"The mother of us all, the oldest of us all, Hard, splendid as rock, let the beauty you love, be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth"~ Rumi ~
And so I sit with plants, on the Earth, almost every day. I watch their colors and shapes change through the seasons. I celebrate their breaking forth from seed into fragile cotyledons, and rejoice in their fruiting. I jump up and down like a child when I find the first dandelion flower, and cry with love and relief when I return to a beloved tree, who stands, waiting always, for her friend to sing her a song. Time passes in our lives, and on the Earth, as she spins through space around our sun. We have many ways of measuring time- watches, calendars, birthdays, anniversaries, women’s moon cycles, births, deaths, daylight, darkness, moon phases, constellations, seasons. The plants have always been an exquisite and beautiful way for me to track the shifts in time- over the span of a year and the seasons, and over the longer time frames over years. I await each spring with anticipation- to see the first leaf burst forth from the bud on the trees, and the shining faces of ephemeral wildflowers. I feel the fullness of summer in the heavy weight of heat, and humid air- the expectation of summer thunderstorms, and the glorious release of bounty of fruits, plant medicines, wild foods, and garden produce. I grieve as the trees let their beautiful leaves fall to the ground in autumn, and keep faith in the seeds that fall nestled in the safety of those leaves. I know those trees do not mourn the loss of their leaves, for the shedding of what has passed, nourishes what is yet to come. I feel the deep drawing inward in the dark of winter, and feel the sadness in the long sleep and little death that comes with the first snow- a blanket to protect the bare ground through the darkness and chill.
The world is always speaking to us, and the language I understand is that of the plants, the trees, the roots and seeds- and the visceral way I experience and sense the world in my body, in my spirit and my natural urges. My body is of this earth, my bones made from the eons of mineral rocks ground to soil, my waters of the salty brined sea, my passions tied to the firey core of her, my breath fed from the respiration of the trees, my body nourished from each morsel of plant, animal and air that has existed. When I feel the anguish of loss, the sharp knife of anger, the ecstasy of passion, the sweetness of presence and peace- I go to her. I give of myself to her. She holds me- she makes me. Earth. I am.
Weaving the Wheel of the Year
Do you feel the seasonal shifts of the Earth in your heart, bones, and spirit?
Are you yearning to find meaningful ways to connect with and honor these energies of the Earth and your spirit?
Do you have a sense that the power and magic of the Earth and the plants is something you could tap into for your healing and well being?
Do you notice the ways that certain plants seem to become more vibrant and powerful at different times of the year?
Would you like to learn practical and effective ways to nourish and prepare your body, your home, and your spirit to live in tune with these seasonal cycles and shifts through food, herbal medicine, ritual, and community?
Do you feel like a kitchen goddess, who enjoys brewing up pots of soup, creative meals, herbal brews, and magical potions for your family and friends?
Are you ready to dive whole-heartedly into all this and more?
Then join me on a powerful journey deep into the medicine and power of the seasonal shifts that our beloved home, Earth, moves through each year. I have spent many years as an herbalist wandering the wild lands of the west- the deserts and mountains, and the east- forests and fields, watching, sensing, and learning about how the seasons, and the seasonal shifts effect our biology, our spirits, and our life journey. I have sat with the plants and learned so much from them through personal experience and communion. They have shared how to spiral into the energy of each season with plant medicine, with appropriate foods, with ritual and ceremony, and nature awareness. My life has been deeply changed and fully nourished by sitting on the Earth and feeling her power and her moods. Now I would like to share this experience and journey with you- so that you too may be deeply nourished from Gaia’s healing plants, foods and energies.
In this unique program you will receive an in-depth, hands on and heart-centered lesson and herbal medicine for each quarter and cross quarter day for a full year. That is 8 lessons and 8 seasonally appropriate herbal medicines to help you balance and attune to the energies of the earth happening around you and within you. Plus access to a community of like minded spirits, and specific practices and suggestions for you from me as you explore!
You will recieve every 6 weeks (8 times per year):
- 1 seasonally appropriate herbal medicine to help you attune and adjust to the seasonal energy (2 oz tincture, 2 oz tea, 1 plant or flower essence, 2 oz oil or salve)
- 1 surprise gift for your ceremony, practice or celebration of each season
- A lesson jam packed with information about the seasonal energies present at each quarter and cross quarter day, plants and herbal medicines that can support you in each seasons energy and work, seasonally appropriate activities to do alone or with your family, journaling questions and more.
- Periodic emails highlighting special natural events, shifts, and resources as you work within the program.
- Access to a private community web space to share your discoveries, challenges and inspirations and stay in touch through the years changes.
- A private teleconference for participants only each 6 weeks with Darcey on a seasonally appropriate topic and Q&A session.
If you are ready to discover your deep and powerful connections with the rhythms of the Earth and her seasons through herbal medicine, healing foods, and time spent on the Earth, then join me today for this amazing journey!
Program begins on Imbolc/St. Brighid’s Day, February 1, 2012 and continues through mid January 2013. Space is limited in this unique and transformative journey, and will close early if all the spaces fill before the deadline!
Registrations accepted through Jan 15, 2012.
Early Bird Registration Bonus
If you register before December 15, 2011, you will receive a very special welcome gift perfect for getting you started on your path to deepening connection with the rhythms of the Earth. Don't delay! Spots are limited in this exciting offering! Save yours today!
Elements of Wildness
In my element with dirt and stone, crow and madrone.
Feeding an inner flame that burns in everything.
I am no longer tame.
In every creature a wildness teacher.
Wind in the pine whispers to me that it is time
to shed the tears and break the bonds of fear.
When the wildness calls the flame won't be quenched,
it is fed with each and every breath.
Now my wild heart is burning, my being is yearning
to embrace the call
and dance with the wildness in all.
