presents
Origins
A morning of contemporary wellbeing, rooted in ancient wisdomBefore medicine had a name, Anatolia and Mesopotamia healed with sound, scent, breath, and water. Origins reimagines that inheritance for today. Over two hours on the shores of the Bosphorus, an ancient heritage comes alive through modern practice, informed by science.
A journey to be received, rather than performed.
Long before wellbeing became a word, the healing houses of Seljuk Anatolia used sound, water, and light as instruments of care. Origins is Harmony Spiritus's translation of that lineage into a single morning at Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, grounded in research, shaped by living tradition, and held in the Sapphire Bosphorus pavilion, with the sea glimmering beyond the glass.
Origins is a guided journey through breath, rhythm, movement, sound, and scent, designed to be felt and absorbed at your own pace.
Before wellbeing had a name,
it had rituals.
Water, scent, breath, and gathering were how ancient cultures cared for body and mind.
Originsis an invitation to experience them today
Breath, rhythm, movement, sound, and scent.
Anatolian Tea & Opening Circle
You arrive at the Sapphire Bosphorus pavilion as the sea glimmers beyond the glass, welcoming you with its light, sound, and scent. Over a warm infusion prepared in the Anatolian tea tradition, the group gathers in an opening circle to set an intention for the hours ahead, the quiet threshold between the day you are leaving behind and the journey to come.
Guided Breathwork with Def Rhythm
A guided breathwork sequence carried by the def, the frame drum of Anatolian Sufi tradition. Breath and rhythm move together, drawing the group from the mind into the chest: a heart-focused ascent toward transcendence.
Mindful Movement
Guided movement set to a score built from electronic texture and live acoustic instruments. Movement here is free and intuitive, an invitation to let the body respond and express through motion what the sound stirs.
Sound & Scent Immersion
The heart of the journey, and fully receptive. Participants lie down, eyes closed, and simply receive: live sound and native aromatic scent applied in synchrony, reaching the body through hearing, smell, and touch together.
Closing Circle
A guided return, gathering what moved during the session into integration. A space to notice where expression and reflection meet and, for those who wish, to share. Silence is equally welcome. The circle closes with guidance for carrying the experience into daily life.
This programme is not suitable for people with epilepsy, a history of psychosis, heart disease or high blood pressure, or during pregnancy.
Alongside the journey we run a small EEG measurement with volunteers from the group. Taking part is optional and arranged on the day.
Breathing with the sound, scent, and light of the sea.
Origins takes place at Sapphire Bosphorus, a glass-walled pavilion set directly on the water's edge, with a private terrace opening onto the Bosphorus. Here the sea is always in motion: its currents flow constantly, its winds arrive brisk yet gentle, and the air carries the calls of seabirds and the low passage of ships. Guided by Harmony Spiritus's neuro-space design approach, we invite all of this in. The sounds, scents, and shifting light of the Bosphorus become part of a full sensory environment, framed by the Eastern-inspired elegance of Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus.
The people holding the journey.
Esra Özsüer
Founder · Creative & Space Holder
Co-founder and president of the Maya Vakfı Foundation (est. 2014), with over twenty years of executive management experience. A Sufi, Reiki Master, and contemplative practitioner, Esra leads the creative direction of Harmony Spiritus, grounding its design language in Anatolian healing arts, sound, and ritual practice.
Öktem Aykut
Experience Director
Öktem began as a tour guide after studying Tourism Management, travelling to more than fifty countries before his path turned toward plant medicine and sound, through shamanic plant research in the Peruvian Amazon, Ayurveda and yoga training in Kerala, and sound therapy study in Rishikesh. He spent years building Ayahangpan, one of Turkey's first handpan practices, and now leads the experience direction of Harmony Spiritus, weaving botany, aromatherapy, and sound into a single interdisciplinary practice.
Anna Drobina Aykut
Scent & Sensory Practitioner
Trained first in geography before moving into psychology, Anna holds advanced study in transpersonal psychology, psychosomatics, and process-oriented work. A practicing herbalist, she cultivates and blends botanicals into natural incense through her own brands, alongside her work as a psychological counsellor. Her research centres on how plants and botanical scent shape human emotion, the foundation of her scent design for Harmony Spiritus.
Umut Tugay Temel
Musician & Sound Practitioner
Umut studied media at Istanbul Bilgi University and the University of Liverpool before completing a master's in musicology at ITU's Conservatory of Turkish Music, where his thesis introduced the concept of Entheo-Musicking. He founded the instrument brand Groove Circle in 2022 and has led Dances of Universal Peace circles since 2023 under the mentorship of Dr. Abraham Sussman. Drawing on Anatolian and Eastern stringed instruments alongside electro-acoustic composition, he approaches music as a living presence, to be met with reverence.
Reserve early: sessions are intentionally small, in keeping with the intimacy the practice requires.
Twenty places, one morning.
One form and one payment per guest, by credit card. Fill it in below and you will be taken straight to secure checkout. Bringing someone? Each guest books separately.
This programme is not suitable for people with epilepsy, a history of psychosis, heart disease or high blood pressure, or during pregnancy. If you are unsure, write to us before booking.