20th and 21st May 2023
Dancing Hearts. A Non-Residential Gathering at Brigsteer, Near Kendal
So pleased to welcome you to Brigsteer for another weekend connecting hearts dancing and singing. Our spiritual friendship which draws us together in this way is such a blessing and a joy for us all. The energy we feel as we sing and dance is without doubt the power that heals and which spreads far and wide for the benefit of all.
While there are many spiritual methods that can bring peace to body, heart and mind, simply singing and dancing together in a circle is perhaps the easiest and most accessible way I have ever come across which is why I have devoted so much of my life to this.
Spiritual Dancing will of course be the main focus of our weekend together. Additionally during our sessions there will be other meditative practices or short periods of sitting together in the silence to help us to integrate and assimilate the effects of our dancing and singing.
For those who may be new and considering coming along it is not necessary to have had experience of this form of dancing – sometimes called Dances of Universal Peace. Our dances are simple and accessible as well as profound and deep. Mostly we dance and sing as we move together holding hands in a circle. The chants are based on sacred phrases from various spiritual paths.
Through dancing and singing together we experience how to inhabit our bodies more fully as we develop a greater sense of awareness and presence. The repetition of the mantras along with the devotional quality of the movements, helps transform the inner atmosphere which leads to many beneficial changes in our vibrational field.
The parasympathetic nervous system is activated allowing us to feel safe and creative in each other’s presence; muscles begin to relax and soften; our voices become more resonant and mellifluous; our hearts open spiritually; our minds begin to quieten; our breath becomes easier and more enlivening; we become more aware of the energy of life within us and around us.
Yet perhaps surprisingly all this happens through simple, natural rhythms of heart, voice, body and breath as we move together in a circle.
The weekend is non-residential and will take place at Brigsteer Village Hall in a delightful room with a beautiful wooden floor. It is a spacious and clear, ecological venue in a tranquil setting with plenty of space for parking and is only a short drive from Kendal.
When the weather is fine as it most often is for these weekends there is also space to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. Bring along mats and blankets for relaxing in the breaks and also cushions for the sitting meditations if you prefer. The hall has plenty of chairs.
For those travelling some distance a limited amount of accommodation may be available in the village with more in Kendal itself. Brigsteer is less than four miles and only a ten-minute drive from Kendal.
Acknowledged as a master of spiritual dance and a senior teacher (Murshid) of the Sufi Ruhaniat International I have studied within a number of spiritual lineages including yoga, tantra, Buddhism and Sufism.
The style I have cultivated over the years creates an atmosphere that invites a deepening into the heart. I see myself as a modern-day mystic yet at the same time just an ordinary human being.
Being a musician of the heart I accompany people on the journey of awakening through the subtle and powerful use of sound, rhythm and breath. Seemingly effortless, my way offers a natural ease and flow that invites a relaxed, open atmosphere and a sense of togetherness.
Times: Saturday 14th May arrive for refreshments from 10am.
Start at 10.30am. Finish at 5.30pm.
Sunday 15th May arrive for refreshments from 9.30am.
Start at 10am. Finish at 4pm.
Price: £120 which includes delicious home-cooked vegetarian food for lunch on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. Some special diets can be catered for. You must let Rabia know in advance.
Bookings and Further Details: Contact Mary Rabia Dowson.
Tel. 015242 21147 Email: madowson@gmail.com