Spring Medicinal Plant Walk Schedule for 2012

Mark your calendars now friends- the dates for the spring 2012 medicinal plant walks have been set! register for one, or save money and register for 4 at once with a savings of $20!

Desert Valley Early Spring

February 18, 2012 

9 am – 1 pm  - $30

Foothills Late Spring

March 10, 2012   9 am– 1 pm  - $30

Desert Valley Trees

April 21, 2012  9 am – 1 pm  - $30

Mid-elevation Mountains

May 19, 2012  9 am– 1 pm -  $30

Mountain Tree Walk

June 2, 2012  8 am– 2 pm -  $40

Directions and location upon registration, but we'll be staying in the low desert exploring the washes and desert foothills!


Want to join in the plant walks every month?
Pre-Register for 4 walks for just $25 a piece! $100 total- join any plant walk scheduled in the next year!

4 Plant Walks- $100

Class: Love Medicines: Herbs for the Heart, Love, & Romance

Class: Love Medicines: Herbs for the Heart, Love, & Romance

Friday, February 10, 2012, 7:00 -9:00 PM

The Power of 9

729 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ 

Join herbalist Darcey Blue for an evening exploring and experiencing the plants that serve us in our LOVE. Plants can help us center our consciousness in the heart, open the heart to love, heal and soothe heartaches, stoke the fires of love and passion, and increase the power of the senses.

Come learn about these special plants, essences, aromas and foods that are heart healers, heart allies & aphrodisiacs and how they can support your heart in Love and beyond. We will be tasting and experiencing the herbs first hand!  Be prepared for a sensual treat!

$35

Prepayment and register by contacting Darcey Blue -shamana.flora@gmail.com

Class:The Art of Healing Herbal Tea

The Art of Healing Herbal Tea

Saturday, February 4, 2012, 2:00 pm - 5:30pm

The Power of 9

729 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ 

Join herbalist Darcey Blue for an afternoon learning the secrets of blending delicious and effective herbal tea blends for daily nourishment, family wellness, acute care, and pure pleasure! 

We will learn about what kinds of plants are best used in tea form, various tea preparation methods, how to blend for taste, recipes, basic formulation techniques, herbal energetics and each student will get to take home a tea blend that we make during the workshop!

 Plus we'll get a chance to taste various herbs and tea blends! An herbal tea party! Tea making supplies provided at the workshop, please bring your own mug for our tea tasting party!

$35, includes tea making supplies

Prepayment and register by contacting Darcey Blue -shamana.flora@gmail.com

Plant Medicine Journey Circle - January 26, 2012

Plant Medicine Journey Circle - January 26, 2012- 7pm

Join Herbalist and Plant Whisperer Darcey Blue for an evening exploring the world of the plant spirits. Learn about communicating with and understanding the messages and guidance the plants have for us, and using the plants as spiritual healing allies. We will use various techniques to guide us into the ways of the plant spirits, including drum journey, plant essences, sensory experience, and plant oracles. No experience necessary, this circle is open to all, regardless of experience with plants, herbalism or shamanism. We will explore and experience the plants together. We will delve deeply in how to approach and use plant spirit medicine as a healing tool for yourself and loved ones, including how to prepare plant essences, work with plant spirits in journey work, medicine bags, oracles and more. We will work with a new plant each (monthly) session, no two will be alike! Focus will be on plants growing in the Sonoran desert bioregion and Sky Islands!

Offered by Spirit guided donation.

At the Institute for Shamanic Arts in Tucson, AZ

http://www.meetup.com/tucson-circle-for-the-shamanic-arts/

Medicine of the Heart: Cacao Ceremony and Journey

Medicine of the Heart: Cacao Ceremony and Journey

Jan 21, 2012

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Join Darcey Blue, herbalist and plant whisperer, of Blue Turtle Botanicals, for the first healing ceremony for the Heart with the medicine of Cacao. Cacao, in its unrefined state, is a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, and compounds that activate the heart, the blood, the mind, and spirit. The medicine of Cacao is well known in our culture, but has been dulled, refined and watered down. Literally. Come and experience the power of true cacao. There is a reason it has been called ‘Food of the Gods’ and was used regularly by indigenous peoples of the Americas for ceremony. In this heart opening workshop we will sit in circle to create sacred space for this plant spirit and its work, and share a drink of cacao in a form you have likely never tasted before. We will use drum, journey, voice and movement to explore the teachings and healing that Cacao has for YOU at this time. Be prepared for heart opening, recovering/uncovering, deep feeling and engaging the physical senses. Your focus, intention and spirit and heart’s desires will be magnified. Use this time to journey into YOUR heart.

$25
 at The Power of 9

729 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ

Please register by Jan 20, contact Darcey - shamana.flora@gmail.com

the Life Force formula webcast!

Just a heads up to those interested in Ayurveda.  Floracopeia is offering a FREE webcast next week called the Life Force Formula. 


Its totally free, and offered at 3 different times of the day so you can choose the time that works best for you.  Wednesday April 13th 10:00am, 3:00pm, 6:00pm (Pacific Standard Time)


It looks like a great offering and I'll be listening in as well!  
Sign up for the FREE webcast  Life Force Formula from Floracopeia

Path of the Faery Seer Apprenticeship- March 26 & 27- Worcester, VT

I'm sharing this event with you because I have been looking forward to it for months. It needs several more people to register for it to happen, and I'll be kind of devastated if it doesn't happen.  Please share and register ASAP if you are interested.  Registration info is below.

Please join us for...

The Path of the Faery Seer Apprenticeship Series:  Module II

Ancestral Voices: Working with the Spirits of the Dead in Faery Seership

An intensive weekend with Orion Foxwood

March 26^th & 27^th, 2011

Worcester, VT     

$150 ($75 deposit needed immediately)

Attendance at module I is not required, but please contact the coordinator below for further details on preparing to join the existing apprenticeship group; module I material will also be reviewed during the weekend.

About Faery Seership:

Based upon Orion Foxwood’s “Tree of Enchantment,” Faery Seership involves a collection of lore, customs, techniques and prohibitions, which are influenced by the Celtic and pre-Celtic tribes of Europe. It focuses on the living inner common- wealth of the sacred land in the other world. It is a philosophy, way of life and a paradigm through which we, as humans can re-enter alliance with the Earth, other living creatures, the plant/tree kingdom and other races of beings which share the Earth's surface and underworld life with us. Faery Seership is distinct from other magical and spiritual approaches in its philosophy, symbology and use of magical technique. It focuses on preparing self and place for inter-world traveling, entering and exiting a mystical inner/underworld realm, forming alliances and accessing the “Faery Gifts”.

Application of the Faery Seership© principles and techniques allows the student to reweave their awareness into the overall fabric of life and guiding vision of this planet of which we are a part. This re-weaving brings about deep healing of the sense of "abandonment" and "disconnection" that plagues humanity because of the gift of "individuation" and "free-will". Once this is healed, immense magical potential and healing is opened out of their inherent virtue.

About Module 2:

In all folk magic traditions, it is clear that the magic worker must engage and work with the spirits of the human dead (“the ancestors”) before they work with any other spirit being, be they God, Goddess, Angel or Faery. Through this work, the inner senses are developed and the outer ones are extended for perception through the worlds. Traditional Faery practices always involve work with the Ancestors along with the Faery. This workshop will deal with the necromantic aspects of Faery Seership and how we can work with “our spiritual next of kin.”  Our work will focus on ancestral reverence, redemption, partnerships, folk practices, death-bed midwifery, blood voices and other aspects of this branch of the work, including:

The River of Blood and the Cave of Voices

Building the Ancestral Shrine

Souls in pain and the power of redemption

The Door of Parentage

The Gate of Remembrance

The awakening of the blood

The Opening of the Way Rite for Transitioning Work

Faery and Ancestral relationships

The role of the beloved dead in inner world contact and work

Soil as the providence of the dead

The role of the Faery in birth and death transition

Ancestral contacts of the future and past

Ancestral dead and the power of place

Death as a spiritual intelligence

PLEASE NOTE:

A great deal of material and techniques have been covered in earlier sessions of the apprenticeship series. At this point in the training, many of apprentices have been fitting the information into the paradigm and applying the techniques to their spiritual disciplines. This application of the material has stirred questions and inspired changes. This session is to discuss the progress thus far and the process. Orion will also spend time discussing the road ahead and how that fits into the diagrammatic process outlined in the Tree of Enchantment. Participants will have time to discuss their personal process and ask questions. Foundational techniques will be re-visited and practiced within in the group setting, with an emphasis on how they fit into an overall process of transformation through Faery Seership.

DAY 1: Saturday, March 26^th, 10:00 AM -  6:00 PM (includes review of previous teachings)

DAY 2: Sunday, March 27^th,  10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

HOUSING AND MEALS:

Lodging and meals are the responsibility of the participant. Many participants live in the Worcester, VT area and are willing to host. Let the organizer know if you need a place to stay or would like a B&B or hotel recommendation. We will bring our own lunches and may have a potluck dinner on Saturday. Details to follow upon registration.

PAYMENT INFORMATION:

Make checks payable to "House of Brigh"; contact organizer for address.

via Paypal:  Info@OrionFoxwood.com

Please Note:  Space is limited. A 50% deposit ($75) is required to hold your spot and should be sent ASAP as of this mailing.  Deposits are non-refundable, unless the course is cancelled.

House of Brigh is a teaching and apprenticeship school established to offer quality and in-depth teaching for those who wish to develop further their natural ability resident in the blood for the arcane arts.  Through workshops and intensives, practitioners learn to cultivate an inner practice to grow these gifts. The teachings offered by House of Brigh include in-depth teachings in Conjure, Cunning Craft, Traditional Witchcraft,  Seership and spiritual maturation techniques from seasoned practitioners developed specifically for people who walk between the realms.

For more information about Orion or House of Brigh, visit www.OrionFoxwood.com.

To register, contact Larken Bunce at 802-272-9933, by March 5^th.

Medicine Crow Live Herbal Retreat!

I'm writing today to tell you about an amazing event event being offered by Floracopeia.  It is called Medicine Crow Live May 3 - 8 2011, a week long retreat in California with David Crow, and leading herbalists and Ayurvedic practitioners for a one of a kind gathering and learning experience.  It is hosted at the beautiful Shady Creek Retreat center, and the registration fee covers both your lodging (camping or dormitory style) and delicious locally grown meals for the entire week!    The week long retreat is $1250, but for a limited time early registration fee is ONLY $850!  That's a $400 discount.  And I've given you an extra incentive to register early.  Below you will find a gift card with a special code that you can enter for an additional $100 off the registration price.  They even have an option for two payments over time.   But you will want to act quickly if you are interested in attending, this special price is only available for a short time, and the event is almost certain to fill up.

Morning yoga classes, delicious wholesome and locally grown meals, herbalists and plant lovers, a week of intensive education and learning, and amazing teachers like David Crow, David Frawley, John Douillard, Jill Stansbury, Richo Cech & Yogini Shambavi.  

Hoping the Spring finds you healthy, happy and full of life.  You can find out more about the event and registration by following the links below, or by going to Medicine Crow Live Event Details .

Wishing you all the best!

Darcey Blue

A World-Class Gathering of Teachers, Healers & Visionaries Continuing the Tradition of Extraordinary Floracopeia Retreats Event Details and Registration

Discovering Herbalism :Classes in Avon, Maine

January 29-30, February 19-20, March 12-13, April 23-24, May 14-15

Summer and Autumn Dates TBA

$100 - $150/month, payment plans and thoughtful barter proposals will gladly be considered.

Sean Donahue and Darcey Blue French are offering an opportunity for beginning and intermediate herbalists to develop or deepen their relationships with the healing plants of New England through a series of weekend intensives at our home in Avon, ME.

Through lectures and discussions, readings, meditations, ceremony, and direct experience, participants will learn about:

* Listening to and learning directly from the plants themselves

* The art and ethics of wildcrafting

* Making herbal medicines

* Understanding the energetics of herbal medicine and of the human body

* Nourishing the body, mind, and spirit

* Therapies for chronic and acute injury and disease

* Working with plants in ceremony and magic

* Plant identification and Materia Medica

* Establishing herb gardens

For more information or to register, e-mail herbalists@brighidswellherbs.com

Floor space and limited couch or bed space will be available for those traveling. 

Breakfast will be provided.  Lunch and dinner will be potluck.

Journey of Heart: Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference 2010

Last week I made a long anticipated journey back to the Southwest, the land I called home for so long to attend the first annual Traditions In Western Herbalism Conference at Ghost Ranch.  The conference was the dream child of two people who have deeply transformed my life on so many levels, Wolf  and Kiva Rose of the Anima Center.    From the beginning so many moons ago, it was clear this would be a unique and outstanding event, unlike any other. 

I was deeply honored to be included in the select group of teachers and presenters this first year-  Including my teachers Paul Bergner and Rosemary Gladstar, long time friends and collegues like Jim McDonald, Phyllis Hogan, and Margi Flint, and herbalists I've long admired and turned to over and over for information and insight like Matt Wood, Phyllis Light, and Charles Garcia.  I got to meet and hang out with new friends from all over, including HerbMentor founder John Gallagher, Howie Brownstien, Seven Song and Corey-Pine Shane.  Every single teacher and presenter there was truly gifted and offered deep teachings on so many levels. 

A long journey westward with Sean ended with a late night driving to the Albuquerque airport to pick up the last of the featured speakers.  I didnt get much sleep between caffiene overload and nerves, but prepared to give my own presentation first thing on Friday morning.  I spoke about Nourishing the Wild Self- what it means to really nourish deeply on levels of the self, not just the biochemical, but the spiritual, social and community levels, and how the choices we make about food can in turn nourish the land we live on and the wild Earth that provides for us everything.  If you missed my talk at the conference, I'll be posting some writing in a similar vein very shortly.  They also managed to video and audio record the entire session, so avail yourself of the recordings for sale of the entire shin dig!

It was truly amazing to be able to share something I feel so passionate about with students, collegues and friends in such an amazing environment.  Each and every one there was engaged and enthused and countless comments about how the subject matter touched individuals in various ways were more than reward for the long journey and agonizing hours I spent formulating and calculating just how to deliver the topic ( which of course flew out the window when I sat down with that group of eager folk!).  

Afterward,  I prepared to just relax, visit with friends new and old and attend the other speakers presentations and teachings.  Evenings were full with stunning entertainment and moonlit sandstone rock formations and massive star studded skies. Being back in the desert southwest was like coming home...to a land that is sacred and infused into my cells and bones, to a family of people and plants I hadn't seen in too many months.  Of course just being there, in the presence of that land and the memories was emotionally intense for me, feeling all the heartache of leaving a home and people I loved for a new life on the other side of the country.  Moving on to new places and experiences is never an easy thing, but I'm deeply grateful for everything I've taken from my time in the desert over the years, the ways that I found myself, the ways that I learned from the land and the plants, the friends and family.  I shed more than a few tears over the course of the weekend.

Really, hard to describe how it felt, but it was like everyone there was on equal ground- as healers, herblaists, plant people, wild ones, and explorers.  No one was left out, the community energy was phenomenal, and I'm still having withdrawl pangs from being in such a wonderful open and outstanding community of herbalists, movers and shakers.

The underlying mission of the TWHC organizers and conference is to further the growth and strength of Grassroots herbalism.  The village herbalists, and unsung heros of communities all over who are working every day with people of all walks of life bringing healing and wholing to bodies, hearts, minds and communities.  It isn't about having certain letters after your name, or how long you've studied, or what plants you use, but about really doing the work, and keeping the flame of traditional healing alive.   This is just the kind of movement we need as governments tighten down on "alternative" medicine, increase regulation of health care, food /agriculture and societal norms.  No, we won't back down, we won't go away and we will get up again and again. 

The point is here- if you missed this years conference,  make sure not to miss it next year.  Though I won't be speaking next year, you can be sure I'll be there to attend and tend to this miraculous energetic community of healers and wholers!  I hope to see you there!

The Magic and Medicine of Plants: A Year-Long Online Herbal Course

with Darcey Blue French and Sean Donahue
November 1, 2010 - October 31, 2011

Plants are our ancestors and teachers.

Throughout history, people have looked to them for healing, guidance, and transformation.

In this year long course, herbalists Sean Donahue and Darcey Blue French will help you connect with the wisdom, magic, and living medicine of the plants growing around you.


Through online lectures and discussions, readings, meditations, ceremony, and direct experience, you will learn about:

* Listening to and learning directly from the plants themselves
* The art and ethics of wildcrafting
* Making your own herbal medicines
* Understanding the energetics of herbal medicine and of the human body
* Nourishing the body, mind, and spirit
* Therapies for chronic and acute injury and disease
* Working with plants in ceremony and magic

Students will receive twelve monthly lessons; eight mini-lessons exploring how the Equinoxes, Solstices, and Cross-Quarter Days provide us with opportunities to connect with the life cycle of the plants; and individual support and guidance from Darcey and Sean.

Tuition will be $75 a month (or $750 if you pay for the entire year in advance.) Students will also be expected to purchase herbs and books for the course.

Please register by Oct 25 2010.  herbalists@brighidswellherbs.com

ABOUT THE TEACHERS:

Darcey Blue French is an herbalist & nutritionist, wildcrafter, gardener, food lover, Earth lover and wild woman. She was trained as a Clinical Herbalist & Nutritionist at the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism under Paul Bergner, and studied under Rosemary Gladstar and Charlie Kane. Darcey has been using and learning from the plants, both wild and cultivated since childhood, and it is her deep love of the wild Earth and its creatures that fuels her passion for healing and teaching about plants, wilderness, spirit, nourishment and healing. She spends her time leading Edible and Medicinal Wild Plant walks, Plant Spirit Medicine groups, teaching herbal and nutritional classes and intensives both in person and online, creating nourishing and delicious meals, wildcrafting and making medicines from the plants, seeing clients and enjoying the wild places on the earth.

Darcey practices in the the Vitalist tradition of herbalism, which fosters the interconnection and nourishment of body, mind, and spirit. Through the use of nutrition, herbal formulas, flower essences, and connection with nature, she aims to support the vitality of all aspects of the human being.

Darcey is passionate about food that nourishes the body and spirit, and tastes wonderful too. She works closely with plants, both wild and cultivated that provide food and medicine. She is an avid forager of wild foods and , gardener of organic vegetables, and is passionate about local and sustainable food systems, and how our relationship with the land, nature and wilderness impacts our physical and spiritual health and wellbeing. She truly believes that one cannot separate the health of the people from the health of the ecosystem in which they live, nor the well-being of the body from that of the mind & spirit.

Sean Donahue is an herbalist, poet, activist, and witch committed to healing and transformation through connection with the living Earth.

As an herbalist, Sean works primarily with the wild plants of the forests and fields of New England. He views the plants as teachers, helping the body, mind, and spirit learn to correct imbalances that stand in the way of health.

As a teacher, poet, and ritualist, Sean works to connect people with their own wild nature and with the life of the world around them.

As an activist and journalist he has documented the human and environmental impacts of U.S. policies in Latin America, organized against nuclear power and nuclear weapons, trained hundreds of activists in techniques of nonviolent resistance, helped military families tell the stories of how the war in Iraq impacted their lives, and advocated for the rights of medical marijuana patients.

He believes that personal, community, and cultural healing are all deeply intertwined with the healing of our planet.

Talking to Trees: Herbal Medicine of the Tree Nation -JULY 17

Upcoming classes in New Fairfield, CT at Great Hollow Wilderness School!

Talking with Trees - July 17

Join Herbalists Darcey Blue French and Sean Donahue for a day long exploration of the Tree Nation. Learn about trees in their natural habitats on the land, explore the folklore and traditional knowledge of tree symbolism, medicinal uses of various parts of trees (leaves, flowers, fruits, bark and twigs), harvesting and preparation of tree medicines. Be prepared for a rambling walk outside, both in sun and shade, mud and rocks to explore the trees.
Fee: $62.50; materials fee $15

Register by contacting Great Hollow Wilderness School

*Advanced cash only materials fee and $25 deposit is required. 10% discount for multiple classes.*

~ All classes from 9 am to 3 pm ~

For information call Great Hollow Wilderness School 203-746-5852

Thanks and please spread the word!

Flower Essences -July 18

Join Herbalists Darcey Blue French and Sean Donahue for a day among the flowering plants of New England. On our journey learning about the plants growing, we will devote ourselves to learning the techniques for making our own Flower Essences, energetic medicine of the flowers. Learn how to make and use flower essences, and how to listen to a plant and prove flower essence indications in a group setting. Includes Plant Spirit Journey.
Fee: $62.50; materials fee $15


Register by contacting Great Hollow Wilderness School

*Advanced cash only materials fee and $25 deposit is required. 10% discount for multiple classes.*

~ All classes from 9 am to 3 pm ~

For information call Great Hollow Wilderness School 203-746-5852

Thanks and please spread the word!

Online Course Announcement: Stress: The Vitalist Perspective

STRESS: A VITALIST PERSPECTIVE
an online seminar with Sean Donahue
July 12 - August 30
$150

Our bodies have developed an amazing set of responses to help us respond to danger.

But life in our fast-paced society puts many people perpetually on edge -- and that constant stress throws us out of balance with serious consequences for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

In this seminar we will explore herbal and nutritional strategies for supporting the body, mind, and spirit in times of extreme stress -- and helping bodies that have been under stress for a long time remember how to relax into a natural state of relaxation that allows for healing and rejuvenation.

The emphasis will be on nourishing the body, identifying and removing "obstacles to cure," and supporting the body's natural healing processes.

Topics covered will include:

-- The Biology and Energetics of Stress
-- Nourishing the Adrenals
-- Nourishing the Nervous System
-- Understanding Adaptogens from a Vitalist Perspective
-- Stress and Physical Tension
-- Acute Anxiety
-- Trauma and Anxiety

I am open to considering payment plans and thoughtful barter, but all such requests must be received by July 5.

To register, e-mail seandonahuepoet@gmail.com
________________________________________________________
About the instructor:

Sean Donahue is a traditional herbalist, poet, activist, and witch committed to healing and transformation through connection with the living Earth. As an herbalist, Sean works primarily with the wild plants of the forests and fields of New England. He views the plants as teachers, helping the body, mind, and spirit learn to correct imbalances that stand in the way of health. As a teacher, poet, and ritualist, Sean works to connect people with their own wild nature and with the life of the world around them. He believes that personal, community, and cultural healing are all deeply intertwined with the healing of our planet.

Wild Medicine Intensive - June 26- 27 2010

This class needs a few more people to sign up for it in order to run, so if you are on the fence, now is the time to take action! Please share this information with anyone you know who would be interested.
This class is happening at Great Hollow Wilderness School. Great Hollow is a special piece of land with 800+ acres of wild forest, wetland, meadow, stream and garden habitats in New Fairfield, CT. You wouldn't believe the quantities and varieties of medicinal and edible plant allies growing there. You won't want to miss this opportunity!

In addition there are 4 more herbal classes being offered this summer! Check them out!

Advanced cash only materials fee and $25 deposit is required. 10% discount for multiple classes.
For information call Great Hollow Wilderness School 203-746-5852
Great Hollow is a program of the Regional YMCA of Western CT

WILD MEDICINE INTENSIVE

Join Herbalist, Wildcrafter and plant lover Darcey Blue French for a weekend intensive learning to identify, harvest, and turn our wild, local medicine plants into useful medicines to stock the pantry! Learn how to make tinctures, elixirs, syrups, honeys, oils, linaments, salves, teas, decoctions, poultices and compresses. Explore the best times to use which type of medicine and also unique ways to use plant medicine including medicinal smudging, herbal bathing and more! This workshop will combine time in the outdoors learning about the plants we will be using and harvesting in their natural environment, along with time in the kitchen concocting herbal potions and medicines, and learning about how to process and store the plants. No previous herbal experience required, just an open mind and a willingness to get up close and personal with the plants. Supplies provided. Materials fee 25$ Class Fee: $125

Summer Herbal Healing Classes in SW Conneticut!

For all my New England plant friends, I'm offering the following herbal classes at Great Hollow Wilderness School in New Fairfield, CT this summer! The first is next weekend, but there is still time to sign up! Please register with Great Hollow directly and spread the word to anyone interested in learning about herbal medicine. Perfect for beginning and intermediate students!



Wild Medicine Intensive ~ June 26 & June 27
During this weekend intensive learn to identify, harvest and turn our wild local medicinal plants into useful remedies to stock the pantry. Fee: $125; materials fee: $25

Talking with Trees ~ July 17
In this day-long exploration of the Tree Nation, learn about trees in their natural habitats; explore folklore and tree symbolism; medicinal uses of various parts of trees and harvesting and preparation of tree medicines.
Fee: $62.50; materials fee $15


Flower Essences ~ July 18
Spend a day among the flowering plants of New England. Learn the techniques for making your own Flower Essences, the energetic medicine of the flower. Fee: $62.50; materials fee $15

The Herbal Kitchen ~ July 24
Explore your pantry! Learn about the spices and ingredients you already have at home and how they can be used to make effective home remedies for your family. Fee: $62.50; materials fee $15

Intensive Medicinal Plant Walk – July 25
Explore our forests, fields, rivers and gardens and learn about the medicinal, edible and functional uses of New England native plants and common weeds. Fee: $62.50


Advanced cash only materials fee and $25 deposit is required. 10% discount for multiple classes.
For information call Great Hollow Wilderness School 203-746-5852
Great Hollow is a program of the Regional YMCA of Western CT


Thanks and please spread the word!

Green Man Rising: Recovering the Wild Masculine

Here's a beautiful oppurtunity to reenvision our ideas about masculinity and gender. Sean is insightful and wise and you wont want to miss this opportunity!
Darcey


GREEN MAN RISING: Recovering the Wild Masculine
An Online Intensive with Sean Donahue
June 21 - August 1
Sliding Scale $150 - 200

The face of the Green Man, leaf-bearded god of regeneration, appeared etched in stone churches throughout Europe well into the early modern period. The stories surrounding him have largely vanished, but he is widely understood to represent the irrepressible virility of the wild -- its rebirth in spring from the seeds that fall from dying plants in the fall, and its survival in the face of attempts to contain it and push it back. And he represents the vital force of the wild masculine -- before patriarchy bound ideas of masculinity to ideas of violence and domination.

Any attempt to transform our culture has to take into account the need to redefine and reshape masculinity, to provide channels for masculine energy to flow that meet and match and dance with the incredible strength of the feminine rather than seeing to subjugate it.

In this intensive, we will work with myth, magic, poetry, and direct experience of the living world to re-imagine masculinity and reclaim our own relationship to the wild masculine within us and within the people around us.

This class is open to people of all genders, sexes, sexualities, gender identities, and gender expressions. We will strive to create an environment of respect and openness where it is safe to take risks and to try on new ideas and identities.

To apply e-mail greenmansean@gmail.com by June 15.

A note on payment:

This class is offered on a sliding scale. The higher end of the sliding scale is intended for those who are regularly able to afford "extras" like restaurant meals, concert tickets, and yoga retreats. If enough people are able to pay at the higher end, I will be able to afford to offer partial scholarships to passionate students who cannot afford even the lower end of the sliding scale.

If you are interested in this course and cannot afford even the lower end of the sliding scale, please contact me and we will endeavor to make an arrangement that is fair to all involved.

_____________________
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Sean Donahue is an herbalist, poet, activist, and witch committed to healing and transformation through connection with the living Earth.

As an herbalist, Sean works primarily with the wild plants of the forests and fields of New England. He views the plants as teachers, helping the body, mind, and spirit learn to correct imbalances that stand in the way of health. As a teacher, poet, and ritualist, Sean works to connect people with their own wild nature and with the life of the world around them. As an activist and journalist he has documented the human and environmental impacts of U.S. policies in Latin America, organized against nuclear power and nuclear weapons, trained hundreds of activists in techniques of nonviolent resistance, helped military families tell the stories of how the war in Iraq impacted their lives, and advocated for the rights of medical marijuana patients.

He believes that personal, community, and cultural healing are all deeply intertwined with the healing of our planet.

Conquering Insulin Resistance Naturally with Nutrition and Herbs: Online Intensive

Conquering Insulin Resistance Naturally with Nutrition and Herbs: Online Intensive

Are you concerned about any of the following modern diseases: Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, trouble losing weight, cardiovascular health concerns, inflammation, cancer. Did you know that all of these are signs and or symptoms of what is called Syndrome X, or Metabolic Syndrome. Underlying the syndrome/symptoms is a metabolic dysregulation called Insulin Resistance. Much to our dismay, this is rampant in the United States, and is causing health problems for millions of people, some without even knowing! Fortunately for us, there are many natural ways of dealing with and controlling insulin resistance through food, nutrition, herbalism and lifestyle changes. Western medicine will tell you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer and throw you a medication to control the symptom, but very rarely does the underlying cause of the symptom get addressed.

Join Herbalist and Nutritionist, Darcey Blue, for an 8 week long online intensive covering all aspects of Insulin Resistance and how to manage it naturally through food, herbs and lifestyle changes. We will cover the following topics.

*Physiology of insulin resistance
*Sugar/carbohydrate cravings and addiction
*Nutrient dense foods and meals that control insulin resistance
*Herbs and Supplements
*appropriate and effective exercise specifically for managing IR
*stress and sleep
*the role of inflammation

This course is specifically helpful for those who are working to manage Insulin Resistance in their own lives, but is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn more about health and the roots of many of today's chronic and rampant diseases, or those working with clients or family members with Insuslin resistance.

You will receive bi-weekly lessons and reading material, suggestions for additional resources, assignments which focus on experiencing first hand the ways you can use the suggestions for Insulin Resistance in your own life, personal attention and coaching from Darcey, a supportive group community all working towards the same goal! Classes are run via e-mail mailing list, and weekly computer access is a requirement for the course.

Class runs from July 5- Aug 30
Cost: Sliding scale $150-$200- payments plans are available
Some additional materials (books, herbs) will be needed for the course.

For more details or questions, or to register contact Darcey (shamana.flora@gmail.com or 520-429-2654)
Payments may be made via check/money order or paypal.


About the Instructor:
Darcey Blue French is an herbalist and food lover, who has over the years explored various ways of eating, interacting with food and preparing food. Educated as a Clinical Herbalist and Nutritionist at the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in 2008, she has been in private practice since that time. She has experience in Ayurvedic Cooking, Vegetarian, Allergen Free, Insulin Resistance diets and the philosophies of Dr. Weston Price. Food is far more than fuel, and Darcey is passionate about food that not only nourishes the body, but also the spirit, and tastes wonderful too. She works closely with plants, both wild and cultivated that provide both food and medicine. She is an avid forager of wild foods, gardener of organic vegetables, and is passionate about local and sustainable food systems, and how our relationship with the land, nature and wilderness impacts our physical and spiritual health and wellbeing. She truly believes that one cannot separate the health of the people from the health of the ecosystem in which they live.

Intense, vibrantly wild and alive!

Traditional Healing for a Modern World: A Week-Long Herbal Intensive

August 2-8 -- Boston, MA
www.commonwealthherbs.com
with Katja Swift, Sean Donahue, Darcey Blue French, Ryan Midura, and Mischa Schuler

Throughout history, most people around the world have depended on the plants around them as medicine for their bodies, minds, and spirits.

Here in New England, we have our own living herbal traditions, drawing from the knowledge and practices of Native American and European herbalists. Each new generation adds its own insights and experiences to the mix.

Come spend a week in Boston learning from practicing herbalists whose work is rooted in Traditional Western Herbalism, informed by science, inspired by the beauty and magic of the living Earth, and grounded in their own direct experience working with the medicine of the wild, feral, and cultivated plants that grow around them.

This intensive will provide beginners with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of herbalism as well as providing more experienced herbalists with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and sharpen their skills.

Topics will include:

-- Herbal energetics and herbal actions
-- Plant identification and ethical wild crafting
-- Nutrition, food allergies, and food as medicine
-- Techniques for making and using tinctures, elixirs, decoctions, infusions, oils, and salves.
-- Clinical skills
-- The language and intelligence of plants

Tuition for the week is $950. Participants will bring a bag lunch and will be responsible for their own lodging.

Teachers include:

Katja Swift -- Katja Swift is an herbalist and teacher working to help adults, children, and families rebuild their relationships with their bodies and with their own ability to heal. By teaching people how to eat real food and use plants as medicine, she helps them to reestablish their connectivity to the earth, to themselves, and to one another. Katja believes that traditional medicine and modern medical practices can coexist as allies, and works to help people make good choices about which methods to use to bring about better health in their own lives. Katja trained with Rosemary Gladstar and later with Guido Masé, and presently runs a family practice in Brookline, MA. She has a beautiful seven-year-old daughter who would like to tell you all about linden, plantain, and dandelion.

Darcey Blue French -- Darcey Blue French is an herbalist & nutritionist, wildcrafter, gardener, food lover, Earth lover and wild woman. She was trained as a Clinical Herbalist & Nutritionist at the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism under Paul Bergner, and studied under Rosemary Gladstar and Charlie Kane. Darcey has been using and learning from the plants, both wild and cultivated since childhood, and it is her deep love of the wild Earth and its creatures that fuels her passion for healing and teaching about plants, wilderness, spirit, nourishment and healing. She spends her time leading Edible and Medicinal Wild Plant walks, Plant Spirit Medicine groups, teaching herbal and nutritional classes and intensives both in person and online, creating nourishing and delicious meals, wildcrafting and making medicines from the plants, seeing clients and enjoying the wild places on the earth.

Sean Donahue -- Sean Donahue is an herbalist, poet, activist, and witch committed to healing and transformation through connection with the living Earth. As an herbalist, Sean works primarily with the wild plants of the forests and fields of New England. He views the plants as teachers, helping the body, mind, and spirit learn to correct imbalances that stand in the way of health. As a teacher, poet, and ritualist, Sean works to connect people with their own wild nature and with the life of the world around them. He believes that personal, community, and cultural healing are all deeply intertwined with the healing of our planet.

Ryan Midura -- Ryan Midura began his formal herbal training with the apprenticeship progam at the Boston School of Herbal Studies, with Katja Swift and Mischa Schuler. He continued with the advanced training program, led by Tommy Priester and Madelon Hope. He's become good friends with sage, solomon's seal, and the salamander living inside ginger; he's learned to feel the kidneys' fire in the pulsing of a wrist. As he develops his attunement to the world green and growing, he looks forward to sharing its gifts with the people all around who are in need of care and compassion, and those who seek to understand the connections from all things to all things.

Mischa Schuler -- Mischa Schuler is a community herbalist specializing in women's reproductive and sexual health . She also counsels on choices around natural contraception and general emotional and physiological health. She works with adolescents to support the menstrual cycle, ease allergies, and improve skin concerns and with children and infants to support the immune system in cold and flu. She has an M.S. in Herbal Medicine from the Tai Sophia Institute and has also studied and worked with Rosemary Gladstar, Deb Soule, and Dr. Mary Bove. She is Adjunct Faculty at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. And she is currently working with Robin Rose Bennett on a national study on the use of Wild Carrot as a contraceptive.

Online Intensive: Food, Energetics and Nourishment

Join Herbalist, Nutritionist, and food lover, Darcey Blue French of Brighid's Well Herbs (www.brighidswellherbs.com), for a 6 week online intensive course on the energetics of food, true nourishment, nutrition, relationship with place and food, nutritional healing and more.

March 15, 2010 - May 3, 2010

*Learn about the ways traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine see food energetics, and use food as healing tools on a day to day basis.
* Explore your relationship with food, your body, what you eat and why.
* Discover your natural physical constitution, and how you can use food to help you stay balanced.
* Be prepared for a deep exploration of food and our relationship to it, this can be uncomfortable and emotional, as well as enlightening and sensual. Food is a deeply influential factor in our psyche, social interactions, and cultures. All students are expected to be sensitive to others and compassionate and respectful.
*Appropriate for food enthusiasts & practitioners alike.
*Very HANDS ON, expect to be preparing foods, meals and weekly assignments for the duration of the course. This is an EXPERIENTIAL class, not just book work. I will provide resources and readings, but the bulk of the work will require the actual preparation and consumption of food.
* This is not a cooking how to class. You should feel comfortable cooking and working in your kitchen. There will be recipes and ideas shared during class discussion, and pointers and questions are always acceptable.
*Requires access to e mail and the internet on a weekly basis. Class discussion is a part of the learning process. Arrangements may be available for those with limited access. Please inquire.

Sliding scale $60-$80 per student, payable by check or paypal. Payment in installments is available by request.

Please register by emailing Darcey at shamana.flora@gmail.com or calling 520 429 2654.



About the Instructor:
Darcey Blue French is an herbalist and food lover, who has over the years explored various ways of eating, interacting with food and preparing food. Educated as a Clinical Nutritionist at the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in 2008, she has been in private practice since that time. She has experience in Ayurvedic Cooking, Vegetarian, Allergen Free, Primal/Paleo diets and the philosophies of Dr. Weston Price. Food is far more than fuel, and Darcey is passionate about food that not only nourishes the body, but also the spirit, and tastes wonderful too. She works closely with plants, both wild and cultivated that provide both food and medicine. She is an avid forager of wild foods, gardener of organic vegetables, and is passionate about local and sustainable food systems, and how our relationship with the land, nature and wilderness impacts our physical and spiritual health and wellbeing. She truly believes that one cannot separate the health of the people from the health of the ecosystem in which they live.