October Newsletter

Dear Friends,  


I hope this message finds you safe, well, and adaptive to the shifting of the seasons.

As much as it is important to make space for joy and appreciation, it seems almost impossible to pretend that all is well in the world. (I saw a meme the other day which asked whether anyone else is struggling with the genocide/work/life balance, which I thought summed it up.) As the violence continues to escalate and spread to Lebanon; the cries of the suffering and the roars of injustice seem louder than ever, demanding our attention, prayers and action. 

On this note, I was honoured to collaborate on a hip-hop track with artists Mc Solomon, Logic, Shaikespeare and Johnny Voltik called Palestine Calling which is out now on YouTube.  

 



Special thank you to Mozadieh at Delia Arts Foundation for editing (from Gaza) and Philius C for filming me on Glastonbury Tor!


We are asking those who would like to support the track and help a good cause in Gaza, to consider making a donation to Delia Arts Foundation. They have been helping to support musicians fleeing Gaza; and through music classes, community events and psychosocial activities, those artists have been helping the children of Gaza to cope, learn and develop skills amidst the ongoing trauma of the conflict. Thank you Delia Arts for the amazing work you are doing. Link:  www.delia-arts.org



I've slowed down a bit in October after a busy Summer, (and I have been busy with a house move, more on that soon!)

However, tomorrow I will be in Avalon for another session of Sufi Sound Journey in Glastonbury at St Margaret's Chapel. We will be tuning in to the golden chain of transmission, turning our hearts to the One and joining together to chant the divine names. We hope to see some of you there! Please find more details here





Last month we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi at the Miracles Room in Glastonbury, joined by my friend Joseph Kingsley on guitar. I have released a little live clip from that Kirtan session, with my new version of the mantra Om Gam Ganapataye. You can take a listen to the song, sing along and invoke the blessings of Ganesha to help remove all obstacles on our pathways. Available on all streaming platforms here



I was also really happy to join with my friend John Walklate aka. Yaḥyā at St Margaret's Chapel to sing songs from all the major religious traditions in then name of peace and unity last month. Thank you to everyone who joined us! We intend to organise more concerts and record some music for you in the coming months.



Other highlights from recent months include singing another solo concert at St Margaret's Chapel, sharing sacred sound and light with my dear friend Imogen Webber, accompanying Dhrupad singer Chintan Upadhyay from India at a beautiful private event in Somerset, leading a participatory session on mystic sound and music for a meditative retreat in Herefordshire, guiding a session of Sound & Silence at the lovely Avalon Community Centre, and hosting a workshop on the transformative of the voice at Praxis in London for a large group of women from organisations Kanlungan and SEEAC, (their much-needed work supports migrant and refugee workers from the Philippines who have experienced issues such as gender-based discrimination and exploitation). 

Here are a few highlights from these events:





Last but not least, I would like to invite you to experience Hathors Rose Choir at St Benedict's Church in Glastonbury on November 1st. (I hope to be part of the choir too pending my diary! TBC) Details on this flyer:



As we draw into Winter, I will be sharing more upcoming events with you soon, and hope to resume a programme of online sound healing events too as we begin to hibernate (and so that people can join from other lands!) Please do message me if you're interested, let me know your availability... When you would like to have sessions? Would you like online concerts? Would you like chants you can sing along to? Or simply sound journeys? Let me know! I would love to hear from you.

I have been writing so many new songs since my last release and feel a strong urge to record and share new recordings soon, so I am also hoping to align my focus a bit more in that direction in the coming months. 

Thank you as always for your love and support, and sending you all warm wishes and hugs!

With love,
 
Ruhiya

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