Conjuring the Past, Marking the Present: Ancestral Healing Through Shamanic Reiki, Tattoo, and Sound

KING COBRA and Hue Hallums

Due to the process-based nature of the Session program, this project will undergo constant modifications; the features of this page provide accruing information on the project’s developments.

Date:
September 14–November 10, 2023

Recess
46 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11205

Visiting hours:
Drop In: Saturday 12-6 pm

Shamanic Reiki, Tattoo, and Sound Bath Sessions
Wednesday - Friday: 2-8pm [two hour blocks]
by appointment only, fill out this form to start process: https://forms.gle/h7RS5SdBydj5z5KeA

Sculptor and Body Modifier KING COBRA and Reiki Master Hue Hallums are combining the sacred power of tattoo and shamanic reiki healing during this year's harvest and initiation season. In 2018 COBRA launched INVISIBLE MAN TATTOO, a pop up tattoo shop at Recess creating tattoos that focused solely on celebrating Black history and the Black American experience. This year COBRA and Master Hue will create a womb-like healing space for tattooing, sound and energy healing. In addition to individual reiki tattoo sessions there will also be sound baths, curated projections, group meditation, shamanic journeying, a community altar, and scheduled programming that centers healing especially for Black and Indigenous individuals. Neurospicy Aliens to the front!

Drop-in Visits

Saturdays, 12-5 pm

Staff will walk you through the installation, after which you will be free to find a comfortable cushion in an ethereal environment of billowing fabric and fractal projections for a self-guided meditation session. You will be immersed in a soundtrack of ambient sounds and chants created by Master Hue. If you prefer a more silent meditation experience, you are welcome to bring noise-canceling headphones with you. The artists also invite you to bring photos of your ancestors or respectful offering to the Community Altar.

Shamanic Reiki, Tattoo, and Sound Bath Sessions

Wednesday - Friday: 12-6pm [2-hour block], these require pre-registration and tiered pricing

Conjuring the Past, Marking the Present is a personal ceremony and a rites of passage offering that combines energy healing and body modification. Rather than requesting a custom tattoo or choosing available flash, your symbol will be selected based on your spiritual needs. In each session, Hue and Cobra will ask you a series of questions about your blockages, your releases and the new things you want to call into your life. From there they will provide a collection of images for your tattoo that are in agreement with your intentions.

The process for booking a session involves two steps. You will first be asked to complete a simple questionnaire using this link. Once we receive your submission, we will review and forward a booking link to the email address you provide. From there, you will be able to select a date and time, fill out a release form, and submit a nonrefundable deposit, securing your appointment. A few days before your appointment, you will also receive a few reminders and a list of ways to prepare for your ceremony.

Two Tier Pricing The two tier pricing below reflects the artists’ and organization’s request to our guests to contribute to this project at an amount based on their privilege and proximity to wealth. Donations will subsidize appointments for BIPOC folx who are unable to pay full price for an appointment.

BIPOC — $480 Full Price

NonBIPOC — $600 Full Price

Ways to experience the project

Calendar

September 14, 2023, 6:00 – 9:00pm

Conjuring the Past, Marking the Present Opening Reception

Event

Recess, 46 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11205

September 23, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00pm

Soulful Synergy

Event

Recess, 46 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11205

October 21, 2023, 1:00 – 2:00pm

Resonant Being: A journey through Ashtanga/Vinyasa style yoga, Energy and Sound Healing

Event

Recess, 46 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11205

About the artist

KING COBRA

Artist

KING COBRA (documented as Doreen Lynette Garner) was born in 1986 in Philadelphia. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Since graduating from Rhode Island School of Design with an MFA in glass in 2014, COBRA has created corporeal sculptures—that utilize glass alongside silicone, beads, crystals, rubber, synthetic hair, petroleum jelly, and other materials—to explore the frequently suppressed and traumatic histories of medical exploitation of the Black body, as well as diseases spread by White Europeans during the transatlantic slave trade. COBRA has held residencies and fellowships at Recess Art, the International Studio and Curatorial Program, Socrates Sculpture Park, Pioneer Works, and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. In addition to her sculptural practice, she is a licensed tattoo artist, a practice that extends her explorations of flesh, mark making, symbology and the transformation of physical pain to spiritual healing.

Projects

Conjuring the Past, Marking the Present: Ancestral Healing Through Shamanic Reiki, Tattoo, and Sound

Artist Website

Hue Hallums

Artist

Master Hue Hallums is a gifted Shamanic Reiki Master and Therapy of the Soul Spiritual Practitioner. Their journey began over a decade ago while working at The Wellness Center of NY, where they had a life-altering encounter with Reiki healing. This experience sparked a deep passion for spiritual growth and transformation. With a rich background in Usui Reiki, Shamanism, Meditation, Breath work, and Sound Therapy, Hue offers a diverse range of services to individuals and groups. Their practice facilitates healing and personal development, guiding clients to connect with their inner wisdom and intuition to find solace in the present moment. Over the last 12 years Hue has led Shamanic journeys, new and full moon ceremonies, fire rituals and group healings at Honcho Campout, on Fire Island and other gathering spaces around New York.