Greek Island Retreat: Rumi Freedom & The Dance of Liberation Sept. 28 - Oct 4, 2008

Corfu, Greece

Ellen Watson, Parashakti

Eight hundred years ago a flame was born to the lovers of wisdom, unity and love. Celebrate the life and vision of Jalal Al Din Rumi, the Sufi mystic poet born 1207, whose magnificent poetry takes us step by step to meet God within ourselves.

In this workshop, participants join in creating a communal ceremony to liberate their inner light through purification, ecstatic dance and shamanic ritual.

In preparation for a special ritual, we will cleanse the body through a day of fasting. Fasting detoxifies the body and facilitates internal cleansing while producing a powerful time of contemplation and personal transformation. We live in a world full of toxins, in our food, air and water. Toxins can also be produced by emotional pain and conflict. It is important to clear the body of these toxins for optimum holistic health.

Fasting is an integral part of many of the major religions throughout history including Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘‘Fasting will bring Spiritual rebirth...the light of the world will illuminate you when you fast and purify yourself.’’ Spiritual fasting is undertaken with intention to heal on every level. This conscious healing process cleanses not only the physical body, but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual being.

"In this workshop," Ellen Watson writes, "we enter the visionary world of ecstatic dance, opening the doorways to your imagination, intuition, and inspiration, where the Divine dances and speaks through you.

Ellen Watson is celebrating her 24th year on staff at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. There she developed the Movement Arts Program and teaches a wide range of massage, yoga, dance and moving meditation practice. Now, though her nonprofit MovingVentures School, Ellen offers Esalen(R) Massage training in Bali, and leads massage, movement, and meditation workshops at inspiring locations around the world, including a series of workshops exploring Rumi's mystical journey through his fiery poetry, ecstatic dance, meditation, chanting and storytelling.

Parashakti is a certified Shamanic practitioner, yoga instructor, and bodyworker. Born in Jerusalem and now based in New York City, Parashakti does Shamanic Healing and facilitates trainings in New York, Florida, California, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Israel. Parashakti has done extensive training in healing modalities with the Shoshone and Lakota Indians and apprenticed for three years with Shaman Wilbert Alix. A co-founder of Body Temple, a monthly NYC holistic event, bridging the gap between club culture and ritual, Parashakti integrates bodywork, Shamanic Earth Dance, and yoga in her healing work with individuals, couples, and groups. Both Time Out New York Magazine and Newsweek have acknowledged Parashakti 's Shamanic Earth Dance Ceremonies as a growing national trend promoting vitality and well-being, attracting a broad spectrum of participants from all over the world. For more on Parashakti, see: http://www.parashakti.org

Please join us for this extraordinary opportunity to dance, write and embody poetry, sing and chant on the magical island of Corfu, Greece. Alexis Zorbas is a lovely eco friendly, vegetarian retreat center, located in the lovely town of Arrilas. The setting is ideal, a 10 minute walk through rural farm land, to the Ionian Sea. Please see: http://www.alexiszorbas.com/.

Our class time will be in the morning and evening, giving us ample time to enjoy the sun, sea, and long walks on the beach. At night, bathed under the star laden sky, we can walk to the highest point on Corfu, overlooking the joining of the Ionian and Adriatic seas.

We will make several optional excursions on the island during the week; there will be additional expenses for these (rental car/s, food, boat rental, entry fees). We will take one walking tour of the olive groves and the village of Arillas, offering several good restaurants, and miles of sea, sun, and sand.

This retreat is for everybody: beginners and experienced ecstatic dancers alike. Regardless of experience, all are requested to come with beginners mind, and be open to moments of vision, ecstacy and heartfelt union.

Arrival date: September 28, Departure date: October 4; daily schedule varies.

This workshop is priced in Euros. Workshop tuition is 500 Euros, with room and board from 500 Euros, depending on type of accommodation you choose

If you wish to arrive early or stay later, the rate for more days includes a discount; inquire when registering.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS: Fly to Athens/Corfu, or Frankfurt/Corfu. Contact Linda County, 415-485-0247, for assistance with your travel arrangements.

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