Hello to all the dear hearts listenin!

Well. It’s hard to put into words all the beauty and growth this journey is taking me into. I began writing this note on a tiny island off Anacortes, WA, called Guemes. I woke to the soft rain and a gorgeous garden, my head resting on a pillow given to me, in a room of wood paneling, in a stunning house designed and created by a sweet architect couple.

How do these things happen? The generosity and welcoming that’s been showed to us on this tour is overwhelming at times.


I am starting to see how it unfolds though…

Portland was the first landing spot. One of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever experienced. The rhythm and pace match mine — slower than the urban living, and just fast enough for the creative sparks to bloom. After an all-night drive from Oakland to Portland, instruments arranged like tetris in Zipporah’s tiny new car, we were welcomed into the home of a dear friend, Amanda, and fell asleep to daybreak. After a sweet first show at Valentine’s, I got the sweetest three vacation days of restful exploring. Fourth of July fireworks… I ran around with my camera catching the bursts, like a child catching butterflies in a net. Now the fireballs burst at every show, projected over me as I sing “Oh Love!” Oh love. Oh Universe! Could this really be my life?

Perhaps happiness can be a state of being, believing it’s real makes it possible, probable…

My bones tired of sitting and standing, I searched for ecstatic dance — and lo and behold! Portland has 2 events each night for dancing. I met up with Michael, my tour buddy for the rest of the trip… and we danced! At the end of the closing circle, I found myself talking to Phillip, a man who’d just popped in on a whim. He not only invited me to perform a house concert in his home, but also connected us to Eratosthenes Fackenthall, a filmmaker creating “Ballard Sessions,” video songs of musicians touring through.

So in Seattle, we wandered a forest park and beautiful abbey, and this (and more) was created:
Oh Love!

Seattle was a lesson in relaxing, in no expectations… as I let all expectations fall away, I suddenly found myself in better-than-hoped for scenarios. After an effortless and joyful show, we drove an hour north at 2 am, camping in the field of the brother of Eratosthenes, who we never even met (though spied through a distant window)… we left in the early dawn light, to catch dancing in Vancouver B.C.

Of course, we landed in B.C. without a penny of Canadian currency, yet still somehow found it to the dancing… upper story, windows all around, dancing to a full view of Vancouver. Our sleeping spot had fallen through last minute, but we had a whole lot of trust in the Universe in our hearts at this point… and sure enough, we barely finished the sentence of “can anyone host us a night…” when a man’s hand shot up. (Later we’d all remember how quickly and trustingly he’d raised his hand, how it seemed perfect in every way that we stayed with him…) His name was Musa, and he welcomed us fully into his home and life. Long conversations about life and learning, walks in the park… we gave him EFT sessions and massage, he gave us a home, fresh coconut butter, and bowls of chopped fruit. Synergy of synchronicity.

Vancouver reminds me of the Alps… the mountains so massive and regal, touching a stillness and solidness in me deep as the layers of rock, deep as the time when the rock began…

The show went great. I had all sorts of loop pedal malfunctions and little hitches, and it didn’t matter, cause we were singin our hearts out! One woman came up to me crying, she was so touched. I was deeply moved by the honesty shared with me, by everyone there. Another man said it was the most heartfelt performance he’d ever experienced. I am realizing how the more I feel into this immense joy and gratitude, the more the notes of each song are carried by those frequencies. And so singing has become much more than sharing songs. The responses I’m receiving from these shows are affirming my life as a healer and artist. To a point that I’m almost overwhelmed in thankfulness as I look at this path before me…

After many thank you’s to Musa, we were off to Bellingham, to a cooperative house with a community library, the Sushi Tribe nonprofit that hosts travelers, readers, and community. We cooked soup, made friends, and gave a gorgeous performance. Waking up to rainy skies, bright green leaves… I sat with the stillness, with the song of the suburban trees. A friend was synchronistically visiting town, researching permaculture farms… so we headed out of town, to a gorgeous farm, where we picked a huge box of raspberries, then bought chocolate ice cream to eat with the raspberries (though by the time we got to the store, half the berries were munched away…) Joy!

It was a short ferry ride from Anacortes to the Island of Guemes… taking a drive that afternoon, we found it only took about 20 minutes to go round the entire island! Sweet people, lush trees and vibrant land. The local event planners requested I return, so they could pack their community hall next time. Yes! I will return, Guemes. I will return.

In Port Townsend we were invited to play music at a fundraising event, singing, projecting video, and dancing into the night with the locals downtown. We stayed in the home of Michael’s friends who’ve bought land, who are making their dream a reality, creating their landed community. Amazing to see the dream become a reality. It’s happening.

We sat up in the attic in a circle, each sharing their own shade of major life transition. The path ahead is exciting, these are new shoes that have felt too large previously. Now the shoes fit perfectly. And I’m fully, devotedly, unalterably ready to walk forward. There’s not even another option at this point.

Transitions are an incredible doorway into the unknown, an amazing opportunity to stay open and trust in what’s coming. I am equally overwhelmed and grateful for these major life shifts.

The next day we drove deep into the Olympic National Rainforest. Why? Because our hearts called us there. So many other options… but what matters most, more than ever, is listening to the inner voice. Tuning in. And following the lead of the intuition.

And it led me to the tallest Spruce mama, her roots deeper than any I’d met. The moss hung gracefully, the trees whispered songs into my bones…

Come with me
so I may always remember
how stillness is majesty
and silence is wisdom
Come with me
so I may always remember
how many more lifetimes you’ve existed
how you bend to the whims of the wind
yet rocks are moved by your roots…

We must risk everything to follow the heart.

To dance with that beat, that rhythm… it’s like jumping off a cliff into the unknown fog, trusting there’s water or soft hands to catch you. Just trusting.

The door’s been opened, I am officially and deeply in the experiment of TRUST. The experiment of receptivity. Staying Open. Letting go and flowing. Breathing in each change, each moment, as a cosmic significance, a divine interaction of universal will and personal intention.

“Meeting the Universe halfway” is my new mantra.

And Gratitude is my new status quo.

And I am so grateful to each of you, in all the ways you have encouraged me over these years, and all the ways you inspire me to create and share.

Thank you.

Time to follow our hearts, ain’t no other way…

Ready? One, two, three…

<3

“And again my inmost life rushes louder,
as if moved between steeper banks.
Objects become ever more related to me…
I feel myself more trusting in the nameless:
with my senses, as with birds, I reach
into the windy heavens…”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke