Upcoming Events

2021

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Sunday Elf Owl Harp Class
Sundays, 2-4pm Eastern Time/11am-1pm Pacific Time.
Dates: 5/23, 6/6, 6/13, 6/27 on Zoom [Note that we are skipping 5/30 Memorial Day weekend and 6/20 Father’s Day]

Tuesday Elf Owl Harp Class
Tuesday evenings, 7-9pm Pacific Time.
Dates: 5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15

Elf Owl Harp:  Harp Class via Zoom. Harp for Storytelling, Poetry, and the Spoken Word. Your teacher and guide: Jane Valencia

Grow your skills with harp and storytelling, poetry, and other spoken word in this fun four-session class on Zoom.

Telling stories or sharing poems brings listeners into other worlds. When we add our harp to those tellings we add layers to the experience, and magnify the wonder and magic! Join us in a four-session class devoted to weaving enchantment with harp and word. We’ll use small tales, short poems, descriptive passages and more to explore techniques, material, and ideas for crafting unique and captivating pieces that can either stand on their own or take flight into larger storytelling and spoken expressions. You’ll have assignments (elf owl size) each week, and the opportunity to share your work in a supportive, kind environment.

Harpers of all levels, including complete beginners, are welcome. If you can strike strings, you can use a harp with spoken word!
Fee: $125

Find out more here and to register

To whit – to whoo! (or, in Elf Owl language: pew-pew-pew!). We hope to see you in the grove!

Past

2020

Ongoing:  Sundays, 12noon-2pm, PST.  Forest Halls Celtic Radio Show. Jane Valencia is your host. Listen at KVSH 101.9fm on Vashon, WA and via streaming  Voice of Vashon.

Early February, 2020.  Place & Time TBA, Vashon, WA. Concert: Imbolc and St. Brigid – Meditation & Celebration. Music with vocalist Erin Durrett, Spookytree harp duo (Deb Knodel & Jane Valencia, harpist Christina Tourin, and more. Details forthcoming!

Saturday, February 22,  2020. 9am-3pm. Workshop: Celtic Healing Ways.
St. Placid Priory, Lacey, WA
In myth and Saints Lives, in medieval Gaelic manuscripts and folk tradition, herbal and other healing practices of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales were often accompanied by prayer and ritual. We’ll explore specific remedies and wellness ways, and craft blessings and ceremony to use with them, bringing Celtic healing wisdom into our everyday lives.

2019

Sunday, October 6, 3pm. 
Hildegard von Bingen: Mystical Chants of Earth and Her Elements
Church of the Holy Spirit,  15420 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon WA.

Immerse your spirit in this one-of-kind meditative musical experience in which Hildegard’s heavenly chant expresses the spiritual illumination of the elements and heaven within earth. This concert brings together a talented group of singers and harpists from the island, as well as internationally-known harpist and special guest Christina Tourin, founder of Healing Harps International to perform the music of Hildegard.

Voices: Erin Durrett, Fiore Grey, Barb Adams & Amy Cole Harpists: Jane Valencia, Christina Tourin and Deb Knodel

Saturday, October 5, 7pm. An Evening of Welsh Storytelling and Music
Presented by the Seattle Storytellers Guild and the Puget Sound Welsh Association

Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church,
14724 1st Ave NE, Shoreline
Spookytree is back! Jane Valencia and Deb Knodel will be presenting Welsh stories, poetry, and harp and song for half this concert. Members of the Puget Sound Welsh Association in the second half of the program will bring even more Welsh music, songs and poetry. They are partnering with the Seattle Storytellers Guild in this program – which is a prelude to an Epic Telling of the Welsh Mabinogion to be presented by the Seattle Storytellers Guild this coming May. This will be a magical evening!

Saturday, September 28, 2019. 10am-4pm.  Sing in the Garden: Chants and Plants of Medieval Artistic Genius Hildegard von Bingen
Taught by Erin Durrett and Jane Valencia
Vashon, WA. Cost: $100 or Pay from the Heart
No one turned away for lack of funds

Enter a garden in which the earth, the healing plants, and humankind are expressions of divine harmony. In a day devoted to beauty and direct engagement, we’ll experience for ourselves the vibrance and blessing of the music and medicine of Hildegard von Bingen. An exploration of Hildegard’s herbal healing and her unique chant.

September 20-22, 2019. Jane is teaching two workshops at the Pacific Women’s Herbal Conference, held this year at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island.

Hildegard of Bingen’s Herbal Energetics for the Family Herbalist

The medicine of Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century German physician, visionary, abbess, author, and saint, relied on an understanding of our bodies as gardens, and the work of healing as tending a garden In this introduction to a practical, compassionate, nature-based healing practice, we’ll adventure in the basics of herbal energetics to better support our family members and ourselves.

Tree Secrets: A Walk into a Pacific Northwest Ogham

In the early medieval Irish Ogham, or “tree alphabet,” each letter embodies a particular tree or plant  spirit. In this Celtic-infused workshop we’ll pass time in the company of trees, both those named in the Ogham and our native trees. We’ll explore firsthand their energy, teachings, folklore, and medicine uses by way of our senses and connection, and begin creating our own Pacific Northwest ogham. If the trees are willing, we’ll even craft ogham sticks. Expect sweet enchantment and deep wild wisdom!

Find out more here!


 

July 2019 – Jane teaches at Vashon Wilderness Summer Camps for children and families, including the Herbal Magic Camp for Girls and the Nature Mysteries for 4-6 year olds.

Saturday, March 2, 2019. 9am-3pm.
Workshop: Hildegard of Bingen’s Medicine
St. Placid Priory, Lacey, WA
Enter the medieval world in which the earth, the healing plants, and humankind are expressions of divine harmony and the redemption of God. We’ll explore the system and understandings from which abbess, mystic and skilled healer, Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) practiced her medicine, and engage with these healing ways ourselves.  Cost: $65. Registration information is available here.

Herbalist, nature instructor, and harper-storyteller, Jane Valencia loves helping others discover the wisdom and practical knowledge for health and wellness found within medieval and folk healing traditions.

The Vashon Wilderness Program’s Annual Storytelling Festival
Saturday, January 26th, 2019 @ 12:00pm
Vashon Theater, Vashon Island
11723 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon

Packed with incredible stories for and by the community. Bring your own nature-based tale to share – personal, mythic, or ancestral. Audience participation, a 1-minute Story-thon, story improv games, and more. Jane will be offering a tale!

Don’t miss this wonderful, family-friendly event!
Explore Celtic Spirituality – 2nd Sundays, January-June, 4-5pm, Church of the Holy Spirit, Vashon WA.
Join us as we explore different themes in Celtic spirituality by way of poetry, ceremony, lore, music, and more. Jane is one of the organizers of these events, and offers harp music, storytelling, and song, and also leads the children’s activities.

July 2018 – Jane teaches at  Vashon Wilderness Summer Camps for children and families, including Greenwood Secrets: an Herbal Magic Camp for Girls, Nature Mysteries for 4-6 year olds, and Nature Adventurers for  7-10 year olds.

September 21-23, 2018. Jane teaches at the Pacific Women’s Herbal Conference, held this year at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island. She’s also directing the Kids Kamp!

Jane’s workshops:

Wise Child Learning – In this workshop for kids and kids at heart, we’ll enter the world of the beloved children’s herbal fantasy novel, Wise Child by Monica Furlong, to experience first-hand what it may mean to be a “doran” – one who senses the pattern at the heart of all things, and who is dedicated to loving and protecting it – in relation to the plants.

Deer Medicine Ways – The deer becomes our teacher as we assume deer form and ways to wander the landscape, engaging intimately with the plant world and its many gifts for the deer, and for us too.

Late June and July 2017. Jane teaches at several Vashon Wilderness Summer Camps for children and families, including Greenwood Secrets: an Herbal Magic Camp for Girls, Woodland Ways for 4-6 year olds, and Family Camp.

 Wednesday, June 21, 10am. This event takes place at the annual Solstice Celebration hosted by the Women’s Red Way Lodge. Jane will once again be offering harp and storytelling for children.

Saturday, March 25, noon-6pm. Epic Storytelling: Kalevala – Finnish Creation Myth
The Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard
On the last weekend of March, the Nordic Heritage Museum (http://nordicmuseum.org/) in Ballard (NE of downtown Seattle) will hold their yearly Kalevala Festival, complete with music, song, food and libations – and storytelling! Since 2017 is the Finn Centennial Year, the museum be hosting the Marimekko textile exhibit from Finland – and will be featuring Seattle Storytellers Guild members telling the entire story of the Kalevala from noon to 6 pm on Saturday, March 25th. There will be a intermission in the afternoon.

The epic spans from the Finn creation myth to the birth of the first man who is the wise magician, along with the greatest smith and a young rascal hero who all seek wives among the daughters of the magical witch of the north. Come early and see the exhibits and then listen to the story that was collected from Finn elders in the early 1800’s and is now published around the world.

Jane will be telling an episode of this story with her harp. Catch it near the beginning of the storytelling!

April 10-14, 2017, 9am – 1pm. Greenwood Secrets ~ Spring Herbal Magic Camp for Girls ages 7-12. Vashon Wilderness Program. Vashon, WA. $285. The plant enchantment of spring awaits you! During our special Spring Break Camp, we’ll focus on connecting with the magic, beauty, and medicine of the plant world. Each day, we’ll engage in an herbal project and create a remedy, potion, or tea. And, we’ll learn the secrets of our green and leafy friends as we adventure at a medicinal herb farm. We’ll hear stories, sing songs, play games, learn healing ways, create art, engage with our imaginations, and so much more! Come enjoy what the green world has to share with us!  Location: Camp takes place on a working medicinal herb farm on Vashon Island. Your Mentor: Jane Valencia

May 20th, 10am-4pm. We are Nature workshop series: Plant Spirit Healing Ways. Vashon Wilderness Program.  Vashon Island, WA.  $75 In many native traditions, plants are considered to be both our ancestors and our elders. They have offered themselves to us as food, medicine, and as materials since our beginnings. Join us as we engage with plant medicine not only for our bodies, but also for our minds, hearts, and spirit. Jane is delighted to be leading this workshop for adults.

Friday-Sunday, 1st Weekend of March. Storytelling, Harp, and Threshold Choir singing. A Vashon Conversation for the Living about Dying .
Jane will tell stories with harp, offer story and activities to children and their families, and sing with the Vashon Threshold Choir for this event.

Death Comes Calling and Other Stories . . .

Storytellers:  Jane Valencia and Allison Cox

Come cozy up to stories from diverse world traditions that guide us to our deepest wisdom and offer pathways to resiliency and hope. Stories will be woven together with harp strings.
Location:  Sugar Shack

Storytelling and Listening for Children and Families

Sharing stories of gratitude and loss:  everyday practices for listening to each other’s unfolding lives.
Storytellers:  Jane Valencia and Julie Shannon
Location:  Vashon Library Meeting Room

Celebration of Life and Remembrance

Facilitators:  Jeri Jo Carstairs, Bettie Edwards, Susan Pitiger and Jane Valencia
Labyrinth Design:  Betty Hawkins

Location:  Open Space Meadow

Join us for our final event where you will have the opportunity to honor and celebrate precious lives of those who have died or are still living. Elements of the celebration:  the Traveling Day Society drumming and music to honor the day that we travel from this life; the Vashon Threshold Choir singing songs for the dying; a fire burning cedar and lavender to lift our prayers, remembrances and wishes; a place to be surrounded in a Sound Bath by The Vashon Threshold Choir and spontaneous poetry.  A labyrinth, built especially for this day, will be available for quiet walk and meditation before, during and after the event.

Saturday, January 28, 1pm (Doors open at 12:30). Vashon Wilderness Program Tenth Annual Storytelling Festival. Vashon Theater.
Jane will offer harp and storytelling at this event. This event will be packed with incredible stories for and by the community, plus audience participation, including a 1-minute Storython, story improv games, and more. Come enjoy the fun, and share in community the ancient and powerful tradition of oral storytelling.

Don’t miss this wonderful, family-friendly event!

2016

Thursday, Dec. 8, 7PM. Vespers at the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Vespers is an offering of prayer and meditation for the Vashon Island community. Designed to be a widely accessible evening respite lasting about 30 minutes. I’ll be playing harp for this occasion.

July 2016. Jane teaches at the Vashon Wilderness Summer Camps. VWP has fun and wondrous camps for kids ages 4-14, including Greenwood Secrets: an herbal magic camp for girls, and Woodland Ways for 4-6 year olds (both of which Jane will be teaching).

Sunday and Monday, June 20-21, Time TBA. This event takes place at the annual Solstice Celebration hosted by the Women’s Red Way Lodge. This year Jane plays harp to greet the morning following a yoga session, and offers harp and storytelling for children.

THE WONDER SMITH AND HIS SON: An Epic Irish Myth
March 19 (Sat) 7-10 PM at The George Center,
2212 NE 125th St, Seattle, WA 98125

The Seattle Storytellers Guild invites you to a retelling of this wonderful Irish myth collected by Ella Young & told by seventeen storytellers and musicians.
Suggested Donation: $5 – members, $8 – non-members, $12 – families

I’m delighted to contribute harp and storytelling to this event!

I’m pleased to have performed and to have arranged and directed a musical piece in this event:
Sunday, January 24, 2016. Two performances: 3PM and 7PM. Heart of Vashon: Telling our Story. Blue Heron – Vashon Allied Arts.19704 Vashon Hwy SW Vashon Island, WA. This performance reading is one piece of a community project that explores what matters to Islanders about living on Vashon-Maury Island as we roll into the 21st century. Why do we choose to make our home here? What is it that makes living here special? Over 150 people responded to the call for submissions, and a script was woven together from selections and excerpts of what Islanders wrote. An intergenerational cast of readers will share poems, reflections and stories that create a moving, humorous and thoughtful tapestry of Island life. Find out more here.

Thursday, January 7, 2016, 4-5PM. Winter Tales: Harp, Story, & Song with Jane Valencia. Vashon Library, 17210 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon Island, WA 98065. (206) 463-2069. Family Program – all ages welcome. Free!

Discover a snowy forest where wondrous creatures share secrets of the newly awakened year. We’ll enter an enchanted landscape, make music together, learn some mischievous animal ways, play with poetry, and more!

Jane Valencia is a bardic harper and storyteller who loves sharing nature-rooted magical adventure with kids and kids at heart. Her works include four harp CDs, a children’s fantasy novel, a kids herbal comic, and numerous blog posts and articles.

2015

Saturday, November 21, 2015, 10am to 4PM. Holly Daze Bazaar.
McMurray Middle School cafeteria. 9329 Cemetery Rd SW, Vashon Island, WA Jane will offer live harp music and free micro harp lessons. She’ll also have news about her newest harp learning opportunities, which could provide a beautiful start for your New Year. We’ll also have  Amri’s shoulder dragons eager to fly home with you to perch on your shoulder or serve as the perfect gift for a dragon lover, and a stack of contemporary fantasy novels ready to carry you or a loved one into the magic that is all around us.

Sat.-Sunday, July 21-22, 10am-6PM. Forest Halls/DragonRider Press booth at the Strawberry Festival. Vashon Highway, SW. Vashon Island, WA. Visit our booth! We’ll have harp music, books, dragons, and plenty more magical fun. Jane will bring her harp. Come listen to her play, and have the chance to try out the harp yourself.

Friday, July 3, 2015.  First Friday Gallery Tour. Vashon Bookshop. 17612 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070.Come enjoy harp music, song, and small magical tales from bardic harper Jane Valencia

July 2015. Jane teaches at the Vashon Wilderness Summer Camps. VWP has fun and wondrous camps for kids ages 4-14, including Greenwood Secrets: an herbal magic camp for girls, Woodland Ways: Faeries and Elves, and one that is even for young children and their special grownup. Read Jane’s blog post about them and find out more.

Saturday, June 20, 2PM. This event takes place at the annual Solstice Celebration hosted by the Women’s Red Way Lodge. With harp, story, and song, Jane will be leading a fun kid-focused  Sun Circle that honors the longest day. We’ll then head out, on the land to collect some “gratitude” to create a community gratitude poem. Go here to watch a special Solstice Invitation video about the event and to find out where to get more information (such as the location of the event).

Friday, June 19, 7-9PM. Summer Solstice Labyrinth Walk at the Church of the Holy Spirit will be open to all who would like to come and enjoy a meditative walk to celebrate the summer solstice. With harp and voice, Jane Valencia joins vocalist Erin Durrett to infuse the garden with peaceful sound. The walking of the labyrinth is a sacred tradition that is thousands of years old and comes from many different areas of the world. It’s a practice that has become a way for people of all faiths or from no faith tradition to walk in contemplation of healing, gratitude and peace.

Enjoy Harp & Story! Jane tells Chinese folktales from artist, storyweaver, and author, Suzanna Leigh‘s newly released book, Stories on Silk: A Peek into China on all days of the Art Tour, and playing my harp. Please join us at 2PM, Saturday & Sunday, May 2, 3, 9 & 10 at the Grange Hall, #1 stop on the Vashon Island Art Tour. Browse the amazing art at the Grange as well! The event is free.

Sunday, March 29, 2015, 2-3PM. Because of the Red Fox: Harp, Tales, And Song. Vashon Bookshop. 17612 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070. Experience the mischievous and magical world of Leaves the Red Fox and his human friends in this bardic performance rooted in Jane’s book, Because Of The Red Fox. For kids of all ages. Free.

Friday, January 9, 2015, 6-9PM. Winter Tales: An Art Show by Jane Valencia. First Friday Gallery Tour Opening. VIA – Vashon Intuitive Arts, 177331 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA, 206-463-0025. Enter an enchanted realm in this showing of reflective and magical art in watercolor and colored pencil drawings and fanciful photographs. Show exhibits throughout the month.

November  2014. Into Forest Halls: Kid-Inspired Art From The Heart Of Our Nature – by Jane Valencia. HUB 070 Gallery (Located in the Spinnaker Building in downtown Vashon just north of Chase Bank and across from Vashon Market) 17710 100th Ave SW, Vashon, WA

Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, – 6-9PM. First Friday Gallery Tour Opening. Come enjoy harp music and micro-magical tales from artist Jane Valencia, good island company, yummy forest-and-garden inspired snacks, and nourishing and delicious herbal beverages as you browse the art.

Sunday, Nov 2 – 2-4PM. Samhain harps at Galway Traders, 2-4 pm, 7518 15th Ave NW in the Ballard neighborhood. Seattle, WA. Joining with other harpers, Jane will offer harp music & gently spooky Celtic-rooted story. A long-standing annual tradition, this event is a free presentation of Celtic harp music to welcome Samhain, the Celtic new year. Enjoy beautiful harp music up-close in a cozy and informal setting presented by our region’s talented harpers!

Monday, October 6, 2014 – 7PM. Two Harps And A Guitar In Concert. Vashon Cohousing Common House, Vashon, WA. Deb Knodel & Jane Valencia (Spookytree Celtic harp duo) and Steve Baughman, Celtic Guitar. Read all about this once-only event here. Don’t miss this one!

Friday, October 3 – 7-9PM. Day Of The Dead Gallery Show. VIA – Vashon Intuitive Arts, 17331 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon Island, WA, 206-463-0025. A collective of island artists will offer their works celebrating the Day Of The Dead. I (Jane) am honored to have my artwork included in this show. The art will be displayed through October, and feature a Community Ofrenda (altar) honoring our loved ones who have passed. I will play my harp during Opening on 10/3. Join us!

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