Mira Ceti: Ancient songs carry wisdom that can be unclear, but when you sing them, sometimes you understand

I could feel it instantly, just from the stare she gave me. Powerful, yet gentle; piercing, yet comforting. Not many people have the power to enchant you without speaking a single word.

Mira Ceti, a wonderful and mighty artist, brings us closer to where we all came from - and where we are heading - with every note of her music, inspired by ancient rituals. Old, primal melodies. And her voice: sharp, clear, and protruding, a needle bursting through the fabric of space and time, then sewing it back together, connecting our souls with those of old.

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A few words about the artist: Mira Ceti is a French artist (vocalist and musician) who makes pagan/neopagan/folk/ritual music, searching for ancient musical traditions and "translating" them into our world, trying to make sure nothing gets lost in translation.

Her music is described as "captivating", "enchanting", and "unusual". "Otherworldly".

We met Mira at her Budapest gig, where she was opening for Eihwar. A real "pagan experience", as it was advertised - but so much more in reality. She told us she would gladly answer our questions, so here they are: the questions and the answers.

• I was fascinated to learn that "Uriat" was based on a Buryat traditional chant. How much inspiration do you draw from Eastern traditions, how much from Norse traditions, and how do you discover these traditions, this music, and these chants?

It is difficult for me to quantify the inspiration I draw from different traditions. I prefer to see them as threads or currents leading back to an understanding of the world that differs from that of our modern societies. I pull these threads to remember how to live in a more balanced way with our surroundings and our spirits; therefore, everything that nurtures this connection is an inspiration for me. I discovered these traditions through years of research and travelling.

• There are now many musicians using traditional chants and myths to make music and tell new (old) stories. Here in Serbia, we obviously know about Heilung, Wardruna, Mira Ceti, and Eihwar. In the East, there are The Hu and Otyken, and before them Huun-Huur-Tu and Yat-Kha. We are taken back to ancient times, and we are learning from it, are we not? How and when did you get into exploring tradition, chants, music, and cultures? What kind of knowledge, inspiration, and feeling do you get when you listen to ancient Norse chants, Buryat songs, or medieval European folklore?

I started exploring Greek mythology at a very early age, maybe seven or eight, and since then I have developed a passion for myths and stories. I think I have always been fascinated by the past, old monuments, and costumes, trying to imagine and remember how people must have felt or lived. Ancient songs are a direct reflection of the emotions and feelings of people from the past; I guess that is why I love them so much. They carry wisdom that can be unclear to us, but when you sing them over and over, sometimes you understand.

• You travelled a lot, "observing the role of the voice and sound in the sacred rites of traditional societies". What is that role? And how are all those cultures and societies connected, despite being thousands of miles apart?

As I see it, the role of the voice is to connect people to one another, but also to the divine, to spirits, or to the other world (however you want to call it), through a communication of feelings, emotions, needs, and wishes. Then the way, or style, of using the voice also leads the "voicer" and the listener into a certain state, suited to the purpose of the ritual. This is something we observe across most cultures of the planet. The voice, and the immense diversity of sounds it can create, is very specific to humans and very important as a cement for a culture. To that we can add that, for the greater part of human history, knowledge used to be transmitted orally.

• "Sacred" is the notion you use when describing your music and art. What exactly is this "sacred" that spans continents, cultures, and people? How is it connected with religion, faith, and rituals?

To me, "sacred" is something that has the highest value and cannot be bought. It is something so dear to the hearts of the people that its integrity is protected no matter what. A culture is a way of seeing the world and relating to it. From there, it develops beliefs and rituals to support this vision of the world and to take an active part in the unfolding of events such as seasonal changes, harvest, birth, death, and so on.

• Have you had any contact with traditional Serbian music? We know you drew inspiration from Bulgaria…

Not at all, but I would be happy to discover traditional tunes.

• Do you have more learning trips planned? Is there a specific place or culture you would like to visit and study?

I do, but I will keep that to myself for now…

• You were opening for Eihwar on this tour. What was that like for you? What was the conversation like with Asrunn and Mark? Can participants learn from each other during these tours? At the Budapest gig, Asrunn spoke about how she feels about your music - with great respect…

The tour with Eihwar was absolutely great. Although our music is really different, the audience was happy to move through different styles and emotions within the same night. n.hir (with whom I create and perform the music) and I connected particularly well with Mark and Asrunn, and we are definitely learning from each other. I have the greatest respect for them; they know their craft, and they have the kindest hearts.

• Most of us in Serbia first heard about you while you were in Heilung. Such beautiful art… Looking back on it, what did you learn, and what do you make of the experience with Maria, Kai Uwe, Christopher, and all the rest of them?

I have learnt so much, humanly and artistically… Vision, authenticity, kindness, generosity, exploration of both the dark and the luminous parts of the self - it would take too long to list everything, but it is a collective journey, and I am forever grateful for belonging to this crazy adventure.

• A Hungarian band, Itinera, opened the show in Budapest. I thought they were really good. It seems to me that there are more and more neofolk/pagan bands in Europe every day. Am I wrong?

I think many people feel the urge to reconnect with the ancestral and spiritual parts of themselves. I guess all these bands are an expression of that need.

• When do we get to see Mira Ceti in Serbia? I know a lot of people here who love what you are doing and are enthusiastic about the whole scene…

I don’t have the answer to that question, but I would love to.

• This is such a beautiful quote: "And each time, it has been a connection straight and direct to the heart. Together, on the stages of our wounded and beautiful planet, we have performed prayers and songs to heal. Because this is what it is all about. Breaking the cycles of pain that colonization brought to each and every one of us, directly or indirectly, and allowing us to open to another vision." It was made after performing a haka with some islanders. You talk about the "wounded and beautiful planet". How can we heal it? What can be changed?

What we can change is the way we see the world. We must stop seeing it as something we can extract from endlessly without giving anything back but trash and trauma. We need to reshape our visions, our imagination, and our beliefs, and start to create new stories and myths that will give us the strength to behave differently. To heal the world, we need to heal ourselves, and this is both individual and collective work.

• "May we hear again the language of the Otherness, and find balance to renew this world". Another interesting and beautiful quote. Can you please explain this concept to our audience? Often we hear words like "renewal", "Heilung" (healing), and balance…

Balance is a concept we have completely forgotten. Balance is about not taking more than is needed, not killing more than your community can eat. It is about reciprocity, exchange, giving back, and sharing. So when we find that again, maybe we can hope for a renewal of our old systems, which are currently threatening life on this planet.

• The last one. You have visited and lived with so many cultures, connecting with them. Is there a special place for you - somewhere you felt really, really special, where the connection was strongest?

I can’t choose one, because every single one of them has been so generous to me. All the places I went to allowed me to dive deeper into the understanding of this world, its beauty, and its complexity. And each time I come back to the land of my ancestors with pieces of my heart left behind, as an offering for everything I received.

(Igor Ćuzović)