EarthSong Rising
September 5 – 8, 2019, North Carolina
Farm at Green Heron Pond
157 Browntown Road
Leicester, NC 28748
Online Registration is now CLOSED.
We’ll see you on the land – you can purchase tickets on site! We can accept Paypal, cash or checks.
About Our Event
EarthSong Rising is an annual four-day celebration of song, nature and community. We settle into natural village rhythms by singing, dancing, swimming, laughing with children, and eating delicious, healthy meals. This event is a place for multi-generational singing, a rising of our collective voice, and an awakening of the spirit that lives in the heart of our species. Like the birds, we were made to sing beauty into the world, together. At EarthSong Rising we will bring meaning and a deep sense of belonging into our lives.
Featured
Song Leaders
Exceptional song leaders facilitate themed circles, from Appalachian ballads to indigenous medicine songs, uplifting songs of celebration to heart-healing songs of grief. At night, we offer options that include spoken word and a cacao ceremony, while the main fire draws us into a community-wide song circle, which sometimes lasts until the morning light.
Amikaeyla Gaston
Vocalist / Activist
We are so blessed to be joined by Amikaeyla Gaston is an award-winning singer, activist, and executive director/founder of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute (ICAHSI). ICAHSI partners with government, NGO, and educational institutions, as well as corporations and individuals to provide innovative programs that unlock expression through music and the arts. ICAHSI conducts workshops, presentations, and multimedia events around the world – from classrooms & boardrooms to concert halls and refugee camps. Ami was a featured speaker at TEDx Gramercy 2014. She is the winner of eight Washington Area Music Association Awards for Best Jazz, World and Urban Contemporary Vocalist.
Maestro Manuel Rufino and Golden Drum
Elder / Ceremonial Leader
Maestro Manuel Rufino is a recognized elder in the Taino tradition and World Director of M.A.I.S.C. He is a spiritual guide, gifted ceremonial leader and teacher of sacred initiatic traditions of the world. Maestro Manuel is also an artist, certified iridologist, naturo-therapist, vegetarian chef & the visionary guiding the Golden Drum community and many vegetarian restaurants including Jungle Café in Brooklyn. Guided by his teacher, Maestro Domingo Dias Porta, Maestro Manuel has been following the trails of indigenous healing arts for over 40 years. Maestro Manuel travels around the world sharing initiatic traditions, leading workshops, lectures, sweat lodges and healing rituals.
In 2010 Maestro Manuel and a number of his students opened Golden Drum as a space for sacred traditions in New York City. Founded to give voice to the worldview of Native Americans, indigenous peoples and the esoteric schools, Golden Drum features living representatives and students of these great traditions.
Travis Knapp
A folk songwriter and banjo/piano player from Ithaca, NY. In addition to performing his original music, he directs music for theatrical performances and Ithaca’s circus, and works with students as part of the Honey Child Soul Quintet. Travis also grows culinary and medicinal herbs. His latest album “One By One” can be found at www.travisknapp.com and all online music outlets.
“Travis Knapp is a brilliant musician with a resonant voice. His songs are uplifting and strong, kindling a sense of hope and optimism. He is very impressive.” -Starhawk
Kathryn Ashera Rose
will lead DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE with Luke Staengl, Cliff Dumais and Others! We create a mandala of sacred intention moving from joyful exuberance into the heart of peace. Live acoustic guitar, drum, and vocal harmonics synchronize with our heartbeats and foot steps. Simple mantric and devotional chants, rounds and counterparts in varied languages from the many sacred traditions of the earth.
Yuri Woodstock
“I believe that opening your full voice connects heart and head. I believe that singing together is extremely important. I believe that the way to change the world with singing is not for it to be a performative act, with the highly trained singer literally on a pedestal while the “fans” sing along. We’ve all got a voice for a reason. We can’t all talk at the same time, but we sure can sing together.” -Yuri Woodstock
JoJo Silverman
Creator of the healing modality Prayerful Resonance, and visionary of the Devotional Music Foundation, JoJo Silverman, has been a student of yoga, meditation, holistic health, chanting, hand percussion, and fire-Tending for 20 years. Using sound in the exploration of consciousness to connect hearts and minds is his gift and mission
THURSDAY
12-1pm Registration
1-1:30 Opening Circle/Welcome and Orientation
1:45-3:00 Song circle
Gaia Tree
Jose Pina
Dodie Whitaker
3:15-4:30 Song circle
Lillie Kolman
Areeya Marie
Jojo Silverman
4:45-6 Song circle
Golden Drum Sacred Song Circle
Mother Turtle
Faye Adinda
6:30-7:20 Dinner
7:30-8:30 Stories and Songs with Naturalist Doug Elliot
8:45pm Opening Ceremony with Areeya Marie, Amikaeyla Gaston & other song leaders at Hearth Fire
Followed by Community Songcircle at Hearth Fire
FRIDAY
6:30-8am Cosmic Yoga
8-9 Thai Yoga Massage with Melissa Burdeos
9-10 Breakfast
10-10:30 Opening Circle & Songs
10:30-12 Song circle
Juan Holladay
Josh Fox
Amikaeyla Gaston
12-1:30pm Lunch break
Kristin Wilson’s workshop: Developing a new culture of “Whiteness without Supremacy”
1:30-3 Song circle
Melody Henry & Alinahh Ever
Adrian DiMatteo
Kennedy Oneself
3:15-4:45 Song circle
Ixchel Prisma
Mz. Imani
Lobo Marino
5-6:30 Participant offerings and free time
Shabbat Niggun song circle
Maestro Manuel’s Mastering the Root Chakra: The Shamanic Approach to Money, Sex and Relationships
6:30-7:30 Dinner
8pm Ancestral Healing Ceremony with Areeya & Amikaeyla
Followed by Community Songcircle at Hearth Fire
SATURDAY
6:30-8am Cosmic Yoga
8-9 Thai Yoga Massage with Melissa Burdeos
9-10 Breakfast
10-10:30 Morning Circle
10:30-12pm Songcircle
Amikaeyla Gaston
Ashera Rose & Luke Staengl — Dances of Universal Peace
Ash Devine
Doug Elliot Naturalist Walk
12-1:30pm Lunch break
Kristin Wilson’s workshop: White Fragility & Apathy
1:30-3 Song circle
Areeya Marie
Yuri Woodstock
Luna Ray
3:15-4:45 Song circle
Melody Henry
Billy Jonas
Golden Drum Sacred Song Circle
Travis Knapp
5-6:30 Participant offerings, songcircles, games, dances, etc./free time
Community Safety Discussion — co-facilitated by PeaceTender team
6:30-7:30 Dinner
8pm Cacao Ceremony with Maestro Manuel at Hearth Fire
Followed by Community Songcircle at Hearth Fire
SUNDAY
6-7am Tea Meditation with Lena
7-8:30 Cosmic Yoga
8:30-10am DreamSeed Sound Healing
10-11:30 Brunch
11:30-1pm Song circle
Mother Turtle
Madelyn Ilana
Saro Lynch
1-2:30 Marketplace
2:30-4 Angel Wash
4-5 Closing Circle & snacks
5-7 Breakdown & Cleanup
Our Village
Themed Circles
Exceptional song leaders facilitate themed circles, from Appalachian ballads to indigenous medicine songs, uplifting songs of celebration to heart-healing songs of grief. At night, we offer options that include spoken word and a cacao ceremony, while the main fire draws us into a community-wide song circle, which sometimes lasts until the morning light.
Our Venue
Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the Farm at Green Heron Pond offers a serene, natural setting with 50 acres of rolling pastures and woods that surround Green Heron Pond & Pavilion, only 18 minutes from Asheville.
Imagine yourself around the fire, under the starry sky, in a impromptu choir of humanity ranging in ages. The many flavors of our voices will sing alongside the coyotes’ howl as the river rushes nearby. We will be sending our song to the ancient Appalachian Mountains that hold us in a healing embrace. Feel the deep smile that will live in your heart the end of a day full of singing, of swimming, and of living with the rhythm of the earth.
We Are One
All levels of singing are welcome. All voices are welcome. All humans are welcome. This gathering exists to bring us together in song from the many pathways we have traveled. Bring your family, bring your songs, and come as you are — for you will be embraced by community and the ancient Appalachian Mountains. You will be held by the light and warmth of the fire and by the village heart as we open in song, as one voice.
Ancestor & Elder Fire
New this year, to honor both our elders at the gathering and our ancestral lineages, we offer the Ancestor & Elder Fire. The space will be tended by Maestro Manuel Rufino and Sangoma Oludoye. This fire is here for you to pray with and connect with your ancestors, and a space to hear the elders teach. Specific workshops to be announced at morning circle.
So much Love and Respect for our Elders (65+ suggested) will get $50 off –
Apply Discount Code ‘Elder‘
EarthSong Tenders Teen Camp
Thursday
10:30-12 Crafting Songwriting Notebooks with Willow and Sky
1:30-3 Ixchel Prisma
Friday
10:30-12 Song Writing with Willow
1:30-3 Songs for the Teenage Years with Areeya
7:45-10 Teen Fire, Song/Flow Circle with Kai Peace Eagle
Saturday
10:30-12 Song Circle and Sharing of Original Songs
1:30-3 Xango Shola Songs for the Heart of Humanity
7:45-10 Teen Fire, Song Circle
Teens are half off, age 12-18
Apply Discount Code ‘Teen‘
EarthSong Sprouts & Keepers
Kids Camp
Thursday
10:30am-11:30am Jon Handelman / Kristiana McKinnon
3:30pm-4:30 Ben Brill
Friday
10:30am-11:30 Billy Jonas
3:30pm-4:30 Juan Holladay
Saturday
10:30am-11:30 Billy Jonas
3:30pm-4:30pm Kari Kovik
Sunday
10:30am-12pm Kari Kovik
Kids 11 and under can attend for free
Apply Discount Code ‘Children‘
FAQ:
What meals are provided?
Breakfast and dinner. There will be food trucks available to purchase lunch, or bring your own and have a picnic with your friends!
When can I arrive?
Arrival begins 8:30 am on Thursday. Dinner will be the first meal served on Thursday.
Are there any cabins?
1 cabin on the land reserved for our elder song leaders
Any Toliets?
There will be porta-potties and composting toilets.
Is there space to park my car?
Yes, lots of onsite parking. Car camping is available for the first time this year!
How far would i need to carry my tent and supplies?
There will be a gear drop-off point that is close to the camping, and there will also be limited parking near the camping as well, for anyone who need that extra ease.
Might there be wagons there for hauling?
There will be wagons or wheelbarrows or something. More importantly, we’ll have volunteers available to support folks like you who need an extra hand.
Are day passes available?
Yes! You may purchase a 1 or 2 day pass, and they are also on a sliding scale.
Regarding Our Beliefs
We believe in the power of community singing to bring us closer together, to help us align with our truth, and to integrate healing and liberation for all people and this Earth. We believe Our songs are prayers and medicines that metabolize grief and offer beauty to one another, and to the Earth.
We believe that singing is a primary way humans can connect and feel a sense of belonging. We know that singing has been integral to many movements of liberation, and we want this gathering to support efforts towards a world of harmony, equity, and justice. Singing arises blessed unrest within the soul, sometimes described as a profound sense that everything is not alright, coupled with a belief that we do have agency, we do have power in our voice. We’ve seen the power of respectfully sharing songs and lineages of songs to expand our awareness and bring diversity of language, thought and feeling.
By gathering and sharing these songs that live in our hearts and souls and come forth when needed, we seek to support healing the heart of our one planet.
Online Registration is now CLOSED.
We’ll see you on the land – you can purchase tickets on site! We can accept Paypal, cash or checks.
Can’t wait to Sing with You!