The work is based on an exploration of ritual—its symbolic as well as practical meanings—as a means of strengthening connections with the traditions of our ancestors, the cycles of nature, and mythological ways of thinking. Ritual functions as a protective mechanism, a way of ordering oneself and the surrounding world—the microcosm. Today, we must think not only about protecting ourselves and our loved ones, but also about preserving and caring for our land and identity. In many cultures rituals with similar meanings exist in which dark or harmful thoughts and forces are transformed into animals or other creatures that are then sacrificed—burned or driven away—in the hope of eliminating negative forces and protecting against evil and disease. In my work, I both visually and ritually revive an ancient Latvian spring solstice tradition known as “Chasing Birds” and “Calling Birds.” This ritual was practiced only in a small part of Latvia inhabited by a minor ethnic group. According to the tradition, several large birds or creatures symbolized evil spirits, disease, and misfortune; through singing, noise-making, and other ritual actions, people chased these creatures into the forest. At the same time, small birds were called into the yard, as they symbolized the return of light. As my artistic approach draws on butoh aesthetics, I found it particularly compelling that a similar “Chasing Birds” tradition is also known in Japan, where birds and other creatures were driven toward the sea.