Community Events : The Soneiro Singing Circles
Credit: Franziska Messner Fotografie
OUR personal background of the Community gatherings
This year has been extraordinary special for all of us. Surrendering to solitude and isolation when the first lockdown of most of our lives started. Even though many of us spent a great deal of time in the lockdown in solitude or the company of close family or friends, the feeling of separation was omnipresent. And as strong as that was, the counter energy was also there for us to be experienced: the feeling of interconnectedness, crossing physical separation, reminding us that no matter how much space we leave between our physical bodies, we are all carried and held in the web of interconnectedness.
With our team from Soneiro we were offering weekly Livestreams, sometimes even daily through our Instagram Channel. What was holding us in the web of trust and togetherness was the practice of Mantras and Medicine Songs. We are lucky to call this our work and could gather once a week to practice the songs that deeply touched us, that have given us guidance through these challenging times. We got better and better singing together in all kinds of languages.
In the past years we have always been sharing and practicing medicine music with each other. But since there were no events happening during the lockdown in spring 2020 (we had to postpone our Sound Meditation Training and all planned gatherings for several months), we had lots of time to dive deep into the power of medicine music.
everything starts with a vision
In spring and early summer the rules softened up again, people could meet in groups outside and even inside again. On one Wednesday rehearsal we thought: “why not doing our weekly singing practice next week outside in Treptower Park? We can announce that we do it, maybe a few people will join and sing with us.” We held the great vision to share this practice with our audience but didn't feel ready for it yet. Without that we ever really spoke about it, there was just our practice and the vision but not a plan yet to put it into the material plane. “Yeah why not. Nothing to lose. Maybe somebody joins, maybe not.” Was the answer we got.
Credit: Franziska Messner Fotografie
Credit: Franziska Messner Fotografie
And what happened then?
Well, we got quite experienced over the years in making things happen spontaneously. It is one of the things that you learn when you spend several summers organizing festival stages, creating sessions and holding space with a great team and a beautiful shared vision. We announced through our media that we will share a singing practice outdoors and everyone was welcome to join. We even shared the song texts beforehand, and printed them out on huge posters, so people could fully sing with us. We packed our instruments, Gerdus and Temple got speakers and all the technical gear, Alisa made a program, Caroline brought her big van to bring the gear and Cecilia, who was our intern last summer, also joined to help out and build the altar. In June the first Community Event took place. The location we knew from a shooting we did there 3 years ago. Parts of our tour film were shot there – watch the film here.
When we arrived, some of our retreat participants were already there waiting for us which was a great surprise. As most of the time we were so busy organizing the event on a logistic, programming and aesthetic level that we didn't have much time to announce it. We built the altar, sat down and suddenly people came from all corners towards us. It was a magical feeling. In the middle of a Park, on a vista, protected by trees, kissed by the sun, we created our nature temple. More and more people joined. On bikes. With vehicles bringing their picnic. With their babies, kids, dogs. With their roommates, their family members. We couldn't believe how many people joined the very first session already. It felt like a mini conscious Festival and approximately 60 people came. On this great lush meadow there was enough space for everyone to sit with distance to each other and breath in the fresh air.
Watch this short film about our singing circles
From an impromptu gathering to a monthly community experience
After the first gathering, which was a great success and such a heart opening experience it became a monthly gathering. The core team of Temple, Gerdus, Alisa and Caroline was enriched by past interns and friends helping us to set up and hold space. To see the dedication of people was very encouraging: people came with the lyrics printed out and very prepared to go full into the experience.
During one session we even had a full film team there: somebody heard about our gatherings and asked if he can make a little documentary about it for his film studies. Well equipped they came and produced an insightful motion picture which you can see here.
The grand closing of the outdoor summer gatherings:
the Shipibo Fundraiser
Closing the season with a SUCCESFUL fundraiser for our friends in need in the amazon
Kelson, who is shown on the picture below (taken by Alisa in Ecuador this year), is taking care of his community of the Shipibo-Conibo tribe living in the Peruvian Amazon. We have been in contact with him over the past weeks, checking in on how he and his communtiy was doing, since they got hit very hard from Covid-19. On Alisa´s blog you can read more about their situation in the Amazon. We decided to dedicate our last gathering to their community and collected donations on the event and through a Fundraiser Campaign online. We want to give thanks to all of you making that happen. Thank you for donating. Let´s not forget those in need in these challenging times.
Outcome = 1120€ Raised
Voices from the Team
Temple
“This year we had the intention to create more community gatherings, to bring the people together outside of our normal formats. We also felt the calling to sing and resonate together. During the summer months our singing circles were always a highlight of the week, it was such a pleasure to see so many people come out and sing with us. One of my favorite moments was having the honor to sing with Fernando, a Curandero from Peru, during our fundraiser for the Shipibo-Conibo tribe. Having the possibility to sing these ancient and new medicine songs is truly a gift. We are currrently looking for an indoor location that we can then keep singing through winter, we will keep you updated!”
Alisa
“It was such an honour to gather with you this summer in our nature temple. For us it was a great way to embody the innate values of our work: to open energetic fields, hold space, allow transformation and through holistic arts and music create the frame for a community field. The impact of these gatherings went beyond the songs we sang, beyond the time that we spent together there. It felt like initiated and protected by the Great Mystery and we all, no matter if those who joined as musicians or as singers or just came to enjoy, where dancing and honoring the great unknown in all its beauty together.”
Gerdus
“In this year, most likely collectively the strangest year we have experienced, the importance of community was made that much more clear to me.
When it was a bit warmer, we were able to gather with a safe distance outside to resonate together.
Our monthly singing circles reminded me of the powerful healing of song and singing and through it I momentarily forgot about the craziness and was reminded of my true calling in this world: to help people heal through music.”
Caroline
“Our Singing circles were really medicine for me during the last months. Being able to come together in such a difficult time and feel a sense of community, as well as express ourselves with our voices was really beautiful and helped cultivate a lot of joy and hope in me. One moment that really stands out for me was at our 4th singing circle where we turned all the mics off, stood up and decided to clap and sing an African song together. I remember looking round, hearing everyone’s voices resonating together and seeing everyone smiling at each other, there was such an immense amount of happiness in their faces. This gave me hope that when we come together and support each other we are at our strongest.”
