Beading is an ancient art that spans across most traditional cultures around the world including the Native American traditions of South, Central and North America. It has also been found in traditional cultures of Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
It is an incredible meditation and a great way to connect with the divine patterns that are within all things.
In the first class we will learn the basics of brick stitch which is a free-hand beading technique. We will go over many aspects of creating a beadwork piece from first the intention that comes even before a creation is made, how to choose colors, how to begin and finish a piece, how to create different shapes with a simple stitch, how to make a necklace, a bracelet, earrings, and how to work with creating decorative or ceremonial pieces. Beads, thread and needles will be supplied for the class in basic colors. If you would like to bring your own beads you are welcome to. It is suggested to begin working with size 11 beads or larger if you are just beginning. This way you can really see the pattern and how the beads are working together. You can either use regular seed beads or you can use Miyuki delica beads.
TEACHER BIO:
BROOKE "FLYING BEAR" GILLESPIE
Brooke is a life-long student of the Earth school and has been traversing the many paths of the sacred since she was a child. Her work is dedicated to help to weave this transcendental rainbow path as we encounter the dawning of the new age. She has been traveling the world with her teacher and her community, studying and learning with indigenous peoples and elders, sacred cultures, timeless and ancient traditions, gathering knowledge, teachings and connecting with an inter-tribal global community whose aims are transcendental peace for all people, all beings, on all planes.
Brooke is a founding member of the Golden Drum, a cultural community center for consciousness and indigenous wisdom in Brooklyn, NY, an active member and educator at the Sacred Arts Research Foundation, and a member of the Universal Initiatic College, learning the traditional Native American healing ways, esoteric knowledge and sacred wisdom traditions from around the world.
She is a disciple of Taino Elder Maestro Manuel Rufino, who is the main visionary and founder of the Golden Drum, director of the Movement for the American Indian Solar Culture and founder of the Sacred Arts Research Foundation as well as other communities around the world.
Brooke is a healer and ceremonial leader, a shamanic Reiki master, Pleiadian lightwork energy healer, sound healer, musician and artist. She is the founder of New Sun Living, a now-age collective dedicated to health and wellness for people and their spaces in New York City.
Brooke is a founding member of Dream Seed, a shamanic sound journey healing collective and has been touring the globe, performing ceremonial concerts and offering deep healing retreats. Her solo musical project is called Whale People. One of her mentors in sacred sound is Tito La Rosa, an elder from Peru who is a master in regards to sound, vibration, music and healing.
Brooke is part of Made In Prayer, a collective that empowers communities by hosting educational programs that guide you through prayerful art making and creation.
Brooke has been on her path of awakening and sacred creation and ceremonial artistry for over 20 years; and has been given the permission and blessing by the elders of the Taino, Huichol, Mexica and Mayan traditions to share this work.