Group Gatherings

The aim of these group gatherings is to encourage each of us to free the body and mind and connect deeply with ourselves. Together we create a safe environment where you can explore your creativity, and have fun with melody, words, breath and movement. You are encouraged to find your voice, whether spoken or sung, and to experience the gongs, handpans, drums, and rattles. There is no right way, and it is impossible to get it wrong. In this way, we can begin to accept this I that is my character, while not taking it too seriously.

During these gatherings, I introduce many different approaches to sound, silence, breath and movement, and make use of a wide group of methods and exercises. Each gathering has a theme, usually connected with the time of year and the natural cycles of life. With the theme in mind, I remain flexible to your needs and tailor what I do according to what arises.

Group Gatherings: See the Events page for details of upcoming gatherings.

There are many ways to connect with that deep place in ourselves that we know to be true. Voice work using poetry, song or improvised sound is a very powerful way to bypass the thinking mind and get straight to the core of where we are at. I use simple exercises that give us a jumping-off point. It could be a poem or a song, or simply one phrase or word from a poem or song. It could be sounding your own name, or simply making a freely improvised sound or movement and seeing where it goes. As you get used to this work, you are encouraged to bring your own jumping-off point.

As we sit in circle and work together, a space of great safety is created, where we can let go of old holding and step forward into the unknown. This opportunity to have your work witnessed within the group is often a deeply powerful and satisfying experience.

After the sound, breath, qi gong and poetry gatherings, there is an opportunity to join together in community around the fire. These are sacred fires in the Inca tradition, created with love and consciousness, and are a method of shamanic healing.

These sacred fires are usually held at key points in the calendar, for example, the winter and summer solstices, spring and autumn equinoxes and the festivals in between (Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas and Samhain). They are also held according to the moon calendar, particularly at the full moon or the new moon.

After our group gatherings, we usually share some food, then prepare for a sacred fire. You do not have to stay for the fire. You can also come only for the fire if you prefer. The fire is a community event, and there is no charge.

To learn more about sacred fire, visit the shamanic healing page.

There is a lot of misunderstanding and mystique around healing. For me, healing is about catalysing the self-healing process that is within each of us. I am very fortunate to have been gifted many ways of doing this during my life, and to have worked with them for many years.

These circles are for practitioners of any discipline working with patients who are open to looking clearly at the energetic aspect of our work. We share some of the healing methods we find useful, often in a hands-on, practical way, and also discuss some of the difficulties we encounter and the ways we can meet them. I can offer knowledge from the Egyptian healing tradition, from the Chinese tradition of acupuncture, qi gong, dao yin and daoist meditation, and from the Inca tradition of shamanic healing.