Today we musically experience the Celtic concept of ‘pilgrimage.’ In medieval Ireland a holy man or woman would head out into the waters in a small boat and no oars, allowing the waters and the grace of God to guide them to an unknown shore. We too will head out on the road and into mysterious waters to discover the music that lies there. Enjoy!
12:05: Knodel and Valencia – Lonesome Road to Dingle
12:07: Alasdair Fraser and Paul Machlis – The Road North
12:13: MacKillop, Taylor, and Randall – Lux et Gloria
12:16: Mary McLaughlin – Deep Peace
12:19: Mary McLaughlin – Song to Bridget
12:22: Cynthia Shelhart – Walnut Welcome
12:27: Maire Breatnach – Inis Sui
12:30: Anne Roos – Steering by Aldebaran
12:34: Harper Tasche – Winter Stars
12:38: Skyedance – Way Out to Hope Street
12:40: Solasta – Stout’s Trip
12:44: The Poozies – Company of Women
12:49: Altan – Inis Dhu_n Ramba
12:52: The Cast – Eventide
12:56: Spookytree – Lochaber No More
Today’s show honors Brigid, the Celtic goddess and the Irish Saint, with music related to lore surrounding this powerful figure of light in Celtic traditions. Brigid was a goddess of the hearth, the forge, and of poetic fire, a protector of women in childbirth, guardian of the land, and more. In addition to music from the Celtic lands, we’ll enjoy some ancient prayers and poetry to Brigid. We’ll also wander along the shores, stepping outside Celtic-inspired music to touch into neighboring soundscapes that continue Brigid’s threads in various ways.
12:02: La Lugh – Oiche fa Fheil Bride
12:05: Aine Minogue – Brigit’s Feast
12:07: Lisa Thiel – Song to Brighid
12:13: Shira Kammen – Lullaby Set
12:19: Laurie Riley and Bob McNally – The Jewel
12:21: Phil Cunningham – The House in Rose Valley
12:26: Moving Cloud Orchestra – The Hut on Staffin Island/ The Haggis/Paddy Ryan’s Dream
12:32: Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin – Gabhaim Molta Bride
12:34: Jane Valencia – Saint Brigit’s Hymn + Lore about St. Brighid
12:41: Sian James – Lloer Dirion
12:46: La Lugh – Brighid’s Kiss
12:49: Tina Malia – Heal This Land
12:54: Spookytree (Deb Knodel & Jane Valencia) – Lochaber No More
12:55: Jeff Beck – Women of Ireland
Here in the Northern Hemisphere we are still in the storytelling time of year. This is the time when nature-infused community and cultures have, like the plants, reached into the roots of themselves, sourcing from dreams, song, and wisdom for the most essential treasures within. From this deep-within place new and renewed pathways are envisioned and explored in a variety of ways. Nature tells and shows us that in spring, we’ll experience the tender roots and shoots of this dreaming, storyweaving time emerging into our daily life.
In the meantime though, we rest, wander, drink deeply of and poke and prod our stories. The stories we tell about our lives, the stories that guide us forward, the stories we tell each other. It’s how we humans have survived and thrived since our beginnings. Storytelling — whether in conversation, reflecting on the day, in the gratitude we offer, and the information we aim to convey — is as essential to our humanity as our ability to create and work with fire.
Now, more than ever, we need to tend to story. Our stories need to be reflective of what we truly want in our world. They need to bring us together rather than divide us, inspire hope rather than fear, look to seeking understanding, to pointing to directions to kind and strong ways of being in challenging times. And they need to offer heart, the possibility of healing, and forgiveness. They need to be as honest as we can make them. After all, we deserve nothing less: we are in this life and this beautiful world together.
And we need to have stories that are fun!
With that in mind I invite you all to the Vashon Wilderness Program‘s Tenth Annual Storytelling Festival. I’m honored to be a teller at this event, offering harp and story. Details below!
In the heart of winter, hundreds of people from Vashon and beyond gather around our proverbial fire to share in the ancient and powerful tradition of oral storytelling.
In honor of their 10th year Anniversary,
their 10th Annual Storytelling Festival
will be offered to our community for FREE!
Join us – January 28th, 2017 @ 1pm
doors open at 12:30pm
this event typically sells out – early arrival strongly recommended
buy concessions, sign up for our 1-Minute Story-thon, and settle in with family & friends
Vashon Theater, Vashon Island
Packed with incredible stories for and by the community,
plus audience participation, including a 1-minute Story-thon, story improv games, and more.
