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Discovering
Origins/Buliding Traditions
Seasonal Ritual Events
produced by Kari Tauring and Friends (1999 - 2006)
Why Discovering
Origins?
I was obsessed with the origins of god, the universe and everything from a very young age. As a student at Wayzata High School, I made a project of re-aligning my world view from a Roman 12 month to an Earth-Based 13 moon calendar. "How changing time calculation changes the world view and perception of time" was the essay.
Guided by professors and inspired by colleagues at Luther College (Decorah, Iowa in 1984 - 87), I produced papers, songs, and artwork on the theme of "cultural layering." The story of human migration sometimes went smoothly and sometimes not. It got me thinking of my own heritage in a new way. I am the sum-total of the blood and traditions of my ancestors.
Self
as product of generations of traditional and cultural layering awoke in
me a need to seek
the truth and meaning of my own traditions, values, and artistic expression.
Maintaining a 13 moon yearly caledar throughout these years caused deep
evaluation of personal bio-rhythms and the calendars of our culture, the
school calender, the tax calender, the church calender, and the astrological
calender.
I moved to St. Paul, MN to attend the University of St. Thomas (BA and MA). Here I immersed in traditional and folk spiritual and philosophical studies while working as a Singer/Songwriter with the group Rose Absolute. Personal layers and universal layers gained equilibrium as my artistic expression took greater risks. In 1993 I toured Cornwall, England on a spiritual quest to meet with my Celtic ancestors of my paternal grandmother. I created music and videos for the next two years while struggling with the balance of an Earth based world view and a Roman based culture. I took great comfort in large community of Earth-based Spiritual traditions in the Twin Cities area.
Building Traditons
Upon Our Origins:
I became
a mother in 1995. Suddenly I must create rituals and traditions not just
for myself and my chosen community. What will I consider Absolute Truth
for this child? Choosing to give a belief system to a baby is pretty intense.
Brother came in 1997. Now I have two children to impart my lineage to.
In 1999 I declared Winter Solstice an Absolute Truth with the release of "A Yuletide Celebration," a CD of original songs for the season. Drawing on the community I produced the first Discovering Origins/Building Traditions ritual event by the same title. The show was an amazing success, addressing the global rituals of the season, the physical affects of the dark time in Minnesota, and the need for participatory ritual for an inter-faith, intergenerational audience.
Kari Tauring and Friends continued to produce seasonal ritual shows through Yule 2006.