History
"I discovered the Aveyron region and the town of Najac in the 90s as part of my activities as a singer and musician. I used to come here once or twice a year to sing and play at Le Dobro, a music café in Sourbins (a hamlet of Najac) which, at the time, programmed blues and rock concerts.
By this time, I had been committed to Buddhism for over 20 years, and my spiritual journey had already become an essential part of my life. It was then that my path crossed that of Barbara Mainguy and Lewis Mehl-Madronna. In 2012 I met Lewis in Paris where he gave a lecture to an audience of storytellers , of which I was one.
In 2014,Lewis invited me to take part in my first Sun Dance (Lakota ceremony) in the United States. He opened the door to Lakota culture and spirituality for me.
A few years earlier, I had bought a barn to renovate in Sourbins, not yet knowing why this place had appealed to me so much, as I was then living a rich artistic life in Paris, surrounded by many friends.
That first Sun Dance was a revelation for me. It marked the beginning of my true journey along the Red Road (Lakota spiritual path). It also the brought about my decision to settle in Sourbins and found a center for spirituality, ceremony, exchange, creativity and personal growth open to everyone.
"In 2015, the Spirits told me "Wake up the earth!" I didn't immediately understand that this meant "Make it a place of ceremony to give power back to the Earth!"
"I built my first sweat lodge in 2016, in the spirit of community with the idea of making it available to "Water Pourers". I then became a Water Pourer myself in 2018"
"The seminars started in 2016 with the arrival of Lewis & Barabara for the first "Stories and Healing" seminar. Since then, Anpo Wichahpi's programming has been enriched, always with the same desire to offer only quality speakers and content."
Danse du soleil
Before
After
Water pourers: people empowered to lead an Inipi (Sweat Lodge) ceremony after completing a minimum of 4 years of dance and vision quests, knowledge of Lakota prayer songs and permission from an elder water pourer.
The Sundance is a ceremony, a collective prayer ritual that occurs once a year in the summer. Sun Dancers who have requests to make to the Great Spirit, attract His attention by offering bodily and mental suffering throughout the ceremony. They do neither eat nor drink during the 4 days of the Dance. Generally speaking, people take part in the Dance to help a family member or close friend in need or suffering from illness.
