DEEP WELL IN THE WILDWOOD CD Songs from the Place Beyond Sung by Caitlín Matthews Compact disc produced/arranged/accompanied by R J Stewart Total time: 55 minutes. An Inner Temple Traditions Inner Convocation ™ ® production Release number: FCR307 Magical songs are born in the deep well hidden in the place beyond: when they are sung, they lead us back through paths of inspiration to our origins. This collection of original and traditional songs by Caitlín Matthews takes the listener to the place beyond, to the very depths of the otherworld. These songs hold the magic of many years, many inspired and uplifting magical themes: they range from the Neolithic shape-shifting Fith Fath song to Sacred Companions, a modern evocation of sacred ancestors through song and dance. Other dances also arise, simple devotions like the Shaker Bowing Song or the midsummer labyrinth dance ritual that brings a whole Cornish village out to play, dance, and drink in the Troytown Song. There are eternal quests for lost beings or redemptive treasures in Mabon’s Journey and the Song of the Grailless Lands. The spiritual path of the human soul is found in the hermetic Song of the Spindle, directly taken from Plato’s Myth of Er, as well as in the medieval Gnostic carols, The Leaves of Light and Corpus Christi Carol. The magical dramatic ballads King Orpheo and the Sheath and Knife present two different outcomes of the ceaseless quest for human love, one triumphant, the other tragic. There are also songs to bless the way, to strengthen the journey, from Shaker tradition comes the Holy Mother’s Protecting Chain and from Gaelic Celtic tradition, the lyrical blessing for sleep and dreams, Brightest Stars. The title track, Deep Well In the Wild Wood sings of the ever-living wildwood where the Green Man holds strength of the ancient forest, and where the melody of ancestral faithfulness, wisdom, and power, flows eternally from the deep well. Caitlín Matthews is known worldwide for her books and teachings, but few know her as a singer songwriter. She has performed her songs all over the world. Her original lyrics have been performed and recorded across many genres of music from classical choral compositions to popular music, including Donovan’s Deep and Jerry Bruckheimer’s 2004 film King Arthur, for which she wrote the acclaimed Song of the Exile. She also uses Soul-Singing - an ancient way of healing whereby song makes a bridge of healing between the worlds - in her shamanic practice in Oxford, England. For more details about her books and courses, including training in soul-singing, see www.hallowquest.org.uk All solo vocals, original melodies and lyrics on this CD were performed and created by Caitlín Matthews. The CD was produced by R J Stewart, and recorded at Fat Crow Studios, Arcata, California, with additional instrumental dubbing and mixing at MorningStar House, Boulder Colorado. All instrumental arrangements on this recording were created and performed by R J Stewart, playing the unique 80-stringed psaltery, acoustic guitar, trichordo-tsouras, flageolets, Native American flutes, keyboards, and percussion. R J Stewart is a Scottish composer, performer, and author, now living in California. He has composed for theatre, feature films, television, and has recorded many original songs and instrumentals. For further information go to www.rjstewart.org