The Shamanic Keening Circle Series is a series of circles which take place once a month over 4 months (every 4/5 weeks).

These Circles take place in Co. Galway.   

The Spring Series is now complete.  There may be another series in the Autumn or Winter depending on interest.

Please register your interest by completing the form at the bottom of this page.

 

1-to-1 Keening Sessions and Private Group Circles are also possible to book.  Contact by email to discuss.

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Though these circles were originally formed around Shamanic Keening, they have grown and expanded into Shamanic Circles which not only give us the space and safety to release the unshed grief within but also to release the elements, energies and energetic ties, bonds holding the grief and parts of our loved ones that we hold onto so tenderly.  

Keening is an ancient art of lament or wailing at a funeral and/or wake. It was through this process that grief was allowed to be heard, felt and processed by the family and community of the deceased.

Keening was traditionally done by women, Bean Chaointe. They were called upon to sing and lament the departing soul and cry the grief of the family and community. Keeners were also Death Doulas who had the ability to open a passageway between the worlds for the departed soul to safely return home to source.

 

Keening is a powerful way to connect us directly with the grief, pain and discomfort that is preventing us from fully living a happy, prosperous and fulfilled life. Grief not only from the passing of a loved one but grief in all its forms may be expressed through keening.

 

Grief when not expressed can manifest as sadness, shock, denial, numbness, anger, guilt, blame. You may feeling stuck, unable to move forward or an emptiness that can't be filled.. Over time it may progress to addictions, depression or depressive episodes, back pain, chest issues, heart issues and more.

 

** You do not have to be musical or able to sing to take part in this circle.**

 

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This circle is an opportunity to come together in community to sing again once more the ancient sounds of grief. We will sing for ourselves, for our ancestors and anything else that arises during the session.

 

Keening Circles offer a transformative journey into the depths of emotional expression and connection. Through exploration, practice, and shared experience, we will emerge with a experiential understanding of keening and its potential for healing, catharsis, and personal growth. But keening is not the only transformative practice we will take part in during the circle...

 

We will have Shamanic meditation practices to further release and retrieve our personal blocked, stuck, traumatised energies and receive these lost parts back, help them integrate and reclaim the space that was taken from them.

 

What to Expect:

💚 Short Introduction and Instruction on Keening,

💚 Keening Session and Grounding Practice,

💚 Light Lunch

💚 Group Share

💚 Release, Power Retrieval and Integration Session

💚 Grounding and Awakening Practice

 

During the Circle we will use drum / rattle and voice to sound and connect with the grief we carry, the hurt, pain, shame, anger, distrust and disgust, to break our chains and free our rage, to raise again from the dark recesses all that has been lost, cast away, buried and hidden.

It is time for it to rise, to be heard, to be seen and to be surrendered. We cry, we scream, we curse, we chant, we rage, we grieve. We grieve for our selves, for our ancestors and for the land.

 

We will have some time for sharing, elements of shamanic healing where required, a guided meditation to guide us home, food and dance.

 

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Who is this Circle for:

This circle is open to both men and women.

Anyone who feels the call to connect with this deep and ancient practice, anyone who feels the call, who feels stuck in life or stuck in grief, anger, rage, despair, depression, an inability to move forward in life, or a deep unexpressed sadness they are carrying, whether it be for yourself, your ancestors or that of the land, anyone who feels called is welcome to join.

 

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Keening is a deeply powerful way of connecting with the unconscious/blocked traumas held within.  Whether they be from past traumas that we remember, traumas from past lives, from our ancestors, or from the land.  We carry these energies for many reasons; out of love, out of loyalty, our of fear, whatever the reason, during these Circles we have the opportunity to heal and release these energies and return to balance and deeper connection and wholeness with ourselves.

 

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"Unexpressed grief and its impact on the life of the “survivor” has been getting closer attention in psycho-therapeutic circles. What is now called “prolonged or complicated grief disorder” has been blamed for chronic depression, heart disease, cancer, PTSD, suppressed immune function, fatigue, uncontrollable rage, addiction, suicide, and mental illness. As further loss occurs, the grief and its impact on the individual become magnified and compounded, making recovery even more difficult.

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Shamanic healing can provide all that we require: a long-awaited expression of our grief and the sacred space to hold it; permission to move outside the known world of social acceptability and rational thinking; an empowered place to willingly confront our grief, and a guided surrender through the “death” it asks of us."

Excerpts from: https://shamanicpractice.org/article/our-unspent-grief-the-lost-art-of-keening/

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Location:  Killeenaran, Co Galway

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Shauna