with Nancy Sherwood and Eliza Schurman

This workshop is a reflection and practice of the Celtic Way, a world view that will reconnect participants to the wonder of earth, through the imagery of the World Tree and her protector, the dragon. We will acknowledge and experience the sacred circle and its container of energy with a Celtic perspective, that will be embodied in individual and collective sharing. Note: please bring a sacred object to the session.

Brian Olynek and Annette Boelman bring the ancient practice of Fire Walking into a contemporary setting while integrating the wisdom acquired over many years. Brian is a gentle teacher and motivator, always honoring that the fire is truly the teacher.  In setting up the Fire, we smudge and prepare the sacred ground we will walk on.  We open up the gateways of the 4 directions to call in the guides and the ancestors to assist us and keep everyone safe during the ceremony.

This workshop will give you the tools to empower your life so that you can work and play, live and love 100%; to be in the flow; to embrace life’s magical moments! And at the same time we are keeping alive the sacred nature of an ancient ritual. Fire Walking has been practiced by people all over the world for 1000’s of years. It serves as an unforgettable demonstration of human potential and a way to deeply connect with the living consciousness of this earth.

The Dancing with the Fire seminar is a 4-5 hour ritual conducted in the evening, with the Fire Walking done after sunset. The participants take an active role in coming together as a group to build and bless the fire and the trees.  The Trees gave of themselves to be the Firewood for this ceremony.  As the Firewood to goes through a transformation i.e from a solid to air so do we have the opportunity to transform. As the large wood fire burns down into a bed of hot coals, we explore the nature of personal and shared reality, while learning to transform fear and limiting beliefs.

Our goal during this seminar is to let go of what stops us from being 100% in life. We move through different activities to lead us finally to the final event of the evening the firewalk. The dancing with the element of fire is initiated and those who choose to can join in the experience. All participation is voluntary and the evening, no matter what you do, is always a powerful teaching

Many people say that this evening event is the most transformational experience of their lives. Whether or not you walk on the coals, you will feel empowered by this inspiring workshop.

The firewalk offers an effective and compelling model for resolving personal and planetary challenges: squarely and honestly face the fire; affirm your connection to the earth, to her elements, and to your fellow travelers; join in the rituals of wholeness; say yes to your fears and let their energies boil into excitement; listen to your inner guidance, open to a clear intention and, when your moment arrives, step forward. Even better, let go into JOYOUS and ECSTATIC dancing.

 

A BON JOURNEY WITH NANCY AND MARIA

The focus for the Bon shamanic journey guided by Nancy and Maria will be the South direction, a journey for seeing clearly, a journey to the realm of Yama Lok, home of the King of Death, to heal negative emotions and to bring light into the darkness. The journey will involve the symbolic dis-memberment, cleansing by the elements of water and fire, and a joyously celebrated re-memberment.

Tibetan (Bon) shamanism says “all is one” in reference to religiouspractices. In the Bon tradition Shiva, Lord of the Universe, teaches that the Source is water. The symbol for the Source or the One, is the circle- seamless, continuous, merging opposites into wholeness.

Tibetan/Tamang shamanic practice was initiated by the Goddess of Compassion-Ghang Selmo (Lhamo), also called Tara, K’wan Yin, Mael, The Red Goddess, Peacock Goddess. She is the Great Mother/Goddess of Compassion, the Great Mother of Darkness. Out of her compassion she established the Rainbow Path, the marriage of heaven and earth. The rainbow bridge connects the lower and the upper worlds with earth (us). We traverse the rainbow bridge to gain entry into the realms of the four directions of the middle world. In each of these directions or realms reside specific deity-healers who help the journeyer accomplish specific healing purposes.

The Tamang people (also called “the red-faced people”) are the largest Tibetan ethnic group in the Himalyan area (Nepal) have been practicing Bon shamanism long before Buddhism came to Tibet in the 8th centuryA.D. “Tamang shamanism is like a porthole through which we can view human kind’s most ancient spiritual path” (L. Peters, 1990).  Some modern day bon shamanism is blended with Buddhism, some with Hinduism,and the practices are similar to Siberian, Mongolian and Central and North Asian shamanism.

Spontaneous journey experiences into Tibetan shamanic realms led Maria, in 2001, to attend a training program with Dr. Larry Peters, an initiated shaman in the Tibetan tradition.

Nancy’s Tibetan teacher is Yuan Qi, “Original Breath”, transcendental energy, which connects to her Tibetan spirit name and the dakini principle.

 

DRAGON SPEAK

Co-presenters: Michele Haddal, Marla Webber

Time requirement: 3hours

Requirements: Sweat Lodge (no fire keeper needed), Open outdoor Space

Particpants: limited to lodge capacity, approximately 25-30

Envisioned is a guided journey where we delve through the fiery breathe and enter into the mouth of the Dragon itself. Inside we will connect to the magical ethers, harness the power of the ancestor archer within us, and embody the arrow as our personal Dragon’s tongue… Learning to voice the Dragon speak.

Moving then from the mouth of the Dragon to the outside world we will share our medicine and declare our new found teachings. This will be a physical transition to open space using archery equipment in ordinary reality while maintaining a semi-shammanic state. Launching arrows high into Father sky will be a release of our Dragon tongues and out loud our voices will carry with it our Dragon Speak.

 

ARCHERY LESSON

Instructor: Marla Webber 

Learn the rudiments of archery with one gentle lesson from an accomplished archer!