About this event:
Enjoy a night of connective kirtan, led by musicians Paul Watt, Jessica Lyons, Aleisha and Bonny Howarth. Combining the voice, harmonium, guitar, tabla and melodica, you’ll experience the spiritually uplifting yogic practice of mantra and music.
Kirtan, or call and response devotional chanting, is a meditative practice to move you into the heart space. The repetitive, melodic sounds act as a tool to turn your awareness inwards, honouring all that arises with self-compassion and acceptance, whilst also reaching outwards and being a part of something greater than yourself, by singing in unison with other heart-lights to create a high vibrational state that activates connection, reflection and celebration.
It is our intrinsic birthright to gather in community and sing. No experience or singing knowledge required. Come as you are.
About your kirtanists:
Paul Watt, a Hills man of the Dandenong Ranges has been running Monthly Kirtan Chant Live for 7 years. He brings to Kirtan a deep love of reverence in the power of music and voice to transform and uplift us to heart connection to the divine. This time less state of being he facilitates through the many musical instruments he plays to accompany the vocalisation of mantra through traditional and new music creation.
Jessica Lyons a soulful singer and performance artist immigrated from Canada 20 years ago to study classical voice at VCA. She has shared the Kirtan love for many years and is highly sought after as a kirtanist singer and musician. She has played with many of the greats through Monthly Kirtan Chant Live, Sun Hyland, Kundalini House and Gertrude St Yoga events to but name a few. Her voice has the ability to unplug you from your thoughts and uplift you to the deeper heartfelt realms.
Bonny Howarth is a kirtanist, singer, and workshop facilitator based in Melbourne. Bonny has spent the last 16 years studying with her Guru, Louix Dor Dempriey, focusing on the art of vulnerable and authentic self-love and Divine connection. Bonny works with the synergy of healing and music, using sound to open the heart, transform emotion, and create a meditative inner experience. Bonny has been playing kirtan in Melbourne for the last 13 years in a number of ensembles, including the Chant and Chai Cartel and with Sun Hyland. Bonny is well known for her heart stirring and ecstatic kirtans.
Aleisha aka Homesong - a movement, meditation and sound facilitator from Australia, currently living in London UK who is visiting Melbourne this month! Aleisha hails from the Melbourne Yoga scene and holds a great respect for the wisdom of yoga and sound practices. She works as a sound therapist in London and has studied with some local and international teachers including Mei Lai Swan, Janet Stone, Sheela Bringi, Neesi Gomes and Jai Uttal.
Things to note:
Centre of You is situated in the heart of Chapel Street, Prahran, nestled above the arcade that houses Chapel Street Bazaar. We recommend you factor traffic and parking into your travel time and invite you to arrive 15 minutes early, to allow yourself space to visit the bathroom, relax and settle in before commencement. Parking on Chapel Street is unmetered from 5pm, and there's free, open-air parking accessible via Anchor Place, the side street directly opposite the arcade.
There are plenty of bolsters, blankets and cushions to get cosy with though feel free to bring your own for a felt sense of additional familiarity and groundedness.
Should you be in a transient time of financial difficulty and unable to pay the ticket price comfortably please reach out via grace@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram. We will together find a way for your heart to receive this beautiful practice.
Tickets:
$35 or $28 for concession card holders via link below.