I heard Patrick Ball, the harpist and storyteller, at the first National Storytelling Festival I went to in the late 1980’s. I was mesmerized by his harp playing and storytelling. So I bought one of his tapes. The tape was simply called “Patrick Ball: Storyteller.” On that tape was a story that has stayed with me all these years. The story is called “Gwilan’s Harp.” Several times a year I find myself listening to that story because it captures many of the emotional themes of my life.

It was only recently that I discovered that “Gwilan’s Harp” was written by Ursula K. Le Guin and can be found in her book The Compass Rose. Over the next several weeks I’d like to share this story with you along with some reflections on different parts of the story. I believe the story captures not only many of the emotional themes of my life but also many universal themes which may resonate with you as well.

The harp had come to Gwilan from her mother…

Next time: “A Princely and Most Incredible Instrument”