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"Crossroads", by Jenna Greene
Issue 15 Autumn 2010

Reviewed by JP Evans

Crossroads is the debut album of Jenna Green - a collection of original songs.  The songs tell stories of inner searching, finding solutions and solace through nature, the wisdom of the ancients, mystery and inner strength.

"Crossroads", by Jenna GreeneJenna’s web site describes her as “a Celtic singer-songwriter and harpist, a weaver of myth and magic. Her songs are inspired by the essence of ancient lore.”  Jenna performs over the North East U.S.

Jenna celebrates the earth, nature and the turning of the seasons with thoughtful, poetic story-songs, incantations and chants. Most songs are acoustic with a traditional feel.  There is certainly an Irish influence in much of the music with the most common instruments being harp, guitar, bodhran and fiddle.  The album cover and sleeve photographs depict Jenna clothed in medieval costume walking through ancient enchanted forests, depicting many of the song themes, where guiding deities are discovered journeying in the land of magic and faerie. 

I found the album musically professional, well arranged and produced.  For me it was the more personal songs that stood out as being the most striking and original, my favourites being the title track Crossroads – a ballad with a haunting melody – at a crossroads in life, deciding on  the path less taken: “awakened I must go on”; Acceptance - “it’s a blonde tanned world and I’m a short, round girl”  - about finding your own ‘allure’ and not buying into a certain look and lifestyle;  Rise Up Singing – the most up-beat and bluesy of the songs, dedicated to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.  Legends - romantic and atmospheric – a blessing and a wish for the lover. 

You can find out more about Jenna Greene and how to buy her album on www.greeneladymusic.com


Aida

Christened Aida by the great spiritual mothers of The Gambia, Africa, as “The Aida” meaning noble daughter/helper, goddess of the rainbow, the medium between heaven and earth, the patron of fertility, birth, the elements, she has studied and practiced tarot and astrology for over 10 years sharing her knowledge with numerous sisters through personal sessions, workshops, seminars, and women’s circles.   She is an astrologer, Tarotista, certified Reiki Practitioner, spiritual escort, and healing artist, linking querents with an abundant resource network of experienced medicine women.   Aida serves as spiritual consultant to the Red Moon Lodge of Baltimore, MD.

Aida is a Baltimore native who has served as a historical interpreter and program administrator with the National Park Service’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta Georgia. She is the producer of several national Black music history radio promotional campaigns and author of a variety of articles on Black history and women’s studies. 

Under her birth name, Tonya Taliaferro, she authored African American Entertainment In Baltimore (Arcadia Publishing), a photographic history of Baltimore’s arts and entertainment legacy, which has received outstanding reviews.

Ms Taliaferro a.k.a. Aida is diligently working on her next historic photographic essays for Arcadia Publishing, entitled The Religious Roots of Baltimore, which highlights Baltimore’s religious landmarks and institutions and Coastal Anne Arundel, a collection of Anne Arundel County and Annapolis Maryland’s cultural highlights.  She is the owner and operator of The Flyin Lion, a full service administrative services outsourcing agency.   Aida is the mother of one daughter and lives in Baltimore City.

 
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Brighid in Sweden

 If you enjoyed Kirsten Brunsgaard Clausen's article about Brighid's Runes in Sweden, in our Winter 2011 issue, you might like to see this video - the celebration of Lucia in a Swedish church ceremony last December.

 


 

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