THE ROYAL WALK / Working with the counterforces

Description

Arising out of Hero’s Journey the Royal Walk is an invitation to participants to increase self mastery by working through, and understanding, the forces that run counter to development. Through the temptation and manipulation of Lucifer and Ahriman we become aware of the forces at work within our soul which hinder spiritual development. Exploring the journey of the Sovereign Self this workshop allows the individual to meet the counterforces which allow awakening to a higher level of consciousness. In these processes we will begin to question our beliefs, awaken to new feelings, and develop behaviour in accordance to dreams of the future.

Using masks, drama, improvisation and ritual this weekend will challenge existing paradigms in a supportive environment through group interaction and individual reflection.

Inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell and Rudolf Steiner, this workshop is for teachers, coaches, therapists, actors and anyone who is prepared to look into the past in order to encounter the present and to awaken future ideals.

The counterforces: Lucifer & Ahriman

Lucifer is a being which draws us up away from the earthly reality into into the lofty ideals that have no basis in reality. Lucifer puffs up the human ego to feel that we are bigger and more fantastic than we really are. Lucifer is the origin of philosophers and idealists who argue the existence of nothing more than a world of ideas.

Ahriman, on the other hand is a being who draws us down into matter, away from the heights of idealism into materialism. Ahriman would convince us that there is no more to life than the material world, offering us material riches if we follow him. He is that part of us that could negate all things of a spiritual nature. He is the leader of material and natural science, relying on measurement to attest progress.

We need both of these forces to find our way in the world. The question is, how does the human ego find the balance between the two, not negating one or the other, but to find our place consciously working on the access between the two. For if we loos ourselves in matter, we loose touch with the world of ideas and ideals, and if we loose ourselves in ideals we loose touch with the material world. As beings who stand between heaven and earth we have to continually find our way between these counter forces, and in so doing they teach us to become more conscious of of our own humanity.

Book your place

About Mike Chase

Mike established The Mask Studio in the mid 90’s and developed masks for training, education, performance and therapy. He has taught in these fields internationally for 35 years. He was the Artistic Director of The Mask Academy and the Glasshouse Arts Centre, Stourbridge for 14 years. He has contributed to the Biographical Counselling training over 20 years as an external trainer, and has conducted self-development workshops around the world over the past 30 years. For 14 years he created the Hero’s Journey programme for students at the Glasshouse College using masks and psychodrama. Mike currently works within a therapeutic community prison using psychodrama and group psychotherapy. His book Mask was published by Hawthorn Press in 2017. Mike has a diploma in psychodrama psychotherapy and an M.Ed. in educational research and is a fully insured member of UKCP. Mike is currently co-directing The Souls Awaken, a mystery drama by Rudolf Steiner, in Stroud, UK.

Dates & times

From 23 to 26 August 2018. Starting on Thursday at 5pm, finishing on Sunday at 2pm.

Place

At Open Space (Centre for Movement, Arts and Drama) in Trpoměchy near Slaný. Slaný lies in Prague’s metropolitan area some 15 km from Vaclav Havel Airport.

Cost

Early bird fee (payment before 15th June) : € 195 / £ 170
Regular fee (payment after 15th June): € 215 / £ 190

The fee includes meals, accommodation, transport to/from airport.

Payment can be made by bank transfer or paypal. For information about the payment contact Pavel Bednar, tel: +420602322947, [email protected]

Book your place