Orisha Dance w/ Mica Francis-Angel & Blake Avenue

Join Mica Francis-Angel and Blake Avenue for Orisha Dance - a celebration of our vibrant roots and culture, honouring our ancestors and exploring different aspects of holistic wellbeing and spirituality from across the black diaspora...

INCLUDES:

- EMBODIED MOVEMENT & DANCE

- VISUALISATION MEDITATION JOURNEY

- YOGA & MEDITATION

- CULTURAL STORYTELLING

- MINT TEA CEREMONY

- COMMUNITY CIRCLE 

* This is a space for black and brown female / femme / non-binary folks *

Why 'Orisha'?

An orisha may be said to be a deity. Yet defining an orisha as a deity does not do justice to the concept, in large part because the term deity often suggests a sort of anthropomorphic supernatural entity. An orisha may be said to arise when  a divine power to command and make things happen converges with a natural force, a deified ancestor, and an object that witnesses and supports that convergence and alignment. An orisha, therefore, is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and powers...

Orishas play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several belief systems of the African diaspora that derive from it. They are said to be representatives of Olodumare, the Supreme Being, who placed the Orishas on Earth to help and supervise humankind. The Orishas are mediators between the human and spiritual realm, and are the major source of communication with the Supreme Being. The Orishas traveled to the Americas and the Caribbean between 1640 and 1807 and their worship has since intergrated into practices by people around the world in a number of forms (that you may not realise they stem from) including the systems of Santeria, Candomblé, and Vodun, as well as nominal Catholics, Christians and those who identify as Neo-Pagan, Wiccan, or New Age practitioners. In the modern day, people invoke the Orishas in personal or communal rituals for spiritual strength, enlightenment, or assistance in daily challenges. 

We chose to embrace the Orishas as inspiration for our offering, to empower us with a sense of the divine and multidimensional unity. Each Orisha respresents different meanings and powers, connecting us to a multitude of energies, nature, inner strength, inner softness and ancient wisdoms. Often as black and brown folks (through long term effects of colonisation and systemic oppression) we can feel somewhat pigeon-holed, when we know we are multi-faceted beings with so much richness in our roots. Taking all of this and blending our own modern and unique knowledge, skills and style to our holistic wellbeing practices and healing modalities, our aim is to bring together a soul awakening experience of joy, liberation, healing, deep  release, empowerment and connection in a safe space of sisterhood.

The Practices - In order of events

NORTH AFRICAN MINT TEA CEREMONY

Shai Maghrebi, the Maghreb Mint Tea, has in time become a lifestyle staple across the Maghreb region – from Mauritania to Libya – serving a ceremonial purpose. Far from a simple refreshment, preparing and serving the tea is a ritual and an art form: a prerequisite for almost any social interaction. The tea is commonly referred to as 'Tuareg tea', after the nomads of the Sahara: it is imbibed by the desert dwellers as it is thought to quench thirst better than water. Mint is believed to cleanse away bad energies, increase feelings of calm in the home, and add strength to your words. It represents accessions, Spring and renewal on Earth, purification, luck, and wealth. Beyond its social significance, mint tea has been observed to have several beneficial effects. Its cooling sensation relieves indigestion and heartburn, unclogs respiratory passages and airways, combats congestion, and its antioxidant and vitamin-rich properties are beneficial to the human body. We will be sharing this tea and connecting with it's spirit and ample benefits in our ceremony.

MINDFUL STORYTELLING

We will be mindfully sharing traditional tales to bring deeper understanding and connection to our ancestors, inspiring creativity and thoughtfulness - delving into the story of a specific Orisha (Their number is usually given as 400+ but seven are understood as most powerful and have become the most popular among modern-day adherents) and learning more about what their representation can teach us to improve our wellbeing and oneness in our daily lives.  

YOGA & BREATHWORK

The practice of yoga was created by brown and black people as a tool for spiritual growth, as a way to integrate the spiritual element with physical experience. Yoga researchers have found evidence to suggest that yoga not only originated in India but also has roots in parts of Africa, particularly Egypt. Yoga is at the heart of all we will be sharing as 'yoga' extends far beyond our physical asana practices. You will be guided through some gently paced, rejuvenating yoga practices to open and close our movement section as well as incorporating breathwork and meditation throughout.

EMBODIED MOVEMENT & DANCE

As well as the many, many personal wellbeing and growth benefits of dancing,  dance tells a story. Dance recounts history, conveys emotion, invites release and liberation, celebrates rites of passage and helps to unify our communities.

You will be guided through a soul-stirring, awakening of the body in this uplifting and expressive somatic healing practice -  blending gently guided movement and intuitive freeform dance (not guided), practiced  barefoot to an eclectic, genre-defying musical journey of worldly rhythms centred around black and brown artists. In this practice, you are invited you to ease out of your mind, tap into your body and step out of your comfort zone as we release stagnant energy, embody different energies, characters and elements, harness the transformative, primal powers of music and movement and connect more deeply with ourselves and one another, whilst having a whole lot of fun too! We will also be sharing some traditional and beloved dance moves from a variety of black cultures, inspiring us to incorporate these deeply rooted expressions of inner freedom into our movements.

GUIDED VISUALISATION MEDITATION JOURNEY & HEALING FREQUENCIES

To close our practice, we will immerse ourselves in deep meditative rest, integrating in the energies after dancing and moving our bodies, and leaving you feeling grounded and renewed.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE 

We will open and close our gathering with a sharing circle, holding space for one another as we weave our stories together. Participants are invited to share reflective thoughts and feelings from prompts provided and we will also delve into a visual guided meditation followed by an intentions setting ritual, sending a clear signal to the universe, our subconscious, and our conscious mind to call in that which we are ready to release, that we wish to recieve and that which we are deeply commited to.

If you're feeling the call to join us - Book your space today