3 WEEKENDS: 24-26/9: The Elements / 29-31/10: Rituals of Loss, Death and Letting Go / 10-12/12/2021: Crafting Rituals

The Monastery Live is a hands-on place for spiritual practice. And one of the important aspects of spiritual work is to transform your environment into a place of connection, focusing your attention and getting in tune with the world around. Although different traditions have different tools for this work, most of them share some basics techniques, like the definition of the ritual space, the connection with the elements, the incantations/prayers to focus the energy, sharing incantations in singing and movement. Ritual in its most basic sense is transforming our relation to the world, singing it into being through the shift in our attention, which moves our sense of possibility and even changes ‘reality’ as we experience it.

In these three weekends, we work towards the experience and understanding of the power of ritual. In a first weekend, we connect to the elements and perform rituals for the Earth, Water, Fire and Wind, becoming aware of our deep connection to the elements, and the way they move us and live in us. We practice intensifying the power of the element that is needed for us to move in new directions, or to shift our perspective on who and where we are.

In the second weekend we face loss and the need to let go of certain things or people, in order to grow and transform. The weekend precedes the celebration of Samhain, the feast of the dead, in which we honor the people that have left us, and dive into the twilight world of tricksters and spirits (today celebrated as Halloween). At the end of the weekend you can stay for the collective Samhain dinner and celebration

The third weekend focusses on the crafting of your own rituals: what are some of the basic ways to make your own ritual. What kind of materials can be used, what are the best times to perform your ritual, how are the rituals connected to the passing of sun and moon. In this weekend we also work on the Psychomagic rituals, as proposed by Jodorowsky, to craft rituals that are closely related to the psychology of transformation through objects.

You can assist to one weekend, or inscribe for the whole cycle, which in a way is recommended since we will build up the practice throughout the different meetings.

This weekend is accompanied by Elle, monk at The Monastery Live, artistic researcher and tantra practitioner. Elle has been working on rituals since 2007 in different forms: as an artist in her ritual performances A Life, Bardo States and Bureau d’Espoir, in her psychomagic work in workshops and in private sessions, and as a daily practitioner in The Monastery.

PRACTICAL:

Dates: 24-26/9: The Elements / 29-31/10: Rituals of Loss, Death and Letting Go / 10-12/12/2021: Crafting Rituals

Venue: The Monastery Live, Solwaster (Jalhay), Belgium. The Monastery is situated in a beautiful small village in the Ardennes, surrounded by woods and streams. We will make use of this natural environment as often as possible during the workshops.

Time: Arrival 24/9 at 6pm, End 26/9 at 5pm

Payment: 200 for one weekend. 500 for all three. The price includes the workshop and food, and you are free to sleep in the practice space. If you want to stay for the Samhain celebration, we ask a contribution of 20 euro.

Accommodation: You can sleep in the practice space for free. There are mattresses, but you should bring your own bedding. If you prefer sleeping in a (shared) room, please let me know in time so I can reserve you a spot. In that case you pay 20 euro/night. Sheets are provided. If you like it even more cosy: there are a lot of B&B’s, gites and hotels nearby. List on demand…

Transport: Solwaster is situated close to Verviers. If you come by train, we can organize a lift with one of the other participants, or come and pick you up at the station.

Reserve your spot: monk@themonastery.live