EQUINOX GATHERING: Singing & Hape Circle Ft Yawanawa & Tribalaya

Equinox Gathering: Singing & Hapé Circle
📍 Therapy Fitness Centre, Leamington Spa
📅 Thursday, 20th March 2025 | 7:00 - 10:30 PM

As the seasons shift and daylight returns, the Spring Equinox marks a time of renewal, balance, and transformation. To honour this moment of change, we are hosting a truly special gathering. One that brings together ancient traditions, music, and community.

For the first time, members of the Yawanawá tribe from the Amazon in Brazil will visit Royal Leamington Spa to share their sacred songs, stories, and medicines. The Yawanawá people have preserved their rich culture for generations, using music and ceremony to connect with nature, each other, and the spirit of renewal.

This gathering will be an immersive experience of singing, dancing, and offerings. Guided by the powerful voices of the Yawanawá alongside the debut of Tribalaya, a trio inspired by the tradition of medicine songs & Kirtan. There will also be a ceremonial sharing of cacao and an optional offering of hapé, creating a space for grounding, connection, and reflection.

We are honoured to welcome Lua and Jaini, young leaders of the Yawanawá tribe, who are preserving their ancestral traditions and wisdom.

To share their culture, they undertake a 4-5 day journey of boats, long drives, and three flights—a huge sacrifice, leaving their families behind while also supporting their village through their travels.

This is the first time the Yawanawá have come to Leamington Spa, offering a rare chance to experience their sacred songs, stories, and traditions firsthand.

The Equinox Gathering will also mark the official debut of Tribalaya, a trio united by a love for medicine music and deep connection.

🎤 Tanya – A voice of soul, clarity, and power, capable of both uplifting and awe-inspiring.

🌀 Luke – The anchor of the group, holding space and guiding the energy with presence and intention.

🎸 Luke – A classical guitarist of rare talent, whose playing transcends traditional composition, adding depth and texture to every note.

Together, they weave a rich and moving soundscape, making this debut a moment not to be missed.

Both hapé and ceremonial cacao have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures as tools for connection, grounding, and inner reflection. While each has its own unique tradition and purpose, they both offer a way to slow down, be present, and engage more deeply with ourselves and the world around us.

Hapé (pronounced ha-peh) is a finely ground, sacred tobacco snuff prepared by indigenous tribes of the Amazon. It is traditionally used in ceremony to bring clarity, focus, and grounding. When applied through the nose using a special pipe, hapé clears mental fog, helps quiet the mind, and connects us to the moment. It is often used before prayer, meditation, or song to create a state of deep presence.

Ceremonial cacao is a pure, minimally processed form of cacao (the bean from which chocolate is made) that has been used in indigenous traditions of Central and South America for thousands of years. Unlike commercial chocolate, ceremonial cacao is rich in natural compounds that enhance mood and focus. It is often enjoyed as a warm, nourishing drink in gatherings, where it serves as a heart-opening medicine that brings people together in a shared experience of music, connection, and reflection.

Both cacao and hapé will be shared as part of the Equinox Gathering, offering a moment to pause, connect, and honour the changing of the seasons in a meaningful way.

Whether you come for the music, the ceremony, or simply to mark the turning of the season in a meaningful way, this will be a night to remember. Join us in welcoming the Yawanawá to Leamington Spa and celebrating the spirit of renewal together.

🎟 Limited spaces available—reserve your spot now!

🌿 Live Music & Singing Circle – Featuring the Yawanawá tribe from the Amazon and the debut of Tribalaya, a powerful trio inspired by medicine music.

🔥 Sacred Hapé Offering– A traditional Amazonian practice for clarity, grounding, and deep presence.

🍫 Ceremonial Cacao – A heart-opening drink to enhance connection, focus, and intention.

🌀 Singing & Dancing – Experience traditional and contemporary sacred music in an immersive, communal space.

✨ A Rare & Special Gathering – The Yawanawá tribe’s first time in Leamington Spa, sharing their ancient songs and wisdom.

This is a unique opportunity to celebrate the Equinox, embrace renewal, and connect with a like-minded community.