9:00 AM - 4:00 pm Saturday & Sunday August 2 & 3
Ithaca NY
Cost: $200- some scholarships/work trade available- contact me
Tribal shamans in many parts of the world are masters of herbal healing, and often work shamanically with the plant spirits. When asked where their herbal knowledge comes from they frequently say, "The plants taught us." Even shamans who are not herbalists may work with plant spirits or use plants for “smudging” and in ceremonies, a widespread practice among shamanic peoples. Such plants are sacred—sage, tobacco, juniper, rhododendron, and mugwort are just a few of the plants used worldwide in these ways.
Bekki and many of her students have found that plant spirits are powerful allies in healing work and have much to teach the shamanic student and practitioner. All students of shamanism, regardless of the focus of their work, can benefit from exploring connections with the plant world. The plants support and nurture our bodies and our spirits as we navigate our life journeys on Mother Earth.
The workshop is a blend of lecture, discussion, journey work, medicine making and ceremony that takes the participants into the lands of Spirit, into the herb gardens, and into the herbalist's kitchen, so they may experience plant energies on many levels. The workshop is taught at Medicine Springs Farm’s herb garden in Ithaca NY (with over 150 medicinal plants in cultivation).
Participants will:
• learn about traditional plants of power
• journey with plant spirits and form “ally” connections with them
• receive healing teachings from their plant allies and other allies
• learn to harvest herbs respectfully and consciously in a shamanic way
• learn to make herbal tinctures, salves and flower essences, and start their own herbal medicine chest
• learn some basics for growing herbs, and get a “starter kit” of herb plants from the Medicine Springs gardens to take home, if they wish (Bekki grows over 150 medicinal herbs in her garden, and many of them reseed in the garden.)
Knowledge of shamanic journey work is required. Please bring drums or rattles if you have them, a journal or notebook, and a comfortable chair or blankets/yoga mat for journeying. We will also be making tinctures and salves- contact Bekki for the modest supply list of materials to bring with you. Wear comfortable clothing. We will be outside much of the time. Lunch is potluck. Tea is provided. You may want to bring snacks.
Bekki Shining Bearheart’s love of plant medicine was inherited from grandparents and parents, and has been nurtured by 5+ decades of gardening and 3 decades of herbal study. She has been a shamanic healer and teacher since the early 1980s, co-founding the Church of Earth Healing, a shamanic ministry, in 1990, with her partner Crow Swimsaway, and has found the plants to be some of her strongest friends and allies.
Testimonials:
“I took Bekki’s plant spirits class twice, first as a separate advanced shamanic class, then as part of the shamanic apprenticeship. Both times were a really magical experience, in large part due to Bekki’s special relationship with plants and her devotion to tending to them and working with their unique healing qualities. She really helped open my connection to the beings of the plants, which increased my confidence in using plants for healing in my everyday life.”
Fran Struve-Entelis
The latest scientific research shows just how little we’ve been aware until now of what plants can offer, from their many healing qualities to an evolving understanding of their consciousness, for example, in mycelial networks in fungus.
Yet we have always had an ancient shamanic knowledge about plants: their spiritual energies and message for us. Taking Bekki’s plant spirit workshop was an amazing experience, opening me to the many deep realities of the plant world and offering me profound insight and healing. Bekki is an amazingly gifted and experienced teacher, with a great knowledge of the plant world. I highly recommend this transformative workshop.
Dr Chris Forester, Psychotherapist
Chair , National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (UK)
This is a very grounding experience, this workshop gave me a deep connection to the earth and an understanding of plants that I was surprised and amazed by. It was so nice to spend quality time with the sweet energy of our green kin!
David Russell, Athens Ohio
Also check out other Workshops in Ithaca, Food & Drink events in Ithaca.
