Wheel of Wonder November 8 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder we'll explore the legends and stories of that ever evocative and sometimes eerie avian avatar The Raven, his vain, but often seeking truth and justice cousin The Crow, and their mother of the darkening year; The Crone! Let your darker thoughts take flight through the grey and misty skies as we hear tales, stories, and songs about the gruesome, but gorgeous duo and the mother of Wisdom and Bones. This week's episode will feature stories from the Salish (rebroadcast with permission)and original writing from Edinburgh Writer, Scientist, and activist Samantha Fleming keeper of the website ravenfamily.org, new music from Peter Kater and new tracks from Wendy Rule. Arise with the Ravens Sunday morning on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture to the right was originally published on the Elfwood Science Fiction and Fantasy fan art site. As of the time of this entry I have not succeeded in finding their name, please let me know if you do! I'll make a special entry giving them credit.

Wheel of Wonder November 1, 2009

November first, First day of the new Celtic Year. Dios de los Muertes, Day of the Dead, and all Soul's Day. Last week on Wheel of Wonder we took a short trip to Scotland, speaking of some of the Scottish Myths and Legends, and of the Taibhsear; the bardic Shamans of the Isles. This Week on Wheel of Wonder as if I were the Taibhsear with the witch's stone (my Halloween Costume if you will) I'll be speaking of the dead , and some of the traditions of respecting and communicating with the dead observed throughout time especially during this time of the year, when the Vail is considered very thin between this world and the other...

I'll share with you a musical vision of the death of the great Irish Hero Chu Chulain with and new music from Jeff and Mychael Danna. We will definitely be running a short Interview with Louisa John Krol. We may even have the time for the "True Ghost Stories of Ireland." Wake up from your Halloween revels and Samhain experiences with your Taibhsear for today on Wheel of Wonder.

Wheel of Wonder October 18th, 2009

Greetings to all

KAOS 89.3 FM started its fall membership drive today. The Wheel of Wonder episode that's running for the Membership drive will be this Sunday; October 18th! For all af those Maidens, Mothers,Green Men, Sages, and even Crones who love to Dance around the Bonfire, you'll like this show; it is all about the Celt-Pagan dancing music!
If you like having a Pagan show Broadcast from Olympia, or you just like there being a Community Radio Station that allows one on the Airwaves; Call between 6am and 9am Sunday and join KAOS as a member!
When I first suggested the Idea of Wheel of Wonder to KAOS management they said: "We don't know if there are very many listeners interested in a Pagan Radio Show, but after talking about it for a long time, we decided to give it a chance..." And on May 5th 2009 the first weekly broadcast of Wheel of Wonder hit the airwaves.
Let's show the folks at this great Public radio station that there are a lot of listeners who do want to hear from the marginalized, Pagan point of view, and what this perspective brings to us, that helps us move into better relationship with each other and our place in the Natural world. Write a Letter, start your Membership (KAOS is a nonprofit operation, it runs on membership dollars). Call and let the people at the station know how you feel about Wheel of Wonder! I hope I'll get to talk to some of you Sunday morning; I'll be at (360)867-KAOS (local Olympia, WA USA). For any more information you need; look at kaosradio.org

The picture to the right and above is by Jussi Lehtiniemi and was originaly posted on cgsociety.org

Wheel of Wonder October 11, 2009

This week on wheel of Wonder we'll re-visit The Celtic Wheel of the year, for the Benefit of those who may have only recently heard of Wheel of Wonder, or perhaps were not even in Olympia back when it all began. One could practically follow along with me as I speak, just by looking far enough back in this blog (see; where it all began). There will of course be more music this time, and I don't doubt more information, through more focus on the elements attuned to the change of seasons. This week is also the pre-membership drive on KAOS 89.3 fm so for every $4000.00 that is raised through new memberships (join on-line) this week, there will be one less membership drive day next week (the membership drive starts on Friday the 16th 0f October)! If you like Wheel of Wonder, join during the show; next Sunday the 18th of October! Or, if you like the other shows on KAOS, join anytime! KAOS is a nonprofit radio station, membership dollars ARE what keeps it broadcasting. I'm looking forward to talking with you this week on Wheel of Wonder!

Wheel of Wonder October 4, 2009

Welcome to Autumn, Let The Journey Begin.

This week I've been thinking about all the new students arriving at The Evergreen State College. As befits the Schedule of the American School System, these people are all beginning a new journey of discovery at this point in their lives. Others are beginning new projects, or exploring new spirit paths, some will engage the Spiral Dance around Samhain, dancing their way into the center of the cauldron, as it were, to change and be reborn. In many ways this is like the Bardic Journey. So this week on Wheel of Wonder we'll focus on a "character, " a "Hero" on a Journey of discovery. It could be you, it could be me, it could be anyone, but through story and song, we'll travel with them on this Journey. This week will also feature, as part of a person's story, a short interview with Evergreen Alumni Chris Bingham of Gaia Consort and Bone Poet's Orchestra, and new tracks of Music from SJ Tucker, and Sharon Knight. Please join us on the Journey.

The beautiful silk print collage is by artist and writer Carolyn Dahl

Wheel of Wonder September 27, 2009

This week on Wheel of Wonder wheel talk a little about Animal Spirits. We've already made some mention of them on prior episodes of Wheel of Wonder. I received calls in the Air Studio asking questions about Animal Spirits during past shows, and I noticed recently that aparrently all the public copies in this town of Ted Andrews' great book: Animal Speak: The Spirit and Magical powers of creatures great and small appear to be out in people's hands, so it must be something people are trying to learn about. Animal Spirits are a big subject, which will take more than one show to speak about. We'll begin this week. I'll bring you information I've found and new, to Wheel of Wonder, tracks by SJ Tucker and Tricky Pixie. If anyone has unique animal spirit stories they'd like to share (anonymous or not) on future Wheel of Wonder shows, feel free to comment, or Email me at radioray.wheelofwonder@gmail.com .

The beautiful art to the right and above is the original work of Chicago Artist Nina Ulana check out her work, showings and other info on her blog!

Equinox in the Woods

Relaxing in a cozy Yurt within a grove of old fir, I looked up towards the sky. I could see the stars through a window in the domed roof, framed by the shaggy tresses of the 200 year old fir trees. I drifted off to sleep accompanied by thoughts of flying outside among them. I woke in the morning to the pattering of rain outside sometimes falling soft, sometimes falling hard. I walked out into the fresh and Balsam air, surrounded by something very close to that familiar Autumn energy, as I listened to the roughly composed duet of the Ravens and the Crows accompany my morning. I had time enough to hike out and learn more about the volcano, before walking with a Druid I recently met to learn more about the Ogham trees. In that old Growth Forest around the area, we found thirteen of the twenty. Not long after that the rest of the camper's arrived and then the Kitchen Witch, who fed us all. Until everyone's presence disappeared by the time of hottest afternoon sun on Sunday-almost -Solstice, I stayed in a Pagan yurt village with bonfires, chanting and great camaraderie!

I played the Harp to calm the energy before we went to sleep Saturday night and played people up with the Sunrise on Sunday. These are the times that make one feel like a real Bard!

The weather was beautiful for the Sunday noon Ritual, and the energy was great! I even went out to my Car once on Sunday morning and heard myself on the Radio! Eventually we all had to leave, but a splinter contingent of us went to the Olympia Pagan Pride event, which was small this year ,under the new organizers, but they put it together in record time (started in August), and all the people there I spoke to (vendors included) were very optimistic it would be bigger and better next year! (Anyone care to manifest pagan musicians and a good, strong Drum circle for that?) All and all, it was a good Mabon.

The picture above is a photograph I caught of the Druid, Crone, and Maiden/Mother participants in the ritual.