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Join us for our sixth annual Ecstatic Chant retreat, one of the most popular events at Omega. A rare and exhilarating opportunity to join some of the Western world’s leading devotional singers, the weekend nourishes our soul with a rich tradition of musical prayer and meditation.
Known in Sanskrit as kirtan, devotional chanting awakens a longing in the heart for the experience of inner silence, boundless love, and union with the divine. Emerging from Hindu traditions in India, kirtan is practiced by millions of people. In recent years, pioneering musicians and seekers have brought this magical tradition to the West. Omega’s gathering is one of the nation’s largest and most renowned.
Throughout the weekend—including an extraordinary all-night Saturday session—we explore a variety of chants and chanting styles, interspersed with meditation sessions, yoga asana sessions, and the sharing of stories.
This workshop begins Friday at 8:00 p.m. and ends Monday at noon. Save $50 on the Labor Day weekend Ecstatic Chant workshop when you attend Spring Ecstatic Chant; May 7-9. This offer cannot be combined with other discounts.
Faculty Krishna Das is one of the foremost devotional singers in the world. He has released numerous CDs, including Pilgrim Heart and his most recent, Heart Full of Soul.krishnadas.com
Carioca is a native of Brazil and has 13 CDs to his credit, with music ranging from traditional Brazilian to contemporary jazz to spirit songs. cariocafreitas.com
Deva Premal & Miten employ ancient mantras, rich harmonies, and sensual rhythms in their music, exploring the essence of love, devotion, and consciousness. They have released a series of acclaimed CDs, including The Essence and Songs for the Inner Lover. mitendevapremal.com
Jai Uttal is a pioneer in the world music community. A student of India’s Ali Akbar Khan and master teacher Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Uttal’s blend of Eastern and Western sound has put his music at the forefront of the world fusion movement. His many albums include Beggars and Saints, Shiva Station, the Grammy-nominated Mondo Rama and Thunder Love. jaiuttal.com
Shyamdas, a kirtan leader in Omega’s Ecstatic Chant weekends, has lived in India for nearly 40 years, where he explores the arts of puja and celebration. He is a prolific translator and writer on the subjects of devotion, sacred chant, divine service, puja, and Vedanta. A well-known devotional bhakti teacher, he leads workshops internationally. shyamdas.com
Bamboo flutist Manose collaborates with artists as diverse as Grammy-nominated Jai Uttal and bluegrass great Peter Rowan. He has released five solo CDs, including Bansuri. manosemusic.com
Vishal Vaid has trained in the song form ghazal, which means “to hold conversation with the divine,” and has worked with such acclaimed musicians as Bill Laswell and Karsh Kale.
Snatam Kaur learned to sing with her mother in the Sikh musical style. Her popular CDs include Prem, Shanti, Grace, Anand, and Liberation’s Door. snatamkaur.com
GuruGanesha Singh, known for his Sikh-inspired chant music and virtuoso guitar work, has released three solo CDs, Pure Ganesh, Joy Is Now, and Grateful Ganesh. guruganesha.com
Robert Gass, EdD, is a Harvard-trained psychologist, organizational consultant, and spiritual guide with more than 30 years of experience consulting to groups ranging from Greenpeace and MoveOn.org to Chase Bank and General Motors. He serves as executive coach to corporate, nonprofit, political, and spiritual leaders. SacredUnion.com
Wah! blends a seductive spiritual sound with a unique mix of pop, world music, reggae, and yogic tradition. Her many CDs include Love Holding Love and Savasana. wahmusic.com
Steve Gorn’s flute music for yoga and meditation has been featured in the Academy Award-winning film, Born Into Brothels. His many CDs include Rasika and Luminous Ragas. stevegorn.com
Radhanath Swami is a spiritual leader who has been practicing bhakti yoga for nearly 40 years. The author of The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami, Radhanath Swami runs a number of service programs from his headquarters at Radha Gopinath Ashram in Mumbai, India. radhanathswami.com
Omega is grateful to the additional artists who support this event, including Daniel Paul and Annette Knopp (yoga teacher).
Special Labor Day Session
This special Labor Day Ecstatic Chant is open to Ecstatic Chant participants as well as others. The session includes Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Carioca and Deve Premal & Miten, and takes place Monday from 2:00 p.m. to midnight.
Tuition for this one-day program is $60 for those who participated in the weekend Ecstatic Chant, and $85 for others (plus any housing/facility charges). Call 877-944-2002 for details.
Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Inc. is qualified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible, as allowed by the law.
