June 13 - November 28, 2023

Diving into the nature of Nature

Nature holds the secrets of life. It is fierce, unapologetic, loving, and direct. It is stormy and still, expansive and, at times, scary. For thousands of years, the spirits of nature have been slowly guiding humanity to grow and evolve. But it seems that we have severed our connection, and these innate secrets have been lost. “Nature does not reveal its secrets; it only responds to a series of questioning,” said Albert Einstein. How to ask the right questions will be the core teaching of this course and the center of this practice.

To learn how to ask these questions, we will study the teachings of the forces of nature - the Orishas, and the ancient African traditions of ‘Ifa’ as reflected within Umbanda and Candomblé, their Brazilian “offspring.” It is a mysterious journey, mystical in its nature; it involves ritual, prayer, herbs, plants, visits, offerings to nature, and the use of many magical items. It is meant to ignite our creativity and imagination, taking us through a process of remembrance, a return to wholeness and connection that we seem to have forgotten.

At its core, this course aims to reignite and awaken us to the journey of self-love, yet you’ll find that these teachings are truly all-encompassing and cover all aspects of human life. We will talk about love and relationships, spiritual discipline and determination, understanding our wounding and pains, ancestry and past lives, birth – death and rebirth, conflict, choice, acceptance, community... and so much more.

A bit of a background...

Though I’ve been studying different spiritual traditions and religious practices throughout my entire life, the discovery of Umbanda and Candomblé has been the most enriching and transformational part of my life for the past decade. These profound traditions ignite a spark of life and offer a sense of wholeness like nothing else I’ve ever experienced before. The study and practice of these traditions bring about a balanced understanding of life and lead to a profound sense of self-knowledge, self-love, and connection to nature. Umbanda and Candomblé are based on the ancient divination, study, and practice of the cosmology of Ifa – the wisdom of Nature.

Though I have studied these traditions for now over a decade, I consider myself a beginner; the more I seem to learn, the less it seems I actually know. Though I am initiated in Umbanda and have been practicing Umbandaime for many years, I will only be taking my first official initiation into Orisha within Candomblé this coming year.

I’ve chosen to offer this course to beginner practitioners who, like me, as I started, lack the cultural background and live in the West, where access to and understanding of this work are very minimal. Though I am still in a deep process of study, I’ve realized I have a unique perspective on the development of consciousness and the journey of self-love that highlights a depth of this tradition that is not as common to come by with mere reading or practice.

Often, when studying about the Orishas (Personified forces of nature), we tend to learn more about their features and attributes rather than the profound inner study that relating to these archetypes and forces can imply. This course is my own attempt to bridge this gap and teach the external practice with the innate inner work that comes with taking the journey of self-love and awakening.

After years of guiding others in walking the path of awakening, I believe that with the profound wisdom of these traditions, I can offer another layer of depth and a practical path to assist those who wish to embody their spiritual practice and find the wisdom in nature, as their guide to self-knowledge and self-love.

The Journey - What to Expect

This course and online journey with Umbandomblé includes a vast library of online materials and bi-weekly live calls for study, questions and answers. With each 'module' that is released, there will be a pre-recorded class related to the material, herbal recipes in 'the Garden,' prayers, invocations, and rituals at 'the Temple,' music, and a playlist dedicated to the weekly study, additional reference videos and further written articles for in-depth study. 

There will also be specific appendix classes about building altars, offerings, and working with herbs and plants to accompany each Orisha and line of study.

We will also have a dedicated WhatsApp group to connect, share and inspire each other on our journey. Community, is a an important and central value within both Umbanda and Candomblé - we will try to cultivate our connection and grow together.

Though the course is extensive, you are invited and welcome to study at your own pace; with all the materials available online, you can take in as much as you feel called and guided to. Joining this journey allows you to immerse in a vast ocean of wisdom. You can dip your toe or choose to dive headfirst!

This journey is intended to help you understand your place within the world. With these classes and materials, I hope to assist you in uncovering blindspots, shattering limiting beliefs, and ultimately guiding you to a deeper sense of purpose, self-love, acceptance, and freedom. Utilizing the practices, study materials, and tools to further your understanding of self and expanding your freedom in connecting with others.

 

The Schedule

June

  • June 13 at 6:00 pm - Open Paths - Esu, Live Opening Ceremony.
  • June 27 at 6:00 pm - Inner Spirit Guide Me - Ori

July

  • July 11 at 6:00 pm - A Leap of Faith - Oxala - Oya
  • July 26 at 6:00 pm - Divine Love - Oxum - Oxumare

August

  • August 8 at 6:00 pm - The Tree of Life - Oxossi - Oba
  • August 22 at 6:00 pm - Into the Jungle - Caboclos

September

  • September 12 at 6:00 pm - Into Balance - Xango - Iansa
  • September 26 at 6:00 pm - Evolution - Obaluayê and Nanã

October

  • October 10 at 6:00 pm - Order and Chaos - Ogum and Oroina
  • October 24 at 6:00 pm - Generations - Iemanjá and Omulu

November

  • November 7 at 6:00 pm - The Time is Now - Zé Pilintra
  • November 28 at 6:00 pm - Laroyé! - Closing Ceremony

All calls will take place at 6:00pm PST and are always recorded and available for viewing the following day. You can always add follow up questions in the community groups and dedicated section within the course website.

FAQs

FAQs

I've never heard of these traditions, is this course for me?

Absolutely, we will cover the foundations and spiritual background of these practices and explore each tradition in depth.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

An open heart and a willing mind, and a thirst for growth. A background in spiritual practices will support your journey, as will the enthusiasm to learn. 

Is experience in plant medicine necessary for this course?

No, though, we will briefly cover the correlation of these practices and their place within the context of plant medicine. 

Will I have lifetime access to this course?

Yes! You will have life-long access to these materials so you can return to them, review and grow at your own pace. 

What if I can't join the live classes or miss one?

All classes are recorded and available 24 hours after the live session. How long is this course? The course is scheduled for six months, from June 13 to November 28, 2023.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, there is a two-month payment plan available upon registration. 

What is your refund policy?

Due to the nature of digital products, there are no refunds. Before purchasing this course, make sure you are in alignment with the materials and your willingness to explore. If you have any questions before joining the course, message me via the contact page.

Meet Your Guide

Hi, I’m Kai.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this insatiable thirst to know myself through the lens of divinity and mysticism, whether that would be in the study of spiritual traditions, practices, and religions or by practicing martial arts and learning how to understand my mind, my heart and listen to my soul. For the past three decades (!) I’ve been utterly devoted to the study of my inner world and spirit. I almost seem to have lived three lifetimes already… one decade (in my youth) devouring any and all spiritual books and materials I could lay my hands on, practicing Chi Kung and Tai Chi, Yoga, and meditation; a little over one decade in devotion to the study of the Oriental traditions (Yoga, Tao, Buddhism, Zen), living in an Ashram, and the past decade to the sacramental use and study of Plant Medicine and the Afro-Brazilian traditions. This journey of expanding my consciousness has taken me across the globe, to the jungles of Peru, the temples in India, and the Terreiros, schools, and churches in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. But, today, looking back, I realize that, more than anything, it has brought me back home, in touch with the core of my soul and the self-love that was hidden and unknown to me for most of my life.

As my thirst to learn only grows, with it, my hunger and joy to teach and share. Almost a decade ago today, I founded the Church of the Celestial Heart so I can further this study and make available the multitude of practices, religions, and sacraments I’ve found on my path, as means to accelerate conscious development and as maps on the path of awakening.

In the past few years, my study of the Afro-Brazilian and African traditions has become an all-encompassing and passionate field of study for me. This course springs out of my full and enthusiastic heart, which feels as if I have found the greatest treasure of all. Within this cosmology, I have found all the answers and the embodied practices that many of my previous studies seemed to have lacked. Though, as mentioned earlier, I consider myself but a mere beginner on this path, I find that I have a unique way of approaching these traditions that is accessible, relatable, and easy to practice. I hope that my enthusiasm can help you find the innate light and beauty that has been captivating my heart all these years. Assisting you in learning not only about the wisdom of Nature, Umbanda, and Candomblé but guiding you further to understand yourself, your soul, and your spirit, and igniting a spark of connection to nature that is healing, elevating, and is full of life.

Meet Our Mentor

Prof. Pai Sidnei Nogueira

We've been studying under the enthusiastic guidance of Pai Sidnei for the past year, and have been gone through several profound initiations. It is hard to desribe in words the depth and wealth of wisdom this man carries. 

Pai Sidnei Nogueira is a Babalorixá, a renowned published author, and the head of the Casa de Xangô. Babalorixá is the title given to a high priest and spiritual teacher in Candomblé. He is one of the top priests within this tradition in Brazil, with over 120 initiates and 20 more priests he has trained and is constantly guiding. 

Pai Sidnei was initiated into Candomblé at the age of 16 and joined the family of Casa Branca de Oshun in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His mother, Joesia Teles Barreto de Iansã, is also an Iyalorixá (head of a Candomblé house) and a tremendous leader in her own right. She opened her own house of Umbanda when she was 15 years old. She is truly an incredible and inspiring woman. We were fortunate to meet her on our last visit to Brazil in her own temple.

Pai Sidnei de Xangô is one of the foremost leaders of traditional ancestral knowledge of Yoruba culture and is also an activist in the anti-racist fight against colonialism and the fight against LGBTQIAP-phobia, racism, and sexism.

I'm Ready!

Once you signup, you'll receive your login information via email and soon after your access to the course playground, where when the course opens, you'll have access to all materials, links to our live calls, our schedule and much more. If you have any further questions and need more guidance, don't hesitate to reach out via the contact us page on the site.