The Stories Behind “When She Rises”

“When She Rises” is a song about life’s mysterious way of leading us to the medicine we need. It’s not always easy to face our own shadows, interweave with others in ways that challenge who we know ourselves to be and ask for growth. When we find ourselves untethered and lose a sense of solid ground. At the same time, these are often the moments that offer richness and new depths. So, this song says that she never comes too soon. The darkness that asks us to search for the quiet glow of the moon, a glimpse of light in the darkness, is often our greatest teacher and a true friend of the soul.

When I wrote this song, a part of me was being pulled into a new chapter, and for that new life to arise, I needed to let go of the comfort I had known. For those of you who are familiar with astrology, this song was a reflection on my Saturn return. It was a time when all that I had known was crumbling like dust around me, barely a distant memory, but something new and beautiful was rising from its soil.

Throughout this song, and many of my other songs, there are layers of folklore, dream images and myth. I’ve always loved story, and especially learning the stories of culture that have given people a sense of wisdom and guidance as we all take on the complex task of navigating a human life. We are individuals, but we also know common heartaches and common bonds. Staying close to stories passed down over time lets me feel close to a purpose in our wanderings, and a ground where otherwise there may be none.

This song has held me through many moments when I hoped for clarity, and gave me the strength to step in the direction my heart pulled. My hope is that it will be a sanctuary for those who hear it, a place of stillness, where it is possible to listen for the quiet whispers of a guiding glow, even in the darkest of nights.