Northern Spirit Drum Circle – Around the Living Fire

Saturday 22. March 2025 at 18.00-20.00

Kalmonkatiskan kota, Joensuu, North Karelia, Finland

With Sófía Stefánsdóttir and Helena Karhu

Come and experience the power of the shamanic drum and a sense of community by the living fire.

This event is open to everyone interested. We gather in a kota hut around a live fire to listen to the shamanic drum and join a circle of strengthening and balancing energy.

During the evening, Icelandic shaman Sófía Stefánsdóttir and local guide Helena Karhu will take us on a shared drum journey by the fire. They will share what has guided them to walk the animistic-shamanistic path of nature. Sofia will also talk about what it means to be a shaman in modern-day Iceland and Denmark.

You are welcome to bring your own drum or rattle, or simply join without any instrument. We will also have an opportunity to drum all together for shared strength, well-being, and natural balance. All drum owners and those who enjoy listening to drumming are warmly welcome – including first-timers!

Advance registration is required.
The event is accessible to all, and we hope everyone interested will have the opportunity to join.

We warmly welcome you to share this special evening with the sound of the shamanic drum – whether for the first time or once again!

Where?
The drum circle will be held at Kalmonkatiskan Kota, located in Kuhasalo, Joensuu, also known as Kukkosensaari. From the parking area, there is a few hundred meters’ walk to the kota, which is situated at the tip of the peninsula, where the river and lake meet.

Facilitators:
The drum circle is led by Icelandic Sofia and North Karelian Helena.
We have been shamanic sisters and friends for over 10 years. This is Sofia’s first visit to Eastern Finland.

Sofia

I was born and raised in Iceland until my school years, when my family moved to Denmark, giving me a bicultural background. These two countries differ more in mentality and culture than you might imagine!
I have practiced yoga since I was 16. I am an experienced yoga teacher specializing in restoration and self-healing through mindful movement and breathwork.
Shamanic practices have been a lifelong and ever-evolving passion for me. Over the past 13 years, I have pursued this passion through formal studies and mentorship with my Danish teacher Annette Høst. I perform ceremonies for all stages of life (e.g., weddings, naming ceremonies), offer shamanic guidance, and have a special gift for creating drum journeys that heal and transform lives.
My shamanic training also includes experiences in North and Central America, where I have lived, and my cultural knowledge as an anthropologist from the University of Copenhagen. I have studied global traditions in depth and conducted extensive fieldwork in Tibet.

Helena
I am a North Karelian practitioner of shamanism and tradition-bearer, a twin mother, ritual artist, cultural producer, and cultural researcher. My great passion is to inspire people to fall in love with nature and with the ancient cultural heritage of our northern homeland.
The spirits of northern ancestors and nature call me to share more about the northern wilderness, animistic-shamanistic traditions, and how archaic methods can be applied in modern culture. I work at Karhun Talo (Bear’s House), which I founded to share knowledge of folklore and shamanism to foster self-awareness and communal well-being.

REGISTRATION:
Participation in the drum circle costs €35 (incl. 10% VAT) / €25 (incl. 10% VAT) for students and the unemployed. You can register here:

 Reduced rate for students and unemployed:

 If you are unable to purchase a ticket through the online store, you can request an invoice by sending an email to info@karhuntalo.com.

Paid tickets are non-refundable if you cannot attend, but you are welcome to transfer your ticket to someone else.

See you soon at the kota!

P.S. If you’d like to join us for a longer experience, you can sign up for our 4-day Shamanic Yoga Retreat at Metsäkartano, Thu-Sun, March 27–30, 2025. More information about the retreat: https://www.karhuntalo.com/en/innervision