(Previousy known as Blue People)
ABOUT
RIVERS IN THE SKIN: A shamanic, initiatory, trance experience as harrowing as it is beautiful. Guided by an indigenous Catuvellauni/Brigantian elder and attending traditional musicians.
Art: Yannick Germain, Paris
CONCEPT
We live in an era of wanting to know ourselves. Many have sought the spirituality of other cultures, ashamed that we, as a pale people, do not have a heritage of rich mysticism within which to recognise ourselves, unable, as a pale people to share our stories in mutual respect. Ashamed for what our forebears have inflicted on every indigenous culture they have invaded. Unable to claim family except in thin parental groups with christianised histories. We were here before that. Kindred of the emerald countries and the great lakes and moors, of the highlands and boglands and white chalk cliffs. Hunter gatherers and keepers of lore. Makers of ale and uiske beatha. Wearers of gold and forgers of iron. The people of the horse. The hound. The hawk. RIVERS IN THE SKIN is a shamanic, trance experience. Based on Ly de Angeles’ book PRITENI | THE DECIMATION OF THE CELTIC BRITONS, this experience shatters preconceived ideas of spiritual and kinship isolation. Many other works, even scholarly, have attempted to present an indigenous, mistitled ‘pagan’ Britain. Most have failed for one simple reason. The Celtic clans are discussed in the past tense, mistakenly assuring the public that they have long since died out. Modern discussion does not clearly understand, tending to merge their references with an anthropomorphic and religious twist introduced by a contrived theist ideology. The invasions, slaughter, and subsequent colonisation of indigenous people, worldwide, have seen the attempted eradication of the lore, law, customs, language, culture and spirituality of every one of us. In many instances government and church sanctioned enforced assimilation almost killing our knowledge of earth.
Traveler Stones, Inish Mon (modern day Anglesey)
RIVERS IN THE SKIN is specifically Priteni, the Gael, Albanach and European Celts that hopefully can encouraged as a broader conversation. The experience delivers the soul of an ancient and magical people, our valour and humour, the battles we fought to maintain a way of life, and that still lives. To many this will be the first time they have experienced any of this; about our people, let alone celebrate our kinship. You will be drawn into the proud and harrowing story of your own bones; your probable ancestors. To people of other ethnicities this is de Angeles’ way of offering healing; mutual recognition. And you are invited and welcomed to participate. The sharing of deep story is a way of destroying the barbed wire that has separated us with what is called Shifting Baseline Syndrome, a deep and sad forgetting.
Bigotry and racism are erased when stories are shared and respect humbles us.
Image: Rivers in the Skin, Aotearoa, just before covid lockdowns, 2018
Other sources:
2018: Piyura Kitina, Tasmania
April 2016: When Truth is a Powerful Ly