If you have consciously or serendipitiously arrived here, welcome. I’m Fran, aka Redondowriter, and my interests include family, friends, writing, reading, computers, storytelling, spirituality, literature and the arts, photography, animals—and exploring the layers of everyday life.
St. Patrick's Breastplate, or "I Arise Today" sung by Irish women and men brings me to tears of joy and hope every time I hear it. The song that did it for my mom was "Danny Boy." I'd like to share Angelina's version with you from YouTube. When I am doing my morning routine, I often listen to this song. It keeps me intentional and focused.
I had never heard of Irish singer Lisa Hannigan until today on NPR's All Things Considered. I was half-way listening to the interview until I heard her voice in excerpts from her debut solo album Sea Sew. I rarely buy music anymore, but I'll get this CD.
Tonight I went on YouTube and watched her sing several songs and they are sweet, haunting, melancholic. Good Friday is a melancholy day for me and her voice and lyrics seemed to match my feelings.
Apparently she sang backup vocals with Irish singer Damien Rice for seven years, but two years ago he dismissed her abruptly from his band. When questioned about that in the interview, she was incredibly gracious. You can read or listen to the interview at the link above.
Here is Lisa Hannigan playfully singing Lille and showing the song's scenes in a wonderful pop-up book.
Yesterday my rector posted a version of St. Patrick's Breastplate he likes on Facebook and then memories flooded back of how I played a version I liked every morning for years--and then I fell out of the habit. Why do we fall out of habits of things that have nurtured our souls? Here is a video version of the same song that I personally love by Angelina.
Jonathan Young Continuing education in California and Arizona with Jonathan Young, Ph.D., the founding curator of the Joseph Campbell Archives.
Sisters on Sojourn I like to visit this site which I actually linked to from the Artella site.
Myth*ing Link An Annotated & Illustrated Collection of Worldwide Links to Mythology, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Focusing Method Developed by Eugene Gendlin in the 1970s, I have had limited exposure to focusing techniques but found them to be very powerful tools for centering and writing.
Artella Words and Art A very interesting site hosted by Marnie Makridakis that I first read about in Somerset Studio.
Spiritual Directors International A professional organization for those involved in spiritual direction--featuring an annual conference and an asbsolutely wonderful quarterly magazine.
Tristine Rainer The first book I ever read about journal keeping was Tristine's "New Diary," and I greatly admire her work at USC and the Center for Autobiographic Studies.
Center for Spirituality Located on the La Casa de Maria property in Montecito, this spiritual center and the women who run it have played a key role in who I am today.
Kay Adams Kay Adams in Denver, Colorado is one of the finest teachers and trainers of journal keeping, poetry and bibliotherapy that I know.
Donald P. Merrifield, S.J. I had the pleasure of working with Fr. Don, the former President and later Chancellor of Loyola Marymount University, and I often visit his website for intellectual stimulation, honesty, and spiritual inquiry.
La Casa de Maria Retreat Centers I have had a 40 year relationship with this ecumenical retreat center in Montecito, my favorite of all the ones with whom I'm associated.
Seena Frost's Soul Collage I ran across Seena's book several months ago and find her process of creating personal collage cards extremely rewarding and insightful.
Dialogue House Intensive Journal The New York City headquarters of Ira Progoff's National Intensive Journal whose method I have taught and used since the early 1980s.
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