The Dragon Sanctuary

Kirtan Singing
2024-01-27 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-02-08 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-03-07 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-03-30 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-11 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-06-20 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-07-20 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London)
With Leo and Sundara
Accompanied by harmonium and guitar, we will sing Indian devotional chants based on simple mantras. These “sung prayers” invoke the qualities of Indian deities such as love, creativity, courage and wisdom. These qualities are all present within us and can be brought more fully into our lives by singing together in this way.
Leo and Sundara have been leading singing events together since 2003. Sundara plays the harmonium and Leo plays the guitar to accompany these songs. Having two instruments present enables people to sing freely and to relax into the experience, supported by the music.
No prior experience is necessary. For more information about these Kirtan evenings, see this page.
Doors open at 7pm. Come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like. No need to book in advance.

Taizé Singing
2024-02-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-03-17 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-04-21 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-06-30 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-01-26 19:30 - 21:00
The songs of Taizé are easy to learn and uplifting to sing.
Taizé is a Christian monastery in the South of France famous for its beautiful songs. We’ll sing them in three or four part harmony, in Latin as well as various European languages. We’ll have a time for silent prayer also. We’ll keep teaching to a minimum and sing for the pure enjoyment of the devotional atmosphere that these songs evoke.
Leo and Sundara started leading Taizé singing in 2003, at the Findhorn Community in Scotland. These events are open to people of all faiths and none. No prior experience is necessary. For more information about these Taizé evenings, see this page.
Doors open at 7pm. Come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like.

Singing Sanctuary
2024-02-24 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-03-21 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-02 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-06-13 19:30 - 21:00, 2024-07-11 19:30 - 21:00
With Leo and Sundara
Accompanied by harmonium and guitar, we’ll sing devotional songs in English. These original songs are based on prayers and sayings from spiritual traditions around the world.
Leo and Sundara have been leading singing events together since 2003. Sundara plays the harmonium and Leo plays the guitar to accompany these songs. Having two instruments present enables people to sing freely and to relax into the experience, supported by the music.
No prior experience is necessary. For more information about these Singing Sanctuary evenings, see this page.
Doors open at 7pm. Come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like. No need to book in advance.

True Storytelling
2024-03-02 19:00 - 21:00
An evening of participatory storytelling!
Do you have an amazing story to tell?

Something miraculous that left you in awe
A story that reminded you of what really matters in life
The challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned

We’ll sit in a circle and tell our stories. True Storytelling is not about performance, it’s about sharing our stories in community, for inspiration, healing and mutual understanding. It’s also fine to just sit and listen!
“It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to listen, really listen, to other people telling about precious moments in their lives. And to have the chance to tell about your own experiences and memories (only if you want to), with others listening to you too. It’s inspiring and entertaining and humbling, all at once.” Previous participant.
The evening will be led by Leo Sofer, an experienced storyteller, who has also run many of these evenings. Leo will begin the evening with a true story of his own and then open the circle for more. We’ll aim to keep each story to 10 minutes, and there will be a short period for reflections and questions after each story. We’ll have a tea break also.
Doors open at 6.30pm, come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like.

Molly's Treasure Hunt
2024-03-23 17:00 - 18:00
Leo and Sundara Sofer will be telling two stories for children, with musical accompaniment.
Molly’s Treasure Hunt is the story of a little girl who, just by being herself, reminds everyone around her of what really matters in life.
Sadie and the Monster is all about a girl who starts her life being very loud but slowly becomes quieter and quieter, until she barely speaks at all. But one night a monster comes and reminds her of how important it is to speak up!
Performance time is 45 minutes. Suitable for children aged 5 to 9. Attendees will also receive audio recordings of both stories by email, after the performance.
Leo Sofer has been telling stories since 1989. Sundara plays handpan, flute and harmonium to accompany the telling. They have been setting stories to music together for over 20 years.
Their work can be found on Palace of Stories, where you can buy over 100 audio stories for children, as well as learn to tell your own Intuitive Stories for the children in your life.
See this page to listen to some of the stories they’ve told recently at The Dragon Sanctuary.

True Storytelling
2024-05-04 19:00 - 21:30
An evening of participatory storytelling!
Do you have an amazing story to tell?

Something miraculous that left you in awe
A story that reminded you of what really matters in life
The challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned

We’ll sit in a circle and tell our stories. True Storytelling is not about performance, it’s about sharing our stories in community, for inspiration, healing and mutual understanding. It’s also fine to just sit and listen!
“It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to listen, really listen, to other people telling about precious moments in their lives. And to have the chance to tell about your own experiences and memories (only if you want to), with others listening to you too. It’s inspiring and entertaining and humbling, all at once.” Previous participant.
The evening will be led by Leo Sofer, an experienced storyteller, who has also run many of these evenings. Leo will begin the evening with a true story of his own and then open the circle for more. We’ll aim to keep each story to 10 minutes, and there will be a short period for reflections and questions after each story. We’ll have a tea break also. For more information about these True Storytelling events see this page.
Doors open at 6.30pm, come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like.

Harmonic Temple
2024-05-19 19:30 - 21:00
The Harmonic Temple songs, created by Nickomo Clarke, are sung in 3 or 4 part harmony and are based on prayers and sayings from spiritual traditions around the world.
Nickomo was inspired by the songs of Taize and wanted to create songs that were similarly easy to learn and uplifting to sing but drawn from all faiths. Some of his compositions are awe-inspiringly beautiful.
The songs are learned by ear (no sheet music) and then, when we are confident of our part, we can move around the room, experiencing the harmonies all around us, literally creating a Harmonic Temple with our voices.
Leo and Sundara began leading Harmonic Temple songs in 2003, while living at the Findhorn Community in Scotland. For more about the Harmonic Temple, see this page.
No prior experience is required. Come early for a cup of tea if you like, doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Weaving Gold from Starlight
2024-06-29 19:30 - 21:30
*** This event has now sold out.***If you would like to join the waiting list please email leo@sofer.com or text 07508 639216.There is another performance of this show on Saturday 6th July in Plymouth. See here for more details.
Stories of the Journey Home presentsStorytelling for the Spiritual Journey
Weaving Gold from Starlight features a farmer who discovers treasure beyond price buried in one of his fields; an old man who finds a chest of gold coins, only to find that his head is on each one; and a wealthy heiress who leaves everything behind to marry for love, only to find a deeper love calling her into the wild and stormy night.
Storytelling has the power to draw us into deep soul-enquiry. Using symbol and metaphor it encourages us to dream big. This story will explore the theme of love.
Who is the lover here?Whenever we feel empty of love, we are probably asking the wrong question. Love is our essence, and at core we are loved unconditionally. But this truth is usually covered over by all the strategies that we have for “getting love”.
Love is not everything we think it isLove is not only to be found “out there”. The deepest love is within, and is a wellspring that never ends. Accessing this love, and finding out how to share it with the world is one of the main themes of this story.
Feedback from recent performancesI was blown away by the story, it was magical. I was spellbound, and feel myself in this moment completely transformed by it. The words and music wove in so beautifully together, and I was transported somewhere else…. and it was very healing. I left feeling so inspired and uplifted. The evening reconnected me with that impulse to surrender and let spirit carry me.Neesa Copple
Leo Sofer has been telling stories since 1989. Sundara plays handpan to accompany the story. They have been setting stories to music together for over 20 years. For more information about their work, see here.
This show is intended for an adult audience.
There will be another performance of this show on Saturday 6th July in Plymouth. See here for info and to book tickets.

Cancelled - Singing Sanctuary
2024-09-01 19:30 - 21:00
Sorry this event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Cancelled - Kirtan Singing
2024-09-14 19:30 - 21:00

True Storytelling
2024-09-28 07:00 - 21:30
An evening of participatory storytelling!
Do you have an amazing story to tell?

Something miraculous that left you in awe
A story that reminded you of what really matters in life
The challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned

We’ll sit in a circle and tell our stories. True Storytelling is not about performance, it’s about sharing our stories in community, for inspiration, healing and mutual understanding. It’s also fine to just sit and listen!
We were inspired to venture out of our woodland bubble to experience a storytelling circle for the first time, attracted by the promise of a safe and compassionate ear for stories of a magical nature. We had never been in a circle before and were uplifted by the feeling of trust and genuine heart-felt responses from all the participants when they gave feedback to our story. What an enchanting, beautifully held space The Dragon Sanctuary is, we can’t wait to return to share and be captivated by more true storytelling.
Lisa Pugh and Marc Biddle
The evening will be led by Leo Sofer, an experienced storyteller, who has also run many of these evenings. Leo will begin the evening with a true story of his own and then open the circle for more. We’ll aim to keep each story to 10 minutes, and there will be a short period for reflections after each story. We’ll have a tea break also. For more information about these True Storytelling events see this page.
Doors open at 6.30pm, come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like.

Cancelled - Kirtan Singing
2024-10-05 19:30 - 21:00
We’re sorry but this event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Cancelled - Singing Sanctuary
2024-10-13 19:30 - 21:00

Near Death Experience Evening
2024-10-26 19:00 - 21:30
Leo writes:
I’ve long been enthralled by the stories that people tell who were clinically dead, but lived to tell their tale. I feel that these are among the most important stories being told today. They can also be deeply moving and inspiring.
Sundara and I have been watching some wonderful videos in the past year, in which such people describe the extraordinary things that they experienced while “dead”. These videos are well produced, using stock footage to bring the NDE story to life. We’ve selected two of our favourites which we’ll be screening at the beginning of the evening.
After a short break we’ll sit in a circle and tell our own stories about death and dying. I have a rather amazing story to tell of my father’s passing, in which I had what is known as a “shared death experience”. I’ll be asking if you have a story that you’d like to tell (from your own experience, or that of someone close to you) – about near death experiences or out of body experiences. About death and dying, and communication from the dead.
This is a large field, and more and more people are having such experiences. I feel it’s important to share these stories, and to affirm the inspiring vision that they convey; of what a human life might be for, and how we can live it to the full.
You don’t have to tell a story if you don’t want to, it’s fine to just sit and listen.
Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. We’ll finish at 9.30pm, and you are welcome to stay for a cup of tea afterwards.

German Christmas Carols
2024-12-14 19:30 - 21:30
With Leo and Sundara
We’ll be singing some of our favourite German carols, in two part harmony.
German Christmas carols can be very tender and lyrical, and lovely to sing. They often focus on the winter landscape – the snow, the woods, the animals – and the magical atmosphere of Christmastime.
The event will be led in English, so you don’t need to understand German to come along. We won’t be translating or pronouncing the songs, however, so although some prior experience of German is not essential, it might enhance your experience!
Please bring along some German Christmas food or drink to share: homemade or shop-bought is fine.
Doors open at 6.45pm. Do come early for glühwein and German Christmas biscuits!
7.30pm to 9.15pm, with a tea break

Christmas Carols and Taize Singing
2024-12-22 19:30 - 21:00
We’ll sing some of our favourite Christmas Carols, in 3 part harmony. We’ll also sing some winter-themed Taize songs (Taize is a Christian monastery in the South of France famous for its beautiful songs. For more information, see this page). We’ll have a time for silent prayer also.
Leo and Sundara started leading singing events in 2003, at the Findhorn Community in Scotland. These events are open to people of all faiths and none.
Doors open at 7pm. Come early for a cup of tea and a chat if you like.
