Healing Waters: Rites of Passage & the Embodied Masculine

Join us for this unique opportunity to explore the masculine traditions of the Esselen Tribe, integrated with the fundamentals of 5Rhythms® movement practice. Answer the call of 55000 Highway 1’s healing waters and join Douglas and Little Bear on a hero’s journey. Together, we will explore  what it means to embody the sacred masculine in this modern world. With courage, integrity, and receptivity, as a group we will create renewed understandings of masculinity and how we as men ‘walk our talk.’

Healthy and uplifting rites of passage are an important aspect of humanity, and yet, largely missing from modern society. People of all walks of life and religions went through different experiences in order to prove that they were ready to move into their next stage of life. Men were traditionally taught by their fathers, grandfathers, and uncles, but this traditional upbringing is frequently  missing for many. In order to overcome the accepted norms of masculinity, it is important for men to be able to find solace with one another, to relate at the heart level, and to learn from each other.

In this weeklong workshop we will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about the practice of acknowledging the land
• Use dance, voice, and 5Rhythms® movement to feel into our bodies
• Participate in the reconstruction of traditional rites of passage
• Seek deeper connection with Mother Earth

The intention for our week together are to create a sacred space for men to come together and reignite our sacred fire, as well as to build a new bridge to manhood, to gentle warriorhood. 

Guest musicians Sanga of the Valley and Nick Ayers will accompany this workshop. 

Sanga of the Valley has played African drums from an early age. Sanga moved to New York City in 1970 from Trinidad, where he met Babatunde Olatunji and became one of Olatunji’s students. Sanga went on to be one of Olatunji’s lead djembe players and spent 25 years as a member of Olatunji’s Drums of Passion. Sanga of the Valley has worked with artists such as Carlos Santana, Nina Simone, The Grateful Dead, the Neville Brothers, and Stanley Jordan.

Nick Ayers has been a professional musician and dancer for over 25 years. Nick knows the sensitivities of deep listening. He is a massage practitioner at the Esalen Institute and the creator of the Wavetable, a vibro-acoustic sound table that massages the body through his original musical compositions.

If you would like to begin your own journey to understand the past and present of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey Country or to support the tribe in the progress of its work, please visit www.esselentribe.org.