Writing Retreat with John Stifler, M.F.A
Writing Retreat with John Stifler, M.F.A
June 22nd, 29th & 30th, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This writing retreat at The Sanctuary is an opportunity to open up as many of your emotional, intellectual and/or spiritual channels as you want to, by writing in response to a variety of stimuli. We’ll do some writing exercises, each one lasting anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour. One or more of these may elicit from you some thoughts and phrases that haven’t ever occurred to you before – or that have been nagging at you for a long time while resisting being put into words. At the same time, feel free to come to this retreat with an already conceived idea of something you want to write about, what story you want to tell – or think you want to tell, because sometimes the story you think you want to tell is not the one you really want to tell.
Plan for Retreat
This retreat will take place over three days and two weeks, offering students a chance to do some sustained writing between the first and second/third meetings.
Schedule for Each Day
9 a.m. - Noon – Introduction followed by a series of three writing exercises. Each of these begins with a writing prompt and everyone writing in response for 20-25 minutes. Following, anyone may share what they wrote and we take a few moments to respond. We’ll take a 25-minute break somewhere in the middle.
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch, a walk, yoga and meditation
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. – An extended writing period, each participant with an objective either chosen by themselves or offered by me. Followed by discussion.
4:00-4:45 – Break. Extra writing time, or time for a walk, conversation with other participants, etc.
4:45-6 p.m. – General discussion, closing observations and questions, possibly one more short exercise, plus some suggestions for writing on one’s own in the days and weeks ahead. Includes a short list of recommended readings.
6-8 p.m. – Dinner Party
Guests are invited to stay at The Sanctuary the evening of June 29th.
Suggested donation: $250 one day, $400 for two days, $500 for all three days.
About Your Instructor, Tio Juan
I’m John, Uncle John, Tio Juan. I’m a writer and a teacher. I’ve written newspaper columns, magazine and journal articles, short stories, essays, fundraising pamphlets, school catalogues, book reviews.... I’ve written one book; the second is under way and a rough draft of the third is waiting for further attention. The most recent things I’ve published are a series of monthly local newspaper columns about running and an essay in the Summer 2023 issue of the journal Appalachia, about a incident in the White Mountains when a boulder rolled over my hiking buddy’s leg. I have written enough poetry to know that I’m much more of a prose writer than a poet, but three of four of those poems accomplished something rewarding for me. I appreciate the way poets, as one of them once observed, are the acrobats of language. I’ve also done considerable editing of other people’s work – anything from a PhD thesis to a travel book to a medical study to essays and stories.
My greatest experiences as a teacher have been 32 years of teaching writing in the economics department at the University of Massachusetts and several years of leading writing workshops, both in my home and in institutional settings. There’s nothing I would rather have been doing.
By the way, sometimes people ask me, “Do you teach creative writing?” By that question, I think they mean do I teach writing of fiction and poetry? I think practically any writing is creative, if it involves taking some material (an idea, data, descriptive details) and making something out of it. Also, I try to resist making strong distinctions between fiction and non-fiction, for reasons I can explain.
In case you’re curious for specific resume-type details, my writing has appeared in the Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, Mass.), the International Herald Tribune, Runner’s World, American Health, New England Monthly, Walking, The Runner, Running Times, the Valley Advocate, The Sonora Review, Appalachia, Outdoors, Outside, Journeys, several publications in Sri Lanka
Should you do anything to prepare for this retreat?
Up to you, really. If you have a few days in advance of this retreat to meditate regularly, read a lot, play music, exercise, study your old diaries (if you are a diary-keeper), and hang out with pets, that’s good preparartion. If you’re flat-out with work/family/etc. and are coming to this retreat because you’ve managed to block all that other stuff for twelve hours or so, that’s good preparation too.
Show up with some writing materials. If you want to bring bread, cookies, fruit or cheese, feel free to do that too, but don’t feel obligated.
It will be helpful if, a few days before our meeting, you’ll send me a sample of something you have written. It may be a poem, a journal entry, a story, a dialogue, a list of sentences, a piece of a novel.... It can be some scribbling you haven’t quite figured out. It can be a polished, published work. It can be somewhere in between. Mainly, I’d like to have more sense, in advance, of what some of your writing is like.
More about WRITING AT THE SANCTUARY
A writing exercise may begin with my reading aloud part of an opening sentence, leaving you to complete the sentence and keep going wherever you lead yourself. It may begin with an object, a picture, or something else. It may begin by simply offering you a subject. These devices are what they seem: a means of tossing you into something you did not anticipate but can respond to without advance planning. Or, if you come to this retreat knowing that you must write something you’ve already started, or something you’ve determined you need to write about, you’re free to ignore my instructions and go in the direction you want to go. Note: It’s possible that focusing on the exercise suggested to everyone in the group will actually help you get further into what you thought in advance you wanted to write.
After some of these exercises, writers will be welcome (but not at all obligated) to read aloud what they’ve written, and the rest of us may comment. As I’ll explain in more detail when we meet, this stage of writing in a workshop is not a critique. It’s a time to remark on whatever we particularly remember from what we’ve just heard, and to mention what we like about it.
Between exercises, there’ll be time for you and me to meet and talk about your individual writing. We can talk about your goals and aspirations in writing, or we can talk about what made the piece you just wrote amazing. We can talk about something you’ve been working on for a while now, something you’ve sent me in advance of this retreat, so that I can read it before we all gather and make some notes on it. There’ll also be time for you to take any kind of break: sip tea, read over what you’ve written, read what someone else has written, visit the beaver pond, meditate, do some yoga, take a walk.
Stephane Wrembel
His fourth time back at the Sanctuary, the amazing guitarist and composer Stephane Wrembel and his quartet brings a global guitar wizardry, super swinging band and the Spirit of Django Reinhardt out into the moonlit meadow for a gypsy lost night of musical dreaming.
Check out this feature article about Stephane in the September issue of Guitar Player Magazine.
Stephane Wrembel is one of the most highly regarded guitarists in the world specializing in the style of legendary composer & guitarist Django Reinhardt. He learned his craft among the Gypsies at campsites in the French countryside. He has had a remarkable career, touring the world while releasing 16 albums under his name and the nom de plume, The Django Experiment. His original compositions have been featured in Woody Allen’s “Vicki Cristina Barcelona” and “Midnight in Paris,” and contributed the original score for Rifkin’s Festival. In October 2019, he released the highly regarded Django L’Impressioniste featuring 17 of Reinhardt’s preludes for solo guitar, followed by a book of his transcriptions in 2021. Since 2003, Wrembel has produced the Django a Gogo Festival bringing together some of the finest musicians in the world to celebrate the Sinti guitar style to perform in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and The Town Hall.
The Stephane Wrembel Quartet features long-time collaborators Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), Nick Anderson (drums) and Josh Kaye (guitar).
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary's Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to picnic in the Sanctuary's spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Saturday, September 23rd 4 PM
SOLD OUT
Tickets are limited! / BYOB, picnic, blanket and chairs
Note: No physical tickets. Guests will be added to a list at the door.
“Stephane Wrembel just might be the greatest acoustic guitarist alive.” —The Aquarian
"For North Americans, Stephane Wrembel represents the living face of gypsy jazz." --New York Observer
"There's plenty of Gypsy jazz guitarists who can play more notes at a faster tempos than Django Reinhardt, but few can truly master the inventiveness, melody and sheer swing. Stephane Wrembel is one of the rarities… Throughout, Wrembel’s playing is simply wonderful. He creates lead lines that snake through the original melodies, accenting them with dazzling riffs, and coming back to earth-and making it all make sense. Using Bob Holo-built Selmer-style guitars, his tone is alive and warm. That’s jazz!” -- Vintage Guitar Magazine
“The mind-bendingly rapid melodies Stephane provided to the set’s final song were an exclamation point for an audience that was enthralled for 60 minutes of unforgettable music.” —Parklife DC
Farm Dinner with The Grays and Friends
From last years Bolero Nights Farm Dinner, master cook Karlitos along with Sol, Laura and the Sanctuary Board Jen, Sarah and Runicorn.
The Sanctuary will be hosting a farm dinner and musical performance by The Grays and Friends. This farm-style dinner will feature fresh food prepared by Carlos Luis Suarez, a Colombian-born sommelier and chef, sourced using all local, organic food. Carlos Luis Suarez has traveled the world gathering recipes and unique culinary experiences and will be creating a very special experience combining diverse flavors and concepts from the Andean cultures of South America and elsewhere.
Music will be performed by The Grays Plus Friends, including: Justin Good - guitar, Tracey Kroll - drums, Evan Tosi - bass, Nicholas Capozza - ukulele and vocals, Chris Thompson - trumpet, Kevin Gallagher - percussion, Jennifer Taylor - vocals.
Donation: $30 advance / $35 door / Kids 13 and under free. BYOB, picnic, blanket, and chairs.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.
Proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Note: No physical tickets. All names of purchasers will be on a guest at the door during the show.
Note: This event was originally schedule for fall 2022 and was cancelled due to cold weather. If you purchased tickets to that event and can join please let us know. If you cannot make this new date and would like to be refunded, let us know. If you cannot make it but would like to donate your purchase to the The Sanctuary land trust, let us know. Thank you. info@oursanctuary.org.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Kirtan with Shakti Ma and the Rainbow Serpent
Shakti Ma has been described as the Janis Joplin of kirtan. A powerful wallah and long-time devotee of Bhakti yoga, Shakti Ma has led many kirtans and healing retreats with her soulful operatic voice. Shakti Ma shares her profound wisdom gained through her inspiring healing story and faith. She is also a nimble player of the harmonium and masterful band leader. This deep musical meditation will leave you blissed out for days. No prior experience necessary. All are welcome.
This kirtan will be outdoors under a midsummer night sky, or inside the yurt if the weather is wet. Guests are invited to bring a picnic dinner and to arrive early to explore the Sanctuary’s 40 acre land trust and meet her free-wheeling animals and humans.
Shakti Ma will be accompanied by the Rainbow Serpent: Tam Zezulka (vocals), Christian George (guitar), Tracey Kroll (drums), Kevin Gallagher (percussion), Justin Good (guitar) and Nick Capozza (bass).
No prior experience necessary. Kirtan is a call-and-response chanting meditation, and you can sing or just listen and dance.
Saturday, July 29th 6 to 9 PM
Sliding Scale Donation: $10-$30
Baklava Express
We are really excited to welcome back Daisy Castro and Josh Kaye, who’ve performed at the Sanctuary with Stephane Wrembel, now in with their super hip global fusion band. Baklava Express is an NYC-based Middle Eastern fusion project led by Oud player Josh Kaye. The band mostly performs original music influenced by the traditions of the Arab world, Turkey, and Greece, as well as Jazz, Flamenco, Rock, and Eastern European Folk music. The eclectic influences and vast differences in the musical backgrounds of its members have created a group whose style is distinct yet genre defiant.
Baklava Express is: Josh Kaye – Oud/Composition; Daisy Castro – Violin; John Murchinson- Qanun; Max O’Rourke – Guitar; James Robbins – Bass; Jeremy Smith – Percussion
Tickets: $30. Kids 13 and under free.
Tickets are limited! / BYOB, picnic, blanket and chairs
Note: No physical tickets. Guests will be added to a list at the door.
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary's Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to picnic in the Sanctuary's spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Dan Bern
If you must put him in a box, make sure it’s a big box! Undefinable by genre, crossing over and through folk, rock, singer-songwriter, and kids music, Dan Bern is a captivating live performer with a loyal, multi-generational following. He has written thousands of songs, released dozens of albums, and played shows across North America and Europe–from coffee shops to Carnegie Hall, and he most recently opened for The Who.
Dan’s songs have appeared in numerous films (“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” “Get Him to the Greek” “The Bubble” “Zero Effect”) and TV shows (Amazon Prime’s award-winning kids program “The Stinky & Dirty Show”).
A rare, and true renaissance artist, Dan is the author of several books, is a prolific painter, has his own podcast, and internet radio station. During Covid, his online “Hunkered in the Bunker” shows developed their own passionate community of followers. His topical sports songs are regularly featured on “The Tony Kornheiser Show.”
“A singer/songwriter whose music is so honest and evocative, it guarantees an immediate positive impression. His music is frequently compared to Dylan, Springsteen and Elvis Costello, but those comparisons somehow fall short, not because he’s unworthy of being mentioned in such esteemed company, but rather because his singular narratives are so based on individual realities that there’s no way anyone could possibly mistake them for anything but his own.” Glide Magazine
Join us for a not to be forgotten night of music at the Sanctuary’s solar powered land preserve in East Haddam. This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary’s Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to picnic in the Sanctuary’s spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9am to 5pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Music at 7pm
SOLD OUT
Tickets: $30 - Tickets are limited! / BYOB, picnic, blanket and chairs
Note: No physical tickets. Guests will be added to a list at the door.
Proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Website: https://danbern.com
Hiroya Tsukamoto
Hiroya Tsukamoto is an innovative guitarist and composer who fuses folk, jazz, and world music. Born and raised in Japan, in 2000, he received a scholarship to Berklee College of music and came to the U.S.
Tsukamoto’s instrumental abilities are indeed breathtaking and astounding, but his performances are so much more than that. He has the unique capability of engaging an audience thru a personable and genuine approach that transfixes his audience and almost transcends his capabilities as a guitarist. Audience members will be mesmerized; Tsukamoto plays with effortless skill on the guitar and a repertoire that will have you traveling the world, not to mention experiencing new sounds with his own compositions.
Tsukamoto headlines concerts throughout the U.S. and internationally including Blue Note in NYC, United Nations, and Japanese National Television. Most recently, Hiroya won 2nd place in International Finger Style Guitar Championship in 2022.
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary's Community Stage, but will be held inside the Sanctuary’s yurt if the weather is bad.. Guests are invited to picnic in the Sanctuary's spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Saturday, May 13th, 7 PM
Tickets: $30. Kids 13 and under free.
Tickets are limited! / BYOB, picnic, blanket and chairs
Note: No physical tickets. Guests will be added to a list at the door.
Fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed" -Acoustic Guitar magazine
"HiroyaTsukamoto takes us to an impressionistic journey " -Boston Herald
"...chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!" -Jazz Review.com
“Fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed" -Acoustic Guitar magazine
Social Media Links:
Website: www.hiroyatsukamoto.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/HiroyaMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiroya_tsukamoto/
Blue Earth Day
Blue Earth Day is an Earth Day celebration and Fund-raiser for Olivia Blue. The event is free to get in but you are highly encouraged to donate or participate in the raffle. We begin the day with a live Gong Meditation by Gong Master Ed Cleveland and Company from 12 to 1pm. Afterwards Ed will be setup with his new best seller book for sale and he will signing signing copies. Then at 1:30 we will have an Ecstatic dance lead by Kelli Joy with a performance by Cosmic Hue. There will also be a free Yoga class starting 2pm with Kellie Jean and then the drums begin.
The Drum Circle is going to be a two part Drum Circle that will begin at 3pm and goes till 5pm and Afro Cuban drum master extraordinaire Philip Seward will be leading circle. After the first drum circle, there will be a live music halftime concert performance by one of CT's most groovy and treasured group of musicians The Grays and friends.
We will then do the raffle and find our winners. After the raffle we have another one of CT's own favorite bands HannaH's Field. They will be taking the stage for an unforgettable performance with the full band.
Once HannaH's Field finishes there set we will then join HannaH and bliss in lighting the bonfire and creating a sacred circle before we begin the second half of the drum circle. drumming will happen till 8:30 and then we will have a closing ceremony to complete this amazing experience.
There also will be face painting and some vendors as well who are going to be donating the money they make at the event to the fundraiser.
Tickets: $5 each and there is no limit to how many you can buy.
To purchase tickets venmo Amy Marie Dubenetsky: @Amy-Dubenetsky.
In your venmo notes please put "Blue Earth Day" followed by what raffle Item number # you would like to try for. If you would like to enter for more than one, please specify how many tickets you want on what item number(s).
Raffle Items
There will be FIVE drums so you will have 5 chances to win!! The grand prize drum is a professionally built WULA Djembe
Five gift certificates for a private 30 minute gong meditation by master Ed Cleveland (Value $100 each)
Alternatively if you want to make a donation and can not attend and aren't interested in the raffle you can donate to her go fund me. https://gofund.me/78084e22 )
Volunteering Opportunities
We need help setting up, organizing the event and cleaning up. Anyone who would like to help please contact Andrew Prue (PM through Facebook) or email info@oursanctuary.org.
“Olivia Blue is many things: an artist, an adoring animal lover, an ally to the plants and flowers, a compassionate partner, a loyal friend and loving daughter. She is also my sister. She was recently in a violent and traumatic accident, and she needs our help. Anyone who has the privilege of knowing Olivia knows how incredibly big her heart is, and how she shows up for the people and places she loves with so much spunk, joy and “Olivia-izness” that lights up any room she enters. She has not had an easy path in life, and I have watched her fearlessly meet battle after battle since we were kids. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome when she was just a baby. Commonly known as, “EDS” this rare connective tissue disorder means she bumps and bruises easily, dislocates her joints on a daily basis, has received stitches upwards of 80+ times starting at 6 months old, and lives with a high level of chronic pain that debilitates her from most activities that able-bodied people take for granted.
On Friday, February 3, 2023, Olivia was involved in a horrible dog attack that left her with a mangled arm, and serious trauma to her face. She no longer has a nose. She now has 2 plates, 8 screws and 2 pins in her arm, and fractures that will take upwards of 6-8 months to heal. She has significant ligament and nerve damage in her hand that will take 9-12 months to heal. (Hopefully) In 4 weeks' time, she will head into the first of what we think will be 3-4 surgeries over the span of 12 months to reconstruct parts of her face.
Olivia’s body has an incredible capacity for healing. She has faced all kinds of trauma with perseverance and a positive attitude. But she’s in shock and needs our support. She will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, so these funds will alleviate the stress of suddenly becoming unemployed. There is also no guarantee her insurance will cover her new nose as it may be deemed “elective cosmetic surgery” so she is potentially facing a $40k+ medical bill. These funds will also help her in the future with laser treatment for any substantial scarring she incurs on her face, allowing her to live a more confident life. She has a long road to recovery ahead of her and every little bit counts.
This is tragic. And scary. But she will be okay, eventually. She needs to focus on healing at the moment, so let us support her in picking up some of the other pieces? I believe in the power of community to come together in times of need.”
With so much love and gratitude,
Miranda Isobel, her lil sis and Emelie Winiski, her best friend
Django Harvest Dinner & Art Exhibition
The Sanctuary will be hosting a special event on Sunday, October 2nd from 3 to 7 PM featuring an art exhibition of local artists, vending from local craftspeople and holistic health practitioners, farm fresh food prepared by Carlos Luis Suarez, and live music by the Gadjzo jazz quartet. Join us for this community gathering to celebrate a harvest of community creativity and the colors of autumn.
Art Exhibition and Vending
Local artists are invited to submit artworks to be displayed in the Sanctuary yurt, circus tent and on the community stage. Anyone interested in submitting works should bring work by the Sanctuary between Sept 25th and October 1st. Please include with any submissions a card with information about the artist, a title with a description of the work, and price. Artists and Vendors are requested to offer a $40 donation to attend this event and exhibit their creations.
Harvest Dinner
This event will feature food prepared by Carlos Luis Suarez, Colombian-born sommelier, chef and spiritual healer, sourced using all local, organic food. Suarez has traveled the world gathering recipes and unique culinary experiences and will be creating a very special experience combining diverse flavors and concepts from the Andean cultures of South America and elsewhere.
Live music by Gadjzo
The jazz quartet Gadjzo will be performing interpretations of the music of the legendary Sinti Romani guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt for this event. Also known by the misleading label “gypsy jazz” this music blends upbeat, high-energy swing with the rich tonal experiences of one of Europe’s most elusive peoples. The Gadjzo quartet features Justin Good on guitar, Tracey Kroll on drums, Evan Tosi on bass and Nicholas Capozza on ukulele and vocals.
Donation: $30 advance / $35 door / $20 students / $15 Under- or Unemployed / Kids 13 and under free. BYOB, picnic, blanket, and chairs. Bonfire. Dogs invited but must be on leash if they chase free range chickens or goats.
Proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Note: No physical tickets. All names of purchasers will be on a guest at the door during the show.
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary’s Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. The land trust is open to the public daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40-acre land trust. For more information email info@oursanctuary.org.
The Stephane Wrembel Quartet
Stephane Wrembel is one of the most highly regarded guitarists in the world specializing in the style of legendary composer & guitarist Django Reinhardt. He learned his craft among the Gypsies at campsites in the French countryside. He has had a remarkable career, touring the world while releasing 16 albums under his name and the nom de plume, The Django Experiment. His original compositions have been featured in Woody Allen’s “Vicki Cristina Barcelona” and “Midnight in Paris,” and contributed the original score for Rifkin’s Festival. In October 2019, he released the highly regarded Django L’Impressioniste featuring 17 of Reinhardt’s preludes for solo guitar, followed by a book of his transcriptions in 2021. Since 2003, Wrembel has produced the Django a Gogo Festival bringing together some of the finest musicians in the world to celebrate the Sinti guitar style to perform in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and The Town Hall.
The Stephane Wrembel Quartet features long-time collaborators Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), Nick Anderson (drums) and Josh Kaye (guitar).
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary's Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to picnic in the Sanctuary's spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Friday, September 23rd, 7 to 9 PM
At The Sanctuary, 59 Bogel Road, East Haddam
Tickets: $35. Kids 16 and under free.
"A revelation.”
Rolling Stone Magazine
“Perhaps the most creative improviser in Gypsy jazz today, Mr. Wrembel plays the guitar with a rich and colorful lyricism.”
The New York Times
"Stephane Wrembel represents the living face of Gypsy jazz.”
The New York Observer
“Stephane Wrembel just might be the greatest acoustic guitarist alive.”
The Aquarian
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
The Sanctuary and B. Jezyk Presents are delighted to welcome The Slambovian Circus of Dreams!
A rootsy rockin' psychedelica, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams have been expanding the borders of the Americana genre with their fantastic stories and performance since the late 90’s in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Their connection with audiences at shows taps into a greater human-ness and captivates with charismatic band leader Joziah Longo center ring presiding... Joined onstage by bandmates Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, mandolin, flute) and the guitar-slinging skills of Sharkey McEwen, the Slambovians create a show that is constantly evolving "with a little help from their friends". 2022’s line-up features RJ MacCarthaigh (bass, keys, sax), Bob Torsello (bass), and Matthew Abourezk (drums). Elements of Dylan, Bowie, Incredible String Band, Syd Barrett, and The Waterboys flavor the musical mix (Waterboys co-founder Anthony Thistlethwaite is on the band’s new album). Add a good dose of Woodstock-era psychedelia framed in solid songwriting, and you have it. Touring the US from February of 2022 in support of their new release, A Very Unusual Head, the band has a full schedule touring here and in the UK headlining the Wickham Festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Festival, and more.
"The cool end of Americana" - Maverick Magazine, UK
“They take the stage by storm!” – NY Times
"9 out of 10 - Love at first spin!" – Americana UK
"They're not just a band. That's like saying the Bible is just a book..." – Fairfield County Weekly“Longo is an awesome songwriter” – Garth Hudson, The Band "Great songs and a whole lotta heart" - Meg Griffin, SiriusXM “Simply one of the finest American bands” – All Music
Recorded over the last four years in five studios and two countries, A Very Unusual Head is a kaleidoscope of songs by New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams. Opening their creative tent to notable performer friends: fellow New Yorker Dar Williams, Anthony Thistlethwaite (The Waterboys), Kolson Pickard (producer Tall Heights, Pico Romanesque) the songs and musical escapades of the band make for a sonically beautiful, creative, and adventurous album.
Inspired by the surrealist painters and Dylan as a 12 year old growing up in Philadephia, Longo chronicles a bit of that journey honoring those who offer an intellectual/creative escape hatch needed to sort life’s big questions. A Very Unusual Head is the band’s sixth studio album and is set for release January 21, 2022 on Storm King Records.
Join us for an unforgettable night of music with The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams at the Sanctuary’s solar-powered land preserve in East Haddam, Ct. Featuring a community stage, labyrinth, community garden, apiary, composting eco- temple, and walking trails past quiet brooks, beaver ponds, and forests.
September 17th
Music at 7 pm
Tickets: $35 - children under 13 free. Tickets are limited!
BYOB, picnic, blanket, and chairs
Proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary’s Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. The land trust is open to the public daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40-acre land trust.
SOLD OUT
Note: Limited tickets available for this rescheduled show! No physical tickets. All names of purchasers will be on a guest at the door during the show. :)
Open Philosophy Seminar
Description
This class offers a continuing adult education experience open to anyone interested in studying philosophy and ethics online (using Zoom) with a professor of philosophy and veteran teacher, but outside the formal constraints of the academic setting. The material is based on various philosophy classes that I teach at Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University and Middlesex Community College. Each of the topics we’ll cover is amazingly interesting and mind-expanding; all ideas I’ve taught and explored over many years. They are ideas dear to my heart and I love to share them. “Ideas belong to anyone who understands them.” (Sol LeWitt). By discussing these together in a no-pressure, inviting, relaxed, friendly group of people, the ideas come alive and can change your life, as they continue to change mine.
Mostly contemporary topics
We will be reading some classical and modern thinkers, but mostly contemporary writings, videos and other materials. All readings will be easily available online and links to them will be posted one week prior to the class in which they will be discussed.
Mindfulness-based learning
We will also begin each class with a 5-10 min. mindfulness meditation, in order to develop relaxed cognition (“being a happy learner”), and to practice non-judgment. “Thinking too much” can be an occupational hazard of philosophy so it’s good to develop a meditation practice to rebalance attention lol.
No requirements other than curiosity
No prior experience necessary. All ages welcome. There are no writing assignments, although students will have the option to write a paper and have their writing reviewed by me. Half way through our class, I’ll share possible paper topics with guidelines for anyone interested in developing their philosophical writing abilities.
Format of each class
Each class is 80 min and will follow the following format:
5 min. mindfulness meditation
35 min. presentation by the teacher
30 min. Q&A discussion
10 min. summary
Schedule
Classes will meet via Zoom on Thursdays from 6 to 7:20 PM starting February 17th.
Tuition
Drop-in for one class $15
Register for one unit $50 (save $10)
Or register for all six units $240 (save $60)
You can register by paying for the classes here on PayPal.
Anyone who is currently un- or under-employed and would like to attend this class but cannot afford to, is welcome to apply for a Sanctuary Learning Grant to cover your tuition. Email info@oursanctuary.org. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Topics covered
Below is the schedule of topics. When you register for the class, I will send you a syllabus with links to readings for each class.
Thurs. Feb. 10th Open House: Introduction to This Class (FREE)
Unit One: Classical Concepts
1. (2/17) Self-Knowledge: Philosophy, Politics and Truth
2. (2/24) Happiness: Pleasure, Suffering and the Mind
3. (3/3) Truth: Perception, Knowledge, Theory
4. (3/10) Freedom: Will, Nature, State
Unit Two: Environmental Philosophy
5. (3/17) Environmental Ethics and Justice
6. (3/24) Utilitarian Ethics and Animal Rights
7. (3/31) Ethics of Land, Private Property and the Commons
8. (4/7) Climate Change, the Real Green New Deal and the Half Earth Proposal
Unit Three: Political Philosophy
9. (4/14) Ideologies and Political Economy: Capitalism, Socialism, Totalitarian Democracy, Economic Democracy
10. (4/21) Prison Abolition, Mass Incarceration and Restorative Justice
11. (4/28) Philosophy of Money: From Blockchain to Public Banks
12. (5/5) Ethics of Usury, Debt Peonage and Jubilee
Unit Four: Ethics of Privacy
13. (5/12) Kant and the Ethics of Personhood
14. (5/19) Reproductive Rights and Abortion Ethics
15. (5/26) Surveillance Capitalism, Big Data and Privacy Rights
16. (6/2) Bioethics and Ethics of Vaccine Mandates
Unit Five: Ethics of Technology
17. (6/9) Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
18. (6/16) Social Media and its Discontents
19. (6/23) Transhumanism and the Ethics of Radical Life Extension
20. (6/30) Food Wars: From GMOs to agroecology
Unit Six: Transpersonal Philosophy, Consciousness and Spirituality
21. (7/7) Philosophy and Science of Reincarnation and NDEs
22. (7/14) Transpersonal Psychology, Remote Viewing and Nonlocal Consciousness
23. (7/21) Perennial Wisdom and the Self
24. (7/28) Philosophy of Extraterrestrial Contract
Your Philosophy Professor
Dr. Justin Good is a philosopher, teacher and Co-Executive Director of The Sanctuary at Shepardfields, a non-profit environmental education organization located on a solar-powered forty acre community land trust in the East Haddam, Connecticut, United States. He teaches philosophy and ethics at Central Connecticut State University, Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut, Middlesex Community College and Wesleyan Center for Prison Education. He is the author of Wittgenstein and the Theory of Perception (Thoemmes Continuum, 2006). Justin’s current research interests include environmental ethics, ethics of technology, philosophy of decarceration (prison education, prison abolition, restorative justice); philosophy of money (banking, cryptocurrencies, MMT and the Public Banking movement), transpersonalist and indigenous epistemologies, mindfulness-based pedagogy and exo-philosophy.
Neda Boin
Voice Liberation Workshop and Healing Concert with Neda Boin
The Sanctuary is excited to be hosting international and award winning artist Neda Boin for a voice workshop and concert on Saturday, July 16th. Neda’s music is heart touching, powerful and deeply connective. She easily brings you in touch with the love you truly are.
“Neda’s Voice Liberation sessions are very heart opening and mind clearing. They are a way of revealing and clearing unconscious beliefs and thoughts. I highly recommend Neda’s sessions for nurturing the forgiveness process and accelerating healing in mind for those who truly want to heal.”
– David Hoffmeister, bestselling author and founder of Living Miracles
This event includes a Voice Liberation workshop from 3 to 5 PM, followed by a picnic dinner, and then a concert from 7 to 8:30 PM. There will be a dinner break between programs and guests are invited to bring their own picnic. A vegan dinner option prepared by Sanctuary staff will be also be available for a $5 donation. Scholarships available for un- or under-employed seekers, no one turned away. For more info email: info@oursanctuary.org.
Date: Saturday, July 16th
Arrival Time: 2:30 PM • Workshop: 3 to 5 PM • Dinner: 5:30 to 6:30 • Concert: 7 to 8:30 PM
At the Sanctuary, 59 Bogel Road, East Haddam
Neda just released her new album called ‘Remember You’re Dreaming’. The songs are all deeply inspired and give an intimate look inside her own journey from fear to love.
What is Voice Liberation?
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it
A Course in Miracles
Neda explains: With Voice Liberation we do exactly that; going deep within our unconscious mind to liberate the blocks we have built against the love we truly are. We have a very powerful tool for healing inside of us; our very own voice! No matter whether we believe we have a great voice or not, our voice has the powerful ability to bring up the root of where you feel stuck. During the Voice Liberation workshop you will learn how to use your voice to raise unconscious blocks to the surface, where they can be transformed and healed. There are absolutely no singing skills needed. All that is required is a desire to be free. Voice Liberation has absolutely nothing to do with singing beautifully and this is also not a 'singing class', although it is my experience that when we get in touch with our inner voice and give space for it to 'sound', what comes out always touches my heart so deeply!
“Having a voice liberation session with Neda is like taking a walk to the very center of your being, and then walking safely back out again - wiser, clearer, kinder. The power of my voice, guided by Neda’s musical talent and bright intuition, has released and revealed patterns and beliefs that I was ready to let go of, in a way that cognition alone could never do. It’s a gift to receive these sessions in which Neda generously shares her own gift.” - Disa
Bolero Nights Farm Dinner
Food and Music Inspired by Latin Culture
Join us for a farm dinner at the Sanctuary land trust featuring three courses of Andean cuisine prepared by Carlos Luis Suarez, Colombian-born sommelier, chef and spiritual healer, using all local, organic food. Carlos Luis Suarez has traveled the world gathering recipes and unique culinary experiences and will be creating a very special experience combining flavors and concepts from the Andean cultures of South America.
Bolero, Music of the Andes
This fresh, handcrafted dinner will be accompanied by live Bolero Music performed by Teo Suarez and Pablo Muñoz. Bolero is the quintessential Latin American romantic music of the twentieth century and you will get to experience this beautiful, powerful music performed live by two young gifted musician-composers who bring fresh energy and inspiration to songs deeply ingrained in their hearts. Teo and Pablo, both from Colombia, grew up listening to Bolero, and are now deep in their musical education at Berkeley College of Music.
When: Sunday June 26th, 4 to 7 PM
Where: The Sanctuary, 59 Bogel Road, East Haddam
Suggested Donation: $75 / $125 couples
BYOB
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.
This event is a fund-raiser for the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Resonate Ecstatic Dance
Ecstatic dance is an opportunity to free the mind of thoughts and judgements and let go into the body's own wisdom. From this space of body awareness, we invite all parts of ourselves to be danced!
Ecstatic dance is a ceremony to express ourselves fully and celebrate all that we are! This is a free form, sober, conscious dance. We maintain social silence on the dance floor to hold a sacred container for transformation at a deeper lever. This dance will be held outdoors and we will honor each others space. No prior dance experience necessary, all movement styles welcome.
Kelli Joy will open with a fire ceremony and we will be bringing in elements of fire alchemy throughout the night.
Our Resonate musicians will create an ecstatic musical experience to get our bodies moving, our hearts opening and our spirits connecting.
Come on the journey to dance your truth and embody your creativity.
Bring a lawn chair or cushion for sitting if needed, plenty of water and snacks to fuel your body.
Cost: $25 Paypal; K2xcthcxnep@yahoo.com (Send to friends & family)
Venmo: Kelli-Kirk-4 (last 4 digits 0213)
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to get parked & settled in to be present for the opening circle.
For more information on upcoming Ecstatic Dance in the area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EcstaticDanceHartford/
Resonate Ecstatic Dance
This is a free form, sober, conscious dance. We maintain social silence on the dance floor to hold a sacred container for transformation at a deeper lever. This dance will be held outdoors and we will honor each others space. Ecstatic dance is an opportunity to free the mind of thoughts and judgements and let go into the body's own wisdom. From this space of body awareness, we invite all parts of ourselves to be danced! This is a ceremony to express ourselves fully and celebrate all that we are! No prior dance experience necessary, all movement styles welcome.
Kelli Joy will open with a fire ceremony, we will burn intentions of what we’de like to let go. HannaH & Bliss of HannaH's Field along with Andrew Prue on Percussion will create a live musical ecstatic experience to get our bodies moving, our hearts opening and our spirits connecting. DJ Mystic Spin will be weaving her electronic musical stylings in while we go on a journey to dance our truth and embody our creativity. During closing circle we will burn intentions of what we’de like to call in.
Bring a lawn chair or cushion for sitting if needed, plenty of water and snacks to fuel your body, the yurt will be closed during this event.
Cost: $25
Paypal; K2xcthcxnep@yahoo.com (Send to friends & family)
Venmo: Kelli-Kirk-4
Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to get parked & settled in if you want to be present for the opening circle.
For more information on upcoming Ecstatic Dance in the area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EcstaticDanceHartford/
HannaH's Field Music: www.facebook.com/hannahsfieldmusic/
Meditation Miracles Sangha
The Meditation Miracles Sangha is the Sanctuary’s interfaith meditation group dedicated to practicing mindfulness, the inclusive search for sacred meaning, and the collaborative study of forgiveness as taught by A Course in Miracles. The group is currently meeting on Sundays 3 to 5 PM. All are welcome, no prior experience necessary. For more information, or to be added to oour email list for this group, contact Justin at Justin@oursanctuary.org.
Tiny Ocean
The Sanctuary and B.Jezyk Productions welcome Tiny Ocean
Hailing from the Connecticut River Valley, Tiny Ocean plays dreamy, folk noir Americana music. Led by singer songwriter Kierstin Sieser with Hollis Dunlap on guitar, Keith Newman on bass and Jon Morse on drums.
“Musicians making exactly the sound they wanted to hear. But the real hook was Seiser’s songwriting, an evocative Americana that was somehow frank and elusive, bitter and funny, all at the same time. The songs feel lived in, pared down to their essence,no words wasted. Every song has a line to bring you up short...like a hook in the skin. ”
Join us for a night of music at the Sanctuary’s beautiful solar powered land preserve in East Haddam, Ct. Featuring a community stage, labyrinth, community garden, apiary, composting eco- temple, and walking trails past quiet brooks, beaver ponds and forests. This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary’s Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to a socially distanced ( 6 feet apart ) picnic in the Sanctuary’s spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9am to 5pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Saturday, October 16th / Music at 4pm
Tickets: $20 Children under 12 free - Tickets are limited!
BYOB, picnic, blankets and chairs.
Dan Bern
The Sanctuary and B.Jezyk Productions are over the moon excited to welcome Dan Bern!
Friday, August 27th
Dan Bern is a singer-songwriter with a gift for lyrics and melodies. Dan has released 25 albums and EPs, and played thousands of shows across North America and Europe. He is a captivating live performer with a loyal, multi-generational following. Bern’s songs have appeared in numerous films and TV shows, and he has written original songs for the films Walk Hard — The Dewey Cox Story and Get Him to the Greek, as well as songs for the Amazon Prime kids program, “The Stinky and Dirty Show.
Music at 7pm
Tickets: $30 - Tickets are limited! / BYOB, picnic, blanket and chairs
Note: No physical tickets. Guests will be added to a list at the door.
Proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
“A singer/songwriter whose music is so honest and evocative, it guarantees an immediate positive impression. His music is frequently compared to Dylan, Springsteen and Elvis Costello, but those comparisons somehow fall short, not because he’s unworthy of being mentioned in such esteemed company, but rather because his singular narratives are so based on individual realities that there’s no way anyone could possibly mistake them for anything but his own.” - Glide Magazine
Join us for a not to be forgotten night of music at the Sanctuary’s solar powered land preserve in East Haddam, Ct. Featuring a community stage, labyrinth, community garden, apiary, composting eco- temple, and walking trails past quiet brooks, beaver ponds and forests.
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary’s Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to a socially distanced (6 feet apart) picnic in the Sanctuary’s spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9am to 5pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Sean Rowe
The Sanctuary and B.Jezyk Productions are thrilled to welcome indie folk troubadour Sean Rowe!
Join us for an unforgettable night of music at the Sanctuary’s solar powered land preserve in East Haddam, Ct. Featuring a community stage, labyrinth, community garden, apiary, composting eco- temple, and walking trails past quiet brooks, beaver ponds and forests.
Friday, August 20th
Music at 7pm
Tickets: $30 - Tickets are limited!
Proceeds to benefit the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
BYOB, picnic, blanket and chairs
Sean Rowe has the kind of voice that gets attention. When you put him on, you’re bound to get at least one person asking, “Who’s this?” He sings in a baritone so deep, it feels otherworldly, like he’s some kind of mythical prophet, bellowing mind-blowing truths that we should savor and keep. And across all his records, Rowe has shown himself to be a real storyteller, writing intricate songs that explore the perils of being an artist, a father, a lover, and a human being. He mines these struggles more than ever on his latest release. -No Depression
MADMAN is deliberately simple in both arrangement and composition. It is soul music in the purest and most literal sense, hypnotic rhythms, warmly distorted guitars and Rowe's incredible voice recalling a time, real or imagined, when music and people seemed distinctly more connected.- The Wall Street Journal
This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary’s Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to a socially distanced ( 6 feet apart ) picnic in the Sanctuary’s spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9am to 5pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Bolero Nights: Food and Music Inspired by the Andes Mountains
Julio Alfredo Jaramillo Laurido, Ecuadorian singer and recording artist, famous for his renditions of boleros, valses, pasillos, tangos and rancheras.
Sunday August 1st, 4 to 7 PM
Join us for a farm dinner at the Sanctuary land trust featuring three courses of Andean cuisine prepared by Carlos Luis Suarez, Colombian-born sommelier, chef and spiritual healer, using all local, organic food.
Carlos Luis Suarez has traveled the world gathering recipes and unique culinary experiences and will be creating a very special experience combining flavors and concepts from the Andean cultures of South America.
This fresh, handcrafted dinner will be accompanied by live Bolero Music performed by Teo Suarez and Pablo Muñoz. Bolero is the quintessential Latin American romantic music of the twentieth century and you will get to experience this beautiful, powerful music performed live by two young gifted musician-composers who bring fresh energy and inspiration to songs deeply ingrained in their hearts.
Teo and Pablo, both from Colombia, grew up listening to Bolero, and are now deep in their musical education at Berkelee College of Music.
$50 Suggested Donation / $80 Couples - BYOB - Limited Spaces.
This event is a fund-raiser for the Sanctuary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Django Weekend with The Stephane Wrembel Band
![Stephane_Wrembel_3[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/601ef2a6e28bfa216244eec3/1620674016437-8Q3KJ4HJEY3VKC92JP8A/Stephane_Wrembel_3%5B1%5D.jpg)
Django Weekend at the Sanctuary With The Stephane Wrembel Band
The Sanctuary is very excited to welcome back the amazing Stephane Wrembel and his jazz quartet for two unforgettable performances and several gypsy jazz masterclasses on Friday, July 23rd and Saturday the 24th.
"Perhaps the most creative improviser in Gypsy jazz today, Mr. Wrembel plays the guitar with a rich and colorful lyricism." - New York Times
Stephane Wrembel is one of the most highly regarded guitarists in the world specializing in the style of legendary composer/guitarist Django Reinhardt; he learned his craft among the Gypsies at campsites in the French countryside. He has had a remarkable career, releasing 16 albums under his name and the nom de plume, The Django Experiment, and touring around the world. His original compositions have been featured in three of Woody Allen’s movies including Vicki Cristina Barcelona, Midnight in Paris (“Bistro Fada”) and the full score for the yet to be released, Rifkin’s Festival. Every year since 2002, Wrembel has organized Django A Gogo, a world-class music festival and guitar workshop celebrating the Sinti style of guitar.
“Stephane Wrembel just might be the greatest acoustic guitarist alive.” - The Aquarian
Stephane Wrembel’s band includes long-time collaborators Thor Jensen (guitar), Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), and Nick Anderson (drums).
Special Guest Daisy Castro
With roots firmly planted in the fiery passion of the Jazz Manouche tradition, Daisy Castro’s unique style refreshes and renews with a modern edge and global influence and instrumentation, bridging the distance between Django’s generation and her own in a very exciting way.
On Friday, July 23rd: An Evening of Original Compositions
The band will present Wrembel's original material, including material from his album Origins as well as “Bistro Fada” from the Grammy Award winning soundtrack of Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.
On Saturday, July 24th: The Django Experiment
On Saturday, the group will be celebrating the CD release of The Django Experiment VI. The concept of The Django Experiment is a tribute to the legendary Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt, mixing compositions and influences from other landscapes of the musical world aiming to create an inner journey for the listener. You’ve never heard Django’s music played at this level of virtuosic intensity and spiritual-emotional richness.
Both shows are 6 to 8 PM. This is an outdoor concert on the Sanctuary's Community Stage and is contingent on fair weather. Guests are invited to a socially-distanced (6 ft apart) picnic in the Sanctuary's spacious meadow. The land trust is open to the public daily 9 am to 5 pm, and guests are invited to come early to wander the 40 acre land trust.
Tickets: $30 advance or $50 for both nights / $35 door. Kids 12 and under free.
At The Sanctuary, 59 Bogel Road, East Haddam, CT
"There's plenty of Gypsy jazz guitarists who can play more notes at a faster tempos than Django Reinhardt, but few can truly master the inventiveness, melody and sheer swing. Stephane Wrembel is one of the rarities… Throughout, Wrembel’s playing is simply wonderful. He creates lead lines that snake through the original melodies, accenting them with dazzling riffs, and coming back to earth-and making it all make sense. Using Bob Holo-built Selmer-style guitars, his tone is alive and warm. That’s jazz!”-Vintage Guitar Magazine
“The mind-bendingly rapid melodies Stephane provided to the set’s final song were an exclamation point for an audience that was enthralled for 60 minutes of unforgettable music.”—Parklife DC
Meditation Miracles Sangha
The Meditation Miracles Sangha meets regularly at the Sanctuary at Shepardfields in East Haddam CT to practice mindfulness meditation and engage in collaborative, dedicated study of A Course in Miracles. We are currently meeting at the Sanctuary on Sundays from 3-5 PM outside on the Sanctuary stage and Wednesdays online via Zoom from 6-7:30 PM. All are welcome, no prior experience necessary. For more information contact Justin at info@oursanctuary.org.
Meditation Miracles Sangha
The Sanctuary’s Meditation Miracles Sangha will be meeting online this Sunday, Feb. 14th from 3-4:30 PM, see Zoom info below. We will begin with a 20 min. mindfulness meditation and then begin our close reading of Chapter 23 from A Course in Miracles.
Zoom meeting link for this class: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3407540334...
Meeting ID: 340 754 0334
Password: namaste
One tap mobile: 646 558 8656
Sliding scale donation: $0-$10. Financial tokens of gratitude, unnecessary but welcome, can be offered through PayPal or Venmo to info@oursanctuary.org
“When you come to the place where the branch in the road is quite apparent, you cannot go ahead. You must go either one way or the other. For now if you go straight ahead, the way you went before you reached the branch, you will go nowhere. The whole purpose of coming this far was to decide which branch you will take now. The way you came no longer matters. It can no longer serve. No one who reaches this far can make the wrong decision, although he can delay. And there is no part of the journey that seems more hopeless and futile than standing where the road branches, and not deciding on which way to go.”
Chapter 22, “The Branching of the Road”