Are you a KIRTAN LOVER?
(Maybe you’re new to it, so you’re eager to discover how much you love it!)
Have you been craving new, high vibe soul uplifting, heart opening music?
Are you ready to dance and sing yourself alive in harmony with soul sisters and brothers in a nature setting that’s a sweet slice of heaven?
Now’s your chance!

We LOVE KIRTAN for a whole lot of reasons … and we decided it was high time to bask in the awesomeness of the kirtan experience with some of our fave kirtan soul family, for a couple of days, right here at our sanctuary with beloveds just like YOU!

On Summer Solstice Weekend this June 19-21, our 3rd Annual Soul Family reUNION is happening at Loving Awareness Sanctuary in Waupaca, WI!

Find ALL of the INFO and TICKETS by clicking on this link!

Soul sisters and brothers from near and far are coming together for a Soul Family reUnion Kirtan weekend of Love Light BLISS!! And YOU are invited!!
Read on to see who’ll be co-creating the magic with us …

Sacred Mantra Music, high vibe conscious lyric songs (even cosmic intuitive sound healing!) will create a musical landscape that will be the perfect match for the beauty of the sanctuary. Throughout the weekend, we’ll sing, dance, connect, share and open our hearts … we’ll laugh, hug, relate and maybe even cry a little, ’cause sometimes that happens when our hearts and souls open & expand and feel so much Love & Joy.

Meet Our Kirtan Artists!

All of these artists will be sharing their gifts and passion for sacred chant music throughout the weekend. Throughout the weekend they will share a set of their own, as well as co-creating and supporting each other on stage. On Sunday, our 2nd annual Soul Fam LOVE Jam will return! All of the artists will share together and spontaneously collaborate, mantras may birth for the first time right then and there … and who knows, maybe YOU will share a chant, too!

Kirtan with KAITA

In 2001, at the bequest of her worried mother, a black and blue streaky-haired, punk teenager with an attitude walked into her first Kirtan event with Ragani on Milwaukee’s east-side. Her musical influences at the time included bands like Nine Inch Nails, Tool, and Marilyn Manson, to name a few. Her favorite after-school activity was sitting alone in her room blasting this music and writing bad poetry.

When Kaita experienced her first kirtan, she remembers a sense of familiarity in the mantras and a feeling that her whole life was about to change. She developed an interest in yoga, completed a teacher-training course, and became a body worker and Ayurvedic practitioner. She travels to India regularly, and loves to be immersed in the culture of devotion and personal growth.

Before attending kirtan, Kaita would never sing, not even in the shower. Now, she’s known for her distinctive vocals, has lead kirtan events around the U.S. and India and released her second album in 2020. Kaita’s passion for bringing together community inspired her to start a local devotional festival, Kirtan Fest Milwaukee, that ran successfully for 6 years, and is now leading retreats to India and is the founder and director of Meditate Milwaukee.

It is with deep gratitude and appreciation for the practice that Kaita shares her music and her heart in the form of sacred mantra.

There are no words to express how absolutely JOY filled we are that KAITA is BACK for this year’s Soul Family reUNION! She is Pure LOVE incarnate, her vocals stir the soul, bringing us alive in the most raw and real ways. Have you ever witnessed a heart so true, so lit up with devotion that it makes your own heart swell and ache with expansion? That’s what happens when Kaita shares kirtan! You want to BE with us for this magic!

Get Your Weekend Passes Now, Click Here!

Kirtan Path
… with Parvati (Pascale) and Doug LaPoint
(Minneapolis, MN)

Kirtan Path has been singing with the greater Twin Cities kirtan community since 2009. They participated in several local festivals over the years, such as the Twin Cities Kirtan Festival, the Twin Cities Yoga Festival, India in Iowa, and the Inner Peace Festival.

They were honored to sing at the Inaugural Bhakti Fest Midwest in 2012 where they were dubbed “Midwest wallah to watch” by the Bhakti Beat. They were re-invited to the 2013 and 2014 festivals. They released their debut CD, Samgayati – A Gathering in Song, in June 2013. In 2018, they played at the first annual Midwest Yoga and Kirtan fest in Madison, WI.

Kirtan Path currently consists of the wife/husband team Parvati (harmonium/vocals) and Doug (mrdanga).

Kirtan Path has regular events in Minneapolis/St. Paul and the surrounding area, including Western Wisconsin. See www.kirtanpath.com for upcoming kirtans and workshops.

We feel so honored that Parvati (Pascale) and Doug said YES! … again! … to being a part of this weekend. Well loved in this area, they are soul family for sure! We’ve had the sweet pleasure of hosting these two wonderful beings here at the sanctuary a few times when they’ve been in the area … we’ve shared satsang and kirtan together … and so much LOVE. So happy they’re cOMing hOMe for some more magic making!

cOMe chant with Kirtan Path! Get Your Passes Now!

Nataraja Kirtan
… with Ryan Hader
(Milwaukee, WI)

Ryan Hader believes that all healing must first begin by truly loving the self. Our capacity to give and receive love is enhanced by our ability to hold space for our own hearts.

Ryan has been leading Kirtans for 7 years, he has shared the stage, performed with ,and accompanied a multitude of Kirtan artists and Yoga Teachers including Krsna Das, Wade Imre Morissette, Desiree Rumbaugh, Girish, Donna DeLory, Dave Stringer, Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, and Jason Magness. Ryan has also been featured as a Musician and vocalist on the Yoga Journal Tour . Ryan Plays Harmonium, Flamenco Guitar, Tablas, and the 12 string Guitar. Having fronted a multitude of Rock Bands he has been playing and performing live for 2 Decades. He has a unique way of weaving the names of ancient times with an uplifting Rock style approach.

He teaches, plays music, guides yoga experiences and facilitates Reiki Healing. When experiencing this energy, one is immediately touched by this resplendent authenticity.

Ryan currently resides in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offering Yoga Workshops, Kirtan Music Concerts, Reiki Healings and Trainings. He facilitates Private and Group Yoga lessons both in Home and at Yoga Studios. Ryan travels nationally and internationally Teaching, Performing, and Inspiring.

He’s BACK!! And we couldn’t be more thrilled and eager!
There are no words to describe the ecstatic nature of kirtan with Ryan Hader! To have his essence & talent contributing to this year’s Soul Family reUnion raises the Love Light Magic quotient to limitlessness! If you’ve experienced kirtan with Ryan, you know exactly what we mean. If you haven’t, you’re in for an immense heart expanding treat!
Ryan will ROCK our worlds to Infinity and Beyond on Saturday night!

Immerse in Nataraj Kirtan! Get Your Passes Here…

Kirtan with Ryan Pearl
(Madison, WI)

Ryan Pearl believes that a mantra is a place of peace and tranquility. It is with you in your car on the way to work, while your changing your baby’s diaper, and in the conference room meeting. It is a silent prayer that is always with you. That is the blessing of the mantra.
After performing blues, rock, and folk concerts for the last 2 decades in bars, theaters, and festivals from LA to NYC, Ryan finally found a sound and feeling that exposed the deepest longings of his heart. To share sacred chants of Kirtan with devotees who are drunk on God’s love is a gift that keeps on giving. Ryan lives in Madison, WI and enjoys chanting and singing devotional hymns with his wife Hannah Rose and daughter Arianna Chandra. He has toured with critically acclaimed artists Willy Porter, Raining Jane (of the Jason Mraz band), and Ray White (of the Frank Zappa band).

Ryan Pearl is returning for his 3rd Soul Family reUNION with us, and Mark and I couldn’t be more grateful and honored!!
Ryan tells us he’s equally stoked. In his words, he says, “Soul Family reUnions are the highlight of my entire summer.” (That says a LOT, as Ryan plays music with some super amazing bands and tours far and wide!) We first heard Ryan’s music at Kirtan Fest Milwaukee. Kaita found a gem in Ryan! His lyrics are soulful, heartfelt and so Love Light driven. And I love that he’s a storyteller … to me, music is another way to share a story. Ryan shares the beauty of his journey and the unfolding of his heart through his music. He’s one bright LIGHT, a soul brother, for sure … and we’re beyond blessed to have his gifts as part of this weekend’s collaboration. We’re looking forward to sharing time and space with Ryan.

Kirtan with Ryan is pure devotional heart medicine! Join Us!

Supersonic Soul Circle Kirtan
… with Lucas, Scott, Michi and Prajwal
(Madison,WI)

Kirtan… With Spunk! Through collective harmony, rhythm, and energy, we become Supersonic… We move beyond sound, into a deeper possibility.
Native to Madison, Supersonic Soul Circle is a diverse group of seekers which loves going on musical journeys, from subtle whispers to high-vibration outpouring, with improvisation in between! If you put your whole self into it, (Y)our Kirtan will leave your soul feeling squeaky clean! We fully celebrate when the line between performer and audience is transcended, and want your full involvement. As practitioners of kirtan, we offer a flavor of the art fused from Western musical ingredients, such as pop, rock, jazz, funk, and reggae. We have been practicing Kirtan and Yoga-centric music for over five years and love expanding with anyone else who wants to join the journey! We invite you to join us as we celebrate life with some soul-moving Kirtan!

YES! They’re BACK!! To experience Supersonic Soul Circle is to completely free your mind…free yourSelf…free your spirit! We’ve been so blessed to dive deep with these dear souls … sharing in their Madison kirtan gatherings, witnessing their powerful willingness to allow JOY and LOVE to radiate in every way. The energy they generate is contagious in all the right ways! The best part is the immense LIGHT inside these beautiful beings. And that Light pours through every single moment of their kirtan gift.

Let’s go Supersonic! It’s a SOUL thing! … join us…

Brilliant Bliss Kirtan
… with Debra & Mark Gehrke of
Loving Awareness Sanctuary
(Waupaca, WI)

We experience kirtan as a wildly uplifting, heart expanding, participatory sound-music experience. We blend ancient mantras with conscious, positive lyrics (often received streaming through from Source) for a high vibe musical fusion that’s said to induce Brilliant Bliss. Come, let your Love Light shine! Brilliant Bliss Kirtan is like sunshine for your soul!

Debra’s Light powers her vocals as she leads each mantra song, carrying you along on a journey of expansion and bliss … her beloved husband (and percussionist) Mark holds the energy and keeps the rhythmic pulse alive and moving on his mridangam, djembe, cajón, and more.

Having lived on Kauai for four years, and after a lifelong love for India took them traveling there, Debra’s favorite kirtan instruments are her Middle Eastern harmonium and Hawaiian ukulele. At times Indian metalaphones, shakers, rattles, tambourine and more make their way into the mix. Debra loves that her sisters Denise & Deann, along with other Soul Family friends, often join to lead the response vocals and adds some sweet harmonies. The most important part of the band is…YOU! It’s YOUR enthusiastic joy and open heart that expand the experience to the most high vibe, elevated space. Thank you for participation in this most joyous co-creation!

The daily practice of kirtan and mantra yoga over the years has made a supreme difference in our lives. Within the mantras … within the breath, married into sound … we come home to our Love Light within, to the Infinite Source of All That Is … within us, through us, with us … as us. Riding the waves of the mantra … on the ocean of devotion … allowing, breathing, receiving, giving … this is our prayer, our blessing, and our gift to share. There is power in this coming together in breath, sound and mantra! As ONE, we are. We are ONE.

Eager & Blessed We Are, to Share this Experience with You!

Theodore Ceplina
(Madison, WI)

Theodore Ceplina is well versed in many instruments and many traditions. What began as an obsession with sitar blossomed into a fascination with music from around the globe. He also is an ardent craftsman of instruments, being most renowned for his construction of indigenous flutes of the Americas. As a humble devotee and student of Indian classical music for over two decades, Theodore laces his music with subtle nuances and emotion that define the genre. For him bhajans are merely an extension from that tradition and an all-inclusive way to show devotion to the devatas and be empowered by their grace.

Our opening ceremony on Solstice Evening (Fri, Jun 19) will once again be graced by Ted’s stellar talents. He’ll be sharing some Indian classical and his own kirtan with all of us…enchanting and mesmerizing, the beauty of his music will lift the magic carpet ride higher and higher! We’ve been blessed by Ted’s heart and gifts in so many ways since meeting him at Midwest Yoga Kirtan Fest in 2018. Ted delivered total magic while sitting in with us on our recent Brilliant Bliss Kirtan LIVE recording session in Madison at Ryan Pearl’s Storage Studio, and we’ve been blissed to host Kirtan on the Porch with Ted here at the Sanctuary.
We look forward to every serendipitous and wildly co-creative musical journey with Ted!
He’s amazing. We are so blessed that he’s joining us!

Celebrate the Solstice! All Weekend Long! Click Here!

Martina Falke
… native flute, wisdom healer, clairvoyant channel
(Manawa, WI)

Summer Solstice at the Sanctuary ~ Playing flute for the forest

Martina’s grandfather is of the Menominee Nation, her grandmother is from the Potawatomi Nation, both of the Bear Clan. Martina shares, “…the ancestors visit in my dream state and in waking visions and take me into ceremonies where I am gifted different items which then manifest in our material world. The native flute is one of those gifts. When I play, the ancestors come…”

We are blessed to have Martina as an integral part of our local Loving Awareness Family. Over the past seven years, we have grown and evolved along with Martina … all of us growing in and sharing our gifts from Great Spirit. Martina will be present with us on Solstice Evening to call in the Four Directions, to honor Great Spirit and to help us create a circle of Loving Awareness all throughout this very special Soul Family reUnion Solstice Kirtan Weekend. She will open herself to the ancient ones, the Nature Spirits, the All … and allow the energy to flow through her to her flute. This is a very sacred and precious gift to all of us! Thank you, Martina!

Nature Spirits, Sacred Land, Soul Family … Join Us!

Soul Family reUnion 2020!
June 19 – 21, 2020