Three performance-meditations: Emerge; Bloom ; Release.
Following my performative ink drawings informed by the plant life-cycle which i first created at Vegetable Agenda residency, I subsequently went on to explore the ancient practice of 'mudra', which is a yogic practice using the hands to energise pathways in the body that connect to the five elements and the systems within the body that these elemental entities inhabit.
My research into mudra included personal practice after attending lectures with Dr Ram Vakkalanka at the World Yoga Festival in 2019 and the handbook Mudras for Modern Life by Swami Saradananda.
I developed a series of meditations using sequences of mudra that take inspiration from the life-cycle of plants and our part in that cycle as consumers of plant life forms.
Each mudra was performed at a specific time of day, aligning to the Sun's position. I walked the grounds outside to find spaces that connected with the mudra to be performed.
Emerge was the mudra based on the single seed taking root and sprouting. It was enacted at dawn, just after the Sun arose, and was attended by one participant, in the gentle mist and rain just after dawn, under a large tree on the lawn.
Bloom was based on the opening petals of a flower, and was enacted soon after midday, when the Sun was at it's highest point. It was attended by eight participants, in the glowing afternoon sunshine, surrounded by summer flowering.
Release was based on all plant matter decaying into compost, and was enacted just before the Sun set. It was attended by twenty-five participants, against the backdrop of ancient stone wall ruins, in the garden.
The number of participants was by chance, but reflected the energies of each mudra that took place. Participants also commented on the affects that the mudra meditations had had on them, this was also an unexpected response.
Garden Mud(ras) were performed at the Sentient Performativities Symposium held at Dartington Trust in summer 2022. The conference brought together practitioners exploring somatic practices. Images below show the ink drawings created during the meditations.
Additionally in July 2023 Jacqui Gallon & Dr Miffy Ryan invited me to present these sessions at the Being Wild festival at a private regenerative farm in Charnwood.
Following my performative ink drawings informed by the plant life-cycle which i first created at Vegetable Agenda residency, I subsequently went on to explore the ancient practice of 'mudra', which is a yogic practice using the hands to energise pathways in the body that connect to the five elements and the systems within the body that these elemental entities inhabit.
My research into mudra included personal practice after attending lectures with Dr Ram Vakkalanka at the World Yoga Festival in 2019 and the handbook Mudras for Modern Life by Swami Saradananda.
I developed a series of meditations using sequences of mudra that take inspiration from the life-cycle of plants and our part in that cycle as consumers of plant life forms.
Each mudra was performed at a specific time of day, aligning to the Sun's position. I walked the grounds outside to find spaces that connected with the mudra to be performed.
Emerge was the mudra based on the single seed taking root and sprouting. It was enacted at dawn, just after the Sun arose, and was attended by one participant, in the gentle mist and rain just after dawn, under a large tree on the lawn.
Bloom was based on the opening petals of a flower, and was enacted soon after midday, when the Sun was at it's highest point. It was attended by eight participants, in the glowing afternoon sunshine, surrounded by summer flowering.
Release was based on all plant matter decaying into compost, and was enacted just before the Sun set. It was attended by twenty-five participants, against the backdrop of ancient stone wall ruins, in the garden.
The number of participants was by chance, but reflected the energies of each mudra that took place. Participants also commented on the affects that the mudra meditations had had on them, this was also an unexpected response.
Garden Mud(ras) were performed at the Sentient Performativities Symposium held at Dartington Trust in summer 2022. The conference brought together practitioners exploring somatic practices. Images below show the ink drawings created during the meditations.
Additionally in July 2023 Jacqui Gallon & Dr Miffy Ryan invited me to present these sessions at the Being Wild festival at a private regenerative farm in Charnwood.
