About

About the song circle

Join our new forest song circle for a restorative, one-hour sing supported by heart-opening Cacao. The circle is dedicated to lifting up songs and prayers for our families and communities.

You don't have to be a singer to join. Everyone is welcome to sing, pray, and share in the warmth of the circle. Over the course of the hour we will move through four beautiful songs that are easy to learn and join in with. You are welcome to just sit and listen if you are not interested in singing.

About Bernie

Bernie has walked a lifelong path of devotional song and ceremony. His musical journey began at age of seven singing in the Romsey Abbey Choir, before spending his 20s living and practicing as an ordained Buddhist monk. Throughout his 30s, Bernie led weekly meditation classes in London before discovering sweatlodges in his 40s.

Now 50, Bernie is currently completing his four-year Vision Quest commitment, and the call to create a song circle in the New Forest emerged directly from his nine-day retreat in Spain.

About Cacao

Cacao is chocolate. Far from an ordinary sweet treat, ceremonial cacao is prepared as a warm, rich drink with minimal processing, preserving its natural plant fats, earthy aroma, and a gentle stimulant called theobromine that softens the nervous system rather than jolting it.

Using Cacao ceremonially will not alter reality! but it can help to slow it down: as the warm cup rests in your hands, the rich bitterness invites you to pause, take a deep breath, and connect a little more tenderly with your own heart, your intentions, and the special feeling of singing together with others.

About the songs

Below is an example of the kinds of songs we sing. I try to pick songs that are easy to learn and join in with. A single verse that repeats.