Alessandra Belloni

JOIN ME FOR THE “VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE SACRED SITES OF THE BLACK MADONNA” VIDEO SERIES 2021: 

EPISODE 1 

Black Madonna della Neve, Torre Annunziata, Naples 

We will begin our journey by the sea, meeting the Black Madonna della Neve in the small town of Torre Annunziata, nestled in Mt. Vesuvius’ famous shadow. We will watch the spectacular feast along the sea near Sorrento/Pompei on the Amalfi Coast and the re-enactment of the fisherman finding the Black Madonna in a large cage in the sea. We will also sing a ritual chant on the beach at sunset, a Medieval prayer to the Black Madonna that you will learn following the lyrics and MP3. 

EPISODE 2 POSITANO and AMALFI COAST- 

Visit to the Black Madonna of Positano, a beautiful Byzantine Icon also by the sea, also connected to Aphrodite. We will climb from the church down the mountain to the beach where we will offer white roses to the great Mother and drum the tammoriata, a powerful, percussive 4/4 rhythm that dates to the ancient rituals of the Anatolian goddess Cybele and the great Greek goddess Aphrodite. We’re lucky to meet a true master of the art, Raffaele Inserra, on our journey. Inserra is a Neapolitan master folk drummer and drum maker who, in the 1980s, initiated Alessandra in the drum rituals. The drumming is accompanied by the erotic and ecstatic tammorriata dance -- a sensual dance done by couples playing castanets and moving in and out of one another’s embrace in erotic and sensual gestures that symbolize lovemaking. 

EPISODE 3 MADONNA NERA DI MONTEVERGINE - (Avellino) 

We travel to the beautiful sacred mountain of Montevergine, in the wild, beautiful mountainous region of Campania known as Irpinia. Her church is built upon the remains of a temple to the great Goddess Cybele: the Black mother Earth goddess from Anatolia, frequently depicted carrying a frame drum. We follow the path of the most devoted, climbing on foot up the sacred mountain, where we stop at the sacred and mysterious Throne of the Madonna -- a rock formation where, as legend has it, the Madonna rested when she climbed the mountain, leaving an imprint of her feet in the stone. 

At night we will meet the well-known tammorra maker Raffaele Inserra from Gragnano, the old singer Zi Giannino and the young one Gianfranco, for a great feast where we will play and dance, and people will have a chance to learn the authentic chant to the Black Madonna di Montevergine. You will learn this sacred chant following the lyrics. 

EPISODE 4 – BLACK MADONNA DELLA LIBERA - Moiano (Benevento) - 

We continue in the mountains to Benevento, where we meet Our Lady of Freedom, la Madonna della Libera, also known as “la Brunetella” – the little dark one. This region was once an ancient settlement of the Egyptians and the cult of Isis on the Italian peninsula. Temples of Isis once studded this landscape of mountains and valleys, and the folk traditions of the region are directly descended from the rituals of these temples. On La Brunetella’s festa we have the rare opportunity to witness a ritual never before seen in North America: the strascino, a ritual banned by the Vatican where devotees throw themselves to the church floor to crawl, on their knees, to the Madonna’s altar. 

You will hear the women haunting chants to thank her for her many miracles during the procession and will learn following the lyrics. 

This the Madonna Alessandra is most devoted to, thanks to receiving a personal miracle. 

EPISODE 5 – LA MADONNA DEL SACRO MONTE DI VIGGIANO (BASILICATA)

Next, we travel to Viggiano in the magical region of Basilicata, where we will visit the chapel of la Madonna del Sacro Monte. Here on this sacred mountain in the middle of magna Grecia, near the remains of an ancient temple dedicated to Demeter -- the Greek mother goddess of the grain, of fertility, and of the Earth -- La Madonna, draped in gold, waits for us to arrive. Carved from olive wood and covered in solid gold leaf, this is one of the oldest statues of the Black Madonna in the world. Her feast day, which we will attend via archival footage, is filled with folk music and dance, including the tarantella. While women dance with cinti -- elaborate wax altars to the Madonna -- balanced carefully on their heads, we are introduced to three traditional southern Italian folk instruments: the zampogna, an Italian bagpipe; a double reed instrument called a ciaramella; and a small button accordion called an organetto. 

Part 2 - LA MADONNA NERA INCORONATA DI FOGGIA (Puglia, land of the tarantella!)

We will travel to the famous Tavoliere delle Puglie, a beautiful agricultural landscape, to the Sanctuary of this mysterious Madonna Nera with a GOLD CROWN who appeared in the year 1001 in a very magical way. While shepherds were working in the field, 2 bulls ran away to a tree and knelt down as lightning and fire appeared for a long time. Suddenly a voice was heard saying I AM MARY MOTHER OF GOD! And I want my temple built here! And the beautiful statue of the Madonna Nera appeared right in the tree. And she made many miracles, including with a special anointing oil that always burns at her image and never goes out. 

EPISODE 6 -  CALABRIA! – Alessandra’s favorite land - part 1 

We will visit the beautiful town of Tropea, with a breathtaking view of the beach and the active volcano STROMBOLI! 

You will see the Black Madonna di Romania patron of Tropea, a beautiful Byzantine Icon that came mysteriously from the sea. 

In Calabria we will meet and feast with Alessandra’s mentor and tarantella teacher Vittorio de Paola and learn the authentic tarantella Calabrese. 

Part 2 – BLACK MADONNA DEI POVERI – FEAST AUGUST 14 - SEMINARA 

We will see rare footage of the powerful feast of La Madonna dei Poveri, (Our Lady of the Poor) celebrated with a wild drumming ritual, reenacting an ancient fertility rite, and giant puppets of African origin (Giganti) that dance to the fast 6/8 rhythm of the tarantella, and seeing the giant puppets of the African King Courting the Italian Queen, thus bringing together these two cultures. Both rhythm and dance were used during the time of the Black Death to heal people and as a release from overpowering fears of death by contagious disease. 

EPISODE 7 - BLACK MADONNA DEL TINDARI – SICILY 

We will end our journey by the Sea as we began by Sea, in the arms of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Mother of Waters. 

Tindari is a magical place, where the Madonna del Tindares was found in a cave under the mountain, which we will visit. Gathering beside enchanted lakes of salt water, we will witness Alessandra lead a purification ritual before climbing the mountain to the church where the Madonna can be found. This ancient statue of the Black Madonna looks like an African Totem and is accompanied by the inscription Nigra Sum Sed Formosa from the Song of Solomon: I am Black and Beautiful. Visiting this Madonna, we clearly understand that the Black Madonna and the African Mother are one in the same, each rocking the cradle of humanity in their mysterious way. 

Praise for Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna 

“Belloni has done her homework and her heart work, danced the dance, drummed the drums and tambourines, bled while doing so, in a shamanistic gift for our times.” Matthew Fox, spiritual theologian, activist, and author of Original Blessing 

“Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna is an emotional tour de force that will leave you astonished by its power. But I warn you, this is not a book for those who are not ready to reflect deeply on their wounds, how they were created, and the path of recovery. The honesty within these pages is rare and appreciated in a world that often thrives off of gilded artifice and the excuses it often births. Do yourself a favor and purchase two copies of this book, one for yourself and one for someone else. The Black Madonna will let you know who is in need.” Tayannah Lee McQuillar, author of The Sibyls Oraculum