Seasonal & Holiday
Wolf Moon Rising & The Midwinter Wild
Is your creativity running free in its unfettered wild or submerged deep below the ice of an unimagined or unbirthed vision?
Enter The Sound Apothecary for a candlelit & incense infused opening ceremony of sound for the inaugural exhibition from Votive, a showcase of creative energy in both the seen and unseen realms.
The intention of this evening is one of collective tending to the creative flame, the fire which burns deep within our bones. To turn the dial down on over stimulation and listen to the mysteries of the subconscious with ritual and the sound of drum, singing bowls and monochord composed to lead the mind into the theta brainwave, encouraging deep rest, down regulation of the nervous system and an altered state of consciousness.
On the 6th of January, we will be 3 days past the first full moon of the year which in the Old Farmers Almanac, is called the Wolf Moon, orginating from Native American tribes who named it after the nocturnal symphony of wolves soundtracking the winter nights. The nights of retreat and storytelling. Both the wolf and moon tarot archetypes are powerful guides for the deep waters of rest and creativity...
The elemental cycle, associates this deep winter phase with the water element, a time to fill our cups and allow stillness in this darkest and most yin phase of the year and to hold reverence for rest.
The vibration of winter is a return to the earth, animals hibernate, leaves drop to the ground and we gravitate towards warmth, rest and nourishment. Nature's winter rhythm is one of depth and the gathering of resources for the emergence of spring, of absorbing and receiving rather any pressure to produce so that the seeds we plant now may become. It is powerful medicine to be reminded of this.
We will toast our winters and the launch of Votive with a warming herbal infusion of Mugwort "Artemesia Vulgaris" & Chinese Red Dates (Hong Zao). Mugwort is used in herbal Medicine to dispel cold and damp from the body, it is also known for its effect on dream intensity and recall making it a powerful herb for dream work and creative practice.
Antioxidant rich Chinese red dates (Hong Zao)are potent blood and immunity boosters. Chinese medical sages wrote about how the heart and mind must be rooted in healthy blood and "where the blood flows, memory follows" signifying the importance of nourished and well circulating blood for a focused mind to bring what we imagine into the physical.
Establising a practice with herbs beyond the caffeine fix can equip you with powerful allies for creative practice.
A hand made blend of incense including mugwort will be burned to stimulate the brains olfactory nerve and limbic system, which are associated with creativity, emotions and memory.
Looking forward to gathering together to open this magical exhibition.
“The most important thing is to hold on, hold out, for your creative life, for your solitude, for your time to be and do, for your very life; hold on, for the promise from the wild nature is this: after winter, spring always comes.”
“The doors to the world of the wild self are few but precious”
Clarissa Pinkola Estés ~ Women Who Run With The Wolves
Please read full event details including health considerations and what to bring prior to booking...
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Arrival: 6.45 pm for a 7pm start.
Your Host
The Sound Apothecary was founded by Maria Christofi, a graduate of The British Academy of Sound Therapy to represent the medicinal effects of sound.
A Practitioner of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for over 20 years, with residencies at both Neals Yard Therapy rooms and Triyoga, María integrates the healing arts with mythology, plant medicine and sound therapy, offering both one to one sessions and group sound events and circles.
Maria contributes to publications such as the annual Ignota Diary and Wild Alchemy Lab and you can read her article "Alchemy of Sound" in the Air edition of the Wild Alchemy Journal.
BRING:
🐺 You will be lying down for this ceremony and body temperature falls in meditative state so please bring a yoga mat, blankets, cushions and plenty of warm layers and socks to be as snug as possible. The space will also be well heated. 🔥
🐺An eye mask and bottle of water.
🐺A journal to record any insights which may emerge during your journey.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Mugwort cannot be taken during pregnancy /breastfeeding or on SSRI medication. Chamomile or rose tea can be provided instead so please contact beforehand to arrange.
The following conditions are contraindicated for deep sound work, please touch base with any questions and to notify regarding any health conditions on 07970794367
•Epilepsy.
•Pace maker or cochlear implant
•Severe diagnosed mental health conditions.
•Metal implants - note that sound vibrations may be felt in implants or joint replacements.
•Severe Tinnitus
