Spirit Horse
Foundation is thoughtfully
researching and reclaiming the
ancient ceremonial and cultural
traditions that are common human
heritage. In recent centuries every
aspect of our long evolved rooted
traditions have been lost,
attacked and cheapened. Leaving us
with absence where there should be
richness in terms of our stories,
sacred ways, sexuality, speech,
relationships and dress to name but
a few. Our connection to earth,
spirit, community, nature, family,
society, even food and water is
materially less tangible and
spiritually less founded than
probably ever in the long, long
lineage of humanity. There are
places deep in the psyche that long
for the food and drink of the
spirit. Once these were honoured
with magnificent traditions of
story, song, dance, beautiful
clothes, architecture, ceremony and
being together in a way of spirit.
At Spirit Horse we have been
attempting to put ourselves on the
front line in terms of addressing
this work as individuals and
collectively. Reclaiming this
precious and soulful heritage is
both great fun and a demanding
spiritual challenge.
Our ancestors walked this way
before. We recognise ourselves
struggling with the same time
honoured themes of this earthly
spiritual journey.
In the old ways, a man or woman
ritually initiated in their youth
would know and live by the stories,
songs and sacred knowledge of their
people, inheriting a prayerful
capacity to confer blessing and to
address the gods from within a
spiritual infinity lived as felt
presence. Understanding individual
uniqueness as a wild manifestation
of spirit and a gift to community.
Overcoming our isolation allows us
to contribute with heroism and
honour to our troubled world.
These true forms of cultural wealth
were not rare and have been
considered normal by many societies
over millennia. It is the authentic
root and inheritance that we are
attempting to reclaim.
Intellectually super-equipped, yet
spiritually uninitiated and
ritually unskilled, living in great
comfort, but removed from the
source of life, we in our time can
appreciate the need to redress our
situation in a way appropriate to
our times.
At our
summer workshops we re-create an
"ancient yet new tribal village",
temporarily at least, where these
issues can be addressed at a deep
and personal level. We offer
experiential workshops ranging from
"easy way in" fun workshops to
intensive, deep-end experiences for
those seeking radical growth,
change and understanding.
Over the years a great desire to
re-vision community, with a
collective experience of the
sacred, has arisen out of the
footsteps of individual progress.
For many, a sense of being part of
something beautiful, something
greater than any one of us, becomes
more precious than any personal
gain or benefit. Sloughing off
conformity, our longing to truly
participate in life and mystery
with others can find a home there.
Gratitude and gestures of nobility
flow from that foundation.
Spirit Horse has initiated several
long-term projects, see Rebuilding
Culture for more
information.
These descriptions were churned
with good intent and are offered to
unseen readers with wishes for
fortunate circumstances and
happiness.
May beings flourish on paths
of beauty and wisdom."Out beyond right thinking and
wrong thinking
There is a green field I'll meet
you there!
When you lie down in that
grass
Life is too full to talk about."
- Rumi
Spirit Horse was founded in 1989 by
Shivam O'Brien and Erika Indra, who
continue to offer ceremonial
transformation workshops.
Shivam
O'Brien
Storyteller, carpenter, poet and
ceremonialist.
Shivam breathes life into the
Celtic tradition, and eloquently
interprets indigenous and spiritual
traditions worldwide. A
spokesperson for the re-discovery
of story, ritual and ancient wisdom
generally, he is the originator of
these and other courses.
Shivam has worked with men and women and children in community and retreat for over twenty years. He brings together wisdom gleaned from shamanic rooted cultures, deep celtic reference, and Indian and Buddhist sources. His style is relaxed, wild, adventurous and fun - but deeply honed over many years beside campfires in wild places, temples and holy places of practise and in service to great masters and the Teachings and ceremonials of East and West.
"Honed over many years leading
retreats, wilderness and ritual
workshops, his command of
ceremonial space and eloquence,
sets eyes, ears and dreams aflame.
Passionate and compassionate, a
mighty stallion of vulnerability,
bearing the war-drum for the Old
Ways; he inspires a respect and a
loyalty, rare in any time."
Erika Indra
Erika is a Hungarian, naturally
gifted, psychic and counsellor.
Her particular gentle compassion,
generosity and fierce kindness are
evident. Her earthy, womanly
sensuality and sensitivity manifest
spontaneously and unpredictably as
a mysterious, ruthless and often
comical force. She is a destroyer
of pretence and logic, bearing
forth with an intuitive awareness
that cuts, prophesises and knows,
honed with ancient mother wit and
wisdom.
Paloma Suarez:
Paloma has been with Spirit Horse from
the very beginning, and brings a
Spanish ferocity to her
encouragement for men and women to
rediscover their voices, passion,
power, inheritance and creativity.
Anthony Johnston:
A unique choir master, an Ocean
Bringer of song, authenticity and
true prescence armed with Georgian
songs, guidance for enlightenment
pilgrims and steering a deep water
boat with a steady rudder and firm
hand.
Around Us : A diverse tribe
of unstoppable, responsible,
idiosyncratic individuals in
service to something Holy that will
not be named. Circle holders,
ceremonial speakers, storytellers,
cooks, hospitaliers, weclomers,
comedians, crafts men and women,
builders, muscians, dancers and
talented teachers. To name any
would be to omit many. And there is
room for you!
But we'll break our rule and
mention two heroes who for many a
long year have offered hospitality
in our kitchen and helped us to
keep afloat the fragile,
storm-bound, story laden boat of
the one year course:
Tim Thompson: A thunderbolt
of boar energy in the kitchen and
elsewhere, who fell in with Han
Shan and the Wild Rover somewhere
between Portsmouth, far flung
foreign seaports and tribal cooking
fires in the wildest wilds of the
British Isles.
Nick Plews: A horned bull of
endurance, cup bearer, chef,
teacher, carpenter, grafter -
shoulder to the stone. Unstoppable,
relentless slave of the holy
presence wherever its' light can be
sought. Right hand friend of
any good man.
Current bookable events can be
found on the Events page, but here
are some of our past and present
offerings to get a feel for our
work. Please click the event title
for more information.
School of the Wild-A spirited introduction to world culture for young people 8 to 18 years. Literature, language, painting, history, archery, martial arts, meditation, hand skills and the way of the mountain retreat.
Shamanic Contemplation-Seven days of ceremony and stillness between the worlds. A return to shamanic story, ritual and silence from the early days of Spirit Horse. Blazing in the fullness of now, glimpses, half forgotten origins - a return to source. You won't remember who you used to be!
The Spirit Horse Foundation's Mountain Retreat is an exemplary model of a low impact (near zero) green venture. We do not use electricity at the camp, and we recycle as much waste as possible.
The core ethos of Spirit Horse is about the values of community, respect and care for nature and the land.
Spirit Horse develops and enthusiastically pursues the traditional Celtic performing arts (storytelling, song, language and poetry), as well as traditional crafts and skills.
Spirit Horse welcomes Welsh language poets, storytellers and singers and is committed to promoting the Welsh language, to honour the rich heritage of Welsh story and poetry.
Spirit Horse runs a program to actively engage children and youth and teach them firm principles of respect for each other, community, land and life.
Spirit Horse is a place where children flourish, learn and grow surrounded by wild nature.
Spirit Horse is a welcome addition among a farming community in a peaceful scenic valley where people come for periods of relaxation, renewal , regeneration and retreat.
Spirit Horse are actively enhancing the traditional Welsh countryside, wild life and wild forest and flora, especially through association with The Forest of Dreams, who are an ecological charity committed to fostering the appreciation of the natural landscape and preserving it in perpetuity.
In short Spirit Horse is a place with broad vision, with a successful track record of running spiritual retreats and courses, for over 20 years.
These true forms of cultural wealth
were not rare and have been
considered normal by many societies
over millennia. It is the authentic
root and inheritance that we are
attempting to reclaim.
At our
summer workshops we re-create an
"ancient yet new tribal village",
temporarily at least, where these
issues can be addressed at a deep
and personal level. We offer
experiential workshops ranging from
"easy way in" fun workshops to
intensive, deep-end experiences for
those seeking radical growth,
change and understanding.
Shivam
O'Brien
Erika Indra