An Awesome November Gathering

A big thanks to everybody who joined the Flute Circle, Fire Circle, and Mother Gaia Spiral gathering in November at my property peace Of Eden near Kyogle, it really was a special and sacred gathering. All had an awesome time together and there was a real sense of connection and family among the group. I'd like to extend an extra special thanks to the earthFIRE Australia Crew - Julieanne and Jimmi who came from far afield to share their passion of earthFIRE here at Peace Of Eden. Also a very special thank you to Christiana, Elise and Sarah for bringing their energy, medicine, essences and passion to create an awesome and transformational spiral with some amazing energy that is still building too I might add. A big thanks also to Kauri, Francesca, Lotar, Manella and Phill for their huge input. You all helped to make it what it was and I thank you from the deepest recesses of my heart, that goes to everyone who came and those who did not come but were with us in spirit. I personally feel a lot was learned and therefore healed with the whole experience in different ways obviously for us all but also as one Earth family,, and despite being a little worn out before it started it was all as it was meant to be. Manny Manny thanks for what we created, maybe we can organise something similar for November this year. Also another thank you to all those who expressed their gratitude and appreciation for my contribution to the gathering and organising and those also who donated financially to help us cover the costs.

Kauri makes nori rolls on the Friday night with the help of Francesca, Yumy!!!

The group moving down to towards the flute circle on the Saturday after the opening circle and introductions form Julianne and Jimmi of earthFIRE.

Me talking about the Flute has changed my life at the Flute Circle. Photo by Manuella.

Manulla and Phill, and lovely lady in the maroon top???, LOL Please forgive my memory.

Kauri playing a beautiful song

Derik and his friend playing

I have been asked by Julieanne to remind all those who were here on the weekend in November and anyone related to the flute circle at all who would like to know more about earthFire Australia to visit the website and subscribe to their Monthly Newsletter.

Many Blessings On Our Journeys, Matt

EarthFIRE and Flute Circle Sacred Gathering November 22-23 2008

In early September I met Julieanne of EarthFire Australia at a festival near Sydney when she came and bought one of my flutes. I was inspired by their vision of the Fire Circle, something that has been since the beginning of time but is quite rare these days. I decided to talk more with Julianne and invited her to share their vision and energy at a gathering up here in the Northern Rivers and Flute Circle friends. The property Peace Of Eden, a 35 acre bush retreat, 15 mins from kyogle, will be the venue for this gathering.

Here are a few pic's from Peace Of Eden. There is an abundance of wallabies and bird life. Bush and grassland and lovely hills to walk if you feel strong. Access to a creek also. Shaded areas for camping. The grassland will all be freshly cut for the weekend.

Mother with Joey in pouch.

Baby Joey only a week or two out of the pouch, the grow really fast.

Joey and mum.

Sun setting over western ridge of the Blackhorse valley, pic taken from site where circle will be.

Below is the flyer with all the information in it. Email me and I can send you a copy if you are interested or just copy it here into a word file. I Look forward to the weekend very much indeed. Blessings Matt.

Sacred Fire Circle Gathering
November 22-23

The Vision

Northern rivers flute circle are joining with earthFIRE Australia to create a special and unique fire circle gathering at Peace Of Eden, a lovely bush property west of Kyogle for the weekend of 22-23 November. Both are non profit community groups and share similar visions of creating gatherings for people to come into their power, co-create and share amazing energy and ritual together in sacred space. This will be a fantastic way to celebrate, what has been a very abundant year in terms of the growth and awakening of humanity, and to honor all our relations.

We come together to experience the primal beauty of a fire circle, to witness, drum dance, and serve as we are drawn. Here we can let go of the every day world and be ourselves, have fun, connect with eachother, go into ourselves and experience the moment.

We start with the intention to honour and respect the highest vision of community, the Earth Mother and ourselves. What happens after that is up to us. It is through the sharing of our gifts that the magic of the circle blossoms. The fire circle is co-created through the pathways of music (drums, didge, crystal bowls, gongs and chimes, flutes, temple bells, berimbau, mbiras, mouth harps, conch shells, shruti boxes, rattles and rain and clap sticks etc) voice (chant, toning, spoken word), dance and seva (serving each other with a compassionate heart).

We ask that you seek to arrive for the opening circle at 12 midday on Saturday. Bring lunch to share. During the afternoon you will have time to meet kindred spirits, commune with nature, walk the magical Mother Gaia Spiral, experience flute circle and medicine. Learn about the fire circle pathways. There will be time to rest and prepare your energy for the circle after we share a yummy organic dinner and chai. We will gather in sacred ceremony around the fire at midnight and co-create through the pathways of music, dance, voice and seva as we are drawn till dawn.

Everyone is welcome to camp from Friday afternoon onwards. We also welcome people who wish to offer their services by supporting setup and/or pack up. You are also invited to offer up your gifts…these might be body art, fire twirling, cooking or equipment (torches & oil)…whatever you are happy to share.

Honoring Sacred Space
In order to connect deeply and honour our highest vision, earthFIRE and Flute Circle gatherings are alcohol and drug free. Bring your intention to honour Mother Gaia and each other with love and respect.

Donations
Donations are welcomed to help cover the expenses of earthFIRE’s travel from and back to Sydney, dinner and chai, oil for torches, and preparing the property. (Around $30 would be appreciated).

Registration and Enquiries
Register for the gathering or enquire by emailing Matt northernnswflutecircle@gmail.com
02 6633 3314. Or Julieanne earthfireaustralia@yahoo.com.au 0408 060 266, we’ll send you a map and directions on how to find Peace of Eden from north south east or west. Also suggestions on what to bring.

You can read up on fire circles on the earthFIRE website www.earthfireaustralia.org or ring Julieanne 0408 060266 or email earthfireaustralia@yahoo.com.au
To find out more about the northern rivers flute circle http://northernnswflutecircle.blogspot.com

Please pass on or forward this flyer to your family, friends or whoever may be interested.

My Trip To America. Part 6 - A day in Taipei

Arriving in Taipei, Taiwan at 5.30 am with no sleep and 12 hours of jet lag after my flight from LA. I stumbled to the information counter running on pure adrenalin and quite dehydrated and malnourished from the minimal food and beverage served on the flight. The lady behind the desk was really helpful. They offered free tours of the city for the passengers who were in transit and as my flight would be leaving at 8.30 PM I had plenty of time for a day tour of the city but was keen to be my own guide and director. "Good Morning, Where can I buy professional Chinese Flutes and other musical instruments?" A quick search and she had a few places and wrote them on a piece of paper and then marked the subway stations on a map for me. Great start I thought. I then made my way around the airport to the bus terminal to board a bus to the city. About 40 Min's later I boarded a bus bound for a main subway station near the city. And off I went on my search for some nice Chinese flutes, particularly the Xiao which my friend Sahayak recently introduced me to. I board a train and make my way to a part of the city that I was told to go on the map by the lady. A long walk from the station I find the street and walk up and down the street twice and there is nothing but shops selling wedding dresses so after finding a nice fruit shop on a side street and buying huge mangoes and smearing them allover my bearded face in an attempt to sufficiently nourish myself, I decide to head back to the station but find myself curious about this interesting building on the opposite side of the street. I go to explore and find out what it is, I assume it's a temple. But it's actually an art gallery and museum.

Gates to Museum

From gates you then walk to the entrance, amazing building inside and out.

Inside I find a pottery and art exhibition, but with limited time I rush myself through feeling that it would be great to have more time to spare and do it more slowly. I snap a few pics of the pottery.

Pottery display.


Big and small Blow Fish.

Interesting cracked Pot

Nice piece, a house in the Chinese style.

By now its really warming into a humid day that feels like a sauna. So I head back off to the station where I somehow lose the details of where the other shops are located. Well time is ticking away now and its 11.30, frustration and disparity tempt me to feed them but I refuse and with a positive attitude and intuitive guidance of the Great Spirits powerful homing device, I decide to head a few stops back up the line to find a big famous and expensive department store I am told by a lady at the Museum sell musical instruments, maybe someone can steer me in the right direction there. I find myself there a half hour later. I ask at the information desk. No sorry Sir we don't sell flutes here. OK well where might I find professional quality Xiao please. The lady says please wait and very kindly calls someone on the phone and comes back to me with a positive response, not far away apparently and draws me a map. Great this is exhausting and realising my huge mistake of wearing Levi Jeans and a thick hemp T Shirt which is literally stuck to me now in the highly humid weather of Asia, I again set off on the search. I locate the rough area and walk into a camera shop for help with the directions, the man shakes his head with confusion and walks outside, I follow then he smiles and points to a doorway to a building. Upon approaching I see a sign with all these lovely instruments and flutes on it. Feeling relief as I am now in the right place and moments from looking at some real Xiao's I proceed up the lift and open a door into a bright Air conditioned room. I greet a Man a d a lady both with warm smiles and friendly personalities. It turns out I have found the best maker of Xiao, Shakuhachi, Chinese Gourd Flutes, and many other Chinese flutes and wind instruments Lin Ku-Jen. Lin is the Director of The Chin Yuan Chinese Orchestra.The lady I mentioned Lydia is a teacher at the shop which is also the location of Lin's workshop where he makes the flutes. Lydia I believe plays in the Orchestra also.

I am very impressed by the quality of his flutes and stay for some time talking and playing the flutes.They are very welcoming and honoured to have another flute maker present from another part of the world. I ask to have him finish a flute I chose that needs only fine tuning and signing and he happily does then plays a song with Lydia who is more than happy to demonstrate for the camera some of her playing. See the YouTube video here that I made of Lin and Lydia playing together. Coming soon.

visit the channel to see more flute videos.

Matt and Lin meet, Lin passionately demonstrates his love and skill for the end blown Xiao and and other Asian flutes he makes like the Sahkuhachi and many others.

Lin Playing the super long Xiao, way too big for me!

Quite impressed in the presence of another master.

Lydia, Matt and Lin

Lydia Plays the Pipa and shows the skills she has acquired in some thirty years of study with this instrument. More Info on the Pipa and all the Chinese Stringed instruments here.

Chinese Gourd flute.

Xiao and Transverse Chinese style flutes.

Chinese String Instruments.

Stock of Xiao and Shakuhachi made by Lin

If you are considering buying a Xiao or any other Chinese instruments Please contact me for Lin's contact details, I certainly recommend the high quality of his instruments and his expertise in this field. Visit Lin's Website here.

More Info on the various Chinese flutes.

Lin's son then takes me to a near by vegan reaturant called love where I buy beautifully prepared vegan food that strangely for me is made from tofu to resemble all different kinds of meat. Isn't that why I became vegan! So hungry I hardly care, I load up on protein before jumping in a taxi to Taiwan's tool shop district to buy woodworking tools to bring back to Australia. I make it back to the Airport just in time. What a great day. Looking forward to a rest on the plane, before I arrive in Australia at 7 am, wow no darkness since I left LA. Thanks China Airlines for the Taipei stop over experience. Thanks Lin and Lydia for your friendliness and sharing your knowledge and music with me.

My Trip To America Part 5 - Apprentice to Guillermo

I had, since embarking on my flute making journey some years ago, decided that it would be great to spend time with Native makers as well as non Native makers. Earlier this year I met a Native American Man Named Dallen, a friend of Guillermo's, and another man at one of my shows in Sydney, Daniel who both recommended Guillermo. I felt Great Spirit was trying to tell me something as this was seeming coincidental. Then when in the states attending the INAFA convention, I mentioned to my friend Anne, who connected me with Guillermo personally. I called him up and mentioned my experience as a flute maker and my vision, he then welcomed me to visit his workshop outside of Orange County in California and asked if I wanted to apprentice as he had a lot of work to get through, as shows he was doing fortnightly were depleting his stock. Well I jumped at the offer.

I arrived to be greeted by Nash who was one of his many previous apprentices and waited a few days for Guillermo and Chris and his two daughters to return from Washington where they had been doing a high level Art Show Spokane.

After helping them unload their veichle, we got right down to work refinishing most of his stock that had been handled. A light sand and a touch up. Then rested for the next day.
Of some blanks that were ready I started turning them on the lathe to Guillermos specs, then we continued by preparing some Hi D flutes as the had nearly sold out and Guillermo likes to gift them to children who want one But who's parents cant part with the cash.

The property was in a valley which was particularly beautiful besides having abundant bird life and a creek running behind the workshop but had recently been burnt in a bush fire.

Guillermo is a Tarnscan Indian and was born in Mexico but has lived in California since he was 1 year old. He is an amazing multi talented craftsman and artist. Guillermo's flute making journey began over 20 years ago as he re-connected with his native Tarnscan heritage and began making flutes of wood and clay. Guillermo was fortunate to apprentice under master flute maker and player, Xavier Quijas Yxayotl, who unlocked the secrets to these Pre-Hispanic, (Pre-Columbus) instruments for him. Xavier Guillermo, Xavier, and other artists lived together on a rural farm turned into an large art studio. He learned to carve there from another teacher who's name I forgotten.

Guillermo's style of flute making is very unique but has many influences form Mayan and Aztec art.

Guillermo has appeared in two PBS documentaries including his latest effort "Cross Roads", with Robert Tree Cody. He has also played his instruments on 2 NAMMY nominated CD's and his flutes have been heard on 15 other artist' releases. He now collaborates with Hiroki Okano of Japan, and Nigel Shaw of England, collectively known as Bamboo Cedar Oak, and have recorded two albums together. Songs Of Our Grandfathers and their first release self titled bamboo cedar Oak.

Nashteveewa, or Nash for short, is a previous apprentice that Guillermo taught to make all the old Pre Hispanic clay flutes that he used to make, before handing the craft on to Nash. Guillermo now focuses on mainly Northern and some Central American style wooden flutes and drums.

Before firing.
Amazing work Nash. thankyou for the connection and look forward to reconnecting soon.

The Kiln after firing. Nashes clay flutes and ocarinas are some of the highest quality and I highly recomend them. He is also a beautiful and gentle soul with amazing energy.

More info and pictures of Nashtevewa's different Flutes and ocarinas

Me turning on the lathe.

Some C and Low B Flutes I made with wood gifted to me by Guillermo.
Thank You for your gift. You know I have dreamed of using this wood. Canary Wood, Purple Heart, Paduk, Peruvian Walnut, Wenge, Juniper and Figured Maple.

A batch of drum beaters we made together, I did the sticks on the lathe and helped sew up the heads now Guillermo packs them with buffalo hair and then we wrap them together. Not many do it like this. guillermo's Drums and beaters are some of the best in the world.

Some Lod Drones I made at Guillermo's with gifted wood. Thanks again. I loved the great workshop too.

Flutes I made before I left Australia to sell in the States. Two Queensland Maple and a Australian Rosewood in the centre Inlaid with a mixture Malachite, Chrisicola, Azurite and Calcite. The lower one is inlaid with Sacred Pipestone.

A Dm flute I was working on to gift to a freind.

My worn out hands, the colour is from the oils in the timber and the redness from friction burns from sanding on the lathe. I shrared a few tricks with guillermo like, cork sanding blocks for plane sanding on the lathe ( strangely not available in the states so we made our own) and also showed him a new flute mount system for th head stock (drive) end of the lathe. I loved the fact that he was not so rigid, something he says he's learned over the years. So we were able to teach eachother. We are all teachers and students in life.

The workshop, love the carved condor trusses. Climate controlled workshop inside, dusty and dirty tools under the lean to outsude at end of building.

Guillermo working on the lathe.

Another family of flutes birthing. Getting ready to glue.

Me carving a Peruvian walnut flute.

Blanks I made for Guillermo while he was away.

Guillermo proudly showing two Hawk Little John flutes given to him by Hawk.

One of Guillermo's inlaid drones. A silver set stone is set into the timber.

Guillermo's lovely combination drone. A wonderful masterpiece and totally unique in terms of design. Scott August reviews this flute.

Loon Flutes and Drones.

Loon Flutes.

Horse flute at top left. And a few more of mine below.

Guillermo's Dragon Flute, this Dragon came to him in a dream and the next day he started making the flute. He exhibits this in his showroom, which was also my quarters up on a mezanine in the same room.

Me and Guillermo on my last Day. Thanks Guillermo for all you shared with me and for welcoming me with open arms, I loved spending time with you and your family in your worlds.
I am glad I was able to satisfy your high standards which I have been strongly influenced by. I wish you many more successes and happiness in life. Love you Man. Look forward to reconnecting soon.

If anyone wishes to know more about or wants to buy a Guillermo Martinez Flute then See this Link, or contact me via the email on this page and I'll put directly in contact with him.