WORKSHOP JOURNEYS FOR WOMEN 2008/2009
with Carolyn Hillyer

SAMHAIN DRUM NIGHT
October 31st Friday
Lower Merripit Roundhouse

A powerful and deeply-rooted evening of drumming, chants, shadowy myths and earthy ritual to honour the veiled season, the silent lands and the bones of our ancestral mothers. Held around the hearth fire in the ceremonial ancestor house at Lower Merripit Farm. Hot soup, autumn breads and seasonal teas provided as well as materials for making samhain amulets. Bring a drum if you have one ~ there will be spare drums to share ~ and, if you wish, a contribution in the form of song, prayer, memory or sacred tale.
7pm to midnight ~ £25 ~ 40 places ~ local B&B contacts available.

The following four weekends form a connected sequence of workshops that are also each complete in themselves: women are welcome either to attend the whole journey or to book individual workshops as desired. These weekends are formed around Carolyn’s new painting cycle ASHES AND EARTH, which describes the guardians of four gateways into the silent lands, a starkly beautiful landscape of death and restoration, and our intimate connection with a moon that repeatedly carries us on a circle road through dark solitude, incubation, inspired renewal and the illumination of memory. Each of these workshops involves a combination of drum, voice, contemplation, direct
engagement with the ancient landscape, using our hands to create and interpret, simple shared or personal ritual, mutual nourishment and an intent to explore to the farthest reaches of our perception. And of course some fun!

THE CAULDRON OF CROWS
A journey into shadow
November 21~23

Sister Moon comes clothed in black, the dying night laid in her hands, love is left when the pain’s rolled back as the circle road moves on... Solitude, the disintegrating woman and the bearer of wounds are aspects of the darkest mythological guardian to be found within the primordial cauldron of crows, the vessel that holds our most profound death and life mysteries, as we enter the earth along the harsh edge of winter and deep into the silent lands. Involves a personal journey into earth within the ancient cave shrine uncovered on this farm and the shared creation of a winter book.
£220 ~ 24 places ~ shared inside accommodation, evening meals included

THE HOLLOWING
A place of incubation
January 23~25 2009

Sister Moon comes but unseen, time dissolving through her eyes, lonely witness to what has been as the circle road moves on… Within the silent stillness of the hollowing woman, caught in the marrow of ancient bones and far inside the cauldron of crows, rests one seed that holds the key to the restoration of life. So we create a journey of germination and renewal as we pause before the last out-breath of winter, held at a turning point within the protecting hands of the oldest guardian, and guided by the visions that wait behind our eyes. A time for mending, dreaming, tending fires and travelling gently.
£220 ~ 24 places ~ shared inside accommodation, evening meals included.

RAW EARTH
A moment of awakening
March 20~22 2009

Sister Moon comes clothed in red, new dreams gathered to her breast, drawing hope from her fertile bed as the circle road moves on…Over the raw spring earth runs the quickening woman, following the strange seam where death and life are knitted together, where a perfect balance exists between the winding of shrouds and the vibrant expression of new energy. Through this guardian we are the midwives of so much: last and first journeys, blood of grave and of womb, return and release, physical and elemental bodies, all lifted on a rising wave of change. Involves profound connection with a wild place and the alchemy of sacred water.
£220 ~ 24 places ~ shared rooms inside, evening meals included

THE ILLUMINATING WOMAN
A blessing of light
May 8~10 2009

Sister Moon comes clothed in white, life held strong within her arms, all will mend by her powerful light as the circle road moves on… In the full brilliance of the illuminating woman we discover the ultimate blessing of ashes and earth. This guardian slowly dances around the rim of the cauldron of crows, where light is revealed through its relationship with shadow, creating deep ceremony enriched by the intricate weavings of soul songs and lament and the wonder of life. Together we will prepare a special white ritual house and small looms on which to catch light, air and bright memory.
£195 ~ 36 places ~ camping, some shared inside accommodation available, evening meals included

For more information and booking forms please contact SEVENTH WAVE MUSIC
Some bursary places at reduced price available for women on low income on each of these workshops ~ please ask.

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