An Interview with Marcia Spees

An Interview with Sally Mathis O'Brien

Medium Sally Mathis O’Brien's life path has been guided by her communications with “ascended masters” like Jesus, Gandhi, King Midas, and others. "Sally is a rare combination of religious docent and spiritual navigator. She received her master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Seattle University in preparation for a second career in hospital chaplaincy, when a multiple sclerosis diagnosis took her in an uncharted direction as an advocate and teacher. As a natural meditator, she communes in the world of the ascended masters including Mary Magdalene, Gandhi, Leonardo DaVinci and the Dalai Lama. As a toolmaker, she takes the lessons from her conversations and experiments in mediumship and applies her talent to different forms of healing, including body-speak, self-compassion exercises, and ancestral work. Her personal experience from family trauma of alcoholism, codependency, and incest lend authenticity to the depths of her empathy. Her travels alone from the “sticky” labels of bipolar illness and MS – from disease to dis-ease to health to wellness – are worth the read." (From Sally’s website, https://www.myinnerlighthouse.com [https://www.myinnerlighthouse.com/])

An Interview with Paramita

Formerly known as Vibha, Paramita gifted herself with a new name for her 80th birthday. She has decided to take a journey to the country of Bhutan, which is known for Gross National Happiness, a development philosophy that aims to measure the well-being and happiness of the population rather than focusing only on economic growth. She plans to travel with a group of people connected with Joel and Michelle Levey, who "are respected for being among the very first professionals to introduce the principles and practices of mindfulness and mind-fitness training, interpersonal neurobiology, collective wisdom, deep systems thinking, inner-development-goals, and contemplative science into mainstream business, medicine, higher-education, sports, and government arenas – having begun this work in the 70s." Lighthearted, gentle, unjudgmental Paramita may be 80, but she comes across as about 25. She enjoys learning the faith traditions of other cultures and incorporating the love and wisdom into her daily life. Don’t miss the beginning, as she starts the interview with a Hawaiian prayer…

An Interview with Marcia Spees

A classical watercolorist who didn’t begin painting until the age of 44, Marcia later turned to working with acrylics, oils, and abstracts. Marcia is also a birder who has traveled all over the country to observe avian life, and a gardener whose property has been part of the Orcas Island Garden Tour. Marcia came to Orcas in the early ’70s as a back-to-the-lander, was one of the first women using the Lamaze method in natural childbirth, became a childbirth instructor and an organic gardener, helped start Children’s House, the recycling center, the food co-op, Orcas Center, the library, and has called the island home for over 50 years. “What I realized after I had been here a couple years is you choose a community, not a job. You choose a lifestyle, not a career.”

An Interview with Carol Anderson

Master herbalist, artisan jeweler, former activist, and all around deep human being, Carol Anderson of Magic Island Herbals shares everything from how intentionally she gathers specific plants for her handmade products and the sheer bulk of rose petals it takes to end up with a handful of rose beads many months later, to her thoughts on real beauty, the illusion of powerlessness, trusting one's inner voice, the aim to find love in everyone, and the beautiful mystery of the unknown.

An Interview with Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms

Epitomizing American roots music, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are "some of the most compelling musicians making country roots music in America today." They tour as a duo as well as with the Caleb Klauder Country and the renowned Foghorn Stringband, "the present-day gold standard for real-deal hard-hitting genuine old-time American string band music, with nine albums, thousands of shows, over 20 years of touring under their belts, and an entirely new generation of roots musicians following their lead." Caleb and Reeb are cofounders and co-organizers (along with local phenom mandolinist Tashi Litch) of Orcas Island's newest annual festival called OrcasFest ~ The Eastsound Music Ramble, coming back to Caleb's childhood home and sharing the talents of other musicians who play on small stages all around our little village. This weekend (May 28-31, 2026) is its second festival year.