(Earth Wisdom Medicine)

                                      -Discovering your place in the natural world-

                               

                                 Oregon 2024 & "Colorado more info below"

 

We invite you to join us for a series of 3 - Four-day immersive retreats, exploring Earth Wisdom Medicine. These small-group experiential learning immersion retreats are open to a maximum of 10 people; this is so everyone can be fully engaged, creating a family-like connection with the plants and each other. 

 

These retreats are not simply herbal educational trips – these events will focus on allowing the land and the plants to lead the way –  providing space for healing, personal growth, discovery and community bonding, by tapping into the intuitive and synchronistic practices of “discovering new” scents, aromas, tastes, sounds and energies of our surroundings.

 

What to Expect:

 

During our time together we will focus on the subtle energies of the plants and the land we will be inhabiting. We will be sitting directly with the plants in their natural habitat, embracing all they have to teach us. We will listen deeply and tune into the subtle world of plant spirit medicine. We will do this through: group plant meditations, sitting directly with the plants, tea circles, dream journey work, or other inspired insightful experiments guided by the plants. This is a form of surrendering to the flow, allowing mother earth, nature, and the elements to work their magic. 

 

These trips can be very transformative and healing, bringing each of us closer to ourselves. That being said we will intentionally be in situations that are out of our normal comfort zones (meaning, we will be camping without the normal comforts of life including using a pit toilet and rivers, lakes or outdoor shower for bathing, and dealing with things like bugs and getting dirty – this is all a part of the process of connecting with nature). This helps to loosen up stuck energies allowing for a deep transformation and change to take place. Working in this way creates an imprint of the teaching upon our being, allowing us to have a deeper understanding of the way “medicinal” plants work. By spending quality, focused time in the natural world we are able to witness these subtle energies and ways of healing.

 

This retreat is also a lesson in living and working together in community. Our hope is to grow our herbal community. It is important to create meaningful relationships and connections that will continue to grow after the retreats are finished.

 

DETAILS:

 

3 weekends: We will meet up in different wild areas throughout the beautiful state of Oregon, where we will be setting up our own little camping paradise. We will meet Wednesday evening and depart on Sunday early afternoon.

 

Intentions: We ask that everyone sets an intention for what they seek for themselves during our time together. Having an intention allows for one to have a compass to find your way when things get difficult. It also brings focus to what it is you are striving to achieve. 

 

Plant spirit medicine/meditation: A potent way to connect with the energetic essence of plants, we will do this through: group plant meditations, sitting directly with the plants, tea circles, dream journey work, or other inspired insightful experiments guided by the plants.

 

Hikes: Hiking is a part of this journey (Although not super strenuous, we expect participants to be able to hike at least 3-5 miles mostly on trails with some off trail travel to get to the plants we are going to be working with.) There is something about walking through the forest, soaking in the sounds, smells, and energy. It is a form of walking meditation and a great way to set the stage for working with our plant friends.

 

Sharing circle: Sharing is an intimate and sacred way of expressing our experiences. It is a way for us all to support each other as this work can be really moving. Sharing with each other allows us to develop a sense of community, practicing being vulnerable in a supportive setting, and being witnessed by our fellow plant warriors. It is also a great way for us all to learn from each other.  

 

Respectful Wildcrafting: We will learn the proper ways to respectfully harvest medicine from the land, along with the best way to go about harvesting different plants, during what times of year, best locations, plant identification, and logistics about where you can/cannot, or should/should not, wildcraft. This is one of my favorite ways to connect with and learn from the plants. We will only be harvesting from large stands of plants on these trips, just enough to learn and make a small amount of medicine as a group.

 

Medicine Making: We’ll learn about making tinctures, salves, oxymels, syrups, decoctions vs infusions, medicated oils, juicing herbs, herbs as food, herbal fermented foods, and traditional uses. You will walk away with different medicines of each of the herbs we work with to help fill your herbal apothecary.

 

Herbal energetics: Learn about how the energetics of herbs and people work together, how to use these energetics to help find the best herbal allies for you, your family, and friends.

 

Materia Medica: For every plant we work with we will discuss it in great detail. We’ll learn about its history, including folklore and myth, exploring the traditional and medicinal qualities, touch on indigenous uses, learn the botany and ecosystems in which they grow, the best ways to make medicine, and any other uses or stories to be shared.

 

Herbal First Aid: Knowing what plants and extracts to have with you at all times in the forest or traveling is important. We will explore what it is that we bring with us and also what plants we can use in the wild in the case of an emergency.

 

Forest bathing, Community connection, Times of Silence, 

And much much more...

 

For those who are coming to more than one retreat –

 

Monthly Plant Diets: Everyone will choose one plant to work with in-between our gatherings. We will then share our experiences with each other in the next gathering. I’ve found that this is one of the best ways to really get to know and befriend a plant ally. This practice is done in many different traditions, especially in the Amazon. There really isn't a better way to learn than to learn from the plants themselves and then share those experiences with each other.

 

And much much more...

 

Cost: We are offering a pay what you can sliding scale, starting at $400 per event, or $1000 for all 3 immersions

 

Cost includes: Campsite fees, Materia Medica monographs, herbal tinctures, recipes and other notes.  

 

Food: We will be doing potluck style meals. The idea is to focus on pure clean food with limited spice. As fatty, spicy, and rich food dull our senses which in turn make it harder for us to connect with the subtle energies of the forest and the plants. You will receive more information on this as we get closer to our departure date.

 

Packing list: You will receive a detailed list on what to and not to bring with you.

 

Caveats: We will not be allowing people to bring dogs or friends with them. Also we request no use of alcohol, marijuana, or any other substances while you are with us.

 

You will be asked to sign a liability waiver and a wildcrafting agreement.

 

2024 Event Dates & Locations:

 

May 30 - June 2: Willamette Valley/ or Southern Oregon 

 

June 27- 30: Ochoco NF/ or Mt. Hood/ or Three Sisters

 

July 18-21: Mt Hood/ Ochoco NF/ or Three Sisters

 

**All locations may change depending on fire season or weather**

 

 

 

                                             Colorado 2024

                                              August 22-25

              Connecting in beautiful high country of the Rocky Mountains

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This special retreat is a collaboration with my dear friend Linz from sex plants rock n roll. The format will be similar to our Oregon retreats with a few Colorado twists :-)

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- Yoga: We will start each day with morning yoga with Linz.

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-Herbal skin care with Linz

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-Hot springs!!

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-Colorado trip cost is $550 and Cost includes: Campsite fees, Hot spring fees, Materia Medica monographs, herbal tinctures, skin care products, and recipes/ notes.

 

Any questions and to sign up- please send me an email: jameskeskimaki@gmail.com