If you do not have flash , you can download it here: http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
!!! This Boom08 website is experienced best with ADOBE Flash Player ( version > 7 ) .
Boom08 Festival
Skip Navigation -jump to content
English
Portugese
German
French
Spanish 
Italian 
JapaneseArts & Culture
Liminal Village
Confluence >> Workshops
During the day the Liminal Village will be presenting a series of diverse workshops and panel discussions from facilitators from around the world.
This experiential and dynamic curriculum will include a wide array of topics from arts and culture to sustainable development, new media, health and ecology. Offering practical skills and relevant information for everyone, the workshop program will be an interactive hub of exchange on a global level.
For more info or to submit a workshop proposal contact: naasko@boomfestival.org
Morning Yoga
Tokyo-based, Patrick Oancia, the founder and director of YogaJaya, will lead yoga sessions every morning at Boom Festival, covering asana (postures), pranayama (breathing) and meditation. Inspired by the teachings of the raja yoga, the sessions will be freestyle, open to everyone from complete beginners to advanced yoga practitioners. Patricks emphasis is on yoga sadhana (spiritual exertion) toward developing our inherent ability to raise our autonomous consciousness to promote a life free of regimentation in todays hyper-connected world.
Sketching the Fantastic
Robert Venosa and Martina Hoffmann (USA/Germany)
This will be a 3-hour workshop in which Venosa and Hoffmann will guide the participant in exploring a simplified, exciting technique which provides a rapid entry into the magic of sketching, as well as allowing access to one's innermost, intuitive visions. Through a guided step-by-step process, the participant begins to open up channels to the superconscious, and creates essential form that is enlivening, enlightening, and amazingly visionary. Any and all can participate.
Some basic materials will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring their own to maximize their creative expression.
www.venosa.com www.martinahoffmann.com
Bio-dynamics and Volunteering in Auroville
Christian Sjöholm (Finland)
An introduction into the social structure of Auroville and what it has to offer for volunteers particularly interested in Bio-dynamics.
After studying bio-dynamics for two years in Finland I had the opportunity to spend three months in Auroville, an ecovillage and spiritual community in southern India, doing farming and forestry work as well as some landart and building. As my experience in agriculture has a distinct background in the practical and theoretical aspects of biodynamics I will focus on this during the workshop. I will also compare the use of biodynamics in Finland on the farm Majvik as an objective way to compare two climates as well as cultures and how their perception of bio-dynamics have similarities.
Kundalini Fire Yoga
Nora Chen (USA)
In sync to an eclectic soundtrack of chillout and traditional world music, this workshop guides each student on a journey into the subtler levels of body, mind, and spirit to uncover a source of internal energy. Each class is a coordination of breathing techniques, postures, movements, relaxation, and the chanting of sacred sounds. This precise science rejuvenates the nervous, glandular, circulatory systems on a cellular level and opens the energetic pathways of prana in the body. In parallel with the body, the mind releases subconscious blocks and negative patterns. A practitioner finishes a session feeling re-energized, emotionally balanced, and purposeful. Kundalini Fire Yoga is the perfect festival workshop - more than just restoring the physical body, it opens the heart to deeper communication.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D. - ‘Psychedelic Research: Toward a Global Spirituality’
Ashtanga Dynamic Yoga
Opale (France)
I offer to guide a workshop on dynamic yoga, an Astanga Yoga course for beginners and intermediate students with an introduction to the breathing technique and then using this technique during the teaching of the yoga postures and their variations, finishing with a short relaxation.
Rise & Shine Yin:Yang Yoga
Dina Cohen (UK)
Easing gently into an awesome new boomday with both dynamic and more gentle yoga practices to cleanse, restore and replenish our energy systems from the inside out.
Cleanse, nourish and harmonise your entire being with this fully integrated practice designed to smooth out all the creases, tease out toxins and stimulate energy flow. We will work through the chakra system with dynamic flowing sequences and slower passively held postures, as well as nurturing pranayamas (breathing techniques) and simple visualizations. By bringing both yin and yang to our practice – active and passive, inner and outer - we become calm and energised, increasing our innate healing potential, promoting harmony, healthy immune functioning and improving overall vitality. This workshop will be accessible to beginners with more challenging options offered for those with some yoga experience.
Manifesting Movement
Erica Charalambous (Cyprus)
This workshop is a Symposium of learnt and unlearnt movement in association with body and mind connection.
You will discover your inner and outer body language with conscious breathing excersizes,expresive yoga and some partner work. After finding your own movement vocabulary we will focus on weaving together some movement patterns in space.
Mandalic Kung Fu
Guilherme da Luz (Portugal)
Find and express the inner and natural kung fu, with the help of Chinese kung fu tradition in an free, fluid, interactive, ludic, creative and transcendental relation with oneself, the others and the Cosmos. A psychedelic mandalic experience wich can help the individual express and connect his/her own mandala (individual) with Life - the big Mandala.
Awakening to Bliss: From Witness to Limitless
Solomoon (USA)
Shift your reality from perpetual suffering to unlimited bliss by understanding the illusions of the mind in order to release resistance to what is and step into a peaceful allowance of what can be.
Changing your perception about the world around you begins with shifting your ideas about yourself and yourself in relation to the world around you. This process starts by developing a clear and present mind through the continued practice of conscious choice and action. This program will discuss the deceptive nature of the mind and include a guided meditation sharing simple techniques to elevate self-awareness. By witnessing the dis-serving thought patterns that rest at the root of our conditioning we can transform the way we live through the choices we make, in turn strengthening our ability to create transformation in the world around us. Through the process of developing greater awareness, we can begin to understand how much control we have over a life potentially filled with unlimited bliss.
Another World Is Possible
Dada Maheshvarananda (USA)
Using cooperative games and sharing alternatives from around the planet, we will discover how to make a better, sustainable world.
The global economy run by multinational corporations is destroying our planet. One alternative is cooperatives, economic democracy, where everyone shares and everyone wins. We'll do a few fun Cooperative games that promote kindness, honesty, trust and teamwork. We'll share positive examples from around the world of a locally-based economy of cooperatives, sustainable agriculture, economic self-reliance of every region, community, participatory democracy, ethical leadership and universal spiritual values. These are empowering ideas that unite people and transform lives. You CAN change the world!
Temple Gardens Permaculture
Delvin Solkinson (Canada)
Explore permaculture and join us for an integrated tour of the temple gardens permaculture demonstration site.
Permaculture is a system of evolving our relationship to ourselves, each other and the planet. Using sustainable technology, native perennial food plants, and an intentional approach to conscious design, we can lower our impact on the world, support the return of a healthy biosphere and build an abundant future culture. In this workshop we will tour the Temple Gardens in the Liminal Village while discussing the techniques and concepts used in their design. A special focus will be on all-ages permaculture education and the development of permaculture media.
Trance Dance Ritual
Kalid & Rya (Portugal)
The Trance Dance Ritual is designed to provide a exploratory spiritual journey through the combination of healing sounds, dynamic percussive rhythm, hypnotic breathing, body movement and the unique use of a blindfold or bandana as a tool for stimulating a deep 'trance' state.
The end result is a glimpse into mystical worlds, promoting spiritual awakening, mental clarity and emotional healing. Enter the world of the spirit, voyage beyond time and space; experience the ecstasy of spiritual wholeness . Trance dance as shamans and indigenous peoples have for thousands of years.
Come. Dance. Trance.
The Biodiversity Crisis: Can We Make A Difference?
José Teixeira (Portugal)
This workshop will focus on the magnitude of the present biodiversity crisis and the contribution and importance of individual actions to help stop this major global threat.
Biodiversity is a key element for the functioning of ecosystems and for life support, providing vital environmental services, food, medical and technological solutions. The generalized over-exploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, human population growth, pollution and global warming are contributing factors in a dramatic depletion of biodiversity, with a species extinction rate between 100 to 1000 times greater than expected by normal levels. If no deep change is produced in a short-time this biodiversity crisis can be responsible for the next mass extinction, with dramatic consequences for the survival of humanity.
http://cibio.up.pt/main.php?content=members&id=jteixeir&type=phd
Autonomy in a World of Hyper-Connectivity
Patrick Oancia (Japan)
In this workshop, Patrick will lecture about the importance of independent thought and good intentions in today’s dynamic world.
An individual’s maximum potential lies in an ability, to re-discover the intelligence that we call intuition and use it as a compass to navigate freely through everyday life. Physical yoga postures, breathing techniques and concentration exercises are tools we can use to achieve a deeper understanding of life and our own potential contributions to the world around us. Patrick will go into the details, benefits, and demonstrations of these modalities.
http://www.yogajaya.com
Shamanic Drum Journey
Tepemiztli, Mariana Espírito Santo, Dario Capua and Shama (Brasil)
A shamanic practice will be conducted thru the beats of 4 shamanic drums to achieve a trance state of mind and messages from spirit guides.
This workshop will be ritual with an introductory talk about shamanism in general. It will start by a cleansing of the area by burning white sage, a leaf will be given to each person so strong cleanse is made. Right after conch shells will be blown and specific Aztec songs for the guardians of the directions and spiritual guides will be sang, so as to have their presence, guidance and healing. The speech its about the spiritual mission of this path. The time has come that many people will be merging with their higher self and many elevated spirits will be coming to this planet for a transition to a new era. We will speak about some ceremonies that are done with this intent and of the prophecies. The second part is a practice with the beating of shamanic drums the participants will be conducted to a trance state so as to receive visions, messages and getting closer to their spiritual guides.
An Introduction to Digital Audio Production and Live Laptop Performance
Tom Cosm (New Zealand)
A workshop aimed towards both musicians and hobbyists, who have an interest in digital audio production/performance, but have never known how or where to start.
My workshop leaves the participant with solid knowledge of how technology has influenced the creation of modern day music. I move through several areas, starting with the physics of sound and the effects it has on the human brain; right through to creating sound from scratch in the studio using sequencers and synthesizers. The workshop is very interactive, and participants are able to watch and contribute to real time examples of how sound can be produced, layered and structured using a computer. The second part of my workshop is how to take tunes that have been created in the studio (using the tune from the first part of the workshop as an example) and move this into a form which can be performed live using a laptop and various other equipment.
http://www.TomCosm.com
Experiential Astrology
Kranti Pessoa (Brasil)
An experience of how the different components of astrology influence our pratical lives. Starting with everybody sitting in front of their own starsign disposed in circle in the room, people are guided to share their vision of how their signs act in their real life, forming groups of the same sign, of the same elements, and showing them the opposite signs and visions. There are different modules, the basic one using just sharing their own vision of their signs (in groups) , and others which using different techniques of body work such as biodanza, bioenergetics, psychodrama, breathing, relaxation and dynamic meditations, taking people to feel their inner witness, beyond their mental conditioning.
Human Plantation: Grounding
Estela Rodrigues (Brasil) & Constança Bettencourt (Portugal)
In the last 50 years body-oriented psychology has developed the idea that we are not really connecting our roots to the soil, not only on a metaphoric, but bioenergetic sense as well, and named these practical exercises of “re-rooting” through our legs and feet with practical body-exercises known as GROUNDING.
This workshop is fit to a large group of persons and allows the participants to experience the idea of human GROUNDING as if each person was a tree connected to the soil, with practical body-exercises of human plantation and tribal music.
http://www.essenciadoser.net
Trance & the Embodied Mind
Alexandre Lehmann (Switzerland / France)
What is Trance? What happens into our mind-body when we go into trance?
The presentation will start by introducing the basics of sensory perception and conscious experience in the light of enactive science. We will then move on to examining altered states of consciousness and realize that the doorway to these non-ordinary realms lies in a specific use of trance. Trance systematically induces various modifications in the mind-body. This will be further discussed in the context of shamanic rituals. To what extend can this also apply to psychedelic festivals seen as modern rituals, as some researchers have recently suggested ? Trance can be a powerful catalyzer : a healing tool for personal and social harmony but also a hypnotic weapon for mass propaganda. Ethical issues and guidelines for a safe use of trance will be discussed. The future of human consciousness lies in the development of a loving, compassionate and responsible attitude, through a greater awareness of the link between the world and ourselves.There are various ways for a wise and educated use of trance to support a positive shift in society and individuals.
http://hallucinations.risc.cnrs.fr/symposium2008/eng
Digital Reality and the 13:20 Tzolkin of the Maya
Louis Standen (UK) & Maria Isen (Portugal)
An overview and deeper look into the Mayan calindrical system and how it may be used to understand that Natural Time (KIN) PRECEDES space (Genetics + 'reality') - and the profound implications of this.
After returning from a recent 4 month trip to Brazil and Argentina - Louis Standen (kin 225) has realised that the previous 7 years spent in 'Galactic Kindergarden' was highly 'space-alised'. The calendrics of the Maya is poorly understood by the children of the base ten civilisation on the brink of transformational metamorphasis. Base ten ('decimal' - 10,20,30...etc) learnt at school does not promote brain growth for telepathic synchrony. In fact it promotes hierarchical non-telepathic (egoic) civilisational (verses 'cultural') behaviour. The workshop will give an overview of the traditional and modern versions of the 'Mayan Calendar' and some simple instructions about how to realise the awsome HD digital version of reality in daily life. Of focus will be memory improvment and memorisation of the Tzolkin. This will be a crash course in understanding why the Mayan end date of 2012 AD is so significant.
Kapu'era - A Human Wheel of Rhythms
João Chaves (Portugal) & Philipe de Mello Romero (Brasil)
A dance, a therapy, culture, poetry of movement, joy, party, expression, dignity, freedom. Kapu’era provides the practice of a rhythmic activity with expressive nature developing self confidence and stimulating the group dynamic where creativeness, social and personal faculties are valued. This workshop promotes interaction and is aimed to reach everyone.
Trance and Tantra: Ecstasy and Innocence in the Dark Time of Kali
John Lash (USA)
John, mythologist and author of Not In His Image, invites an interactive dialogue on aim and discipline in psychonautic experience. He will explain the gnostic method of “instruction by the Light,” a secret guarded by a vow of silence from ancient times. The discussion will consider how shamanism and tantric sexuality complement each other and offer the balance needed to practice ecstatic rites and “trance-learning.”
http://www.metahistory.org http://www.futureprimitive.org
Psychedelics: The Wider Scope and The Psi-Matrix
Luc Sala (Netherlands)
Beyond set and setting a sensible use of psychedelics requires an understanding of purpose, sacredness and psychological and physical effects. For that tools are necessary, not only general guidelines, but specific data. The psi-matrix is a unique comparison of various substances, their effectiveness and influence. It offers an insight in how a specific substance ranks in comparison with others. The methodology and results will be demonstrated by divination of group energy levels and potential effects for volunteers from the audience. The workshop will give you an understanding of how specific substances might or might not be appropriate for you.
http://www.mindlift.tv http://www.net.info.nl
Where Is The Way: Virtual Reality or "Up The Pole & Out The Smokehole”?
Christine Treguier and Dr. Pascal Schmitt (France)
Do we need substances to enter altered states of consciousness, or can we use other practices and techniques to reach extra-real experiences? Is political consiousness an altered state? This workshop is a proposed "derivé", a invitation to wander inbetween four poles :
1) Virtual Reality technology presented at its beginnings as a potential electronic LSD and a way to better see the complexity of reality.
2) "Up the pole & through the smokehole", a Siberian shamanistic symbol way of connecting with the world of spirits quoted by Hakim Bey in his essay "TAZ : Temporary Autonomous Zone". Bey used this peculiar shamanistic metaphor as an example of something physically and mentally achievable - something equivalent to insurrection, something that can become vital to hide from the state or other power by disappearing.
3) Radical politics viewed as a voluntary alteration of consciousness.
4) The fourth pole is the one we have to (re)discover. Indians say "the 4th pole is happiness", the Beatles said "it's a long way".
Digital Activism II
Mayra Vivo (Spain)
A follow up from last years workshop in which we will further discuss the potential of the web to change the world... for the better of course! It starts with the short history of digital activism, an introduction to the milestones achieved through internet activism. How does this compare with previous social revolutions, like those in the 60s and 70s? Building on last year's agreement on the areas that need work, which we got down to 12, the intro will be followed by a discussion on what should be our goals within those areas and how to best achieve them using the vast potential of the net. An practical example of how it could work will be presented, all permitting.