Wheel of Wonder August 30 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder I'll present another installation of the ongoing series Bardic Byways. I'll share new music with you by Vixy and Tony and SJ Tucker, as we move deeper into the place of the Bard in Modern America. Bards are mythmakers and storytellers, and their are many ways in which their talents can create a huge impact on modern america. The American Folk movement is a fine example of this, so I'll also introduce classic music by Holly Near (not necessarily a pagan, but indeed a bard) and some unique tracks from the historical vaults of Gaia Consort. The modern Bard I'll be running the interview of this week is SJ Tucker, the original Skinny White Chick, please tune in to Wheel of Wonder Bardic Byways.

The picture to the right was sent to me by a friend, I don't know the artist, but the Bard reminds me of Jane Valencia. (ever dyed your hair blonde Jane?)

Wheel of Wonder August 23 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder we'll focus on following the Male half of Nature's polarity through the world. Cernunnos, The Green Man, Pan, Herne, Veles he's known by many names but almost always also known as the god of the Grain and Wild, God of Nature, Fertility (I think I should say Virility). Considered in many Neo-Pagan Traditions as the God of the Sky, consort to Mother Earth passing the sceptre of the oak king to the Holly King for the dark part of the year.

Come celebrate the annual cycle of the Pagan God on Wheel of Wonder new songs from Louisa John Kroll, SJ Tucker, and Alexander James Adams, and new myths from other corners of the world.

The picture is great, the artist unknown.

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

The Faerieworlds Experience

I must have been travelling with the blessings of the fay to the fairyworlds event. I don't think it could have gone any better! The weather was Hot in Oregon this weekend, I call this a blessing of the Fire spirits. Do to the heat, myself and the musicians I spoke with were feeling just fine about sitting and talking. I was able to sit and eat a breakfast of Sue Tinney's wonderful blueberry pancakes with Gaia Consort (sorry...Bone Poets Orchestra), I was given the opportunity to take a mid afternoon hydration break with SJ Tucker (of skinny white chick and tricky pixie fame), and she is a lovely person. I was blessed to wander across three "secret concerts" given in quiet acoustic corners of the event, with The Wicker Men (I understand they are thinking of putting out a faerieworlds compilation cd), Kelly and Emilio Miller-Lopez; The heart of Woodland ( this also allowed the occasion to loan my Harp to Kelly for her to play). The third was with Alexander James Adams, of Tricky Pixie (who also was willing to help me on my side project of translating Damh's guitar chords into chord progressions for the Celtic harp, so I can bring more music to Campfire gatherings). And let us not forget Lisa Lynne, a fine Celtic Harper, with her own solo career, who kindly, and modestly, offered harp workshops, and her own secret concerts at the Fairy Harp Circle.

In the 90+ degrees Fahrenheit weather I was fortunate to find a flat shady spot under an old Elm tree, just big enough to pitch my tent. I filled up the gas tank before I left home, and didn't even have to fill it up again before getting back where I started. I even came back from the trip with more music to bring to you on wheel of wonder and add to the KAOS music Library.

I especially enjoyed my time talking with Oliver (the lead male vocalist), and the other members of Faun. What very fine people they are! I was also introduced to the music of Vixy and Tony (indy artists from Seattle!) and will be sure to share some of their music with you on Wheel of Wonder. They should fit well into other KAOS programs as well. The whimsical, playful and happy (viciously happy, on Bad Faeries Night) energy always attributed to the Fay was definitely present at this event. The Dragonflies and Flying Grasshoppers (or were they...?) were ever present to remind us of Travelers to the Dreamtime, the chirp and flutter of tiny fairy voices and the tinkle of fairy bells. I've come back from the experience feeling no small amount of Glamour and creativity! Through the next few Wheel of Wonder broadcasts, I'll endeavor to share it with you.

The picture above is one of the beautiful creations of Musician and Artist Priscilla Hernandez who also creates beautiful, mythic music, I will include in future Wheel of Wonder shows.

Wheel of Wonder August 2, 2009

Happy Lughnasadh! This week on Wheel of Wonder, we'll talk about the Holiday, and its prelude to the winter's dark, self reflective time to harvest one's knowledge and return with greater wisdom in the Spring to continue your life's work. This is the experience of Cerridwynn's Cauldron of rebirth. Because it is Lughnasadh, we will also speak of Lugh, and the nature god aspect of the God of the Grain and Wild. This weeks episode will be pre-recorded, and broadcast while your host (me) attends Faerieworlds 2009. From which I too will come back with greater Wisdom through Interviewing and learning from the perspective of many of the Musicians we hear on Wheel of Wonder regularly. This weeks episode will include new music from Threefold, and the band Lunasa, as well as newspieces and articles about the Pagan experiences and this holiday. In a way, this installation will hearken back to some themes as early as Wheel of Wonder's first broadcast in a weekly timeslot, as I am harvesting the knowledge of what I have experienced with you, the listeners since this journey has begun. Please tune in.

Image to the right from Creative Commons, Artist unknown.

Wheel of Wonder July 26th 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder come dance the circle of life and rebirth as we explore the Spiral Dance. We'll not just be speaking of Starhawk's great book about the rebirth of the Goddess, but we will also talk about the Reclaiming tradition a bit, and what the Spiral Dance really is. It is an important part of what many pagan/neo-pagan groups do when they get together for Full Moon rituals , Beltane, and Samhain Eve. I intend to include some info from not only Starhawk , but also touch on the work of Macha NightMare. We'll also speak more about the Faerieworlds event and introduce new music from SJ Tucker. Come drift through the Labyrinth with me on Wheel of Wonder.

Picture from Willow Arlenea .

Wheel of Wonder July 19th, 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder we'll be speaking about Druids, Druidry and Druidism (that's another one of those earth friendly 'isms"). The Druid subject, is a huge subject more worthy of several shows than just one, but I will try to distill the information into a manageable audio formula for your Sunday morning.

A quote from the website of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids describes Druidry as: "... a vital and dynamic Nature-based spirituality that is flourishing all over the world, and that unites our love of the Earth with our love of creativity and the Arts. And flowing through all the exciting new developments in modern Druidism is the power of an ancient tradition: the love of land, sea and sky - the love of the Earth our home." I will try to share with you more of the messages from this Order in the course of this episode of Wheel of Wonder along with some information cited from R.J. Stewart, and Rudolf Steiner and of course new music; this week from Telling the Bees .

Image above and to the right is original work of Dan Ivanov