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Spirit moves writer to blend story, music
By BRANDY STARK Lydia Swystun knows dreams can become reality. She holds hers in the palm of her hand. The writer and artist, who lives in Seminole, recently completed her first CD publication. The story, Winddancer: Journey of a Soul, is the culmination of two years of determination, hard work and a little luck. The writing focuses on the title character of Winddancer, an eagle spirit guide, and the lessons he teaches a fledgling spirit. "The idea came when I was thinking how neat it would be to have a spirit guide," she said. "I always envisioned mine as an eagle. I wondered what he would be saying to me, and that's when the words started coming." Swystun works both as a postal clerk and artistic photographer, so it took a year for the story to be completed. Ideas came slowly and sporadically, revealing themselves to her at odd hours both day and night. "When I finally finished it, I read it to a friend of mine. She said it was so inspiring that I had to find a way to get it out to others. It had to be special, a way for people to hear the words, so she suggested that I do a version on CD." Inexperienced with recording and production, the writer did not know if the idea was feasible. She had begun collaborating with another Tampa Bay artist, Boo Ehrsam, to create an illustrated book for all ages featuring the story. Then, during a photo shoot, she met Cody Winter Hawk, an American Indian flutist and healer. She had found her answer. Because she is not of Indian descent, Swystun was unsure how he would accept her proposal to work together on the recording. In nervous voice, she approached him and read the story. "The grandmothers and the elders tell many stories which hold lessons in disguise," Winter Hawk said. "I think her words tapped into the spirit of the Creator, who led her through her heart." Ehrsam's son, Bill Ehrsam, owns Mindshaft Studios in Holiday. The company agreed to make the record. "At this point, things started to really move. However, it was a lot of start-and-stop work," Swystun recalls. On the CD, the music sets the tone. Winter Hawk, who traditionally prays for spiritual guidance with his music, accompanies the story with his flute and rarely heard American Indian instruments. He also narrates. The CD concludes with 12 minutes of meditative music.
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