Singing Alive Seed Library
Greetings All ~~
Singing Alive 2011 will be happening twice this summer, in its full 4 day existence over Labor day, Sept. 2 - 5, @ the usual location ~ Lillebakke, Cosmopolis, WA, and a 1 day/nite version, Monday, May 30th, in Portland, OR. The Portland event is collaborative with the Village Building Convergence, and Tryon Farm (where it will take place). Urban Permaculture whirled!.
@ Tryon farm, SA afternoon workshop 1 - 3 pm, SA evening event 7 - 9:45 pm
SINGING ALIVE 2011
September 2 ~ 5
Lillebakke @ 1778 North River Road, Cosmopolis, WA
A teaching and sharing gathering for ceremonial/devotional song circles, dance, & music
We change the world as we transform ourselves with songs of light, love, peace, & goodwill to all beings
What is Singing Alive??
Now in its 5th year, Singing Alive is a gathering of the SongTribes, birthed in the bosom of the Pacific NW (Cascadia) eco-festivals. It is about bringing people together who feel called to awaken, and nuture their spiritual life thru communion with songs (and prayers, chants, blessings, and so om) of celebration of life in this benevolent universe. Such songs clarify our lives, strengthen our communities, and foster personal and planetary renewal. At Singing Alive we gather to share them, and ourselves, in a safe, welcoming environment. Our goal is to open hearts, and the songs are the keys. These songs are multi-cultural, coming to us from many eras and lands far and near. Together they tell a perennial story, a Gaian dharma, so often forgotten, yet so joyfully remembered, of the Great work of spiritual evolution, of earth-conscious living and peaceful co-existence. By singing this story we come home to Ourselves and perform the Dream of re-Creation we have so longed to live. Singing Alive is intended to hold space for this Dream to emerge and manifest, to give people resources and support for this initiatory transition we are ALL, consciously or not, with grace or in denial, going thru.
Singing Alive is part of a growing global 'song culture' which is knitting itself, and the world, together, thru the harmonics of communion with our common spiritual heritage. This culture has been fragmented by various diasporas, neglected as community rituals have secularized, atrophied as singing professionalized, and devitalized as songs became disposable consumer items. However, it appears the innate urge to sing to, with, and as, the glories, and often terrible beauties of this world, is something that may be suppressed, but is never forgotten!
Singing Alive exists to encourage the remembrance of this deep desire to sing from the heart. It provides resources in the form of, 1) songs, 2) the community to sing them, and 3) support for those of us who want to live the teachings, the sadhana, of the songs. We therefore invite all who wish to activate and nurture their spiritual life in this way. We call all who long to gather in devotion to personal and planetary regeneration.
Singing Alive offers itself as a ceremonial space in the vibrant magic of river meadows in coastal rainforest, a chrysalis in which participants can rebirth, grow, enliven, and enlighten themselves in attunement with the Garden of the Divine family of Creation. The old paradigms of domination, exploitation, and war are fitfully, yet inexorably, crumbling, and a new genre of songs have (re)emerged that reflect and celebrate the new paradigm of love, light, and the pursuit of blissful service to the world. By engaging our hearts in song, we help actualize this paradigm in ourselves and the collective. This is subtle activism, nourishment for a spiritually hungry world. Our intent is to invite singers and musicians who can share songs of this genre, which work in the format of communal singing. This is not an entertainer / audience gathering; rather it is a participatory event, a co-prayformance, where we all sing together, and work together to make this happen. Those who don't think they can sing are encouraged to come and claim the birthright of a singing species! Remember the wise African proverb, 'If you can walk, then you can dance, if you can talk, then you can sing'!
'What is the key to untie the knot of the mind's suffering? Benevolent thought, sound, and movement.' - from The Gift, by 14th-century Sufi poet Hafi |
A Teaching and Sharing Gathering
Song-Circles of all sizes,
Dances of Universal Peace,
Voice & Breathwork,
Midwiving New Languages & Reclaiming the Ancient Ones,
Bardic Legacies and Storytelling,
Creating & Sharing Songbooks & Songbook Art
Traditions (Song Tribes)
Rainbow, African, Shamanic, Daime, Orisha, Osho, Cascadia, Native American, Amma, Sufi, Gospel, Kirtan, and omward . . .
Themes and Invocations
Peace within, Peace without, God/Goddess Exaltations, the Elements, Fairies & Devas, Blessings, Gratitude, Grief & Praise, Planetary Acupuncture, Human Flowering, Children Circles, Harmonic Toning, and song on . .
We aim to keep the event affordable and accessible to all who wish to attend. As in Cheap! To this end, we ask everybody to volunteer their time and talents. Everyone is asked to bring food to contribute to the community kitchen. Everyone is requested to help cook, clean, and do the necessary tasks to keep our village running smoothly.
ORIGINS ~
The idea for this gathering was conceived on July 16, 2005 by Michael Pilarski (Skeeter) , & Morgan Brent (MT Xen).
Skeeter is an wildcrafter and large-scale gardener, permaculturalist, educator, and the founder of many gatherings, including the Okanagon Barter Faire, the Northwest Herbal Faire, and the Human & Fairy Relations Congress. For more info, go to Friends of the Trees Society
MT is an educator, event organizer, and song enthusiast, who specializes in the prescriptive teachings of medicinal plants, aka Nature's plan to save the humans. In service to this guidance, he writes articles and essays, gives talks and discussion forums, births and gives haven to songs, and makes medicines of all kinds, among them events both large (Singing Alive gatherings), and small (Creation-song circles)
SCHEDULE ~
This is a 4 day Singing Alive, so there is plenty time to strreettccchh out and in to the xperience. Feel free to arrive anytime Thursday (and possibly earlier if you contact me and request . . ) if you wish, as we shall start Friday morning with whoever has arrived. Everyday (Fri., Sat., Sun., and Mon.) at 9:30 am (or so) we all gather in a MORNING CIRCLE, to altar the day and introduce the events to come. There will then be 2-3 smaller circles, both in the morning, (10:00 ~ 11:30/12), and in the afternoon (2:30 to 4/4:30). At 5:30 we gather again in an AFTERNOON CIRCLE, to close out the day and introduce dinner and the evening events, which are mostly free-form fire circles that take on a life of their own. There will be a little marketplace /barter faire happening mid-day on Sunday in which all are invited to participate if you have somethings to sell or otherwise exchange.
COSTS ~
At en-trance ~~ full 4-day weekend $90, $25 per day.
In advance ~~ full weekend $70 before Aug. 1, $80 between Aug. 1 - Sept. 1, $20 per day.
1/2 price for teens 13-17 with parents, children 12 and under free.
for pre-registration, please send a check to:
Morgan Brent
1631 NE Broadway, #426
Portland, OR 97232
make check out to: 'Common Ground Wellness Center'
or send $ thru Paypal ~~
LOCATION ~
Lillebakke @ 1778 North River Road, Cosmopolis, WA. The land (which is actually 18 miles from the town of Cosmopolis!), 180 acres or so, is privately owned by a couple with two children, all of whom will be attending as well. Cosmopolis is located in SW Washington, not to far from the coast. Coming into the land off the road, you will be ushered into a big meadow that you can both park and camp in. From there, it is a walk across a bridge and down a trail (1/4 mi.), to another (main) meadow, which is where the Singing Alive event will take place.
RIDE SHARE ~
If you need a ride, or can offer a ride, email ~~ xen@tribesofcreation.com, with your requests. Any matchups that cannot be immediately made will be posted here, and on singingalive.org, so check back.
Please post on our Facebook Wall if you are seeking a ride or have room in your car. Alternatively, send an email to MT at xen@SingingAlive.org to inquire about sharing rides. This will be updated until late Thursday nite, and then no mas. . . good luck!
~ Saliha (saliha abrams <juniperberry11@gmail.com>; ph. ~ 541-288-6591) can offer three (3) rides to Singing Alive from Portland in Thurs, Sept. 1st.
~ Roxxane (coming from Vancouver Island) needs ride from Port Angeles or any where north ~ Roxxanne Faye <roxxannefaye@gmail.com>
~ Bell Circle <leecharlesjones@gmail.com> and Josh need ride from Olympia Friday ~~ will be getting into Olympia at 12 noon and his number is 707 337 6319
~ Shine seeks ride down from Victoria or Vancouver ~ Shine <loveisiu@gmail.com>
~ Carrie is looking for a ride for her and her dughter from Eugene on Fri morning and home all the way to Ashland OR or Yreka, CA. Alternatively, I could also drive my car if there were a couple of people who wanted to ride with me and pitch in on gas from Yreka, CA area on Friday . pj ~ 541-734-6042; Carrie Campbell <wildearthunlimited@gmail.com>
~ Zivi needs a ride from Ashland ~ zivi loeb <zivi.love@gmail.com>
~ Julia can offer a ride, or rideshare, from Olympia, WA ~ Gentlestrength <jgentlestrength@yahoo.com>, (503)332-7446.
~ Joshua needs a ride from the SF Bay area ~ Joshua Gardiner <jleroygardiner@gmail.com>
~ Denise can offer a ride for 2 on Friday, Sept. 2nd afternoon/eve from Portland. (805) 402-7809 ancientrhythm@gmail.com
~ Me (Lauren Nagel) and a friend need a ride from Portland (neruallegan@gmail.com, 2158064114 text or call) friday morning OR we can offer a ride to 1 rider from Portland friday morning. Gas monies given and accepted. Thanks! So much love!
~ Tristan needs 1 or possibly 2 rides, from Victoria... Anacortes or Seattle to those arriving at Singalive fri evening. tristen G <jingathing@yahoo.ca>
~ Michael Tivana is leaving Seattle on Friday noon - Heading back on Monday noon, has room for 2 to 3 people. <mtivana@comcast.net> Hm: 425 454 4865, Cell: 425 761 8683
DIRECTIONS (from Portland)
~
1) Travel on I-5 to exit 88 the 'Tenino/Rochester/South Sound speedway' exit, which is 15 - 20 minutes S. of Olympia, 90 minutes N. or Portland; go West on Hwy 12
2) go West about 12 miles, thru and past Rochester until you come to BLOCKHOUSE Rd. If you've come to Oakville the town you've gone to far. (at this point, if you want to go a more 'civilized' route, continue on Hwy 12 thru Oakville until it hits WA-8 in Elma, then follow directions belowe starting at '3)', meaning, go West to Montensano, turn left on Jct WA-107, turn left at US-101, turn left at Artic Rd, turn left at N River Rd to 1778 North River Road . . . )
3) take a LEFT on BLOCKHOUSE Rd, go to intersection, then straight (slight rt actually) on CEMETARY Rd. It T's into another Rd. (SOUTH BANK RD.) take a LEFT
4) go a mile or so until crossing a big, big river, then take first LEFT onto GARRARD CREEK Rd
5) Follow it, and it will 'Y' after a couple miles, but go straight on it (don't go to Centralia!), and it becomes BROOKLYN Rd. Follow this thru the non-town of BROOKLYN (where by this time it becomes NORTH RIVER RD, and you will see 1778 NORTH RIVER RD. on your left. Be aware that there are a few miles of rough logging road on this route.
DIRECTIONS (from Olympia or Seattle) ~
1) Take US- 101 N (exit 104 if you are coming from Seattle) toward Aberdeen/Port Angeles
2) Continue on WA-8 West (signs for Aberdeen/WA-8 W/Montesano)
3) Continue on US-12 West (i.e., WA-8 turns into US-12)
4) Take the Jct WA-107 ramp to Raymond/Montesano
5). Turn left at S Main St
6) Continue on WA-107
7) Turn left at US-101
8) Turn left at Artic Rd (.5 mi.)
9) Turn left at N River Rd to 1778 North River Road (10.1 mi.)
the bus from Olympia to Aberdeen is route 40. Bus from Aberdeen to Cosmopolis is route 15. From Cosmopolis walk or hitchhike to Singing Alive by going south on 101, left on Artic, and then left on N. River Road.
ACCOMODATIONS ~
Free Camping! Tents and some (limited) space for RVs. Early Sept. is about the driest time of the year – nevertheless, unexpected rains should always be expected!
FOOD ~
The food vision for this event is to run it as a great potluck (food for everyone, no vendors), with us, the focalizers/organizers, providing most staples, such as grains, condiments, cooking oils, kitchen infrastructure, and a person(s) who's task it is to run the whole thing. Since it will be harvest season, there should be much abundance out there. Bring what fruits and vegetables you can to feed the Family! Everything will be vegetarian, and as organic as possible. Bring your own bowls/plates/utensils.
VOLUNTEERING ~
We would like everyone who is able, to contribute a few hours to the smooth running of the event. Tasks include childcare, regisration, firewood gathering, circle recording, food prep, washing dishes, clean up, errand running, etc. We'll ask for volunteers for the needs of the day at the morning circle, and leave it to you, and your karmic guidance to keep to your commitments. There will also be a volunteer coordinator to assist u in this . .
THINGS TO BRING ~
Again, we ask that you bring your own plates, cups, and silverware and keep them for the duration. We'll have a dishwashing station set up. This is a living-on-the-land thing, so come prepared with tent, bedding, flashlights, water bottle, etc. Bring your bathing suit (or not) if you wish to swim. If you have a back country water filter, take it along, to help keep our water supply abundant. Bring songbooks and CDs for show and share. CDs, songbooks, musical instruments and the like can be informally sold/traded throughout the weekend, and there will be a barter period on Sunday for people to trade and sell other types of wares. Bring warm clothes for the evening as it can get chilly. Also if you have a recording device, bring for yourself, or likely we can use it as an additional resource for our own recording.
DOGS ~
You can bring your furry friend, however s/he, 1) must be leashed when entering thru the gate that opens into the main gathering meadows, and 2) dog dung must be picked up by the dog's attending human. All dogs must also camp outside the gate leading to the main meadows.
WISH LIST ~
Again, this is a inexpensive gathering depending on communal, co-operative energies to make it run well and harmoniously. We'll have a tea kitchen set up, that could use donations of teas, chai's, coffees, etc. Mugs, we need more mugs. Also looking for a sweat lodge person(s). What else - toys and such things for children to play with (no glitter), bales of hay to sit on. Old (yet relatively clean) rugs are useful, outdoor chairs, yes, outdoor chairs, extra recording devices (with mp3 sound card). Email us if you have any suggestions/questions. . .
Safe travels . . . May the Ancient voices, forever singing, guide you on your way!
and. . . Singing Alive sampler Cds (9 hr mp3) recorded on site, can be ordered on the 'Medicine Songs' page.
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