Sep 3, 2019
Episode #24 the Ground Shots Podcast features a field recording of a morning spent with Epona Heathen and her child Rainan outside their camp at the 2019 Saskatoon Circle Gathering in the Methow Valley, near Twisp, Washington.
Epona sings a few striking and emotive songs for me, and speaks about her intentions behind her music. This episode is especially focused on Epona’s song ‘Our Lady of the Sunflower,’ an ode to the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata (Asteraceae), a common and gloriously beautiful plant of western turtle island that paints the hillsides yellow in Spring.
In this conversation with Epona, we talk about:
octave mandolins and Epona's relationship with the instrument
some occasional comments and conversations from Rainan, Epona's child, in the background
some of the seasonal and life cycle themes that inspire Epona's music
Epona's journey writing music for Rainan and connecting with her ancestors for him
Epona's Irish and West African roots in the mountains of western North Carolina
opening up to the love of the land faces us with the grief of it's loss too
Epona's relationship with the Arrowleaf Balsamroot plant
Sitting with the land when grief arises
Epona sharing some of the wisdom that Finisia Medrano shared with her over the years
an experience Epona had in Hell's Canyon
a few thoughts on tending the wild food gardens 'hoop' in the west
thoughts on the coyote and modern culture
Links:
The Heathen Family on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_heathen_family/?hl=en
Epona’s personal instagram: https://www.instagram.com/once_epona_tone/
A collaborative music project of Epona and Alex Heathen: Mirror Fauna. https://mirrorfauna.bandcamp.com/
Bob Gernandt instruments– octave mandolin/ irish bazooky: http://www.gernandt.com/
A book I think folks should read to follow up on our coyote talk in the conversation: 'Coyote America' by Dan Flores
Movie trailer on film being made about Finisia Medrano called ‘The Life of Fin:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vv9V-K7wc0
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Theme music: 'Sweat and Splinters' by Mother Marrow
Produced by: Opia Creative