A truly wonderful event, the annual Essential Gathering Festival will open its gates to the community from May 3rd to the 4th, 2014.Set in the stunning surroundings of Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan, North Dublin, the Essential Gathering Festival, is a family event. Featuring, classes, demonstrations, top instructors, inspirational speakers, and holistic practicioners such as Liz Svennson, Sinéad Wyse, Robbie H. Andrews, and many more.
Our mission is to encourage conscious living and well-being for individuals, communities, and the planet. The entire family is warmly welcome, and honours our youngest festival-goers with special classes, creative activities, the circus, a dragon dance by the Tai Chi Academy and much more.
At the Therapy Center, inside the castle You can purchase the latesest in pain relief, a relaxing therapy, get nutritional advice, jewlery or environmentally conscious products. In the free classes and demonstrations, experience the union of yoga and essential oils,dance away stress, use the healing art of sound to relax and distress.
The little ones will have lots to do too. Face painting, ballons and child focused activities to help them grow attain their best potentials and have fun in the process. There will be free art classes given by the Ardgillian Resident Artists, and an art Exhibition in the lovely Castle Tea rooms. If music is on your agenda then experience the diverse music in the walled garden behind the Holistic Centre, including DJ’s reggae, soul and country.
We are celebrating the synergy of community collaboration through education, nutrition, natural therapies and the arts. From yoga, art classes, healing, meditation to diverse creative expressions of music and movement, this two day event will be something to remember.
The Festival also celebrates the two-year anniversary of the Ardgillan Holistic Centre. The Centre has become extremely popular with the local community with innumerable patrons having experienced the unique setting in the former gardener’s house. The Centre is a complementary and alternative therapy centre and is nestled in the corner of the internationally renowned Ardgillan Rose Garden. It offers over many different therapies, catering for both men and women, and all age groups from new-born up.
Your Ticket is the passport to the power of You, a place to Dream, Discover and Explore. Your ticket price includes all workshops, performances, music and childrens event. You will also receive a €2 voucher redeemable in the Castle Tea Room. At the Therapy Centre there is a charge for treatments as set by each therapist. Present your ticket at the Zyto-Bio-Survey stand and receive a FREE Bio-Survey Scan. Oh, by the way Children are free.
Visit our events page to purchase your tickets.
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Whats on in Dublin
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The Lion and Dragon Dance by Lung Ying Academy
Lung Ying Academy Presents
The Dragon Dance and the The Lion Dance at The Essential Gathering Festival
History of the Lion Dance
The story goes that once upon a time the Emperor had a dream in which there were many sorrows and evils plaguing the land. The Emperor prayed and asked the gods how he could prevent these evils from occurring. The gods told him that a lion would protect them and fight back the evils. The Chinese people had never see a lion before, but had heard stories that the lion was the king of all the other animals, so the monk combined all the lucky or magical animals he could think of and so made a lion.
Lion dances can be categorised into two styles, Chinese Northern and Southern. The Chinese Northern dance was used as entertainment for the Emperors imperial court and elsewhere. The northern lion is usually shaggy in appearance, with a golden head. The northern dance is acrobatic and may include dangerous stunts.
The Chinese Southern dance is more symbolic. It is usually performed as a ceremony to scare away evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune. The Chinese southern lion exhibits a wide variety of colour and has a distinctive head with large eyes, a mirror on the forehead, and a single horn at center of the head. Lion dance costumes are considered to be spiritually protective, as they are traditionally blessed before use.
History of the Dragon Dance
The Dragon Dance itself originated during the Han Dynasty and was started by the Chinese who had shown great belief and respect towards the dragon. It is believed to have begun as part of the farming and harvest culture, also with origins as a method of healing and preventing sickness. It was already a popular event during the Song Dynasty where it had become a folk activity and like the lion dance, was most often seen in festive celebrations.
As the dragon gives people a feeling of great respect, it is often called the Sacred Dragon. The emperors of ancient China considered themselves as the dragon. The Dragon is also the emblem of Imperial Authority. It symbolizes supernatural power, goodness, fertility, vigilance and dignity.
You can find out more about these ancient symbolic dance’s and the Lung Ying Academy at kungfu.ie
Join us at the festival this may bank holiday for this highly skilled performance. It is surely not to be missed!
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Participate at this years Essential Gathering Festival
The door is open at Ardgillan Castle for all guests and speakers who would like to join in and celebrate at this year’s Essential Gathering Festival. Would you like to be part of this years Essential Gathering Festival?
This is the very first essential gathering festival. With a massive growth potential we envision this to be a fantastic celebration. Be part of this festival from the ground up. With press, social media and PR advertising, as well as dedicated information and links, it is an invaluable resource to promote and grow your business.
There is also the opportunity to share your unique skills and knowledge with the public by giving a talk on a specialized subject, or demonstrating your skills. With a dedicated room such as an old servants kitchen, or a beautiful library filled with ancient knowledge and literature, you will be capturing an audience ready to listen and participate.We are looking for diverse guests to share their skills and knowledge, whether it be teaching a workshop, or giving an talk on your specialised subject. You will meet lots of like minded people who share your passion for a healthy mind, body and spirit. Join us for a weekend of fun, education, collaboration, and growth.
We will have application forms available on our website shortly, in the meantime you can contact Mary at mary@essentialgatheringfestival.com or get in touch through our contact form on our web page to express your interest. We will get back to you with all the relevant information.
We look forward to your participation.The Essential Gathering Team