The Tree Letter ~

August 2009 - Moon Of Blackberries Ripen

Greetings!

Here is hoping that you are enjoying the abundance of the summer. Our family is settling (back) into the San Francisco Bay Area, where we plan to live for a year or two before returning for good to Vashon Island, WA. It has been quite an adventure -- living six months in a 24 foot diameter yurt, then ten months in the beautiful Wallowa Valley in N. E. Oregon, and now back in my grandparents' house (where we lived for six years) in the suburban wilds of this part of California.

I'm enjoying the roses in our garden, and befriending the quiet gray-brown birds (California towhees?) that scrabble in the leaf litter (and look like leaves themselves), and I'm pondering the mystery of just what that huge tree is that towers in our backyard. My extended family has always called it a "cedar", but after living with Western red cedars in the Pacific Northwest, I experience clearly that this tree is not what one of these! My brow furrows as I thumb through my field guides. The "buttressed bark" of Giant Sequoias is similar, but the needles don't match up, and never on the backyard tree have I've never seen cones like the ones pictured. Ah, but here is the entry for Incense-Cedars. Yes, could be!

What is the nature of your place at this time of year? The Celts celebrated late summer as the "First Harvest", with the full harvest and thanksgiving centering at the Fall Equinox. I notice that even here in California, the days are noticeably shortening, and a gold light now filters the air in the light afternoon (no, it's not due to smog!). Anyway, below are details about my "First Harvest". I'm excited that all the brainstorming, visioning, reflecting, hair-tugging ;-) of many, many months (years?) is finally coming to fruition.

My artistry as a "Dragonsinger!" is taking wing. You can read more about it on ....

MY REWOVEN WEBSITE: ForestHalls.org

I've reworked my website, taking it out of '90s formatting style, and bringing it into the current millennia. I'm having fun with it! I invite you to visit my reworked magical realm, and wander its paths. Who knows what you might discover there :-).

Just click on the links to the left!

MY PODCAST

Forest Halls is a monthly podcast devoted to living the magic of our true nature. My first one is up on the web! Here are the details:

Forest Halls Podcast No. 1 - August 2009: Conversation With Sound Healer Celestine Raye

In which Celestine Raye and Jane celebrate the recording of their new Sound Healing CD "Streaming In Stone", muse on the magic of deep winter and the nature of place in a small rural city in N.E. Oregon, and discuss toning circles and opening to one's voice and the song in the moment. The podcast concludes with a healing song for you improvised by Celestine and Jane. - approx. 35 min. long

To listen to or download the mp3

Thanks to those of you who have encouraged me for a LONG TIME (Darryl, that would be you!) to create a podcast!

That's all for now from me! What's YOUR "First Harvest"? And what full harvest do you see coming your way?

Blessings & Beauty,
Jane Valencia