EarthJams
Playing for the Planet
Imagine musicians, dancers, and dreamers around the world uniting in harmony—playing with the Earth, not just on it. This is EarthJams. Will you join the movement?
The Invitation
We invite you – lovers of nature, artists, changemakers and fellow humans –to step outside, create and reconnect with the planet in an improvised musical and/or movement performance on April 22nd Earth Day.
Join our collective wish for renewed intimacy with Nature, both inner and outer, through a homecoming reunion of healing our communities and the planet.
The Mission
We gather in local communities as many people as possible in natural places to offer a performance to our location. It is a collective celebration of our connection with nature and each other for the promotion of global and individual harmony.
The map below shows EarthJams locations around the world.
The Play
How It Works: Follow our simple EarthJam Ritual, gather your people, and create a spontaneous, nature-inspired performance. Then, share your reflections–your voice matters in this global movement.
Never done this before? No worries! We provide simple steps to help you create a meaningful experience, and anyone can do it.
We’re seeking supporters, collaborators and participants for EarthJams, and there are three ways to participate:
Player
Join a local group as a participant or perform a solo Ritual.
Leader
Organize an EarthJam where you live. Your role will be to (a) select a place in nature, (b) gather people who wish to participate, (c ) guide participants in the Ritual and (d) document and share your experience afterwards.
Team Collaborator
Join the EarthJams team to help plan, promote and spread the word. You can do so by volunteering your time or making a donation.
The Ritual
1. Players gather in a place in nature
Players gather in a place in nature to which they feel drawn. The location can be decided spontaneously or predetermined.
2. Settle into being Present to the place.
Spend time allowing each person to be as fully present as possible to being “Here.” (This invitation to return “Here” will return throughout the Ritual.)
3. Limber up, warm up, tune up, loosen up the voice, instrument, or body.
Encourage players to limber up, warm up, tune up, loosen up with one’s voice, instrument, or body. Warm up vocalizations or movements may be included to prepare for an embodied performance.
4. Begin a collective experiment of individual expression.
Transition this a collective “mucking about” where each participant does their thing independent of the others. This is a time to indulge whatever you’re moved to do without regard for the other players.
5. Return to Stillness (Being Here)
Return to quiet and let any movements come to stillness. Bring awareness to being “Here” again and allow it to expand.
6. Listen to the stirrings in the Nature around you.
7. Respond with your instrument to what arises in yourself.
From the sense of being “Here,” listen to your surroundings in this natural place. When something catches your attention and you feel compelled, follow it through your chosen form of expression. Talk, sing, walk, or sound your way into this place. Play out loud!
8. Notice how your performance relates to your fellow players.
9. Maintain the desire to attune your performance with this place.
As more players contribute to the performance, gently inquire: How does what I do contribute to the attunement to this place? Does it belong?
Dare to explore without regard for any preferred outcome. Treat this as a collective conversation oriented towards being “Here” with this Place.
As a group, cycle in and out between ensembling your respective voices, sounds or movements and returning to the quiet of remaining present with being “Here” in place.
10. Close by creating a memorial of gratitude for what was done.
Close with a spontaneous creation symbolizing your gratitude to this place and to all present for creating the experience. Groups may consider leaving a memorial using only materials naturally available and accessible in the area such as, pebbles, stones, twigs, leaves, etc. Participants can ritualize their recognition and gratitude around the memorial they build.