Born to American missionary parents and raised in Japan, Rebecca Jane is named for an ancestor who survived the American Civil War and overcame great hardship. Her mother, a brilliant artist, taught her to sing and play piano.  Performing in her parent’s missionary crusades as a musician brought the approval and encouragement  otherwise lacking at home. The Baptist Church taught her to love singing in groups and sharing conversation over food at Sunday Potlucks.  

A particularly brutal and unprovoked physical assault on her by her father when she was 15 finally drove her in desperation out of a home that had been dangerous as long as she could remember. She spent the next 15 years pulling herself up by her bootstraps.

Now in a loving marriage to her partner of 20 plus years, she is part of the Farm to Table movement in the Southern United States on land that she and her husband homestead.  Besides growing a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and barnyard fowl, they are slowly restoring their current home, an abandoned 40 year old building made from a recycled 1850’s North Georgia Barn that they rescued in 2013.

As a child in Japan Rebecca Jane sang in her parent’s gospel crusades, and in school chorus. She launched her singer songwriter career in America’s bars, restaurants and festivals when she was 19. She remembers writing her first songs while still in elementary school. Creating was a lovely diversion from what was happening around and to her. Performing for audiences composed of strangers allowed her to say out loud the things she couldn’t say to the people most important to her. At 30, the birth of her son prompted her switch to children’s programing in festivals, libraries, schools, and cafes. In her 40s she moved back to Japan with her husband where she toured with several outstanding local musicians as a guest singer.  

Like many abused children, Rebecca Jane has struggled with making bad decisions, and with shame associated with her past. While guilt is a very positive force, allowing us to admit our mistakes so that we can learn not to repeat them, shame is a negative force in the world.  Rebecca Jane encourages all to become aware of the difference, and begin to be responsible for the actions, thoughts, mistakes you are guilty of. She also encourages you all to practice forgiving yourself and others.

As a child Rebecca remembers pretending that she was a singing star adored by her audiences. As an adult she eventually realized that her drive to perform in public was in part due to her desire for clapping. This was connected to the lack of love in her life. This shift in her awareness allowed her to refine an “I don’t need you anyway” mantra to a sincere and open search for connection and compassion which continues to change what was once a brittle hard strength to a flexible openness, from a hot flashing passion to a slow burning fire. A common tool in discerning what is her heart’s deepest longing has morphed into a joint wish crafting she now shares with her husband as part of their weekly dating routine.

Now that her husband has retired and her children are college graduates, she is free to indulge in travel and conversation with Japan’s open hearted people. As they share their challenges, attempts and successes, she practices the concepts she’s learned through hard work and frequent mistakes.There is always singing and sharing food. Come join us when you are free.