Koyoltzintli

This workshop is a rare opportunity to step into an ancient lineage of sound and sculpture that very few have had the chance to explore. Together, we will enter the world of female flutes—instruments that have carried the voices of the sacred feminine across millennia.

Over the course of four months, meeting once a month, you will:

Learn the hidden histories and cultural lineages of female flutes, from Pre-Columbian traditions to other ancestral sound practices that honor the mother–virgin–crone cycle.
Listen deeply to their resonances and understand their unique sonic systems.
Sculpt your own anthropomorphic flute, culminating in the creation of an Chorrera Flute—the world’s oldest known female flute, with one of the most intricate sound systems ever recorded.

This is not just a technical workshop—it is an immersive journey into the archaeo acoustic, and the ritual realms of these instruments. Each session will weave together hands-on making, listening, storytelling, and sound practices, opening pathways for transformation, creativity, and connection. We will also look at many research papers and books written about anthropomorphic flutes.

Whether you are an artist, musician, seeker, or simply curious, this space is open to all levels of experience and to all people. Few opportunities exist to engage with this ancient knowledge in such depth, making this workshop truly unique.

Come learn not only how to make a flute, but how to listen to the voice she carried—a voice that continues to echo through time-space-body.

All tools are provided

We will meet for 3 hours each session and the last session we will meet for 6+hours.

Dates: Saturdays, 12- 3pm

Rosendale, NY

email me to sign up

First Meeting — January 31st

Introductions
We will begin by exploring anthropomorphic flutes, as well as the three other flutes you’ll be making in this class. Each month we will focus on one instrument, leading up to the most complex flute at the end.

The first instrument we will create is a globular flute in the shape of a member of the cucurbitaceae family (squash, gourd).
This shape is fundamental in feminine rites of passage, mystery schools, and earth-based rituals. As both fruit and tuber, it symbolizes the nurturance of the earth. Its fleshiness embodies abundance, while its form evokes all that is born from the night, from the dark. Across cultures, gourds and squashes continue to be honored in fertility rituals as symbols of femininity and wisdom.

We will each make a small gourd flute. Over the following month, you may either expand on it to create a larger or more personalized version, or simply continue working with the one made in class.
I will go over methods for storing and drying your instruments, and provide you with all necessary tools—so there is nothing additional you need to buy.
There will also be an option to create a rattle instead of a flute for this first piece.

February 28th

We will share our gourd flutes (or rattles) in person and exchange experiences.
Then we will learn how to make an anthropomorphic double globular flute, drawing inspiration from Mesoamerican instruments. We will discuss their uses and exact harmonics, and begin creating this instrument together in class. You will continue developing it throughout the month.
I will also teach you how to play each of these instruments.

March 28th

We will work with molds from original anthropomorphic flutes (!!!) and begin creating the whistle component for your final piece.
We will also take time to reflect on the two instruments you’ve already created and answer any questions about them.

April 25th

This will be our final and longest session. We will meet in the morning and end the workshop at the usual time.
On this day, we will assemble our anthropomorphic flute and hold a closing ceremony to honor our time together.