Japanese Brush Painting And Ceramics: Sumie And Raku With Qigong And Meditation
This retreat offers a unique approach encompassing brushwork painting, pottery, meditation, qigong, forest bathing, a traditonal tea ceremony and an ambient atmosphere. Ingrid will teach the classical Japanese brush painting techniques - Sumie - as these are applied to traditional subjects, such as landscape, bamboo and flower studies - as well as contemporary subjects. The traditional materials and tools - solid pine-soot ink, a ceramic slate to liquefy it, a bamboo-stemmed brush and absorbent mulberry paper - will be provided. Beginners are welcome - according to Ingrid: "some of the best paintings have emerged from students who have not had any art training before". Sharon will offer the ceramics or Raku and explore various glazing and firing techniques. Each retreatant will receive a bisque-fired tea bowl to decorate and glaze. The kiln will be fired up, after which we will watch the magic as the bowls emerge triumphantly from the scorching heat! If you are suffering from stress and anxiety, these modalities will calm and refresh you.
Chris will offer sunrise qigong, while Bernard will offer relaxation walks in the forest. Shogan will be guiding the meditation and hold a traditional Japanese tea ceremony on the final night.
Sharon Paterson is a potter who teaches ceramics at her studio in Ballito. She has a retail shop in Salt Rock. The coast and its life style influence her style of pottery and she produced a lot of wild life pottery and dinnerware while living in Mpumalanga for thirty-four years. Recently, she and a friend collaborated online and started a website called Curiosity. Their slogan is “Ceramics for Change” and their ambition is to empower local artists and give them a place to work and platform from which to sell their art.
Chris Rooke began his journey into complementary health in London in the 1980's studying Zen Shiatsu, Macrobiotics, Tai Chi and Qigong. In
1992 he emigrated to South Africa and presently practises Iridology and the Trauma Release Process. He also teaches a number of qigong forms in the Upper Highway area such as White Crane, Zhan Zhaung, Chi Lel and Five Yin Organ qigong.
William (Shogan) has been practising meditation for over 20 years, cultivating stillness and inquiry. He took precepts with Dae Chong, Osho at Poplar Grove and led morning and evening zazen at the BRC while he was a resident staff member as well as retreats. With a keen interest in how the Dharma might evolve in an AI-driven, multiplanetary future, he embraces both tradition and possibility.
Bernard Chatikobo is a part-time ranger in the Hawaan Forest in Durban where he takes people on guided walks, introducing 'forest bathing' and traditional Mbira music for healing and harmony. His passion is trees and birds. He will be leading the walks over this retreat where one can immerse oneself in nature and find inner serenity.