The first 20 years of my life may have been lonely, but they gave way to a decade of another kind. With the help of my friend, Simon Lebrun, I recorded my first CD at the age of 20, Rebirth. The songs were dark and swimming in rage, betrayal, and suffering. But they had to be written, and they were honest reflections of my inner turmoil.
I attended the University of Toronto and immersed myself in Celtic Studies. I learned Irish, modern and medieval, studied archaeology, art, literature, mythology, music, history, and much more. I read Celtic historical fiction, studied with others as passionate as myself, and quickly came to identify as an Irish Pagan.
My spiritual path led me from Irish Paganism to Irish Wicca to Celtic Reconstructionism, and back again. Each circle of teachings had something to offer my thirsty soul, but no label ever fit well enough for me to adopt it for very long.
I went to Sheridan College and became a certified Montessori teacher. I taught, went back to school, and taught again. I befriended my future husband, and we were married in 2002. As a wedding present for our friends and family, and with the help of Dan Turcotte, we recorded my second CD, Dance in the Rain.
We moved to Burlington and I began to drift. Other than Karl, I had no anchors left, musically or spiritually, and apathy was the only thing keeping me at my job. I lost my focus, my purpose, and the light was fading. But at 30 I had an epiphany. It was time to give something back to the world.