land seems to lie sleeping and in the Northern Hemisphere, the brow of the Goddess has turned pale as frost and sometimes the wind is deathly cold. Light is returning. But Winter has a quiet beauty to it also and brings many people together around the fire or into our homes, as we celebrate the Holidays.

On this week's Wheel of Wonder, we'll talk about the beliefs of solstice recognized by the Druids and Pagans, and perhaps others as well, as I take us on a journey of Celtic, Holiday Music. Music that carries the beauty of the cerulean winter sky, the calm silence of the falling snow, and the festivity of the Troubadour.

This week we will also check in again with Jane Valencia, Bard and Healer, as our live holiday guest. Jane will speak with us about Healing Harp, Medicine Animal and Medicine Plant lore, and perhaps even Home Schooling one's children to include an understanding of Earth's Sacred Nature in their educational upbringing. Hear Hope and Joy this week on Wheel of Wonder!

The beautiful picture above is from the Crystalinks the science and metaphysics Website, artist unknown.

Wheel of Wonder September 26, 2010

This week on Wheel of Wonder We'll explore the Druid's Autumn festival; Alban Elfed. Those on the Druidic Path also celebrate the Equinox, but fewer Druids look at the Autumn Equinox as a Minor Sabbat as is the case with many Wiccan and some Neo-Pagan Traditions. From the Druidic perspective it seems the equinox is about celebrating the balance of dark and light, which I suppose one would expect of a faith path seeming to focus on cycles of the Sun, rather than cycles of the Moon. It has always been interesting to me that the Druidic faith seems to attract men who are focused on the cycles of the Sun, and the Wiccan faith seems to attract women who are focused on the cycles of the Moon. A nice balance. Acknowledging of course their are great variations in the gender and motivations of both these faiths. This week on Wheel of Wonder we will also have the opportunity to interview the organizer of our local Pagan Pride Day Celebration, which is scheduled for later this same Sunday. We'll hear about the Pagan Pride (international) movement and our local celebration from Kate, the organizer. We will also hear new music from Castalia and The Moon and the Night Spirit, while exploring deeper into the Druids Equinox: Alban Elfed. This week on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture to the right is another great work of art by Willow Arleanea, I call it PanDiana, not so very Autumnal, but gorgeous nonetheless.

Wheel of Wonder June 27, 2010

This week on Wheel of Wonder we''ll drift and dive into the songs and tales of The Selkie. Selkie are the Seal People. They are well known in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, Ireland and even the Faroe Islands and Iceland have legends of them. The Selkies are the people who come to shore from the Sea on some moonlit nights, they remove their seal skins, and dance as Humans upon the moonlit shore. If ever one should have their skin taken, then they become human for a time. This continues for a while until they retrieve their skin from the Human who caught it. The clear relation to life and legend is in that perspective where the Selkie themselves is a fully realized being capable of travelling to the Spirit world and to the in between world where the Human and spiritual meet. The shore is a threshold between this world and the other. The Selkies cannot help but feeling incomplete without their seal skins, as they hear the calling of the Sea to go beyond the limits of the everyday.

This week we'll include these stories as well as new music from Damh the Bard and Iona Leigh. Hear the Song of the Selkies this week on Wheel of Wonder.

The Picture to the right is the work of James Browne. To see more of his art follow this link