UK, DARTMOOR - Ancient Voices of The Altai-Himalaya Workshop with Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino, Michael Ormiston & candida Valentino, Lower Merripit Farm, Postbridge, Dartmoor, Devon PL20 6TJ, 25 Aug 2014
Ancient Voices of The Altai-Himalaya Workshop
with Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino
Rivenstone Festival Deep Journey Workshops Monday 25 August 10am-10pm
Lower Merripit Farm, Postbridge, Dartmoor, Devon PL20 6TJ
Cost: £100 Booking 01822 880301 or visit http://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/rivenstone2014.htm
The sounds of the mountains inhabit the memory of our ancestors from the union of the blue grey wolf and the fallow deer to the present day. The legends of our peoples are deeply rooted in the land, lakes and rivers.
The sacred Ovoo cairns house the spirits of the ancestral shamanic leaders; the bones of tribal memories lie within these stones,
messages to the ancestors fly on the prayer flags, the burning juniper incense honours them with our blessings.
The Buddhist monks consecrate the Ovoo with mantra, mandalas and the sacred gong, singing bowls, bells, conch shell, cymbals and shawms. The Ovoo unites the ancestral Shamanic and Buddhist ritual landscape within the Altai and Himalaya regions.
During this workshop we will be taken on a journey to hear the Yeröölch (wish-prayer singer) with the Khadakh (blue silk scarf),
the Khöömiich (Mongolian overtone singer) with the Tobshuur (two stringed fretless lute), the Böö (male) and Udgan (female) shamans with their Khengereg (drum) and Tömör Khuur (metal jaw harp), chanting and offering the pure white mare's milk blessing with the nine grooved Tsatsal ladle, wishing the lords of the land, water and mountains Tegsh (balance).
Michael and Candida, leading exponents of the ancient sound traditions of mountain and steppe, will guide us through an exploration of the origin spirits of the Altai-Himalaya and our own ancestral connections with them, using the ancient traditions of Mongolian Khoomii overtone and undertone singing, mantra, praise song, shaman drum, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, bells, shawm and much more.
During the day we will work together to create a group sacred mandala, make prayer ribbons and flags, learn a Mongolian Dallaga
(ritual blessing and wish fulfilling prayer) and participate in a very special ancestral Ovoo ritual. Bringing together all these elements,
the group will prepare a contribution to bring to the final Ceremony of the Sacred Earth Home.
This workshop is throughout the day with breaks for lunch and dinner, group preparation for the evening event, followed by the final Ceremony of the Sacred Earth Home, a shared ritual with fire, music, drums and song that will complete the celebrations of the weekend.
The night concludes with hot mulled cider in the Mead Hall Tent.
Cost: £100 including all materials, hot drinks, simple vegetarian lunch & Monday night camping. Cafe and bar tent open in the evening for dinner & refreshments. Non-returnable deposit of £50 payable with booking. Some bursary places available upon application for those on low income.
