Spirituality and art make their appearance in human history together in the primordial sanctuaries created in caves to host rituals for healing, connecting with the tribe and the spirits of nature. Suppressed by the industrial revolution and institutional religion, the culture of ritual is today coming back as an expression of a non dogmatic, secular spirituality based on the transdisciplinary concept of consciousness.
Kavana, literally in Hebrew “the intention of the heart”, in the mystical experience is the disposition necessary to access higher states of consciousness, connecting to self, the others, nature, the infinite. Without kavana, no ritual, prayer, ceremony, has any transformational effect.
Inspired by the quest for alignment, purpose and realization, we launched KAVANA in 2017 as an experiential inquiry bridging arts with the ancient and contemporary sciences of consciousness (neuroscience, holistic wellness, shamanism, ritualism, mindfulness, psychedelics).
KAVANA travelled from 2018 to 2020 from Berlin to Mexico and Burning Man, thanks to partners such as Amores Mezcal, Supra Roma, Maxa Camp, Per Anhalter, Artes House..
SUPRA Consciousness
From its opening until its temporary closure for the pandemic in 2019, we curated the holistic and experiential program of this social space in Mexico City, hosting weekly contemporary rituals combining ancestral and new healing technologies, and curating special art experiences and performances.
MAXA Camp, Burning Man
We brought KAVANA to one of the most welcoming communities and well produced camps at Burning Man. The program included the psychedelic breathwork of Eva Kaczor with the music of Carlita, the live performances of Nacho Arimany and Yannina Thomassiny, the Electric Yoga of Steph Jaksch.
New World, ArtesHouse
On occasion of Zona Maco 2019, the Mexico City art week, we hosted an intentional meditation by cellist and inner work facilitator Hadas Kleinman and electronic producer, teacher and wellness space creator Gio Israel. Just a few weeks before the world as we knew it would have stopped, in a psychedelic art forest created in the middle of the city by Artes House, we offered an occasion to the art crowds to reflect on what world they wanted to create for themselves and the others.
"Fairy Tales from Occident to Orient"
Born as an electronic party in the spectacular spaces of the castle of Beesenstedt, we turned Per Anhalter for the two 2018 editions into a contemporary ceremony integrating in holistic concepts and narrative such as archetypal discovery, a rich program of world class electronic and live music, art performances and installation, holistic wellness, workshops, rituals.
Darkness is your candle
Inspired by the Jewish ritual Yom Kippur and the Hinduist Dasara, this five hours long contemporary ceremony, also a charity for the victims of the earthquakes in Mexico, fused different holistic practices, music, light art, dance, with the intention to show darkness as a necessary state for self-healing and personal development. We created a video poem inspired by the words of Rumi about the relationship with our shadow.
Tantric Sound Healing
The words of Light of neon artist Olivia Steele vibrated to the transformative Sound Healing Meditation Journey led by psychologist and personal development guide Krisana Locke, with neuroscientist, holistic practitioner and percussionist Mazen R. Harb.
Luna di Sangue
Luna di Sangue was an offering to the red moon at the Limbo studio in Berlin. Surrounded by the artworks created by Sophus during a long durational performance at Per Anhalter festival, using mother-pearl powder, feathers, fire and 22 liters of blood from animals slaughtered at a nearby meatpacking facility, artist Fa’ Empel performed a sound meditation with crystal bowls.
Golden Sound Meditation with LUM
The renowned Argentinean producer has brought to Berlin his intimate ecstatic sound journey. The sound meditation combines a shamanic ceremonial setting with an Eastern emphasis on breathing exercises and visualization. The specific musical instruments played, such as gong, drum and tibetan bowl, allow participants to disconnect from discursive thinking and delve into a transcendental state.
The Art of Surrender
Zen master Jion Blonstein led us through a holistic session to synchronise and expand our senses for an intimate improvisation session of acclaimed young violinists, Iskandar Widjaja. Held in an ex church, the session created a space to abdicate from intellectual control in favour of intuition, sense, emotion.
Futurology weekend for Museum of the Future Dubai
We curated a series of experiences between art, technology and spirituality for approx 85 futurologists invited at a think tank in Berlin by the forthcoming Museum of the Future Dubai. A highlight was a dinner experience at the Feuerle Collection, one of the most powerful contemporary sacred art spaces in Berlin, and an immersive sound showcase at the 4D sound space MONOM at Funkhaus.
Cocreation loft
We partnered with the Cocreation loft for two contemporary rituals: Mantra Passover, integrating mantra singing and therapeutic movement, and Ishq, a sufi performance for the Emerge gathering in Berlin. Artists: Medhat Aldaabal, Ali Hasan, Eva Kaczor, Ilhem Khodja.