PLERO ~ PHONIC Immersion into Voice(ing) & Eros (life-force)

a vocal somatic immersion on a lush land diving into art and ritual, psyche and eros

Created and Facilitated in collaboration by Faye Shapiro and Marisa Micheslon, July 23rd - 26th, Ancram New York.

Weaving together Marisa’s Vocal De-armoring and Faye’s Plexus work, PLERO~PHONIC IMMERSION is a vocal group journey of unthreading and threading strands of identities; of reconfiguring our access to our experience, to ourselves and to others through vocal vibration culminating in a vocal-mycelial-creative journey in nature.

Our time together will be organized around these principles: 

1. Authenticity -  “know thyself” - allowing truth to inform and lead beyond the duality of form.

2. Aliveness - with the all encompassing and innocent prevalence of eros as life force - not just as sexuality but as the current of life itself.

3. Accuracy - inviting shamanic listening and the artistic approach to the quantum - so as to spectralize our field of perception into a lucid creative (non) decision practice.

4. Awakening - Awakening happens in layers, timed and mysterious. We do not awaken at once and forever - but are part of the big ebb and flow of the dreaming ocean of consciousness.

This IMMERSION is for you if :

• You sing! or

  You don’t sing but you are called to sing

  You want to slow down

  and let your voice sound

  You want to listen, inward and outwards…deeply.

  You want to spend time in Nature this summer.

  You make art, or see from an unconventional perspective

  You want to be an artist among other artists

  (But you also don’t need to identify as “an artist”)

• You’ve been struggling with the current global moment and want a space to feel - honestly and truthfully.

• You would find it nourishing and fun to discuss dreams (the kind we have at night and those that happen in this moment as you read this.)

• You have worked with Faye or Marisa privately and want to join a group space.

• You believe in the potential power of connecting our voices together, in consonance but also in dissonance too, allowing real emotions and energies to be felt and heard not just by you, but by the others in the room.

who are we?

Marisa Michelson has been obsessed with all the magic that is the singing, voice-giving, expressive human for over two decades, exploring the uniqueness of solo, ensemble and multiply interweaving voices as a composer, a performer and a sought after somatic singing teacher.

After almost two decades of devotion to the Libero Canto School of Singing (a primary lineage of hers), she created the School of Vocal De-Armoring, a somatic and holistic approach to working with singing and voice-giving in a way that connects us more intimately with the layered dimensions of Self. read more.

Faye Shapiro is a master vocalist, independet therapist and introverted activist.

Born in Jerusalem, and trained as a classical singer, faye later journeyed through diverse spiritual and ceremonial inspirations, finding her true voice and reclaiming the integrity of art, science and devotion. The founder of Plexus voice - she facilitates individual and relational awakening through rituals, retreats and 1-1 sessions - articulating an individuated approach to the sacred. Experienced both as a psychedelic guide and an aliveness coach, Faye is committed to support a culture of consent, love and co-liberation; read more.

Faye and Marisa met in 2008, in NY.

Both being composers that are devoted to the voice, free - thinkers, and wild hearts - we quickly started collaborating on our first project “voice becoming”, developed in residencies in the US and europe. here you can see a snippet of us singing together… so young…

As we both matured in our creative practices, we kept a channel of conversation open between us - often discussing political and social matters, supporting each other in our journey of intellectual independence, moral navigation and humane clarity.

We also happen to both be jewish and resonating with the israeli identity. It has been a striving for each of us independently and in out conversation to sculpt a congruent way of standing up to the atrocities and the complexities in the current global conflict. We understand that whatever is unfolding in the middle east - is actually happening everywhere on the planet.

The upcoming retreat invites you to join our kinship - to recognize voice work as a path of liberation, and expanded singing as a way to create life.

We will co-weave our distinct practices, give space for processing and grief around the questions of our times and share abundantly.

How do we understand ourselves in relation to the collective? 

FAQs:

What time do we arrive and leave? 

Please arrive between 3pm EST and 6pm EST on Wednesday July 23rd - we'll gather together that evening. Saturday the 26th will be a ritualistic journey day on the land. And the immersion completes around 6pm on the 26th. 

Where will we stay? 

If you aren’t commuting locally, reach out to us to help you with accommodations and put you in touch with other participants to share housing. Some options are: 

• Camp on Marisa's land for a suggested donation of $30 - $50 a night (given directly to caring for the land)

• Rent this airbnb - can sleep 6 

• Rent a one bedroom apartment - with comfy couch in the living room and extra sleeping shed - directly across the street from Marisa’s home. Approx $160/night total. 

• Rent from Mettabee farm (20 minute drive away) 

Is food included? 

Yes! Meals are included - the main meal each day will be lovingly prepared for us from local ingredients. Breakfasts will include ingredients that you’ll put together yourself. Lunches will land somewhere in between. 

What else is included?

Joining the mycelium journey gives you also a 60 minute private session with faye as preparation for the group work. 

What will the final full-day mycelial artistic journey be like? 

A field, a playground, spacious and curious - time to explore connection with nature, with our bodies and with each other - with our voice and our dreams in a less structured and more ritualistic manner, after 3 days of immersion we get to live a(t least one) day in the glory of fullness, together.

May I join for the final full-day mycelial artistic journey only? 

Yes! This final day journey includes a 1:1 session with Faye. 

How many people will be attending? 

We imagine a maximum of 12 people for the full immersion, with the potential for a few more joining in the final day.

The Investment

Amount includes all meals + a private 1:1 session with Faye in preparation for the final ceremony day, but not accommodations:
For the full immersion: $1200
For the mycelial journey day only: $650
(1 - 3 discounted spots available - reach out for details on how to apply )

Testimonials

“This week felt like an absolute reset for my body, soul, and nervous system.

To get to spend a few days in nature singing and being surrounded by like-minded, creative individuals was such a gift, and I have been feeling so much gratitude to have had the opportunity to come.”

Olivia

“It was really before and after the session:

we created this perspective towards the sun - shining our shadows through, sharing our pain, shedding our armors together…this is the path.

For me, this experience it makes life worth living.

Claudia Dulitchi, actress and singer, Tel Aviv/ Milan

The Journey with Faye was an incredible revelation about what working with the voice in a non-outcome-focused way and turning towards unknown territory can reveal.

Scary at times, emotional and liberating. Doing this in a group context is very beneficial, as we help each other uncover material in a playful and creative/receptive way.

Faye is a wonderful and very experienced facilitator, knowing how to hold a container and guide with attunement, deep intuition and vulnerability.

My voice feels freer - a feeling of liberation and grounding.

Luise Gabel, voice actress, Berlin

Vo-De week taught me a new way of being and existing. Held by the land that Marisa stewards and surrounded by other humans with deep, sincere curiosity to explore their voices, I found myself melting into the void. The void has been calling me, but I was always either too busy or too stressed to take the leap.

Inside this void, I'm a different version of myself. I take my time. I let myself feel the truth of sensations. I am sometimes small, other times larger than I've ever felt. I am whoever I am in the moment: a shapeshifter who's in love with the world.

There was something magical about the seemingly mundane acts of singing with and in front of others, sharing meals, laughing, carpooling, and being tired together under the July sun. I noticed something unusual about this group – people didn't seem to be scared of one another. It was easy to be me around everyone. It was easy to experiment with other ways of being around everyone.

I have always been craving this experience.

Jonathan Koe, pianist, podcaster, astrologer