Winter Blessings & 2025 Wrapped ❄️

Shwmae Ffrind / Hello My friend.

During this busy season, I wanted to reach out and wish you a wonderful Christmas and offer Winter Solstice blessings! (Summer Solstice blessings to you in the southern hemisphere).

With the Winter Solstice we celebrate the rebirth of light at the shortest day and longest night. As we reflect on what has been, we bring in the light of renewal and hope into our homes – the decorated Christmas trees, the candles that burn bright – offering us hope in the dark. We continue to turn inward, honouring our souls journey, shedding skins and things that no longer serve us, remembering those loved ones who have passed, slowing down and giving space and time for growth, for nurturing our inner selves with warm foods, art, and nature in the form of evergreens and yule logs – decorating our homes with holly, greenery and red berries. It’s a time for coming together for celebrating and appreciating each other – family, friends and community. Do let me know what you are planning over the Christmas season. I always love to hear from you!

I would love to share with you some personal memories of the year that have helped shaped me and filled me with gratitude for some fantastic experiences I’ve had throughout the year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed doing more public gigs this year – highlights of which include a gig with visit from Wales’s first minister Eluned Morgan at Maesteg Town Hall, Tafwyl festival, support for Al Lewis at Clwb y Bont, Elysium in Swansea with D&A folk and a great ending to the year with a special Christmas concert with lights at St Peter’s Church, which other local artists at the beautiful St Peter’s Church in Pentre.

I have some lovely folk festivals lined up for 2026 – I’ll let you know in my next email.
· 26 public and private gigs I’m very proud of having accomplished these gigs and have thoroughly enjoyed using acoustic and experimenting with electric harp and looper.
· Delivered my ‘Harp and Song’ workshops to Primary schools in Merthyr, funded by Merthyr Services estimated 1200 children.

In September I had the privilege of composing and performing live music for the actor and dancer Rhys Miles Thomas. Rhys and I were both students at the Royal College of Music and Drama where we both studied acting. He suffers with MS and is now a wheelchair user. His exciting project looked at the Welsh Eisteddfod tradition of honouring the best bard of the competition with a special chair – and the challenges that someone who was disabled would have in standing on their feet after the announcement of the winner and walking to the stage to accept the prize of the specially made chair. I loved using my microkorg synthesizer and electric harp for this project.

I have been working this year with the lovely Meg Cox who has been assisting me with all manner of things harpy! And I am very grateful for all her work this past year. She arrange for photographer Siria Ferrer to do a photo shoot with me – and I am so pleased with the end results.

There have been some tough and testing times too during this year – and lots of challenges and learning around neurodiversity (I’ll write some more about this next time).

I look forward to hearing back from you – let me know what you are proud of that you have accomplished this year and anything else you would like to share.

Blessings/Bendithion.

Bethan x