Dear friends💜,

I am sending you a warm hug from Iowa:) The spring equinox has passed and suddenly there is more light than dark. I don't know about you, but anxiety often rises in me during spring. I can't quite pinpoint its root, but it seems to be linked with all of the growing energy building and swirling around me. Shoots of grass, daffodils, buds on the trees, little leaves on the lilac bush, birds singing loudly... combined with the surge of pollen that reminds me that I have asthma.

Bringing forth new life is risky. What if a storm comes and flattens the crops, tears a tree from its roots, or winter's cold comes back to haunt and freeze the new buds? How can we protect and nourish new life?

My photo memories of today popped up as I sat down at the computer this morning: pictures of my masters recital and my two children as small babies. As a mom and nurturing spirit, I have this deep desire to protect and care for what I birth into this world. And time and again, I fall into the trap of thinking I have much more control than I actually do.

But no one and no thing can be fully protected; it is the nature of life. Life is risky, it is scary, it hurts when the frost sets in, but life is also STRONG. Stronger than I realize most days. I see that reflected in my children and in every soul I encounter each day.

In this season, despite the risks, the fear, the anxiety, we are meant to sprout, to branch out, to seize the daylight and create. And that silent strength of the force throbbing in your veins might surprise you.

I wrote this poem almost exactly a year ago.

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Returning Light

Voice of silence within.

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Fighting the paralysis

of winter.

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Harsh cold winds

mingling with light.

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Naked beauty of daffodils

heralding the light.

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Hints of green

among a blanket of brown

baptized by the light.

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Maybe,

silence

is the light.

-Mary Jane Knight

This spring on March 23rd, I birthed my first album of original songs, recorded, mixed and produced by me. It truly feels like my third baby except I feel more like a new mother. I am nervous and unsure of what I am supposed to do and a bit overwhelmed that I have created something that needs a lot of care and feeding. But under all of that, I am feeling stronger and hopeful that what I have created will help a lot of people claim their worthiness and find their voices. You can now listen to my music on all streaming platforms💜!

If you don't have a streaming service, you can listen to it on YouTube for free.

And if you would like to order a CD, Vinyl or directly download the MP3s to own and support me, check out my shop!

I am so excited to share with you my full official music video of the title track Rising Free!

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And what fun it was to be a guest on Everyday Iowa with Catherine Blades. You can watch the interview below. Lots of folks in Iowa saw it and I have been reconnected with old roommates, teachers and friends from the past💜. This week I am looking forward to being a guest on the podcast Tend HER Wild​

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I also had the privilege of chatting with Laurel Preston, an incredible young woman I met in my voice studio. She wrote a lovely article for the Daily Iowan chronicling my creative process!

And just yesterday, I got my first mention in a national publication EARMILK! "breathtaking vocals"..."raw, heartfelt, hopeful"🔥

Things are happening fast and if you would like to support me further and see what I am up to throughout the month, find, friend, and follow me on my social platforms!

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It has been wonderful to connect with new faces and old this past month and I am eternally thankful for your continued love and support. I'd love to hear what you think of my music and connect with you so feel free to reply and share something on your heart as well💜.

Sending lots of love and light,

p.s. :)

If you are local to the Iowa City Area, I would love to sing with you in person. Check out these events happening this week!