You are the power, the presence and the love of god. You ARE the WAY. Join us for this powerful dance ceremony to fully awaken and empower the divine human blueprint in each of us. Activate your Light Body in ecstatic, somatic & shamanic cycles of dance, breath, rhythm & active imagination. Empower abundance, wellness and enlightenment in every cell. Embrace and elevate your shadow AS your light. Release doubt, blame, separation and fear. Anchor heaven on earth within your body, heart and mind. Choose the living and loving path of FREEDOM and service to all of life. Samantha Sweetwater brings passion, presence, & 25 years of experience to embodied leadership & awakening. She is a spiritual guide, life coach & movement expert who inspires & empowers personal and collective transformation through sacred practice, rigorous inquiry, celebration and direct spiritual perception. She is the founder and director of Dancing Freedom, Soul Coaching & PeaceBody Japan. Her work supports optimal physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, and creates learning laboratories for the emergence of peace, co-creative leadership, resilience and joy. As a Priestess of the Beauty Way, she serves the unfoldment of oneness for all beings. A much loved facilitator, she [...]
Dr. Joe Marshalla is a dynamic speaker and teacher. His passion for life is contagious. In addition to being an author he is the founder and persona for the High Frequency Tour of hosted live webcast events which invites everyone in attendance to share their “3.3″ or 3 minutes and 30 seconds transmission of vision for the world. He will host some kind of talk as well as do some kinds of interviews this year as part of our annual webcast. Joeʻs in depth of knowledge over multiple disciplines weaves a beautiful tapestry of compassion and understanding into this experience called life. His discovery of “The Law of Repeatlessness” and then subsequent applications in modern thought, psychology, philosophy, spirituality and quantum physics is unparalleled. Dr. Marshalla’s Poly-Synaptic Equilibration Technique (P-SET), as featured in his Empowerment class, is the cutting edge of spirituality in relation to quantum physics, psychology and philosophy. It is being adopted by individuals and professionals around the globe.
Swami Beyondananda is a highly acclaimed keynote speaker and performer whose specialty is using mind-opening comedy to create heart-opening laughter. For the past 23 years, the Swami (in reality humorist and author Steve Bhaerman) has performed at conferences and conventions, for business groups and at spiritual centers, at theaters, community centers and new thought churches. Swami’s comedy has been described both as “comedy disguised as wisdom” and “wisdom disguised as comedy.” A unique feature of his performance is spontaneously answering live questions from the audience. Or, as the Swami puts it, “I will answer your questions, and you will question my answers!”
William Waterway Marks: Our Living Water Journey
We will explore the origins of water, and the uses of water for ceremony and healing. As time allows, we will explore the current world water situation and our survival locally and globally. Each participant will receive a hand out of references for further exploration. Since I am a student of R. Carlos Nakai, and have accompanied Nakai on stage – his workshop will include a Native American Flute healing segment. BIO: William Waterway was raised on an organic farm in a river valley once occupied by the Lenni Lenape tribe. Discovery of Lenape artifacts while working his childhood farm was commonplace. He is an award-winning author, poet, and Native American flutist. While in college he investigated fish kills and industrial pollution, and had industries indicted by Federal Grand Juries. After college he was Senior Environmental Analyst for the city of Newark. He resigned from Newark to live outside for two-years on a horseback trek across America entitled RIDE FOR NATURE. William founded Martha’s Vineyard’s first State-Certified water testing laboratory, and Vineyard Environmental Research, Institute. His water research has been featured in the documentary film, “FLOW – For Love Of Water,” and in stories by: National Geographic; CNN; MSNBC; MVTV; [...]
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This interactive singing workshop will guide you through traditional techniques to develop & express emotion through sound. The musical source of Sufi qawwali and most other traditional Indian/Pakistani genres (Bhajan, Ghazal & Classical) is raaga, which is melody defined by sentiment. Exploring the heartʻs subtle feelings is essential to the Sufi path, so come join us for a sweet taste of traditional qawwali training. BIOGRAPHY: Tahir started studying Indian Classical music at the young age of 14. He had begun learning the tabla. Four years later his undying devotion for this style of music took him to India for his first time. Seeking the yogi’s of the Himalayas and teaching himself Sanskrit, he found that music was his path towards the one. Studying under vocal masters Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pashupati Nath Mishra, Sher Ali Khan, Muazzum Qawwal and various others Tahir embodies the potency of ecstatic devotion. Every day Tahir is devoted to the never-ending knowledge of raga. Through his vast knowledge he’s ability to transliterate the ancient Qawwali songs brings Fanna-Fi-Allah into manifestation. Tahir has been the founder, leader, inspirer and vision holder of the first and only western-based Qawwali party, Fanna-Fi-Allah. His by-lingual education of [...]
Those who experienced last yearʻs Yoga Camp had rave reviews of the high caliber quality teachers. This yearʻs Yoga Camp will build on the amazing momentum from last year. Once again we will feature various modalities including Yoga Flow, Vinyassa, Anusara Yoga, Partner Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. You can expect at least 3-4 classes per day including morning and later afternoon ʻsunset by the lakeʻ yoga sessions! Yoga Camp is being facilitated this year again with April! Here’s some info about her. April loves the opportunity that festivals provide for introducing yoga to a broader community. We are reaching a critical point in our evolution and the power of yoga has the ability to guide us straight to the heart of who we truly are, preparing us for the transformation to come and helping us to realize the truth that we are all one. So come practice, play, and open your heart to the divinity within. April is co-founder and owner of Om Shala Yoga in Arcata, California. Her practice is highly influenced by former teachers: Chandra Om and Sri Dharma Mittra. She is currently and joyfully studying with Saul David Raye.
Krista Holland ~ Yoga & Living Arts
Krista has had a lifelong passion for the movement and healing arts. She was first introduced to Eastern philosophy, mysticism and various practices of meditation at an ashram in India at the age of twelve. Inspired by seeing her mother’s Ashtanga yoga practice, she began practicing hatha yoga in 1989. Her yoga practice has been nurtured and guided by many wonderful teachers branching from the Sri T. Krishnamacharya lineage. Krista has completed four teacher training courses (Rod Stryker, Ana Forrest, John Friend and The Center for Yoga, L.A.). She has been teaching yoga since 1998. Krista is gifted at teaching all levels of students, from those just beginning yoga to advanced practitioners. She is known for her passionate, insightful and transformative teaching.
Bikram Yoga, 26 postures designed to touch every muscle, tendon, ligament and bone in body. Provides a marriage between sun /moon, a wedding with mind and spirit utilizing the body as a medium. Regulates breath empowering your whole being. Ideal done in heat, but with our dome and high noon time, our class will be warm. I am so pleased to experience in Nature. Namaste Bio: Naveena Bird is a devoted Bikram Hot Yoga Teacher for 10 yrs, Practicing all yoga for 11 years, she has found joy through the practice. She is the founder and owner of Sacred Palace-Bikram Yoga Humboldt in Eureka, CA. It is a process of unfolding like a lotus flower. The body is tight and stiff from daily routines. We are movement . We are water. We need flow. After, 3yrs of dedicated practice, Naveena Studied withGuruMuk, Prenatal Yoga. Also, she teaches kid yoga, Anusara based. Naveena has a B.A. in Theater Arts with Dance Emphasis, from Humboldt State University. She Grew up in Selma, Oregon. Not far from Lake Salmac and is so please to go back where she has so many fond memories of the great land and good friends. Namaste
Hansraj Singh & Analeah Lovere
Hansraj Singh practiced Vipassana Meditation for 25 years with Goenkaji. Vipassana provided an experiential foundation for self-observation and devoted discipline. He has studied various forms of Yoga for 35 years. He completed Kundalini Teacher Training in 2010 through the Kundalini Research Institute. Studying with Kundalini Yoga Masters Shiv Charan Singh Kasalsa, and Harijwan Singh Kasala he has been able to share an Empowering Kundalini Yoga Experience. Analeah Lovere has a passion for sharing the wisdom of yoga with others. She is a certified yoga instructor through the Sivanada Yoga Vedanta lineage. She graduated from the California College of Ayurveda and Studied Siddha Vaydia Medicine with Dr. Raj Kumar of Kerala, India. Analeah and Hansraj bring their passion and knowledge together for a unique and Empowering Yoga Experience. Kundalini Yoga & Gong Meditation Please join us for an Empowering Kundalini Yoga Workshop and Gong Meditation with Hansraj Singh and Analeah Lovere. We will journey through the 5 Elements: Fire, Earth, Water, Air, and Space, using the Scientific Kundalini Yoga Technology and Ayurveda. Our focus for the Element Exploration Journey will be on the Fire Element. Our exploration will include ways to cool the Mind and the Body through Diet, Herbs, Essential Oils, Pranayama (Conscious Breath-Work), and Kundalini [...]
Lila is passionate about estactic, artful cocreation, awakening through play, and the bliss arts. She is a Oneness Blessing/Deeksha giver and has 10 years facilitation experience in awakening potential arts, integrative yoga and healing modalities. Lila loves to dream awaken the Lovevolution and empower visions into fertile manifestations. She is the visionary of The Divine Playground, which has playfully produced the transcendent entertainment crew, The Bliss Agents, and The Dream Awakening Circus Free School, Costa Rica. The playshop, Sacred Clowning, was a hit at the epic Envision Festival in Costa Rica, She is excited to share the spiritual potency of theatre and clowning as fun tools for evolution and healing. This winter, the Divine Playground is accepting players for a very special film and epic cocreation mission in Costa Rica. Yes! Let’s! One Heart Yoga – Friday 3:00 PM Experience grace, sweet surrender, and peace in a playful, intuitive, and group focused approach to a One Heart yoga practice. Explorations in asana, synchronized breath, collective heart opening, community grounding, and reflection games add a healthy dose of smiles as together we FEEL into the moment of Oneness as divine co creators. Come Together. Treasure. All Levels Sacred Clowning PlayShop – Sunday 5:00 PM Together, we deepen our awareness of the potent wisdom [...]
Aimee Takaya Davis has been cultivating a love of yoga for the last four years and has found the benefits to be unparalelled and thouroughly exciting. Newly certified, she is ready to share her love of asana with the world! Literally. Next stop Budapest! But until then, you can find Aimee teaching in beautiful Ashland Oregon at the local Bikram studio. In her spare time she enjoys Hiking, Live Music, Poetry and good cup of tea.
A joyful super sweet love yourself up yoga class! A class inspired by breath, heart, Anusara, alignment, flow and grace. Personal Bio: Rani has been teaching yoga for over 15 years. Her style is inspired by her passion for Anusara yoga, dance, the dharma and the joy of being alive. She has studied and taught extensively in the U.S. and in India. She brings a playful, loving spirit to her classes as well as years of knowledge and experience
Deborah Dove Eudene teaches private and group vinyasa flow, restorative, Union Yoga, partner & mandala yoga classes at yoga studios, corporations, and public and private events worldwide. Deborah was certified to teach yoga by Erich Schiffman in 1998, completed Yoga Garden’s Yoga Therapy Training in 2003, Shiva Rea’s Prana Vinyasa Flow training in 2007, and Jeff Von Schmauder’s Union Yoga Teacher Training in 2011. Deborah has extensive experience working privately with cancer survivors and in corporate wellness, stress reduction, and team building programs. She has also organized numerous retreats. She is a Reiki Master who has also studied techniques for the prevention and care of sciatic conditions and carpal tunnel syndrome, Chi Nei Tsang, Thai Massage, Swedish, Vibrational Massage, and Sports Massage. Deborah is also a transformational journey facilitator, entertainment lawyer, sacred space holder, retreat center administrator, life coach, nature enthusiast, singer, change agent and event coordinator. She is a core component of The Shift Network’s production team. Union Yoga… is steeped in the culture of “Aloha”. Practitioners explore flight, presence, trust, and surrender within the context of a supportive group practice. Join us and you will (quite literally) take your practice to new heights! Partner Yoga: Explore conscious embodied [...]
Yoga~Chanting~Pranayama~Ascension! w/ Beloved
Relax, Restore, Rejuvenate, Regenerate, Stretch, Transform, Release,Forgive, Let Go, Unwind and ENJOY the many benefits of Yoga. Yogameans Union with God, & so thrill in the ecstatic changes thispractice can bring! The workshop includes pranayama, chanting, asana &meditation- suitable for all levels. *Beloved teaches classes regularly in Ashland OR, and has shared at Mystic Festivals, Raw Spirit Festivals, Women’s Gatherings, & Good
Daniel Levy: HuManDalas – Sacred Geometry Embodiment
Join us as we activate portals of our unified intentions for personal and planetary healing. Acknowledge and feel the beauty that we are, when we consciously connect as one collective unit, and learn to charge ourselves and each other with these universal healing vibrations. Come and learn about the sacred geometries of time and space by creating these beautiful and significant forms with our connected bodies, movement, sound and intention. This is an activity everyone can participate in, no matter their age, body type or culture. In fact, the more diversity there is, the more beautiful the HuManDala! This is a very beautiful practice that everyone will be able to take home with them and share with others. Daniel Levy envisioned HuManDalas, in 2005, while studying sacred geometry. He has made it a life mission to share this form of sacred connection with the people of the world for planetary healing. Embodying the sacred geometries that connect us, brings us into a closer connection and understanding of our collective energy field. It helps us to develop stronger non-verbal and compassionate communication skills, energetic sensitivity and a deep understanding of collective consciousness. Daniel is a “Yoga Alliance RYT” and has been [...]
Movement brings us into the moment, and helps us release tension we may be holding. It’s a fun way to exercise which releases endorphins making us feel good. Come move, groove, and dance your way into ecstasy with us! This year in addition to working again with our partner Conscious Dancer magazine (helping us outreach to quality ecstatic dance teachers), we are also partnering with the Berkeley Dance Journey and adding the NIRVANA CABANA dance space! If youʻve been to NCDC in one of the last 10 years, you know this amazing dance space that has itʻs own dance tent, premium flooring, and beautiful decor!
If you or someone you know is interested in offering an ecstatic dance journey playshop, please refer to the Workshop Offer Form on the workshops page and weʻll forward it to the Ecstatic Dance Camp Coordinators.
Hereʻs some more info and a few pictures of this yearʻs Ecstatic Dance Camp at our Gathering of the Tribes 2011. This year in addition to working again with our partner Conscious Dancer magazine (helping us outreach to quality ecstatic dance teachers), we are also partnering with the Berkeley Dance Journey and adding the NIRVANA CABANA dance space! If youʻve been to NCDC in one of the last 10 years, you know this amazing dance space that has itʻs own dance tent, premium flooring, and beautiful decor! If you or someone you know is interested in offering an ecstatic dance journey playshop, please refer to the Workshop Offer Form on the workshops page and weʻll forward it to the Ecstatic Dance Camp Coordinators.
Lifts For All Of Us. A fast paced lifting class that will have you safely doing many lifts in no time. We work with our skeletal structure to support the lift. Kinetic energy is used to make our lifting experience relatively effortless. These lifts can be used for Contact Improvisation, Swing dancing, and will enhance many other dance forms. KEN MARTINIʻS BIO: I have been practicing Contact Improvisation for 24 years, and teaching for about 12 years. During my years studying dance I was turned off to cliques, and inner circles that excluded the less experienced dancers. I vowed if I ever got good at this I would include everyone. 24 years later, here I am, and I invite you at whatever skill level you have to come join us. Dance is my primary spiritual practice. I know that we can evolve ourselves by practicing deep listening skills in dance with one another. Through this practice I feel the presence of a higher energy; I believe you can too. My love for dance has led to the creation of the Nirvana Cabana, and managing Dance Journey in Berkeley http://dancejourney.org/
BodyVision with Liz Mac: Conscious Structured and Freeform Movement
This BodyVision playshop offers is a Nia Style Dance offering a Conscious Structured and Freeform Movement to Music, Incorporating the Body , Mind Emotions & Spirit~ Sensory-based practice that leads to self love and community connectedness. Every experience can be adapted to individual needs and abilities. Step into joy, and journey, positively shaping the way you feel think and live! PERSONAL BIO: Liz Mac has brought crowds of dancers together through her vivacious love of community m o v e m e n t. 2010′s Sacred Livlihood Bazaar, Liz created to share art & dance. That same year Liz & community taught to over 80 participants(with thanks to the Sweets Ballroom Oakland’s donation of dancefloor space,Nia Jam teachers and NiaNow.com community list) was able to send over $2000.00 to Haiti earthquake releif. Liz unifies a room with her 8+ years of experience teaching weekly Nia classes in the Oakland and Walnut Creek areas. Liz Mac also has a strong following throughout Contra Costa Libraries teaching a children’s “Joy of Movement” program at every library in the county. Liz Mac offers a unique contagious joy that invites stiff beginners and highly fit athletes to adapt the movement/meeting their intensity level & [...]
5 rhythms dance wave with Jacia
Shake your body loose, drop your mind and free your spirit Through moving the body, releasing the heart, and freeing the mind, we access the wisdom found in the rhythms of a wave. This awakens authentic creative expression in our dance, our lives and our world. The first half hour will be stretching and bodyparts warm up. Then an opening into an hour and a half wave of music with a wide range of musical styles – funk, hip hop, trance, ambient, electronica, soul, blues, singer songwriter etc. The space is for a deep letting go and opening until you come home to yourself. No previous dance experience necessary. PERSONAL BIO: Jacia was described by one of her teachers as the ‘embodiment of heart on the dance floor’. She has been a dance teacher and counselor since 1993. She created AcceptDance and trained and certified with Gabrielle Roth, originator of the 5 Rhythms. Jacia is codirector of the Satori Center in Chico, CA, where she has taught Five Rhythms and dj’d a weekly dance jam for the last decade. She is also a founding member of the Move It Move It Collective, which hosts and djs a Sunday morning Soul [...]
Soul Shake Ecstatic Dance Wave with Luke
Shake it up, loose, free and wild with a big heart to a 2 hour dance wave with a range of musical styles including funk, world, drum and bass, psy-trance, downtempo and more. No particular way you need to move or be – the emphasis here is on letting it all go and enjoying yourself. PERSONAL BIO: Born in South-East Asia, raised in Asia and England, Luke’s love for dance was born in the British DIY free party scene at the start of the 90s. He then trained internationally over the next two decades with teachers from zen, advaita, indigenous shamanic, mystical christian, and therapeutic traditions. Luke has worked on the frontlines of social and environmental movements in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the United States. He now lives in Chico, CA, where he has a counseling practice, leads ‘awake in the masculine’ men’s groups, and co-directs the Satori Center, a center dedicated to the embodiment of authentic awakening. Luke is also a founding member of the Move it Move it Collective, which hosts and djs Chico’s weekly Soul Shake Dance Church with 50-80 people every sunday. Luke dj’d several times at mystic garden party 2010 and also [...]
ECSTATIC BELLY DANCE with Carolena and Leilani
This is a fun playshop which incorporates basic and advanced belly dance moves tailored to open up your chakras and get your kundalini energy moving. Our class is upbeat and fun, utilizing practices from yoga, Temple-dance and Oriental styled Bellydance. These movements when taught with breath awareness are a wonderful way to activate our energy body, thereby creating a euphoric, all over sense of joy and well being. The class is geared to everyone, male or female, young or old. The only prerequisite is the need to have fun! Carolena and Leilani have been studying, performing and teaching a mixture of fusion, cabaret and tribal belly dance styles for over 15 years. They have been tailoring their own form of dance called Ecstatic Belly Dance which opens up the chakras, gets the kundalini energy moving and is extremely fun. Carolena and Leilani performed in troupe Dhyanis together for over 4 years and performed all over the bay area. They studied with world renowned teachers such as, Suhaila Salimpour, Rachel Brice, Ansuya, Jill Parker and Jehan. Carolena and Leilani taught a workshop together at a school for underprivileged children in Rishikesh India at the Mother Miracle School and intend to continue to take this art worldwide.
Nurturedance with Ken (founder of Dance Journey, Berkeley)
Nurturedance is a derivative of CI. it is a movement form that provides methods for making safe, loving, and nurturing connections between people. By holding, rocking, and cradling each other, a direct path is formed to deep and visceral experiences of nurturance. Some of the movements we do induce mutual trance states by using repetitive circular motion. A hug that evolves into a spiral that is so safe and supported that we enter graceful states of consciousness. Learn more at: http://nurturedance.org/ KEN MARTINIʻS BIO: I developed Nurturedance in 2002. It is derived from Contact Improvisation. The desire to give and receive nurturance has been a lifelong theme for me, and I feel an abundance of grace to be able to facilitate this. Dance is my primary spiritual practice. I know that we can evolve ourselves by practicing deep listening skills in dance with one another. Through this practice I feel the presence of a higher energy; I believe you can too. My love for dance has led to the creation of the Nirvana Cabana, and managing Dance Journey in Berkeley http://dancejourney.org/
Core Elation – A movement exploration- Pilates and more! Discovering the pelvic floor and more that encompasses working from core. Starting with micro movement , moving on to elements of pilates , chi-gung and yoga traveling on to world dance, martial arts and elements of jazz, modern and latin . Moving from center From the smallest small to the largest leap , moving with breath , balance and ease from center. BIO: ABOUT MOANA -Moana started as a modern dancer at age 5 in a barn in Connecticut “dancing like a tree, like fire , like the wind”. She graduated at age 7 to Olatunji’s African dance center in Harlem and later as a teen to Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey schools in NYC.As a Pilates instructor she received certification from Physical Mind Body and then again from ITT Pilates. Later as a theater performer, dancing singing and acting her injuries started her on an exploration of healing through study of therapeutic movement including Pilates .Moana has taught Pilates and dance for over 10 years at Nautilus of Marin and has lead workshops in Marin County , Maui, Kaui and Oahu. Most recently she taught in the Ecstatic Dance program [...]
You are the power, the presence and the love of god. You ARE the WAY. Join us for this powerful dance ceremony to fully awaken and empower the divine human blueprint in each of us. Activate your Light Body in ecstatic, somatic & shamanic cycles of dance, breath, rhythm & active imagination. Empower abundance, wellness and enlightenment in every cell. Embrace and elevate your shadow AS your light. Release doubt, blame, separation and fear. Anchor heaven on earth within your body, heart and mind. Choose the living and loving path of FREEDOM and service to all of life. Samantha Sweetwater brings passion, presence, & 25 years of experience to embodied leadership & awakening. She is a spiritual guide, life coach & movement expert who inspires & empowers personal and collective transformation through sacred practice, rigorous inquiry, celebration and direct spiritual perception. She is the founder and director of Dancing Freedom, Soul Coaching & PeaceBody Japan. Her work supports optimal physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, and creates learning laboratories for the emergence of peace, co-creative leadership, resilience and joy. As a Priestess of the Beauty Way, she serves the unfoldment of oneness for all beings. A much loved facilitator, she [...]
Conscious Compassion Continuum w/ Marguerite Pawlick
Conscious Compassion Continuum © Compassion, love, intimacy and forgiveness – all are virtues of an empathic being. Such qualities are a foundation to internal awareness and much needed for societal growth in any sustainable social system. Yet to receive it, we need give it, and to give it, we must feel it. Using contemplative practices, qigong, dance and discussion, we will explore and build upon a continuum of compassion for self and others. Come dance to build together and bridge the gap between personal practice and community! No movement experience is necessary. Marguerite Pawlick bridges more than 20 years experience in human potential development via extensive and diverse graduate and participant research, somatic and internal arts, dance and contemplative practices. She has developed and teaches human potential movement and expressive arts workshops and classes. She co-facilitates a weekly contact improvisation dance event and teaches classes with focus on human potential and/or state awareness in relation to self/others with movement and other art forms. She works with all ages and all levels of ability. Marguerite is known for her compassionate and connective heart-filled approach. She has learnt and shares from the inside out her experience of being right there with you.
Walk into realms of inspiration with both renowned and upcoming visionary and sacred artists from the West Coast and all over the world, curated by the Ecoartopia sacred art collective (www.ecoartopia.com). The element that all these artists have in common is the spiritually uplifting content of their art. Expand your horizons, and awaken your inner vision. Each year we feature about 15 amazing visionary artists and many of these also paint live during music sets. Surrounding an art sanctuary in a dome at the center of the village, and a lotus petal mandala of local river rock and other natural elements, meet the artists in person — and even take some of their activating art home with you! If youʻre a visionary artist or youʻd like to plug into helping make this camp a reality please email us at visionaryarts@mysticgardengathering.com.
Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, Sofia has lived in the U.K., the East coast and all over California where she sailed on the Pacific. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the spine of the Dragon. “I derive great inspiration from being in Nature, from traveling and and cross-cultural experiences. I believe true artists function as shamans and alchemists of the society at large. Painting is my commitment, meditation, expression of the awe and mystery of life. I am an instrument tuned to the flow of energies around me, an interface between the personal self and collective consciousness, and an antenna for higher visions for the purpose of personal and hopefully global healing and evolution. By receiving and trusting the visions — “the language of light” — the rational mind is bypassed. Yet its work consists of striving to capture some of their essence and, improving the methods to do so. This work is an effort towards Union between the intuitive and the rational mind, as I sense and believe the Universe is a constant dynamic interplay of polar opposites. The Divine Feminine Principle has never truly left and She/Gaia/Shakti is calling us back. The [...]
Chad Haarman is a recent art school graduate who has shown at NYC Decompression and Burning Man in Entheon Village. We love the way Chad’s paintings express the personal experience of transcendent bliss across lines of gender, culture and and the generations, and we are stoked to share him with you.
I believe that art is a technology that can communicate and transform the collective consciousness. If we begin to integrate what our sciences and ancient philosophies are telling us about Holographic Reality we learn that everything is energy vibrating. With the integration of the knowledge of subtle energies in our every day lives, the artist becomes more than a transmitter of images. The artist becomes a technician of the visible wavelength, using it to receive, transmit, and amplify the subtle energies in ways that could be beneficial for the evolution of consciousness as well as for the health and vitality of any being. The paintings are not the message, nor are they holding the message within their content. The paintings are the device that assists you in bringing out the message. The message is already there, it is inside you. “Artists are the Antennae”- we are allowing energy to flow through us and this energy is activating our capacity to interpret the messages within us. Likewise, the paintings activate the viewer’s capacity to decode their own messages lingering within, waiting for them to relearn their own native tongue. This is why it is so great- instead of having to mean [...]
Christina Wagonblast is a popular live painter who loves painting late at night at festivals all over the West Coast. This is her second summer painting in the Mystic Garden. You can read more about her at http://wagonblastart.ning.com/
Darren Minke is an accomplished digital artist, commercial artist and fine art painter who has shown art at Mystic Garden for several years as a vendor. We are pleased to showcase him as a Featured Artist this year and have his sacred and goddess art grace our stages and altars. Darren has shown at Sacred Spaces Village and Red Lightning at Burning Man and is constantly touring and showing at music festivals along the West Coast.
Yurik Riegel was born in the small coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California. He received his first formal art training at the local high school. Though art was his first love, he also spent a great deal of his time away from class doing physical exercise. It was here in the vigorous physical training of running in the school’s Track and Cross Country teams and practicing the martial art of Hapkido, that the seeds of personal evolution first took root in his soul. Yurik attended San Jose State University where he received a degree in Illustration. At the age of 22, after experiencing a panic attack, he began to read books on personal growth, why people suffer, and the relation of psychology to art. Upon graduation, he traveled across the U.S. in search of classical figurative training at the Arts Students League of New York City, under the instruction of Peter Cox, Greg Kreutz, and Michael Burban. After returning to San Francisco, he was hired by his childhood inspiration, the Lucas companies. It was in this time period, in the wake of 911, that Yurik was more formerly introduced to the world of course work and meditation. He dove [...]
We are pleased to welcome back Roman as one of our featured artists. Roman has been showing in the Visionary Arts Village since our first Mystic Garden five years ago. Roman represents a harmonious universe portrayed by dancing beings, galactic councils, sychromystics and other enlightened perspectives symbolizing the ever-changing moment he calls the eternal party. Roman loves to make art but ultimately he believes it’s a duty to his community and our existence as a visual representation of the world we want or have. He invites everyone to participate in a conscious movement declaring interdependence through the act of creating it.
Adam Fu – Yukauye Adam Fu currently resides in Northern California. Growing up, Adam was exposed to many different cultures visiting both the maternal side of his family in Taiwan and the paternal side of his family in Mexico. From early on Adam Fu felt a strong calling to study the traditional plant medicine ways of the indigenous peoples of America. Adam has lived with and continues to visit families from different indigenous nations of both North and South America - learning from and supporting their art and ways of life. From the jungle dwelling Shipibo-Conibo and Matses – Jaguar tribe to the high desert Huichol Deer Tribe of Northern Mexico “All of these tribes have intimately touched me and influenced me as a being – Artistically and Spiritually.” Adam Fu has been ordained and authorized as a Peyote Roadman and Minister for the Native American Church of the North America Contient through Chief Leonard Emmanuel Crowdog – Chief of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate and 562 Federally recognized Tribal Nations here in the North American Continent. In addition to the honor of carrying this medicine altar from respected tribal chiefs of the North- Adam continues to study and work under [...]
“My oeuvre bridges the material and ethereal realms through the essential integration of art and society. In an effort to restore the lost harmonic equilibrium, I portray the emergence of a new cosmology I am witnessing. Through diffusion and cross-cultural exchange between the East and West, we are building a deeper sense of connection and understanding in accordance with the natural world and global community. We are myth-makers, visionary practitioners, mystic sound, and holistic healers. Through the recognition of the divine within, we present our various works with bodhisattva-like intentions of aiding spiritual awakening and eliciting a strong sense of positive social and environmental responsibility. I strive to combine technical proficiency with visionary imagination. My paintings are visual manifestations of the archetypal energies which guide my path as well as divine reflections of ascension. They do not deny the sorrows of the temporal plane, rather symbolize our capacity for transcendence.”
Sergey Rytov was born and grew up in Central Russia but I always felt an inexplicable interest to ancient eastern philosophies and their culture. His art was inspired by magical journey to India in 2006, a mystic country which manifests variety of miracles even nowadays. Sergey’s art is symbolic with themes that are taken from classical Tibetan Buddhism. Transparent canvas symbolizes infinite space and emptiness – it’s a basis from which everything is manifested. And image – the union of deities, accomplished with fluorescent paints in a Drops Style is a spontaneous game of energies in this space – like emanating illusory vibrations of light and sound, which we can perceive by an innate mind in its particular natural initial state of purity. The creation of art for Sergey is an act of self discovery. The transfer of a certain emotional experience, of energy, pours out into the composition. The artist becomes like a conductor – he participates in the process, and is not involved at the same time. This approach is similar to ancient and cult arts in all traditions and in all nations, especially vividly expressed in the East, in the art of Ancient India, Tibet, China and [...]
Ecoartopia Sacred Art Collective
The 2011 Visionary Arts Village at Mystic is curated and produced by the Ecoartopia sacred arts collective — an international visionary arts hub for artists devoted to “ecovisionary” art that expresses a more sustainable and harmonious world for us all to share. Ecoartopia’s art temples, stage design and art installations have been featured at festivals throughout the West Coast (including San Diego Earth Day, Bhakti Fest, Deep Green, Harmony Festival, Rejeuvenation, Burning Man and Mystic Garden. These elaborate installations showcase visionary art by renowned and upcoming new artists from around the world and often include fountains, crystal matrixes, lasers, altars of natural materials, visual projections, technology and sculptural art installations. These temples provide a sacred container for the personal experience of the divine and are created from a collaborative group process that makes them unique to the needs of a particular community or event. Art from the Ecoartopia collective can also be purchased online as prints on demand and merchandise made to order. www.ecoartopia.com
Clay Chollar grew up in a very creative household in Santa Cruz, CA, where he was saturated by art and music from day one. For Clay, Art isn’t just something you Do- it’s something you Live. Clay is here to Inspire people by constantly creating & manifesting his dreams on a daily basis! Live Visionary Airbrushing is a truly interactive experience. You can watch as the paint comes to life before your very eyes, but if you get too close he might turn you into the canvas. Clay can be seen Painting Live, Djing, BodyPainting and setting up Interactive Installations at festivals, art events, and underground shows all over the west coast & beyond. Also in the works is MIndAltar an all original Audio/Visual Dj set….. It will be a Multimedia Journey through the Psychedelic nature of our minds, Blending Art ,Video, Music & Live Performers to Create a Visionary Dance Portal…
Forrest Boden of Planting Yogi Studios comes from 25 years of creative arts, gardening and teaching while studying the relationships of culture, consciousness, and community and its place in the ecology. This studio is a place that cultivates the living culture making its way back through our colonized mind by representing it visually and planting it in the gardens of our imagination, hearts, homes and yards. “My images are a gesture of gratitude and reverence to the intelligent forces within and around us. With my work I hope to inspire, celebrate and evoke the emerging eco-creative culture birthing from within each of us. I dedicate my work to the reconciliation of our collective history, to the restoration of harmony and to the designs of a living story for our future.” Inspiration and passion unite to forge the creative power and consciousness that awakens and generates the beauty of our evolution. Welcome the Earth’s Renaissance from your own body and heart. The old paradigm of dominance and subservience is dissolving as we Re-Member ourselves back to communion in Earth and with each other.
Lindy Kehoe lives and paints on the majestic Rogue River in southern Oregon. Her work is both magical and alive, revealing ancient stories through her myriad characters. Her illustrations were awarded the silver Nautilus award with her collaboration with Star Hawk in “The Last Wild Witch”. She has been published for six years with the We’Moon Date Calendar. Her paintings are offerings of healing and enchantment; portals into worlds remembered through the heart’s doorway.
In Qahiraʻs own words: My images attempt to evoke magic…spiraling and emerging through the sacred symbology of the Divine source, the Great Mother, the One. I have a passion for reaching into the essence of what is deeper than words, making pictures of what is beneath the surface, behind the veil, healing what arises from the depths of the world soul, activating the powers of intention, creating magic and revealing transcendence. I feel that the role of the “artist” in this time is to be a shaman in the very deepest sense of that word, working to dispel commonly held illusions and delusions – perhaps through the creation of”illusions” and to help bring about a true healing to her/his culture: to nurture and feed the world soul.
The Awakening Freedom Experience w/ Davin Infinity
Davin Infinity is a visionary artist / film-maker/ human potential guide who has trained in several lineages of shamanic practice and is an experienced and powerful metaphysical guide into the Quest of awakened transformation. He has received initiations into the Ancient & Modern Mystery Schools and several shamanic lineages. He is alive to resurrect the fires of love for human ascension. This work is a major influence in his visionary art and films.
Sound Healing Dome The favorite spiritual light-node of Mystic Garden is back again in 2011 to provide a sanctuary dedicated to vibrational healing through sound! Music in the Sound Healing dome focuses on the inner experience of the listeners – the attention is taken inward and away from the performers. When you enter this sanctuary, you notice an immediate shift – this is sacred space where sound travels in spirals taking you on a journey that harmonizes the flow of your chi, removing obstacles from the pathways and balancing body, mind and spirit. You feel sudden rushes of emotional energy, an opening for deeper surrender into love or have a deep transcendental experience of some other kind. Activities will include sound healing sessions in the afternoon, healing-sound concerts inspiring toning, collective om-ing, sacred chanting, gong- medicine and “Collaborative Sound Weaving” – a spontaneous transcendental instrumental journey facilitated by Soma and Eostar that will go through the entire night. Surprise musical happenings will be given space just like last year’s Scott Huckabay and Soma instrumental jam and other musical rarities.
Eostar will be facilitating the late-night Sound Weaving together with Soma at the Sound Healing Dome. Eostar’s trance-inducing didgeridoo playing and hypnotic overtone singing takes the listener on a journey through the inner realms. Together with spacemusic transcendental sound artist, Soma, Eostar, has been performing this highly transformational sound healing music for almost a decade at retreats, healing circles and festivals such as the annual Wesak Festival in Mount Shasta. Eostar is also a kirtan singer, using the vibrational frequency of Sanskrit words, sacred syllables and mantras to invoke the Supreme, to enliven and enhance the ecstatic experience of her listeners. Her singing comes fully alive through her collaboration with guitarist Mathias Pailas and their devotional psychedelic trance band: Web of One.
Soma is one of the main Sound Healing Dome facilitators. He is a performer of journeying music, a genre of healing music that focuses on the inner experience of the listener. For the past 25 years, Soma has lived on the edge of society in the mountainous regions of Northern and Southern California, performing at festivals, facilitating spiritual retreats, and providing private sessions. His improvisational style of meditative electronic spacemusic allows him to respond directly to the energies of the listener in the present moment. This musical approach also facilitates the participation of other musicians in spontaneous collaboration. The collective energy of all in attendance is integrated to co-create an uninterrupted group healing experience that unfolds continuously over the course of many hours. This shared experience of Oneness is the primary focus of Soma’s music.
Vibration Sound Healing with Danny Goldberg
Utilizing the sounds and vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls, gongs and chimes we are able to relax into a deep state of meditation allowing ourselves to heal and re-align. These ancient sounds bring our body, mind and spirit into its’ natural resonant frequency. Vibrations are able to pass through our body, removing internal clutter and allowing our minds to clear from the constant chatter. The relaxing tones invoke blissful enlightened states and sensations of weightlessness, opening, flying and floating. You can view my website at: vibration.outofboxsolutions.com I have been working with the singing bowls and gongs for several years and sharing these ancient sounds at festivals, yoga studios, private events, etc. I offer sound meditation concerts as well as the “Gong Chair” for private sessions. I perform sound-healing ceremonies at several yoga studios in the bay area including Divinitree in Santa Cruz, Yoga Center Santa C ruz and Avalon Yoga in Palo Alto. The “Gong Chair” has been invited to Harmony Festival, Earth Dance, Lightning in a Bottle, Wanderlust, Power to the Peaceful, Rothbury Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, etc.
Heather Salmon: Crystal Alchemy
“Yoga & Sound Immersion” This 2 hour intensive is a sacred journey of gentle yoga, vocal sound healing and crystal bowl attunements for the balancing of the mind body and spirit. Heather blends Anahata, Kundalini and Essene Yoga along with Shamanic Sound Healing and Taoist practices for the regeneration of the organs and inner peace. Sound Healing The Chakras Take a guided journey through the chakras with voice and sound. Experience how toning and sacred sound can assist in releasing blockages within the body restoring optimal health and wellness on all levels. Sound Healing The Chakras Take a guided journey through the chakras with voice and sound. Experience how toning and sacred sound can assist in releasing blockages within the body restoring optimal health and wellness on all levels. BIO: Heather Salmon is the founder and High Priestess of The Temple of Light (Middletown, CA) a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the upliftment of Humanity through education, entertainment and multimedia projects that inspire equitable, ethical and peaceful ways of living on the planet. She is a resident Chef, Yoga, Sound Healing Teacher and Ceremonialist at Harbin Hot Springs. She has over 30 years of experience in regenerative healing practices [...]
Liquid Bells Singing Bowls w/ Damien Rose
Liquid Bells Singing Bowls: Sacred Sound Healing with Tibetan Bowls and Gong. Damien Rose has been adding the magic of his Tibetan Singing Bowls to Yoga Conferences, Deva Premal in concert, the Chopra Center, BhaktiFest, a fundraiser for One Heart Foundation, and several yoga studios. His extensive set of bowls, which he collected over ten years, had their recording debut in 2008 with Damien’s highly acclaimed CD, Liquid Bells. (www.liquidbells.com) The CD was featured nationwide on National Public Radio and has garnered the respect of several revered yogis and musicians such as Deva Premal and Shiva Rea. “Your music hurls the listener by the scruff of the neck into the Now, willing and ready or not.”–OasisTV
Nada Yoga~ Inspired from the ancient sounds of India. A space to explore your voice and understand the sounds of North Indian Raga and Chanting. We will also be appliying sound to the body for healing and meditation…. Sydney Leigh~ Has studied North Indian classical Music in College at CalArts Institute and upon her travels to India. Currently spending some of her year in the Hawaiian islands cultivating prayers to the Aina and the Mama Oceans Ancestors the Whales thru sound journies and devotional song.. Making Prayers thru sound she weaves North Indian Raga, Chanting and Sacred Space of Movement as her offerings.. Facilitating sound journies thru her djing as well as Didjeridoo..Voice… and harmonium. Exploring the nature of sound in many facets for healing and opening the chakras. .Using Sound as a medicine for healing and opening the heart. As a yoga teacher and student i come to find the deeping of wholeness thru sound and breath.
Vocal Alchemy Circles w/ Wahkeena Sitka
Enter into the Sacred Portal of Yourself through your Voice. Vocal Alchemy Circles are a beautiful opportunity to release energy, open up & clear your Throat Chakra, have fun, feel deliciously high, and practice spiritual self-cultivation – all through the most basic of our resources – Our Voices. We will be practicing basic tools of Vocal Qi Cultivation: mindfulness, breathwork, working the Microcosmic Orbit, Mulabandha, and QiGong movements – combined with vocal exercises. We move through building group resonance by toning – culminating in Primal Sounding Play and Tribal Polyrhythmic Song Circle.
The Awakening Freedom Experience with Davin Infinity
A profound workshop with Life Mastery Tools, New Earth Templates, Embodied Movement & Meditations and working with Universal Laws of Creation and Sacred Geometry (spirit energy into material form). A focus will be on creating sustainable thriving communities, creating a life vision, awakening your power and divine service, and guiding social breakdown into breakthrough by transforming chaos into creativity.
Pleiadian Activation & Sound Healing w/ Alan Pratt
Allow the voices, the languages and the birdsong of our ancient galactic ancestors to move through us and bring us into the New Age. Release thought and behavior patterns, emotional trauma and physical pain. Let your chakras spin, your meridians align, and your breath flow. Have visions & insights, go on astral travels, experience other incarnations. Connect with your Spirit Guides and open the channels of power. PERSONAL BIO: Alan Pratt facilitates healing and activation for individuals and groups from Mt. Shasta to the Amazon, Burning Man to Brooklyn. The spiritual force moving through Alan is a new modality being introduced to the Earth plane at a crucial point on our path. Visit AlanPratt.net for testimonials, text & video or search “Alan Pratt Healing” on Youtube.
Rhythm is in our bodies, our hearts, our breath. Join other drummers each day in unifying drum circle as we come together to play rhythms of the one heartbeat of creation. Connect with others, and feel the universal pulse. Learn drumming techniques including Latin, African, and more! So far confirmed is Chris Berry doing an Africa Drum & Dance. Chris who founded the Drum & Dance camp Bana-kuma which means sacred altering is inviting some drummers to join the camp! Chris Berry and his camp has hosted & taught 100s of students who come back year after year. Chris & several others will be added soon and this will be an area where drumming will be able to happen throughout the event since we won’t have to worry about sound carrying.
African Drum & Dance w/ Chris Berry
Chris Berry is not only offering Africa Drum & Dance at this yearʻs gathering but also facilitating our Drum & Dance Camp! Heʻll be inviting some drummers to showcase a few different traditions. Chris founded an established Drum & Dance camp Bana-kuma which means sacred altering. His camp has hosted & taught 100s of students who come back year after year.
To individually ’awaken’ and move out of the old paradigm of separation, struggle and survival into a new paradigm of unity, cooperation and joy is not something that we can do alone. It requires support from people we love and trust. Nor is it something that we can do by just reading books or going to weekend seminars. Instead, being more present and heart-directed takes constant trial and error learning over time. It also takes commitment, courage and tremendous perseverance. We are actually changing how our brains are wired as we re-imagine who we are and how life can be lived from this new place of kindness and creativity. We are consciously participating in our own evolutionary development. Heart Circles are forming in many parts of the world in response to this desire for ‘awakening’ and ‘community’. They are small ‘awareness-practice’ circles that are decentralized, non-commercialized, self-activated, self-organized and all-member facilitated. They are deliberately designed to help us open our hearts while creating community together. By meeting weekly or bi-monthly, friendship and support becomes available to us on an ongoing basis. Heart Circles provide a space to learn how to better hold our focus on creating joy, acceptance, passion and [...]
Matrix of Life w/ Dominic Notter
Workshop Description: Dominic Notter of Matrix of Life Technologies will be speaking about water. It’s vibrational memory, enhancement possibilities and it’s effect on well-being. He will be presenting some incredible breakthroughs his group has developed that are now available to our community and the rest of the world. Come learn how to create optimum health and open awareness. Personal/Professional Bio: Dominic is a “Water Alchemist” who has been working on new “technologies” and research with water for many years. Among his discoveries and breakthroughs is his “Structured Water” that optimizes our bodyʻs ability to absorb nutrients and better hydrate the body.
Thai Massage Playshop with D’vorah Swarzman, LMT
Thai Massage involves the applied practice of Loving kindness through various Bodywork techniques. Thai massage was practiced and popularized by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, physician to The Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India. It is also described as Thai yoga massage because the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches with deep tissue pressure. Show up wearing loose comfortable clothing and ready to stretch and be stretched. We will learn to do a short sequence of Traditional Thai Massage moves on our friends and family. Come solo or with a friend and be prepared to have fun while opening the body, heart and mind. D’vorah has been practicing Thai Massage since 1993 and has been teaching internationally since 2001. She integrates her healing work with rhythm and improvisation, mindfulness practices and Vipassana meditation. She has a private practice in Ashland, Oregon and is an instructor in and founding member of the Thai Healing Alliance International. More Info www.ThaiTherapeutics.com
Robin Houghton: Oceanic Breathwork
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: OCEANIC BREATHWORK is a simple, profoumdly powerful Conscious Breathing method based on ReBirthing. BIO: I have been a trained Rebirther for over 30 years, working mainly with groups at Festivals & Semionars. About 15 years ago I shifted my focus from the Therapeutic to one of Self-Empowerment, resulting in much faster & more complete mastery of the technique by my clients
We endeavor to create a special, healthy, fun and educational experience for children at our Kidʻs Village. So far we have Yoga for the kids, music for the kids including by musician Vir McCoy of Hamsa Lila doing Kid Kaleidoscope (music from his 2nd kidʻs CD)! Also, each year we have had art supplies and some art creation time with the kids.
One of the highlights for kids each year is our traditional Kidʻs Parade that we do on Sunday afternoon where there is face painting for kids, dressing up, singing songs, and an honoring ceremony featuring, you got it, our beautiful children!
Marya Stark- Childrens Music and Magic
Marya Stark is a Music Therapist and holds her Masters in Medical Qigong Therapy. She is currently designing an integrated music and magic curriculum for children.
This yearʻs Raw Food Camp offering includes a Raw Food demo with Chef BeLive as well as a talk heʻll be giving about the clear benefits of increasing raw food in your diet, for cleansing, over all energy etc. Of course our food vendors offer raw food options including Lydiaʻs and others!
Protecting and Sustaining yourself in the Nuclear Age w/Len Watson
34 year Raw Foodist Len Watson from Maui brings his Nutritional Wisdom to address the current Nuclear Crisis facing Hawaii and the West Coast. We will cover the main Superfoods that offer the best protection for Radiation exposure as well as for creating Abundant energy. We will also discuss how to regain a Healthy Constitution and build your “Mana”.
Raw Fermented Foods Workshop w/Xam and Lydia Love
In this workshop we will learn and explore how to create our own homemade lacto-fermented mustard, delicious sauerkraut with recipes, raw milk kefir and your own easy-to-make household cleaner. Learn to Do It Yourself and be your own self-sufficient consumer in this instructional workshop. We will also talk about the benefits of cultured food, probiotics, raw dairy and incorporating these foods into a Wholistic Lifestyle. In the workshop that we’re offering, we will also provide recipes and resources on these and other types of fermentation. We look forward to sharing our experience with you and answering any questions that you might have. Xam and Lydia are professional chefs and instructors. We live in Olympia, WA where we own and operate Heart Chakralates – a small business that spreads the love of allergen and sugar-free chocolate and raw, sprouted cookies to our community. At home, we make nearly all of our own food from scratch with the same Love and Intention we put into our chocolate and cookies. Lydia brings her amazing Love and talent to the food realm with constant inspiration and creativity. She has been fermenting kefir and sauerkraut at home since 2004. Nutrition has been a lifelong passion [...]
Sufi traditions incorporate amazing social and interactive dances including Universal Dances of Peace and Zikr into their forms of ceremony and healing arts. This year “Kalil” from Ashland, OR area will be facilitating not only a Universal Dances of Peace ceremonial dance, but also a Zikr and talk on ʻgardeningʻ the inner garden of our heart.
Sacred Agriculture Cultivating the Inner garden w/Khalil Elliott
Ziraat is the bridge between the outer and inner worlds. We use the outer garden as a metaphor for the inner garden, with the goal being that of growing something beautiful and ripening into our fullness. This workshop will use traditional Sufi practices from our lineage and some Sufi Dances. BIO: Khalif Khalil Mark Elliott is a long time sufi student and seeker of the inner life. A student of Sheikh Ishaq Jud until his passing, Khalil now is a student of Murshid Wali Ali Meyer. Khalil is a Khalif in the Sufi Ruhaniat International, with students throughout North America. Khalil started and is the center leader for Ashland Sufi Heart Circle and holds regular Gatha classes, Zikrs, Dance meetings, weekend camps and retreats, and special events. Khalil is a Mentor Teacher in The Dances of Universal Peace and provides training for new dance leaders. Khalil is a Cherag and provides ministerial services-weddings, counseling, mediation, and education. Khalil is a Farmer in the Ziraat teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan. He is an avid gardener and maintains the grounds at Ashland Sufi Heart Circle and the Heart Dome.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This interactive singing workshop will guide you through traditional techniques to develop & express emotion through sound. The musical source of Sufi qawwali and most other traditional Indian/Pakistani genres (Bhajan, Ghazal & Classical) is raaga, which is melody defined by sentiment. Exploring the heartʻs subtle feelings is essential to the Sufi path, so come join us for a sweet taste of traditional qawwali training. BIOGRAPHY: Tahir started studying Indian Classical music at the young age of 14. He had begun learning the tabla. Four years later his undying devotion for this style of music took him to India for his first time. Seeking the yogi’s of the Himalayas and teaching himself Sanskrit, he found that music was his path towards the one. Studying under vocal masters Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pashupati Nath Mishra, Sher Ali Khan, Muazzum Qawwal and various others Tahir embodies the potency of ecstatic devotion. Every day Tahir is devoted to the never-ending knowledge of raga. Through his vast knowledge he’s ability to transliterate the ancient Qawwali songs brings Fanna-Fi-Allah into manifestation. Tahir has been the founder, leader, inspirer and vision holder of the first and only western-based Qawwali party, Fanna-Fi-Allah. His by-lingual education of [...]
“Entheogens, Mystical Experience, and the Nature of Reality.”
For this talk, independent entheogenic researcher, Martin W. Ball, Ph.D., will discuss the topic of “Entheogens, Mystical Experience, and the Nature of Reality.” Having undergone his own radical transformation through the use of entheogens, Dr. Ball now writes and lectures widely on the topic of the non-dual, unitary energetic nature of reality and the self. His insightful understanding of the nature of the human ego, the role of psychedelics in transcendent and mystical experiences, and the fractal energetic structure of reality as a unified system is radical, challenging, provocative, and potentially profoundly liberating. The talk will primarily focus on the potential roles of DMT and 5-MeO-DMT in affecting profound changes in humanity’s understanding of itself and its role as direct embodiments of universal consciousness. BIO: Martin W. Ball, Ph.D., is a professor of Religion and independent entheogenic researcher. He is the author of numerous books on psychedelics/entheogens and mystical experience, the most recent of which is The Entheological Paradigm: Essays on the DMT and 5-MeO-DMT experience and the Meaning of it All. His previous book, Being Human: An Entheological Guide to God, Evolution and the Fractal Energetic Nature of Reality has been an Amazon.com best-seller and is widely regarded as [...]
Knowing Yourself/Loving All w/ Karl ‘Baba’ Bralich
Karl “Baba” is a spiritual teacher and shaman authorized by two eastern lineages: Papa Ji and Saccha. While he has decades of experiential and academic background in mystical traditions, his sharing is based on experience available for everyone to use without dogma or blind faith. In our workshop circle, we create a sacred space and invite a transmission beyond words that uplifts us from within, and is reflected in the poetry of Life. Many people live every day identified with an imaginary image of themselves. Wrapped up in that illusory identity, they often fail to see the beauty and perfection in Life, themselves, and Others. The True Self, which is the essence of Being and Love, is the source of creativity as well. So aligning with our essential nature is a tool for Love and Peace within, and Creativity without. This workshop gives you tools and insight to anchor yourself in your true being and express the Love that you are.
