Courting the Living World

Nurturing a Sacred Intimate Connection with Planet, Spirit and Self through Creativity and Ritual

A Five-Month Apprenticeship Program

This five-weekend apprenticeship is a heart- and earth-centered personal transformation process that is geared towards bringing participants into intimate connection with their own bodies, earth, nature and spirit by tapping into their imaginative, creative, and aquatic memory. In this time of great shifting, as we stand at the threshold of the birth of a new era going through its birth pangs, we are called to dwell in the vibration of love to midwife the Great Mother through her changes. An expression of this love is to remember a relationship of reciprocity with our living world. We are deeply indebted to the natural world that has treasures and riches we barely comprehend, and consist of complex intelligent systems which respond to what we bring to it. Deep inside the intelligence of our own system and the memory of our bones, we hold a knowing that goes beyond survival but taps into the exquisite and life affirming qualities that allows us to court the sacred. As we awaken and tend our spiritual seeds of self-expression, creativity and imagination amidst the beauty, vibrancy, and richness of ritual, the sacredness of all living and non-living beings can be restored and fed.

Creativity feeds the soul, as well as spirit particularly in the context of ritual and intention. In this program, participants are given tools to enter into a vibrant relationship with self, spirit and planet as they engage in a sacred creative and listening process utilizing breath, sound, movement, rhythm, and various art forms. The program draws from Indigenous Wisdom to create transformational rituals that address grief, gratitude, healing, community building, ancestor work, and connection with the natural world. Each weekend builds on the previous one to bring the participants deeper into the process. The five weekends are focused around the five elements of fire, water, earth, nature and mineral, from the tradition of the Dagara people of West Africa. The training encompasses a broad world-view of the many Indigenous Traditions, contemporary visionaries and most of all, Katja’s personal creative abilities and gifts.

Central to the program are:

The first weekend opens the door to healing and deepening our relationship with our ancestors. We work in community that is supported and guided by a community of Ancestors. We spend time in deep ritual, heart centered prayer, elemental understanding and nurture our allies in the spirit world. The second weekend brings us into the mystery of water and our aquatic ancestry that we carry inside which transforms and informs us in innovative ways allowing us to shift our relationship to our environment at a cellular level. We immerse ourselves in the healing vibration of water, explore some of its astonishing qualities and its integration in our lives. The Third weekend brings us deeper into connection with our bodies and the body of the Earth. We address issues of nourishment and abundance linked to our relationship with the Earth. We celebrate the Earth’s creative abilities with our own creativity. We look at the planet as a whole moving through its initiatory journey. The fourth weekend brings the elements we have laid out to nature where we enter the magical, the play and the call for authenticity. Forms of self expression, to allow spirit to touch us, are explored in a variety of ways to mold us and engage our ability to shapeshift and receive messages from nature’s realm. The final weekend brings us to mineral, the bones of the earth that holds the story of our planet and our own bone knowing. We tap into the ancient planetary memory, utilizing the tools and intelligence of systems we have explored, so we may experience our deepest purpose that can transform our story and feed our dreams.

Dates: May 20 - 22, June 24 – 26, July 29 – 31, Aug. 19-21, Sept. 16 – 18
Facilitator: Katja Esser
Location: This apprenticeship takes place in a rustic setting in an off-grid cabin and a 24’ fabric yurt within a large protected forestland. To assure affordability, participants sleep in the cabin or tents and share assigned meals. Part of the program is conducted out-of-doors. The program takes place at Earthlands in Petersham just East of the massive Quabbin Reservoir in central MA
Tuition: $1000 Payment plan affordable to all. There is also limited financial aid available

For more information or to register, contact Katja - katjacreates (at) ritualexpressions.com or call 617 365 4024
Visit her website for more info on her work - www.ritualexpressions.com

What people and participants have said about Katja’s work:

“…You are ever an unfolding flower – beautiful…light filled…surprising…radiant…dancing….drawing deep into the mystery for your vision…so very fertile…ancient ways singing through your presence – ritual magic – communally weaving – sacred play…”

“…You inspired the group with your grace, love and style...”

“…Katja is walking, breathing, dancing art....”

“...I am moved by your creative fury and your deep connection to Mother Earth. A splendid combination with a bright future…” Dagen Julty