Featured Events in Sebastopol in April, 2025 (August Updated)

An evening of Tuvan Shamanism and throat singing with Chingiz Kam and Arrington de Dionyso . Chingiz Kam is a practicing hereditary Tuvan shaman from the Republic of Tuva (Siberia, Russia). He will conduct a powerful healing ritual, sharing his personal “Algysh” – an ancient shamanic chant full of spiritual power. Everyone may benefit: some will have a unique chance to touch one of the most ancient spiritual traditions on earth; some will have an unforgettable cultural experience; and some will receive spiritual and physical healing.  During this sacred ritual, each participant has the opportunity to join the journey of spirit flight undertaken by the shaman. This journey into the world of spirits and inner transformations, as taught by Tuvan shamanism, allows you to enter a special state where you can confront your fears, uncover your true desires, and crystallize intentions. Through the deep pulsing sounds of the DUNGUR (shamanic drum) and throat singing, the shaman will guide you into other realms — the celestial, the underground, and the hidden depths of your consciousness. This journey will open new horizons of inner strength and lead to healing, release from burdens, and relief for the soul. The answers to your questions and the path to transformation already lie within you — the shaman simply serves as a guide, helping you uncover the wisdom embedded in your spiritual journey. Collaborating with Chingiz during his ceremony is Arrington de Dionyso , bringing his “Voice Mask” performance with throat-singing, bass clarinet, and a variety of sonic “spirit masks” that disguise and distort simple vocal sounds into otherworldly textures. As a “punk ethnomusicologist gone rogue”, Arrington travels the world in search of primordially potent sounds. He’s worked extensively with the Jathilan trance music traditions of East Java, Indonesia, and is a devoted student of Siberian shamanism.  .  www.arrington.bandcamp.com In Chingiz’s own words – “I was born on the banks of the mighty Siberian river Yenisei and raised in the city of Kyzyl, Republic of Tuva. I have the title of Brown Bear Shaman. I come from shamanic ancestry, both on my father’s side and on my mother’s side. Ancestors come from Tes-Khemsky and Ovyursky districts, the Republic of Tuva, which is located on the border with Mongolia. Childhood and youth were mostly spent at the shepherd’s camp of my grandparents. They have kept their culture of nomadic life up to the present. Every vacation I came to them and helped them with the housework. During this time, my special connection and love for nature and animals was formed. Just like all Tuvans always, I pastured sheep and goats, sang songs in the steppes and in the mountains. I recognized life around me through the prism of Tuvan traditions. During this period, I met many spirits of the mountains, taiga, and rivers of my native places. They sometimes appeared in the form of deer, bear, wolf, snowy owl, eagle and other animals, and sometimes as strong strange short winds. All my life I clearly felt that someone was watching me closely. They were invisible defenders. When I was very ill, my ancestors came in dreams in the guise of various familiar people and fumigated with the help of artysh (juniper), after which I quickly began to recover. I have never been able to get lost in a dense forest or in an unfamiliar area. I felt many strange inexplicable things very accurately and my correct decisions were formed from this. Some people felt that I was a shaman and asked me to make charms and amulets.  Ancestral shamans also gave life lessons and the necessary knowledge for shamanic practice to one degree or another. They began to actively “work” at the time when I was about 27 years old. At that time, I had already graduated from the university and worked in my specialty. Any technology stopped working next to me, because of this there were problems at work. Reality seemed to become unreal and I experienced health problems, but the results of all tests showed that I was healthy. This went on for a couple of years, until the ancestors of the shamans “in their own ways” found me a mentor – a practicing Tuvan shaman, who is also a member of the “Adyg Eeren” society. I was initiated by three strongest shamans of the Adyg Eeren society, one of whom was the Supreme Shaman of Tuva. So I started my practice in a shamanic clinic in Kyzyl." Information Source: Soft Medicine Sanctuary | eventbrite

On Sunday, April 27th 1-4p , in this 3 hour class you can begin exploring wax as a medium for making jewelry. You will learn how to use carving wax and become familiar with the basic tools used for carving, filing and shaping wax so that it can be converted into metal through the process of lost wax casting (not a part of this course). Students will work at their own pace but the goal is to present 3 different projects that can be finished by the day’s end. In this class you will learn to carve a simple flat band, a domed (half round) band and a knife-edge band using calipers/dividers and files. Emphasis will be on precision layout and measuring. Later classes can emphasize more organic or flowing curve designs but this class is designed to introduce the student to very basic concepts of measuring and layout design. Stay tuned for future wax classes! Instructor : Kelly Ralston is a Bay Area jeweler with over 45 years of experience in fine jewelry fabrication, wax carving, and diamond setting. Along with his wife, Krista Meadows, he has operated Fisher’s Jewelry in Albany, CA, for over 30 years, specializing in custom jewelry and in-house design. Materials Fee: $20 covers wax and one wax file. Made payable to instructor day of class. What to Bring: All other necessary tools will be provided by Chimera. Students are encouraged to bring magnification, such as an Optivisor, for detailed work. We can provide casting for your wax ring, with the cost based on current metal pricing. Cancellation Policy: Attendees must register for classes or request cancellations/refunds 3 days in advance. (Some classes may require more time.) Eventbrite fees will be charged to the attendee. No walk-ins. Information Source: Chimera Arts | eventbrite

Information Source: Sarah Bush Dance Project | eventbrite