The advanced course in shamanism takes place once a year, and now it will be in summer time! The Greenlandic shaman Angajoq Nattoralissuaq will also be teaching! We start our journey from the port of Koli, and we travel by boat through the sacred lake towards the traditional milieu, where we can meet nature spirits and each other.

Advanced Course in Shamanism

Thursday-Sunday 15.-18. August 2024

Tarina-aho, Kelvänsaari island, Koli, North Karelia, Finland

The continuation of shamanism experientially * Lectures on shamanism * The shaman as a healer * The power fields of the shaman's altar * Spells * Smoke sauna *

Guided by Angajoq Nattoralissuaq and Helena Karhu

Welcome to the journey towards the fairytale-like Tarina-aho in Kelvänsaari, a beautiful island in the middle of the sacred lake Pielinen. The old log buildings with their traditional milieu and nature's sacred places support our northern animistic-shamanistic path.

We are very happy to have Greenlandic shaman Angajoq Nattoralissauq teaching at the advanced course. He will teach about shamanic healing during the course! Come and be part of his first visit to North Karelia and Koli!

Here we gather in the deep peace of nature to experientially explore more about the shamanic healing space, the shaman's tools, the enchantment of nature and the joy of our common circle! One of the central places of our course is a large smoke sauna.

During the advanced course of shamanism, which lasts from Thursday to Sunday, we open our presence to the nature of Pielinen Karelia, to our own heart and its power with respect for the nature spirits of the place. We ask permission from the spirits to learn more about nature in these landscapes and the connection of everything here.

In the advanced course in shamanism, we continue to work not only outdoors, but also inside the beautiful wooden building in the shamanistic circle. During the course, we work on the theme "shaman as a healer". We will also learn more about working with a shamanic altar, adding new altar items and getting to know their functions. We get to know the power fields of the shaman's altar.

We will make shamanistic crafts together during one of the days.

We have the opportunity to learn from nature spirits, sense nature's magic, get in touch with nature's ancient soul connections, and calm down at the center of our own life path. It's good to come here to calm down, rest and build community well-being. Our time together enables both summer nature experiences and our mystical inner journeys to the basic structures of humanity.

The dimensions of shamanistic activity touch on playfulness and childlike curiosity and experimentation.

The purpose of the course is above all to strengthen your own life path. The purpose of all shamanic activity is simply to be who we are. During the weekend, let nature tell you more about who you are and where you are going.

THE COURSE TEACHERS:

Helena Karhu is a native of Joensuu, North Karelian practitioner of shamanism, mother of twins, cultural producer and researcher. Karhu is writing a dissertation research on Finnish shamanism at the Joensuu campus of the University of Eastern Finland. In 2018, Helena returned to Joensuu after more than 13 years in Copenhagen, and she has also lived in Greenland and Alaska. The spirit of the Nordic ancestors and nature invites him to tell more about the nature of the North, the original shamanistic tradition, and to combine archaic methods and the possibilities of modern culture. Helena works at Karhun Talo (www.karhuntalo.com), which she founded, through whose services we learn more about folklore and shamanism to help self-knowledge and community education. Helena is also the chairwoman of Pielinen Tietäjäkeskus ry (www.tietajakeskus.org), a local cultural association promoting animistic-shamanic traditions.

Angajoq Nattoralissuaq

Angajoq is a Greenlandic shaman, born in Greenland and currently living in Denmark. He is also a trained psychotherapist. Angajoq's family members were and are shamans, such as his late grandmother and great-uncle Angaangaq. For many years, Angajoq has organized Mother's Day gatherings in front of the Danish Parliament House to communicate the sustainable and harmonious relationship between people and the country as a whole. He has held shamanistic workshops and gives private shamanic healing sessions in Denmark and abroad, but this is his second time visiting Finland - the first time in North Karelia and Koli National Park!

With Angajoq, it is also possible to have private sessions during the afternoon breaks!

Course location:

Tarina-aho, Kelvänsaari, Koli. Tarina-Aho is a unique accommodation destination in Pielinen, in the middle of the Koli national landscape in Kelvänsaari. Our yard circle consists of three traditional log buildings, which were originally made by hand in North Karelia and later moved to Kelvänsaari. For the young entrepreneur-couple of Tarina-aho "Tarina-Aho is a place that combines nature, Pieline, peace of mind, the simplicity of things and the North Karelian tradition. Arriving at Tarina-Aho is like a trip back in time - busy everyday life and worries leave the mainland when you get on the boat." More information: https://www.tarinaaho.com/

How to get there?

The closest railway station and airport is Joensuu. Trains: www.vr.fi and flights: www.finnair.com. It takes 4 hrs 40 min by train from Helsinki to Joensuu, and about 50-60 min by flying. We recommend to use the most environmental friendly options, and to compensate the Co2.

From Joensuu, we coordinate share rides and car pools to the course location, when necessary.

"No pictures can properly describe the uniqueness and charm of Tarina-aho. The place has to be experienced. The buildings that exude cultural history, the two-part smoke sauna, the quiet location, the magical places all make an impression." Helena

Accommodation:

We arrange accommodation for your visit in three different buildings located in the atmospheric courtyard of Tarina-Aho. Accommodation takes place with your own bed linen, although if necessary we can rent them for €10/set (incl. bed sheet, pillow case, duvet cover and towel). The space rental includes the use of the smoke sauna both evenings for an unlimited time - the saunas only get better with time. The smoke sauna is an excellent way to relax after long days at the course. Our large smoke sauna is located on the beach of Pielinen and there is a covered cooling area in front of the sauna.

Boat transport:

We go to the island off Koli from the port of Koli. We arrange boat transportation for your group to suit your schedule. Our route passes in front of the peaks of Koli, following the rugged island line of the national park, while enjoying the breathtaking scenery of Pielinen. The boat can accommodate 10 people at the same time.

Is the course suitable for me?:

The course is suitable for everyone who has taken the basic shamanism course , where a shaman's altar has been created. If you have taken the basics of shamanism with another teacher or practiced for a long time on your own and feel that you have the basics of shamanistic work, you can also participate in the course if your intuition guides you in this direction.

The course weekend is alcohol- and substance-free.

Price and registration:

Register for the course by email to info@karhuntalo.com

The price of the course is 290 EUR for those who have pre-registered by the end of May 2024, including VAT 24%, course tuition, course materials and content.

For those registered after May, the course is 350 EUR.

In addition to this, there is accommodation with full board (incl. all meals from Thursday dinner to Sunday brunch) in shared rooms for 2-5 people, including a smoke sauna in the evenings and boat trips from Koli harbor to Kelvänsaari and back, total 274 EUR (incl. VAT) /3 days / per person).

Registrations via e-mail to info@karhuntalo.com

The course fee does not include trips from home to Koli Port and back and travel insurance. Course participants are obliged to familiarize themselves with disclaimer and cancellation conditions.

Preliminary schedule of the course:

Thursday:

17.00- Arrival of participants

17.00- Dinner

Settling in the rooms and resting

18.30-20.00 Welcome spells and course start opening remarks and drumming by Angajoq

20:00 Sauna at the beach sauna

Friday:

08.00 Breakfast

09:00 Course program

Lecture: Shamanic healing

Break

10.30 Shamanistic craft

12:00 Lunch break

Break (possibility of e.g. swimming, walking on the island, sup-boarding or canoeing)

Possibility of a private session from Angajoq

15:00-18:00 Course program: Teaching: shaman's altar and three force fields

Preparing for the evening's drum trip

18.00 Dinner

Drum Journey (Soul Boat)

Sauna at the beach sauna

Saturday:

08.00 Breakfast

09:00 If necessary, we continue making shamanistic crafts.

Alternatively, a "Shamanic Medicine Walk" exercise in the nature of the island.

Lunch

Rest and relaxation (possibility of e.g. swimming, walking on the island, sup-boarding or canoeing)

Possibility of a private session from Angajoq

16.00 We continue with the theme "Shaman as healer", teacher Angajoq

18.00 Dinner

19.00 Smoke sauna

Voluntarily, a drum circle by the fire after the smoke sauna

Sunday:

08.00 Breakfast

09:00 Course program: Shamanistic healing

12:00 Lunch break

13.00-14.00 Course program: Final round

14.00 Return transport to the port of Koli