ORNITHOTHERAPY: THE NIGHTINGALE PHENOMENON

Join us for an evening where birdsong becomes a gateway to deeper listening.

Guided by ornithologist Gediminas Petkus, we’ll follow the nightingale through sound, mythology, poetry, and archetype – discovering why this remarkable bird has inspired artists, writers, and dreamers across cultures for centuries.

As nightingales sing after dusk, our gathering gradually moves into the forest, where fading light and the awakening chorus of the evening create a setting unlike any concert hall.

19:00
Silent forest walk from Sanctum.

19:30–20:30
Stories by the fire with ornithologist Gediminas Petkus.

20:30–21:30
Guided Ornitherpy session beneath the evening sky, listening to the nightingale while resting in the meadow. (Please bring your own blanket or mat.)

In recent years, mindful bird listening – often referred to as ornitherapy – has emerged as a simple yet remarkably effective practice for restoring attention and counterbalancing the effects of an increasingly digital world.

Listening deeply to birdsong can gently:

__restore cognitive attention and mental clarity;

__anchor awareness in the present moment;

__support nervous system regulation;

__cultivate a deeper relationship with the more-than-human world.

This evening invites participants to slow down enough for listening itself to become the practice.

Despite its modest size, the nightingale possesses one of nature’s most extraordinary voices.

Its song can travel over remarkable distances and consists of an astonishing repertoire of up to 200 distinct vocal phrases.

For centuries, the nightingale has symbolised longing, creativity, love, and transformation. Its voice echoes through the works of Homer, William Shakespeare, Hans Christian Andersen, and countless other poets and storytellers. In Lithuanian folklore, it is often seen as the messenger of the heart’s deepest emotions.

Gediminas Petkus is an ornithologist and founder of the educational initiative Let’s Discover Birds Together.

Known for his engaging storytelling and infectious enthusiasm, Gediminas reveals the remarkable intelligence and hidden lives of birds – from pigeons capable of recognising artistic styles to crows that remember human faces and solve complex problems.

His guided walks invite participants to experience the natural world with greater curiosity, attention, and wonder.

Please dress comfortably and appropriately for an evening in the forest.

We recommend:

__long sleeves and trousers;

__light-coloured clothing;

__tick and mosquito protection;

__a hat if desired;

__a blanket or yoga mat for the meadow listening session.

Please arrive 10–15 minutes before the experience begins to allow the group to depart together.