Journey to the Heart of Sound
A profound 7 day immersion in Andean cosmology and sacred music with Tito la Rosa in the heart of the Sacred Valley, Peru.
WHAT:
A certified diploma program by the School of Sound, Peru under the direction of Tito la Rosa. This immersion will be an advanced study of traditional shamanic techniques and forms of healing with sound.
WHEN:
7 days: October 12 — 18
OPENING CEREMONY:
11am October 12th
CLOSING CEREMONY:
1pm October 18th
WHERE:
The Sacred Valley, Peru
Five Star accomodations and vegetarian meals included at Munay Sonqo near Pisac.
Contact Adrian DiMatteo with any questions:
Email: info@sonicinstitute.com
Whatsapp: +16469618618
“This you have to encounter, because the sound itself does not heal, but that which is inside of and outside of the sound.”
— Tito la Rosa
Instruments
Receive direct transmission from Tito la Rosa — Maestro of sound healing — to confidently express yourself on three primary traditional flutes; the mamaquena, flauta de los abuelos and a class of instruments known as cañas.
MAMAQUENA
The mamaquena — the mother of flutes — is among the most ancient instruments in the world. As an edge-blown flute, it requires different mouth position (embouchure) than other varieties of Native American flutes. Learning to play this powerful, expressive instrument will open new horizons for you to explore other types of edge-blown flutes, such as the bansuri from India.
FLAUTA DE LOS ABUELOS
As Tito says, “[The flute of the grandfathers] is not for performance — it can be used for that, but that is not its function or nature. The abuelo flute produces harmonics which you construct with a circular breath. I’ve heard it used to make music for entertainment. That’s ok, but that is not its nature. Its nature is to release harmonics, and the harmonics go up to the Creator. It is a flute with history.”
You will learn to use this flute with drums, feathers and shakers — because there is a relationship between the movement that you produce, and the emission of acoustic waves.
CAÑA
Cañas are ‘cavity’ instruments. The caña (from the word cane) — that which is blown inside to produce the sound — is also called the antara or the samponia. Tito and his son Omar will teach the technique of using two samponias — one of dialogue, and one of a single line. This dialogue is an interrelation — first with yourself, with your inner music, and after with another, as you construct music through the dialogue.
“The samponia teaches you to wait for the other, and to work with your unbridled ego. ‘I want to know more, I want more, I want more.’ But no, you need to breathe that little which is learned, so that your bones don't forget it, your heart doesn’t forget it, your ancient memory doesn't forget it.”
*Additional instruments to be encountered include the charango, shakers, seeds, feathers and drums, which are complimentary to the flutes.
Oracular Tradition
Receive the message of the ancestors through the oracular tradition. You will gain access to the oracle through 28 symbols, which you will learn to read as you encounter them in stone and ceramic. Each symbol offers a reading, but more than information they offer you visions, which tell of many things and of how things were; the history of the grandfathers and grandmothers — not through another person’s interpretation, no — you are dialoguing with each of the symbols. This will open another space and a deeper understanding.
This is a special transmission that is only open to certain groups of students such as ours who have been through a training process.
Ceremonies
Another important aspect of this retreat will be the ceremonies. You will experience several types of ceremonies, and through these ceremonies gain a deeper understanding of the connections between instruments, elements, sacred symbols and words in the Andean tradition.
OFRENDA (Maestro Benito, Quero)
The ceremony of the ofrenda with Maestro Benito Apaza and his wife is a ritual of offering to Pachamama and the Apus — Maestro Benito is a Pampamisayoc Priest. Apus are the ancestral protector spirits of the mountains and rocks, and Pachamama is the cosmic mother, or ‘the mother of worlds.’
FLOWER CEREMONY (Tito la Rosa)
The flower ceremony is a healing with roses. It is an ancestral ceremony of blossoming, of rebirth, of bonding with our inner world. We work with the elements of nature and the four deities. Using rose petals, the red color awakens the power of love in our lives, while the white color fosters forgiveness and healing, and the yellow color opens our minds and links it with our emotions and our body. This is a ceremony to unite the heart and mind.
WATER CEREMONY (Tito la Rosa)
For the ceremony of the water, we will go to a temple of water where we can have a ceremony of purification with the water (pakarina). We will understand what the “vasillas silvadoras” are, which are instruments of earth and water. There you will understand how to touch the charango, because it's an instrument of water. Its sounds are crystals of water; fibers. So there enter the charango, vasijas, the work with feathers, songs, prayers – in the third ceremony of water, pakarina, purification, cleaning, but also of vision, because vision is constructed through experiences of water and the sounds of water. These are the following three things that we will do.
Pilgrimages
PISAC
Pisac is the temple of the condor, of wind and the air element. We will be touring Pisac with a teacher who will guide us through the sacred sites. It will be an initiation with the wind, the air, the condor, and with Hanampacha. We begin to enter the tradition.
MORAY
Moray is the temple of the seeds, the earth and Pachamama. A pilgrimage to the temple of the seeds is an important healing work, because the School of Sound Healing in Peru is based on the seed.
WATER TEMPLE
We will go to a temple of water for a ceremony of purification with the water (pakarina). Here enter the “vasillas silvadoras,” which are instruments of earth and water, as well as the charango, whose sounds are crystals of water, fibers, and also work with feathers, songs, and prayers. It is also a ceremony of vision, because vision is constructed through experiences of water and the sounds of water.
Instrument Creation
As part of the elemental process, you are going to make a ceramic instrument. Ceramics are an ancient practice, and some of the most ancient instruments are made of ceramic (such as the vasillas silvadoras). During the course of one morning, you will craft a ritual symbol (a symbol “sonoro”) to enter the earth and its relation with sound and magic.
Integration
It is important to integrate and spend time in meditation. There will be space to connect with each other, to practice, for relaxation and to converse about things which may arise during the retreat. This is not ‘free time,’ but an aperture, where you will integrate the energies and intentions you have been working with throughout the retreat. It will be a good moment for journaling and reflection.
Your Guides
TITO LA ROSA
Master of Sound Healing
Tito is a Peruvian composer, musician, ritual healer researcher and builder of musical instruments. He is the founder of the "School of Sounds Peru" and the "Museum of Sound." For the last 40 years he has worked on healing through vibration, sound, shamanic ceremonies and the Andean tradition.
BENITO APAZA
Pampamisayoq from Q'ero Nation
Benito belongs to the Apaza lineage of the Q'ero nation, guardians of the Andean tradition. Benito will accompany us in the offering ceremony to the Pachamama and the Apus, sharing the wisdom of his people through his powerful Quechua prayers.
OMAR LA ROSA
Luthier and Sikuri
Omar is a musician and a master craftsman of musical instruments made from wood and bamboo. He is a practitioner of traditional Andean music. As a sikuri, he has been a guide for different cultural troops (ancestral music troupe from the highlands).
Meals & Accommodations
Vegetarian meals and accommodations at Munay Sonqo are included in the cost of the retreat.
*Flights to Pisac and transportation to and from Munay Sonqo are not included in the cost of the retreat.*
Pricing
Retreat costs include:
Diploma certification from the School of Sound, Peru under the direction of Tito la Rosa, indigenous ceremonies, entrance to pilgrimage sites, five star vegetarian meals and accommodations at Munay Sonqo, your own samponia (flauta de caña), materials and workshop to create your own ceramic instrument.
Sliding Scale
$2400-$2600
Your contributions support the work of the traditions. If you are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to contribute the full amount, please let us know. If you are experiencing financial abundance and would like to contribute more, your contributions can help make it possible for others who might not otherwise be able to receive this experience.
$500 deposit to register