Friday 7th June 7-9pm
Investment: £30 (to include a cup of ceremonial cacao)
Kirtan is a very simple and powerful way to meditate. It is part of an ancient form of Yoga known as Bhakti - the Yoga of Devotion. The word "kirtan" or "kirtana" translates into "telling, narrating, enumerating, or describing."
Kirtan chants are usually sung in call-and-response style where the wallah (leader) sings the mantra, and the group sings it back. There may be several instruments or it could be as simple as a single harmonium or guitar. You might think of it as a sing-along, like sitting around a campfire. The songs are a beautiful tapestry of Sanskrit, English, and other languages; however, Kirtan is non-denominational, the Universal language of Spirit, the song of the Soul.
WHY PRACTICE KIRTAN?
Kirtan is all about community, people coming together. Just like so many other yogic practices, kirtan allows you to release stress, tension and anxiety. The various chants and mantras sung together could be thought of as medicine for the soul. The word "mantra" is made up of two halves: "man," the root of "manas," meaning "mind" and "tra," meaning "vehicle" or "instrument," referring to a chant’s ability to transport the mind from one state to another. When chanting in a group, music’s ability to bring people together allows the energy of the whole room to be transported to another level, where all voices become One Voice.
WHO CAN PRACTICE KIRTAN?
Kirtan is for ALL people!
There are no masters of kirtan, no experts, no teachers, no advanced students, no beginners. There is no right or wrong way to sing kirtan. A voice that sings allows expression to flow and emotion to be released, which is perhaps why we need this aspect of yoga now more than ever in the modern day world.
Aesthetics don’t matter. All that matters is the spirit, the feeling. Don’t worry about what you sound like. Feel whatever you feel, have no expectations, no inhibitions. Kirtans are mostly written in Sanskrit, which is a language that may be new to you. Because kirtan singing is repetitive and the lead singer is going to be singing the same line again and again and again, you will get plenty of chances to catch up. If you don’t get it the first time, try again. Be patient with yourself and have fun!
Credit and thanks to https://www.blackcatyogajax.com/post/what-is-kirtan for the above summary on Kirtan
About Alex & Julie
Alex @basisholistics is a truly beautiful soul, who shines a light wherever he goes. Yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, Full Power Cacao Master of Ceremonies and Kirtan leader; he has so much love for holding space, combing and sharing all of his practices to bring people together in deep conscious connection, with themselves, the divinity within and with each other.
Julie @julie_mrowicki is a dynamic and inspirational Full Power Cacao Master of Ceremonies facilitator, Kirtan Leader, and Space Holder. Her passion for building connections and fostering community shines through in the Cacao ceremonies, women's circles and Kirtans she facilitates. Her spaces are more than just gatherings; they are immersive experiences that resonate with the soul, designed to facilitate personal growth and communal harmony
TESTIOMONAL FROM THE PREVIOUS KIRTAN
I just wanted to say thank you so much for Friday night's Kirtan event. I really really enjoyed it. Not knowing what to expect, it was such a lovely evening and I could literally feel the tension leaving my body after each round of singing. Alex and Julie are such lovely people with fantastic voices and their energy and gentleness was palpable.
Coincidentally (or synchronistically) I had read the below the day before attending:
"In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: "When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?". Gabrielle Roth.
I really felt those questions deeply and realised that I had stopped singing and dancing in my own life both physically and metaphorically a lot of years ago. I think March 2020 lockdown was the final straw. Kirtan encompassed all of the above and it was so good to be reminded of all of these things in such a beautiful way. It was truly uplifting for the mind, body, heart and soul. I'm so glad I attended and had this reminder and experience that as humans we are truly nourished by song, dance, story and silence.
Thank you for a beautiful evening.