Calendar of Events

Preceded by Ashram Meditation Program beginning at 7:00 PM Saturday & 9:00 AM Sunday (by open donation).

Part 1: Healing the Wounds of History

A theatrical performance by Stephen Snow, originally titled “Healing the Poisoned Tree Inside of Me,” accompanied by music created and performed by Shelley Snow. Using slides, storytelling, song and dance, the actor explores how his own cultural training, growing up in a small New England town, shaped an early world view tainted with systemic racism and white supremacy. Through dramatic action and self-reflection, he aims to heal this “poisoned tree” that grew up inside of him. His performance intends to authentically answer the very difficult question of his own relation to these poisons.

Part 2: Finding Unity in Our Hearts *

A workshop meant for members of the previous night’s audience. Those who wish to participate will be given the opportunity to explore their responses to the theatre piece and self-reflect on their own experiences in regard to racism. This process will be guided jointly by Shelley Snow, an experienced psychotherapist and music therapist, and Stephen Snow, a seasoned drama therapist and group leader. Arts processes and meditation may be used as part of the program.

* Our perspective on Unity is based on the teachings of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati.

Stephen Snow is a drama therapist/actor. He co-founded the Drama Therapy Graduate Program at Concordia University (1997), where he taught for nearly three decades. As a theatre artist, he has acted in over 100 productions including Shakespeare, musical theatre, experimental and improvisational theatre. During the 1980s and early 1990s, he was a student of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati at Ananda Ashram, where he performed the role of Hanuman in the Ramayana dance drama. In 1993, he created and performed an original theatre piece called Seething Brains, based on images of madness in Shakespeare and his own life.

Shelley Snow is a musician, singer/songwriter and composer who has been creating music since the age of three. Her vocal album in an original language titled Shamaneya was hailed by Billboard magazine as a truly original creation. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Shelley played the flute for meditations led by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati at Ananda Ashram. She often performed for large Ashram events with electric zither player Laraaji, and with Sitarist Roop Verma for the Ramayana dance drama productions. She has performed internationally, created music for both feature and documentary film, and has been music director and composer for twelve major theatre productions.