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2010
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The Pagan Based newsletter for Pagans by Pagans NOV 2009
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Merry Meet, Welcome to EKO Newsletter. Eko means come. This name comes from an old chant. Eko Eko Azarak Eko Eko Zomelak Eko Eko Cernunnos Eko Eko Aradia This Month's Newsletter focuses on Pagan music. There were so many wonderful groups and People to work with for this newsletter, unfortunately we could only select a few. Autumn met Dee from Pagan FM when they were both contributors to the same book.
He has also found several wonderful groups to include in this issue. An excellent group from Italy
Called Mater Dea.
Merry Meet Dee! Thank you so much for doing this interview. We greatly
appreciate it and your work for Pagan FM. For those readers who may not be
familiar with your excellent radio program, could you please tell us about Pagan
FM, what inspired you to begin this project, and for how long it has been on the air?
Thank you for the opportunity, and thanks for all the great work that Chicago Pagan Pride
(along with the entire Pagan Pride organization) is doing.
PaganFM! is a pagan-themed radio program airing on WSCA-LP, 106.1 FM in Portsmouth, NH. It's one of only two live, on-air radio programs that I know of. The other one is Murphy's Magic Mess airing on KZUM in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Another community radio station).
The genesis of my program is a bit convoluted, but here's the story. Some years ago, a friend of mine had a program called Eros Radio; that program dealt with erotica and alternative life-styles, alternative sexuality and the like. He knew that I was transsexual and invited me to be a guest on his program. Some time later he told me that he was getting another job at the station. I asked what was to become of his show and he said, "It's over unless you take it." I have a nostalgic nature it seems, and didn't want the show to simply die, so I began training as a DJ and eventually took that program over. When I did, the program was from midnight to 4:00 am, every Saturday night, into Sunday morning.
At this time, I was also going through a large number of personal challenges and recognized that my spirituality was the only way through them and I asked the station manager if I could modify the format of the program to include alternative spirituality as well. They agreed. I had not been able to transfer the old Eros Radio domain name, and I started looking for others and found that paganfm.com was available, so I snatched that up and a while later asked for permission to entirely change the format, along with the name of the program, and PaganFM! was born. That change took place early in 2008. By this time I had shortened the program to a 2-hour program as well.
I had also been listening to Pagan podcasts and really enjoyed Deo's Shadow and the other early podcasts and was hoping to do something similar, but I ran into one difficulty. Much of my program was music, and there are some serious legal issues with podcasting music. But later in 2008, I began contacting musicians directly, asking for permission to use their music in a program that would be podcast as well as broadcast. I was very pleasantly surprised with the response. So, on September 21 of 2008 I aired the first episode of PaganFM! that was both podcast as well as broadcast.
Because this show is a live radio show, as well as a podcast, it's a bit different than the other podcasts out there. We do the local weather, our local community calendar; we also air the underwriting for the station. What folks hear on the podcast is what folks hear over the air here in Seacoast, NH. I've read some reviews that remark that it has a definite local flavour, and I've heard from listeners who used to live in the area and enjoy hearing that local flavour. Still, it seems well received worldwide, and the only continent that I haven't yet had a listener from is Antarctica.
In my own practice, I think that there has always been a constant tug toward paganism. I
always loved trees and forested places. Even growing up Catholic, my favorite saint was
Francis and I would spend hours and hours with animals. Once there was a feral cat in the
neighborhood and I would just sit with it. Eventually it would eat from my hand and we
adopted it. My youngest brother and I were the only two people who could actually pick up and handle this cat.
In my own practice, I think that there has always been a constant tug toward paganism. I
always loved trees and forested places. Even growing up Catholic, my favorite saint was
Francis and I would spend hours and hours with animals. Once there was a feral cat in the
neighborhood and I would just sit with it. Eventually it would eat from my hand and we
adopted it. My youngest brother and I were the only two people who could actually pick up and handle this cat.
I always felt a draw by the occult as well, and when I was in my early 20's, in the Air Force, a poem entitled "The Witch" found its way to the pages of my journal. It described the thoughts of a witch as she was being burned. I'd say that was the first solid beginning. That was around 1982. I later found the work of Starhawk and others and practiced on and off through the 1980's and 1990's. It was in the 1990's though that I began to take it much more seriously. My first "official" study with a teacher was with a Dianic witch, but because I personally honor the God and Goddess, I chose not to be initiated into that tradition. I'm also studying Druidry with the OBOD and do a great deal of self-study
Believe it or not, there are many Pagans out there that are unaware of the Pagan
music scene. Which newer Pagan musicians are your personal favorites and whom
would you recommend that people check out. Also could you please explain the
importance of supporting these artists financially and how this can be done?
An example of how people can help musicians out happened earlier in the year. S. J. Tucker (The Skinny White Chick) had some medical issues earlier in the year. The word spread via many other podcasts as well as my show and people bought her albums. The community helped its own.
Those who want to see pagan music increase and flourish need to buy the music from the
artists they like. Some of them are on Itunes, some have their own stores, but if you want the artists you enjoy to keep making music, they need to be supported. I have links on my own website to the artists' pages and I've heard from the artists themselves that it's the listeners who are buying their music
Do you also enjoy any of the somewhat older Pagan music such as Reclaiming And
Friends, Gwydion, Libana, etc.?
What do you think of practicing in a group setting versus solitary practice?
There is something wondrous about being able to walk out into the woods alone and have a deeply fulfilling ritual. That's a part of our faith. But the first time that you are with a group of like-minded, deeply spiritual people, experiencing the Gods and Goddesses together, the synergy can be mind-blowing. I can honestly say that I'm deeply sad for those who call themselves pagan, but never have the opportunity to experience group ritual. I'm not talking about the huge public rituals that happen around Samhain, but the group rituals of deeply committed pagans.
I would never say (as some might) that a solitary isn't truly pagan; certainly if you say you're pagan, you are. I'm simply saying that group ritual is a hugely powerful experience and anyone who considers themselves pagan should consider affording themselves that
opportunity. I think that (at least early on) many avoid group ritual because of performance anxiety ... they'll think "I don't really know what to do in a group" or they fear embarrassing themselves. My advice is that most pagan groups are simply happy to have you there. If you don't know what to do, let folks know that you haven't done group ritual before and they'll be happy to tell you to just go with the flow. Generally, if you're respectful, and if you don't break the circle, there isn't much you'll do to offend anyone.
I’m sure that by doing the radio show you have many stories to tell. Could you
please share with us one of the greatest moments that makes it all worth it, and also
any of the downsides?
When I began the program, one of my goals was to help build community among local
pagans. That's happening, but I find that the community is growing on a much larger scale than I had imagined
As for the downsides, live radio can be interesting. In the early days of the show I once had a dream that I woke up at the microphone not having done my show, with hours of dead air behind me. I also wondered how I could do a live show week after week, still keeping it topical, still having something to say. I once got a note from Mojo at The Wigglian Way who said simply "Two hours, live, every week ... that's tough". So far, in the past two years, I've only missed one show because my car broke down on the way to the station. Even then, I managed to get into the office the next day and at least get the podcast out.
It also takes quite a bit of work to put something like that together. At the station, we're all volunteers. We don't get paid to do this. I don't have a producer or engineer; there can be some interesting moments when things don't go right.
Usually I have a co-host lately, but when I'm alone and things go wrong, it can get interesting quickly. It's especially interesting when I'm sick. I had a bit of bronchitis or lung infection once, and it was especially challenging trying to do a show when I could barely talk.
7)Would you please share with the readers any other recommended Pagan podcasts
and where they can find them, including Pagan FM of course?
Some of my other favorites are:
Deo's Shadow, which is still archived, though now new episodes are being produced
A Pagan Heart in Maine, at www.paganheartinmaine.com. My friend GreyWolf hosts the
program and he has to have one of the best story-telling voices in the world.
The Dark Side of Fey with Darkly Fey can be found at www.darklyfey.com
The Wigglian Way with Mojo and Sparrow can be found at thewigglianway.ca.
The Pagan Centered Podcast at imbleedingprofusely.com
Druidcast with Damh the Bard at druidcast.libsyn.com
There are also The Spiral Dance with Hawthorne, Ariel's Druidic Craft of the Wise, The
Infinite and the Beyond, Lakefront Pagan Voice, The Ipod Witch, a Witchery of one, The
Secrets in Plain Sight, The Unnamed Path, and so many more. Really, there could be an
entire article just giving a short description of the podcasts that I get a lot from.
In your opinion, what is the importance and benefit of listening to Pagan music for
the practicing Pagan?
Most all of us can speak words and relate facts. But when we do ritual, we tend to add an
element of poetry to our words. This adds two things to our words; it makes them easier to remember and it adds an element of timing to them. We can escape, through poetry, from our time, to the timing of the poem.
Music adds another dimension. Not only do we have the words, not only do we have the
poetry, but we have the vibrations the musical notes as well.
There have been studies with people who lost the ability to communicate due to stroke, and some of these, while having lost the ability to speak, have not lost the ability to sing. It allows us another pathway of communication in our minds.
For centuries, possibly even before the Druids, though certainly the Druids knew this, music is a great teaching tool. While we might have difficulty remembering lists of facts, we can much more easily remember songs. I taught my daughters, when they were very young, how to remember our address and phone number by incorporating them into a song. While they wouldn't memorize easily the address and phone number, they did memorize the song and they knew that they could go to a police officer and sing that song if they got lost
Music, through tone and rhythm can set a mood. It can teach us. It can even change our
physiology, raising or lowering heart rate, blood pressure, brain waves and more. I can't
imagine practicing a faith, or living at all for that matter, without using music in some way.
Do you have any favorite Pagan authors?
It's interesting that when I get a new book, I go first to the Bibliography. I like to see who the particular author has read, often even before reading their books. One of my favorite books was Pagans and Christians: The Personal Experience by Gus DiZerega. This is a great apologetic work for those who work with Christians as well. It helped me understand how to bridge the gap between the two religions so that I could be more effective in communication with other faiths.
Some people have a problem with Scott Cunningham, but I believe he did a remarkable job of making our religion available to many more people than most anyone else. I have also enjoyed the work of Oberon Zell, Isaac Bonewits, T. Thorne Coyle, Starhawk (especially The Pagan Book of Living and Dying), and many others.
There are two things that trouble me with books these days. One is the number of errors that make it through the editorial process and into final print. I think that if we are going to be taken seriously as a religion that our religious writing needs to be on par with the writing of other religions. If you look at most Catholic spiritual books, even most religious magazines, the writing is impeccable; you're not going to find "alter" where "altar" was intended, or any of the other numerous errors that creep into pagan writing today. I think that writers, editors and publishers need to work harder to insure that what we write is written to the same standard as religious writing in general. We'll go a lot farther toward being accepted as a legitimate religion when that does happen.
The other thing that troubles me is the elitism among some readers. I've heard numerous
times that an individual won't buy a book from a publisher that they view as less serious, or that caters to the "101" crowd. Honestly, if a book is well written, I don't care who publishes it; what matters is whether or not I get something from it. I've found good and bad from most every publisher out there. And there aren't all that many authors out there who consistently manage to capture my attention. I know that some are writing (at times) simply because the publisher wants a new book to publish, rather than having something important to say.
You are one of the co-authors of the book called: "Out Of The Broom Closet."
Would you care to discuss this a bit?
I actually heard about the project from Grey Wolf at A Pagan Heart in Maine. "Coming Out" has been an important part of my life, both as a pagan and as a transsexual. I thought I could offer a bit different experience, being both, to the project. I wrote the essay quite a while ago and was very happy that it was accepted. My life has been in quite a state of flux over the years, and the organization that I was working with when I wrote the article (QH4U) no longer exists, but I think that book was a great opportunity and I'm glad to have been a part of it.
was a bit worried when the original editor, Kendra Hovey, had some changes in her life that prevented her from completing the project, but it was picked up by Arin Murphy-Hiscock and eventually completed. I think there is something in that book for most everyone, not just pagans.
I would really love to ask many more questions but now I am going to conclude.
Are there any last words Dee would like to share with the Midwest Pagan
community? Once again we thank you for your time.
Thanks, once again, for giving me the chance to be a part of what you're doing here. Thanks also for the chance to talk about my program and my practice as a pagan. I hope that my answers weren't too lengthy, but I do like to write. I'm not sure what my schedule will be like, but I hope to get out of the Northeast next year and visit some of the other festivals in North America. Perhaps I'll make it to the Windy City other than just to switch planes.
Blessed Be,
--Dee
Interview with Lord Shining Starr
Yes, thank you. The workshop I lead was on basic magickal correspondences. The use of items such as statues, colors, herbs, and candles to bring about a desired change. For example, in casting a spell for prosperity, you could use a coin or another related item to bring prosperity to you. The universe works on a like attracts like basis, and as such, you could use an item that closely relates to the goal. The actual workshop itself centered around moon phases, days of the week, elements/directions, and two other techniques; cord and candle magick.
How long have you been practicing and what initially drew you to the Pagan path?
I have been practicing since I was 18 and eventually I picked up a book called “Teen Witch” by Silver Ravenwolf. That is when I first found my path. Even as a child I was always fascinated by the pentacle; the five-pointed star in a circle. Even in my youth, I would draw the pentacle on many things, on paper, in the snow etc. When I was in college I saw a girl who was wearing this symbol and she had the book. I bought it and read it. It was like re-learning what I had always known.
In your own words, what were the greater moments of Chicago Pagan Pride 2009 and what do you think is the benefit of Pagans coming together to celebrate and reach out to the community?
I believe the whole event in general was beneficial. It gives us as Pagans a chance to web weave, learn about other paths, and also, possibly I hope, the community to see that we are not the “creepy” people that the media has made us out to be. By sharing our knowledge and experiences, we are able to open our hearts and minds, learn, and also have fun.
Do you believe that the workshops were beneficial to others, in that they are educational and informative? What was the feedback like from doing your workshop?
I feel that the workshops I attended were extremely educational and informative, but I can’t speak for everyone. One in particular was an entire ritual done to music lead by the Brotherhood of the Phoenix. As for the feedback from my workshop, I had a few people come up to me throughout the day and asked for my email and thanked me for the workshop. I wish them all the best in their endeavors.
If someone were interested in forming a Pagan group of their own, do you have any advice or suggestions regarding this endeavor?
Start small and work up! If you have a few friends who are interested in studying, then get together and study. And if you meet someone later that is interested, invite them to join as well. Forming a Pagan group is much like forming a family. It must begin slowly. Listen and get to know everyone. Communication is the key.
In your opinion, what are the strengths and weaknesses of belonging to a group?
In my opinion the strengths of belonging to a group are three fold. There are experienced teachers willing to help and teach you. You have moral support and someone you can turn to for spiritual guidance. One of the weaknesses in a group setting is that you are confined to a certain “tradition” or “way” of the group. Unless you belong to an “eclectic” group, you have less chance to learn about other ways.
Do you have any favorite authors and musicians that have inspired you along your path?
This list is endless. But to name a few are the early books by Silver Ravenwolf, Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, A.J. Drew, and Christopher Penczak. All of these have inspired me. As for musicians, Gwydion Penderwyn, Gypsy, Emerald Rose, Damh the Bard, and Inkubus Succubus have all had a wonderful and eclectic influence on my life and my chosen path.
Looking back again at Chicago Pagan Pride 2009, would you recommend attending this event to others and would you be willing to teach another workshop?
In all honesty, I would shout from the highest mountaintop. I had such a phenomenal time. I would be ecstatic to do another workshop if I get the opportunity. One very valuable lesson I learned when I first began teaching is that the teacher learns as much as the student.
Volunteer Corner Merry Meet,
As most of you know by now we have a new leadership committee for Chicago Pagan Pride 2010.
I was just asked to write an article for another newsletter about Putting on a Chicago Pagan
Pride event, what it entails and how to go about it.
It takes a lot of work coordinating everything but it has many benefits. You get to meet
so many interesting people from so many diverse groups. The many people who volunteer their
time and services to make this day such a success are invaluable to the event.
Remember volunteers are what make this event such a success each year.
The Witches Wheel of the Year The Wheel of the Year is commonly celebrated by the majority of Pagans and is a collection of many ancient Pagan holidays. It is important to know that not all ancient civilizations celebrated every one of these dates, but all of these dates have ancient origins.
This article is written from a Wiccan perspective but not limited to.
Since Wicca is a nature-based religion, it only makes sense that these 8 holidays have been chosen. All 8 holidays are called “Sabbats.” They are the Spring/Autumn Equinoxes, the Summer/Winter Solstices, and their halfway points.
The four halfway points are generally called the Greater Sabbats, while spring, summer, fall, and winter are considered the Lesser Sabbats. The dates of the four Greater Sabbats never change, but the Lesser Sabbats may vary a day from year to year, but they generally fall on the 21st. For Example, Samhain is always Oct. 31st, while Midsummer is usually June 21st, but sometimes falls on the 20th or the 22nd
It is accepted by almost all Wicca’s that a beginner must study and learn for the traditional “year and a day” as an initiate before moving on. One of the primary reasons for this is to participate in the turning of the wheel a full cycle. By observing or participating in a ritual for each of the 8 Sabbats one grows closer to nature and acquires a better knowledge and understanding of what our spirituality is all about, not to mention the fact that during the first year one does an intense amount of learning and decides whether he or she wants to follow this path with a lifelong dedication. Some say that after completing the first turn of the Wheel, a Witch’s power begins to grow much stronger, and I personally agree with that for I have experienced it. NOT that achieving power is the main objective, because it is NOT. If power is merely what you seek, Wicca is not for you, search elsewhere and quit this lesson now. However, Wicca will teach you how to empower your life in a positive manner and help you reach your fullest potential. Magickal power just so happens to follow, but is not the focus of study.
I will begin teaching The Wheel of the Year with SAMHAIN, generally pronounced Sow-en.
Samhain is always celebrated on October 31st and is the halfway point between fall and winter. This was the Celtic New Years Eve. Although it is sometimes debated, pagans celebrate this night as the death of the God. Some celebrate the death of the god during Mabon.
Samhain is the third of three harvest festivals and is believed to be the night when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thinnest. It was a common practice to remember the souls of loved ones who have passed during the last twelve months or any loved one regardless of when they died. It is customary to give thanks to both the God and Goddess for providing enough food and shelter to last throughout the coming winter.
Samhain is when we see daylight hours greatly lessen and the night grows much longer. In many cultures it is customary to leave food outside as a gift to departed spirits
The Roman-Catholic church could find no way of covering this holiday so they decided to label it as something evil and frightening. They did however create a holiday falling on the next day and called it All Saints Day, which was designed to counteract this popular pagan celebration of death. Yes Samhain is a celebration of death, for without death there could be no rebirth. This holiday is now called Halloween, All Hallows Eve, or Hollowed Eve (meaning Holy Eve) because it is the night before All Saints Day
Samhain is a good night for divination and banishing anything negative from a persons life
The next Sabbat is called Yule, the Winter Solstice, and generally falls on December 21st. This is the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. This is when we celebrate the birth, or should I say the re-birth of the God. This holiday was so popular with ancient Europeans that the church decided to try and cover it as the birth of Jesus. It is a fact that Jesus was not born in December, but in the late spring or early summer.
The Wicca/Pagan celebration of Yule is also the first celebration of the return of the sun since the day after the winter solstice; daylight gradually grows longer and longer. Therefore the sun is associated with the God. Red and green were traditional colors used to celebrate Yule, red being a color of the sun God and green being a color of the Earth Goddess. Mistletoe, holly, and the evergreen tree were common decorations since they are symbols of eternal life. Candles were burned on the Yule tree or various places in the home to represent the light of the sun. Now we commonly use “Christmas lights” in their place. This is also a time when pagans (Celtic mythology) celebrate the triumph of the Oak King over the Holly King. Just remember the verse from a common Christmas carol… “Join the ancient Yuletide carol fa la la la la, la la la la.
Moving along, we come to what is called Imbolc, Imbolg, or Candlemass, however the name Candlemass is a Catholic name used to cover, or should I say replace this ancient pagan holiday.
Imbolc always falls on February 2nd and it is the halfway point between winter and spring. This is when we truly begin to see daylight lasting longer. This is a celebration of the God growing stronger and becoming a young man. It is traditional to celebrate this Sabbat by burning many candles or turning on every light in your home as a symbol of the returning sun. This is the holiday of the Goddess Brigid and is still celebrated by non-pagans and called Groundhog’s Day.
Next we have Ostara, which generally falls on March 21st. This is the first day of spring and when night and day are equal. The holiday is named after the ancient Goddess of fertility called Eostara. This is when the God is now a young man and begins his love affair with the Goddess. This is sometimes considered the first festival of fertility, although some consider Imbolc to be the first, and represents rebirth since it is apparent that all life is reborn on the earth such as flowers, the budding of trees, etc… It was traditional to decorate the home with colored eggs and images of rabbits for they are symbols of rebirth and fertility. From the name Eostara we get the name Easter and estrogen. Eventually the church moved this holiday to a later date (that date always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the Spring Equinox.) and kept the same ancient name for the holiday. This has now become the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Why, because the Earth and the sun seem to be resurrecting and returning. Equinox means EQUAL night and day.
Beltane comes next on May 1st. This is the halfway point between spring and summer and is always May 1st. At this point, daylight begins to last longer than night. It is important to note that these holidays are opposite in the southern hemisphere.
Beltane is the main celebration of fertility and it is common within the Wicca/Pagan community to perform the Great Rite during the ritual, which is a symbol of the joining together of Goddess and God, male and female. It is the opposite of Samhain and is also a time when the veil between the living and the dead is thin.
Common ways of celebrating this Sabbat are to create a Maypole decorated with flowers and ribbons, and to leap over a bonfire. This holiday is now commonly called May Day.
Moving on we find ourselves at Litha, also called Midsummer. This is the first day of summer and usually falls on June 21st. This is the longest day of the year and when the God is at his prime. This is a powerful time of performing all kinds of positive magick, and is when the Holly King triumphs over the Oak King. This is when we celebrate all the warmth, food, and love that summer brings. Outdoor ritual is highly recommended.
Following Midsummer we come upon Lughnasadh- pronounced Loo-na-sa, the “d” and “h” are kept silent. This is always on August 1st.
Lughnasadh is named after the pagan God called Lugh. Lugh is a God of the sun and the harvest, particularly the harvest of breads and grains. This is the first of the three harvest festivals, and you guessed it, the traditional food to eat during/after this ritual is bread. The Catholic Church calls this holiday Lammas and they also partake in eating bread during mass. This is when the God begins to grow old and daylight begins to lessen just a bit.
Next we have what is called Mabon. Usually Sept. 21st but can sometimes fall on the 20th or the 22nd. This is the first day of fall and the hours of daylight and darkness are once again equal, hence autumn equinox. This is the second Harvest celebration.
Mabon is Pagan Thanksgiving, and in fact, the pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving around this time, and it was always celebrated around the first day of fall until President Lincoln changed the date to the last Thursday in November.
During Mabon, The Goddess (and we as well) prepare for the coming death of the God (the sun). Some Pagans consider the God to die on this night but most agree on Oct.31st as the time when the God dies, only to be reborn at Yule. It’s all about the cycles of the sun.
It is traditional to hold a large feast after the Mabon ritual since this is the REAL Thanksgiving. This is the time to observe the seasonal changes that come with autumn and fallen leaves and pinecones may be used as altar decorations.
Most pronouce this holiday MAY-Bon, but the actual pronunciation is Ma-Bone. It is the same for BONE fires, not BON fires, but it really is not important.
I hope that this has been insightful. There is so much more to each and every one of these holidays, so I impore you to do additional research, and, ENJOY THEM.
Blessed Be
AutTumn
(Gregory Michael Brewer)
)0(
Mater Dea was born when two musicians, Simon Papa and Marco Strega, engaged in a remarkable collaboration. Coming from very different musical traditions, they nevertheless share a common passion for the dreamy, haunting and rarified ambience of Celtic music. The common denominator in this project, besides the musical ambiance, is the lyrics in which natural elements, marvellous creatures, and fantasy compete to draw the listener into a surreal dimension, which brings one into contact with the ancient cult of the Great Mother.
In this, their first album, Simon and Marco collaborated closely. Each song was inspired by the sophisticated harmonies and arrangements that Marco created which permitted Simon to unleash her imagination, finally allowing her to unite it with a new creation. The two musicians were often together in Marcos' studio, in a beautiful little house in the country nestled among magnificent trees, to decide which was the best direction to take on a particular melody, and ended up recording the entire album there.
The recording of this album took place from November 2008 until October of 2009. Each track was recorded after the finalization of the composition. One at a time, every one took on aspects of daily life, of the seasons with their colors and scents, and of the goings-on that occurred in the personal lives of the two musicians during this entire period. Perhaps because of this, the album manages to convey a particular feeling to the listener; the entire album embodies the experience of discovery as both musicians, together, began to discover little by little the magnificence of that which they were bringing forth from themselves.
The first piece written “Mater Dea” is indeed the mother of the album. It was originally to be used as the soundtrack for a short film, but instead made it possible for Simon and Marco to decide that would be worth getting together to make an actual album. In Mater Dea, the fluidly changing melody immediately captures the listener
The second composition, named “Fairy of the Moor”, was so deeply moving and penetrating that the enthusiasm of the two musicians was rekindled. Then, The Enchanted Oak came along, a piece with a very dreamy feel to the melody, which becomes ever more powerful and with lyrics that follow the ever changing dreamlike musical arrangement perfectly
Simon and Marco then thought to pay homage to a great Celtic musician, Loreena McKennitt, reinterpreting in rock her famous piece, “The Mummer’s Dance”. Another winning idea has also been to write original lyrics for a beautiful John Whelan melody entitled, “Trip to Skye”. This resulted in another emotionally impacting piece, which added to a new powerful harmonic part created by Marco, and which emphasized the already magical atmosphere of John’s melody. Subsequently the desire was born to contact John to invite him to add his virtuoso accordion skills in the recording, which he was most pleased to do and graciously agreed to the recording of Mater Dea. It was in this moment of great joy for Marco and Simon that they found the opportunity to establish a relationship of friendship and mutual respect with this personality who is a Celtic instrumental music icon.
A few pieces then came to life as a result of themes suggested in a very informal manner by Marco and Simon, which is what happened in “The Silvery Leaf”, where from the theme of autumn leaves was born a powerful ballad with a folk flavor, always with the engaging presence of Marco’s energetic guitar. The lyrics tell the story of a leaf with silvery veins which comprise a map enabling a woman to find her lost love.
“An Elder Flute” is one of the pieces which express the strong rock influence of the project, and is inspired by the mythological figure of Pan, imparting a very sensual feel to the listener. “An Elder Flute”, together with ”In the Storyteller’s Wardrobe”, was truly written by both musicians, and in both pieces, one can delight in the wonderful harmony of Marco and Simon, blending perfectly in a duet.
Another composition where their combined voices produce an intense atmosphere due to the hauntingly beautiful arrangement and the amazing harmonic and melodic concept is “Breath of the Ocean”, written on the fly and which is meant to be heard all at once while one is captivated by its intensity.
Finally, the piece “Below the Mist, Above the Brambles” was born magically from its own title and has become one of the most interesting pieces of the whole album, as its structure based on a very sweet opening stanza, an explosive middle part, and a chorus which remains quite impressive.
The album “Below the Mists, Above the Brambles” was produced by MaterDea together with Capogiro Records, and will be available for release by December 21, 2009. It is a tireless journey, a dive into the world of fantasy and imagination in which one can find all the ingredients to be able to dream and fly high!
Info: www.materdea.com – www.myspace.com/materdea
Email: info@materdea.com – management@capogiro.com
PAGAN MUSIC: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
In these hard times for our economy, not everyone can just rush out and purchase CDs. Yet there is still that yearning to expand the music collection and make that connection to the larger Pagan community. There is however, an inexpensive way to acquire new music without hurting the pocketbook while also supporting our Pagan musicians. Much Pagan music is available for 99-cents/song on either Itunes or Amazon.com. I have not yet used Itunes, but I can say for sure that every song on Amazon can be clicked on and listened to before purchasing.
Giving Thanks
I know that the current recession has been hard on everyone. Even
for those who did not lose their jobs money is still tight. The first thing people do is let the
little extravagences go, and money that was once set aside for splurges has to be spent otherwise.
This has brought back some lost values. Remember the days when watching TV or playing a board game
or card game was family entertainment.
We seem to have put values back into things that were lost.
There are still plenty of ways to get quality enjoyment from life on a drastic budget cut.
Instead of going out find things to do at home. Have family game night, poker night, or movie night.
Have a Vegas night with friends and make it a potluck dinner.
Ladies, have a spa day, do your own manicures, pedicures, look online for simple face masks,
some can be as easy as pureed fruit or whipped egg whites.
Organize a swap for clothing, accessories, cosmetics, music, tools, movies or whatever you are into.
There are many deals on food and drink at many local bars and pub in your neighborhood. ON the south side
JJ KElley's offers 20 cent wings on tuesdays and 25 cent tacos and $4.00 pitchers on Thursday night.
M&M Windjammer offers 1/4lb Angus burgers starting at $1.00 add fries for 25 cents more.
Some websites that are helpful are www.freecycle.org. Freecycle was started to help keep things out of
the landfills that still have some life left in them. YOu find the group in your area post an item that you no
longer need and you can post wanted ads or respond to offers of free stuff. There is no bartering or trades everything is a give away.
Another great website is www.etsy.com. They sell handcrafted items, vintage or supplies. They have what are called PIF Items. PIF
stands for Pay it forward just like the movie. You can get stuff for 20 cents plus shipping charges. They also have tons of items starting at $1.00
A great way to save for either yourself of holiday shopping. Be courteous as some sellers limint 1 PIF item per person.
Craigslist is also a great way to save money. They have listings for free items and items for barter. There are also so many things
listed that you can find tons of stuff that you may need at rummage sale prices. You can even list your stuff for free.
While everyone is familiar with ebay and their deals there is another site that is totally free and sometimes you can get way better deals than on ebay.
www.gothauctions.com I suggest joining the forums so that people get to know you because this is a really good community and the best part is people actually bid on stuff.
Another wonderful site is www.mypoints.com. I have actually been a member for years and have received about $300 in gift cards from them. You receive points for reading emails,
signing up for offers or websites and for shopping online thru their site at places like ebay, drugstore.com, walmart.com, staples.com etc. There are hundreds of merchants that most people already shop with.
You redeem your points for gift cards for dozens of places that you will actually use. The best part about this, is that you can actually receive gift cards without spending any
money at all just a little patience and some of your time.
Community events
Drumming for World Peace and Healing
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake
Cooked sweet potato or winter squash can substitute for the pumpkin.
If you have an upcoming event that you would like to post in our newsletter please contact us
chicagopaganpride@yahoo.com
Blessed Be,
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