Women know what it means to stand firm in shifting landscapes. In a time when both women’s rights and environmental protections are being rolled back, it’s no accident that these struggles feel connected—they challenge the very systems that seek to keep us silent or compliant.
This is something I discuss often with my friend and fellow singer-songwriter Jaspar Lepak. Her songs Chasing Ground, Dandelion, and Leaves Fall – to name just a few – have long inspired and touched me for the way they weave together human experiences with natural phenomena to create these heartbreakingly beautiful images of everyday life. I admire the grit that comes through in her writing, too, and her willingness to face the tough realities head on.
As a child I had fantasies of living in the woods, growing my own food and making my own clothes. This, of course, never happened, but I can look back and see the impulse – or, perhaps, the intuition – I had to lean in to the natural world; to listen, to observe, and to learn what I could. After all, as I wrote from a Missouri bluff looking down over a lazy river for the title track of my latest album, The One Who Remembers, “All that is here now is older than I…” Surely some answers are to be found with species other than our own.
Workshop: The Intersection of Women and Nature in Songwriting
It’s only “natural”, then – ha ha – that I am so very pleased that Jaspar and I will be teaching two sessions of the same songwriting workshop this July and August as part of our PNW Wonderland Tour. We’ve designed this workshop for both experienced songwriters and curious newcomers. Through thoughtful prompts and writing exercises, we’ll explore the deep connections between women’s lived experiences and the natural world to help you uncover and amplify your own creative voice.
Of course, you don’t have to be a woman to understand and appreciate the value of feminine / femme voices, both in the world and in your own heart and mind. This workshop centers women’s voices, but all genders are welcome to attend.
Space is limited! Join us Saturday, July 26, 10:00am – Noon in Portland, or Monday, July 28, 2:00-4:00pm in Sisters. Both workshops take place in private residence; the address will be confirmed a week beforehand with those who have registered.
