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.

Wise words that need to be shared

Recently my first herbal Teacher, Charlie Kane, who I am deeply indebted to for teaching me about southwestern herbs and wildcrafting wrote a piece about "Image Herbalism." Some of which is true, but most of which is a scathing reprimand of herbalists who differ from him in appearance and spirituality or politics. My other teacher, to whom I'm indebted to for countless other lessons and teachings over the years, Wolf Hardin of the Anima Center, responds in a heartfelt and appropriate way. Thank you to Wolf for speaking for us Gaia-fearing plant whispering Earth Herbalists.

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

July Blog Party: "Adventures in herbalism: What wouldn't we do for our herbs"

I'd love to host a july blog party on the following topic:

"Adventures in herbalism: or What wouldn't we do for our herbs" share with us a story of an adventure you've had collecting/wildcrafting herbs...i.e. collecting hops naked in the rain? hanging off a mountainside for elderberry collecting? eluding curious bystanders? etc etc.

Tell us the lengths you would go to, and do in the name of wildcrafting or growing your favorite herbs. What lengths and sacrifices do the herbs ask you to go to or make? What remarkable adventures have you had while being with the plants? What is the nitty gritty down right fun, dirty and challenging aspect of working with plants in the real world?

If everyone is game Submit links to articles on your blog by July 13! I will post the party July 14 or 15!

you can send them to me (shamana.flora@gmail.com)

:)

have fun adventuring with the plants!

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!

Divine Design within the Imperfection

I returned from my fourth trip to Vermont Prosperity Training this last Sunday evening. It was a good training this time. Each time I am opened more. This time I really wanted to hide and not open because of disclosing my lack of integrity in relationship with money.

I am even reluctant to share it here. What will you think if you know that I am not always in integrity with money?

We had an assignment to choose four ways of changing. One of these ways was....”from tired overwhelm of a mess that’s chaotic, unconscious, frantic, scatter and make wrong”...to....”energetic actions of order and design making priorities and promises that are focused, scheduled and accountable.” In choosing this one, I saw that I could organize my finances and be straight with what I need to pay. What occurred after this was somewhat of a blur. My teacher Toni Stone proceeded to break-down the ego mind with which I was operating and help me to see that I am not fully in integrity with what I said I would do. I truly thought I was doing pretty well up to that point, that I was doing my best. I discovered that I sometimes pretend to be ignorant when really I am not at all.

Later we talked about witnessing these imperfect ways that we are and accepting ourselves as we are. I am learning from this training and also from my prosperity conversations with students that the goal is not to be perfect. The goal is to be vulnerable, to open ourselves to being ourselves. There is a kind of divine design within the imperfection.

May it be in Beauty.

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.

Love in the time of Flowers

This week was a week to fall in love with flowers....and I couldn't help myself but to preserve the flowering bounty in the form of luscious, sweet elixirs. Wild roses and cultivated pink and red roses each in turn became sweetest of heart medicines in pink tinted fragrant rose elixir. In all my years of living in Arizona, I seemed to have a lack of roses in my realm...which was very sad for me. So I'm making up for it now and putting up quart after quart of rose apothecary items - rose elixir, rose vinegar, next up is rose infused oil, and rosehip syrup with the kids at Great Hollow! And another plant ally, that I really did like, but didn't have growing around me in the Arizona climate, was the nutritive and powerful Red Clover. I've been dreaming of red clover infusions all spring, and though I have plans to make a harvest next week in enough quantity for infusions, I've started off with a jar of red clover flower elixir. Her sweet flowers are nutritious, and a gentle remedy for the respiratory tract, lymphatic system and especially helpful for women's fertility. Red Clover is like a triple goddess tonic for women- who need to restore their juiciness and reproductive vitality. She is for the inner goddess of every woman to be nourished deeply with sweetness.

Even sweeter yet, the perfumed air of honeysuckle blossoms beckoned to me at my dear friends home, and I spent the twilight hours picking the amazingly scented blossoms of honeysuckle, for a cooling elixir for overheated systems.

It isn't a plant I've worked with medicinally before, and look forward to exploring its properties and uses, but just the taste and smell of the elixir promise to be delightful in any case. I am grateful for flowers...and the green abundance of this eastern landscape, everywhere I go!

Make New Friends.....

It's been 4 months since I arrived in New England, spring has sprung and summer is almost upon us. I thought I would reflect a little bit on some of the new plant friends I have met in the time I've been here....as an herbalist transplanted from the hot, dry Southwest, the lush, moist greenery of New England has been a deep drink of sustenence. Of course, as the song goes...make new friends, but keep the old..one is silver and the other gold....my golden oldies from the Southwest are still some of my favorite plant allies that I wouldn't want to be without...precious anemone tuberosa, who I was able to get from generous herbalists in Tucson, Tagetes lemmonii (marigold) euphoric and antiiflamatory healer, and the always useful and fragrant larrea tridentata.

But in my efforts to remain a bioregional and wildcrafting herbalist, I will remain most closely dependent and allied with the plants of my new bioregion....
here are some of my new friends
Betula lenta (black birch) and betula allegehenensis (yellow birch) sweet stimulating, relaxing, tonic root beer tree


Hammemelis virginiana (witch hazel) astringent, refreshing tonic for skin and mucous tissues

Rosa multiflora (multiflowered rose) sweet, fragrant sister to rosa rugosa, and soothing to my rose deprived heart

panax trifolius (dwarf gingseng) magical little friend to american ginseng, who greeted me by suprise this spring


Lady's Slipper Orchid who broke my heart open and brought me to my knees with tears in the forest with her tender beauty and emanating love.