Paloma and Wings: An Herbal Comic – the Book is here!

Boxes of books!

Dear Friends,

I’m excited to announce that my new book, Paloma and Wings: An Herbal Comic — ten years in the making — is finally in print and available for purchase.

Here’s what the book is about:

“Paloma loves plants and herbal medicine making. Wings is a small dragon who follows Paloma on her herbal adventures. Enter the enchanted world of plants and discover their special relationship with us! A mix of comics and prose, this fun and informative book is for kids and kids at heart.”

I’m honored that these herbalists — from whom I’ve learned so much, and who I greatly admire and adore — have the following to say about it:

“Written and illustrated with children in mind, this thoroughly original and delightful book contains a wealth of information about plants, healing and nature. In a joyous and light manner Paloma and Wings guide children on a journey into the plant world with instructions on how to gather and harvest plants, make simple herbal recipes and remedies, and, perhaps most importantly, how to develop lasting relationships with plants and the natural world.”
ROSEMARY GLADSTAR, Herbalist and Author

The first section lays down foundations for working with plants, including safety and mindful harvesting considerations and practices

“Paloma and Wings: An Herbal Comic is a wonderful contribution to the herbal genre for children! Part comic book, part recipe book, and part herbal, this whimsical tome teaches children the wonders and usefulness of herbs through stories, songs, and down-to-earth facts. From how to help friends and family when they are sick to how to handle an insect sting, Paloma and Wings will empower children to help themselves and others with the natural healing power of the plants.”
—KRISTINE BROWN, RH (AHG), Author and Illustrator of Herbal Roots zine LLC herbalrootszine.org

Comics accompany each chapter.

“An enchanting, conscientious and deeply charming guide to the earth’s natural medicines and the wonder of the animate world. A delightful and intelligent read for the herbally curious child and those who are still young at heart.”
—ASIA SULER, Founder of One Willow Apothecaries and Author of Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self Healing from the Living World

Chapters introduce plants and herbal ideas. Recipes and activities are sprinkled throughout the pages.

Full color, 120 pages long, perfect bound 8″x10.5″ book – $24

For December only you can add a copy of Wintergift CD by Debra Knodel and myself at a discounted price of $8 to your order of the book (more details about the CD below).

Purchase Your Book (or Book+CD)

Purchase Paloma and Wings Book $24 and (optional) Wintergift CD $8 -for shipping in the U. S.

Purchase Paloma and Wings Book $24 and (optional) Wintergift CD $8 – local pick up

If you wish your book signed , please indicate when you pay or leave a message with me here.  If you have any questions, contact me as well.

Note: To those of you living outside the U. S.
I haven’t been able to figure out yet what to charge for mailing outside of the US. However, if you’re interested in purchasing a book, please contact me and give me some of your shipping information (town/city, country, zip code). I’ll figure out what shipping costs would be and let you know.

Wintergift – mostly harp with some tracks with vocals – Debra Knodel and Jane Valencia

WINTERGIFT by Spookytree (Deb Knodel & Jane Valencia ) is a celebration of the beauty, magic, and mystery of winter, with some sweet surprises of who and what you might discover in a snowy landscape or by the hearth fire. This album is a compilation of our most beloved winter season tracks from across our albums, plus five brand new never-before-heard tracks. Cozy up by a warm fire, and enjoy a musical wander into enchantment!

Over an hour’s worth of music. You can preview the music here, but please come back to this page to make your purchase and get your discount.

Jane, the book, and Wings!

 

Discover Plant Remedies and Lore from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

I just put the finishing touches on my 24 page full-color Celtic Illuminations Herbal Healing Guidebook — part of the Celtic Illuminations Herbal Healing Bundle that I’ve donated as a Silent Auction item for the Vashon Wilderness Program’s fundraiser. I am an instructor at VWP, helping kids connect with nature and one another — precious learning right now — and I’m delighted to support the incredible work of this organization.

My herbal healing bundle contains ten herbal remedies — some featuring plants from my local Pacific Northwest — harvested and crafted with ceremony and care by me, the guidebook filled with illustrations (several which I painted for this book) and Celtic plant lore, stories, and prayers, plus my own practices for connecting with the plants. Also included is short meditation audio that I recorded with harp, a harp and song CD, and more. Visit here for more details 

And while you’re at it, check out the other auction items!

24 page full-color guide book cover. Illustration by Jane

Radio Show – Episode 53 – Mugwort Dreaming – July 26, 2020

Mugwort – Artemesia vulgaris
Welsh name: Y Ganwraidd Lwydd
Irish name: Mongach meisce
Scots name: muggert, muggons
Shetland name: grey bulwand

Silvery like the Moon, and embodying certain qualities that the Moon holds in tradition, Mugwort is an herb with long medicinal and magical use in Britain, Ireland, and throughout Europe. These days, Mugwort is called upon to assist dreaming.

In Show 53, we musically travel into “Mugwort dreaming.” To be honest, I actively chose only a few of the pieces with this plant in mind. Still, the intention of the theme was there. Perhaps you’ll discover how the music and Mugwort interlace with one another. If you find the medicine in the music, please share your reflections and insights!

As a side note, I’ve upleveled my ability to record harp at home, and I’m delighted at the quality of sound I’m now able to get for my wire-strung harp. The musical improvisation underlying the Mugwort folklore is my first expression with this setup.

Enjoy the harp playing of Robin Williamson, Tiffany Schaefer, Julia Cunningham, Jane Valencia, Sue Richards (in Ceoltoiri).

Catch the show on demand here

The second hour is a rebroadcast of Show 8 – “Power of Music.” Irish myth describes “Three Noble Strains” of music, known as the geantraí – song of joy/merriment, the goltraí – song of sorrow, and the suantraí – song of comfort/for soothing. You’ll hear expressions of all three “strains” in the music and stories played and told today.

Harpers featured: Máire Ní Chathasaigh (in the Heartstring Quartet and solo), William Taylor,  Barra the Bard‘s retelling of “Harp of Dagda”, Fiona Davidson (harp and story), Anne-Marie O’Farrell (in Anúna), Tiffany Schaefer,  Siobhán Armstrong (in The Irish Consort)

Listen to the show on demand here

You can also catch Show 9 – Island Life for another week. Harpers featured are: Harper Tasche, Seumus Gagne, Chris Caswell (in The Owner’s Daughter), Jane Valencia, N’Faly Kouyaté (kora playing in the Afro Celt Sound System, Sakaue Masume.

See you in Forest Halls!

Playlist for Show 53 – Mugwort Dreaming

00:50 Lúnasa – Black River
04:22 Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac – Jewels of the Ocean
11:38 Robin Williamson – Lammas
16:00 Ayreheart – John Barleycorn
23:14 Tiffany Schaefer – Road to Lisdoonvarna
25:27 Julia Cunningham – Innocenza
31:00 Jane Valencia – Mugwort Dreaming
38:19 Ceoltoiri – Far Away
43:47 Beòlach – Annie’s New Heart
48:52 Ashley MacIsaac with Mary Jane Lamond – Sleepy Maggie
53:25 Spookytree – Lochaber No More
55:02 Auļi – Ozoliņi