Welcome to Module 2 of this medicine journey where we delve into what it feels like, looks like, means to heal our roots with reverence to all that we come from. It is when we grasp at our roots that we begin to uncover the places that ancestor lives within us. Hold that ancestor and ancestral medicine is not something that was taken from us during colonization, rather lives in our DNA and every cell of our being. We begin the journey spiraling to and between our energetic centers [in my traditions known as teotl, in others, the chakras] at las raíces, the root, or muladhara, our foundation, our support, our beginnings. Our journey to our roots brings us to the seeds of our foundation: our ancestors, our basic survival needs, the homes where our ancestors created pieces of our culture, and plant ancestors who gift their bodies + roots so we may heal. We carry nourishment into this sacred meeting. We carry nourishment back into our roots, the source of our immunity.
Plant Ancestors this month
Week 1: Burdock root [Arctium lappa]
Week 2: Cinnamon sticks or powder [Cinnamomum zeylanicum]
Week 3: Reishi mushroom[Ganoderma lucidum]
OPTIONAL: Echinacea [Echinacea spp]
Week 2: Cinnamon sticks or powder [Cinnamomum zeylanicum]
Week 3: Reishi mushroom[Ganoderma lucidum]
OPTIONAL: Echinacea [Echinacea spp]
Week one
Distance Gathering 1
MONDAY May 10, 2021 7-10p EST
WEDNESDAY May 12, 2020 7:30-10:30p EST
SUNDAY, May 16, 2021 6-10p EST
To prepare for session 1 gather
Prepare your space in front of your altar
[minimum have a bowl of water + candle lite]
Journal + writing/drawing tools
Herbal tisane: BURDOCK ROOT [Arctium lappa]
To prepare your herbal tisane bring 1 quart of water to a boil then add the herb material
[fresh or dry] inside the pot of water, allow to simmer for 15 mins minimum with out the lid on
All handouts
Download or print the following handouts:
Muladhara/Root chakra
Burdock root [Plant Profile]
Adaptogenic Herbs
Healing our roots [Botanical cards]
MONDAY May 10, 2021 7-10p EST
WEDNESDAY May 12, 2020 7:30-10:30p EST
SUNDAY, May 16, 2021 6-10p EST
To prepare for session 1 gather
Prepare your space in front of your altar
[minimum have a bowl of water + candle lite]
Journal + writing/drawing tools
Herbal tisane: BURDOCK ROOT [Arctium lappa]
To prepare your herbal tisane bring 1 quart of water to a boil then add the herb material
[fresh or dry] inside the pot of water, allow to simmer for 15 mins minimum with out the lid on
All handouts
Download or print the following handouts:
Muladhara/Root chakra
Burdock root [Plant Profile]
Adaptogenic Herbs
Healing our roots [Botanical cards]
Access Access our distance gathering session 1 via Zoom link: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, WEEKEND
You are encouraged to log on to our Zoom meeting 5-10 minutes before our set gathering time
Monday
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89319948212?pwd=bUhDdGt1NFYvdkZqMEMzaTBSRkNMQT09
Meeting ID: 893 1994 8212
Passcode: seed
Wednesday
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81379949106?pwd=bmZnU0xVVWc2NUpnQ3VmRzJCL29sUT09
Meeting ID: 813 7994 9106
Passcode: seed
Weekend
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87269285806?pwd=alhLZFRkR3dwNmdSVDNXUzh0UFhodz09
Meeting ID: 872 6928 5806
Passcode: seed
May Gathering Recording #1
[link will be available here up to 36hrs after the gathering date via email and on your respective WhatsApp thread]
You are encouraged to log on to our Zoom meeting 5-10 minutes before our set gathering time
Monday
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89319948212?pwd=bUhDdGt1NFYvdkZqMEMzaTBSRkNMQT09
Meeting ID: 893 1994 8212
Passcode: seed
Wednesday
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81379949106?pwd=bmZnU0xVVWc2NUpnQ3VmRzJCL29sUT09
Meeting ID: 813 7994 9106
Passcode: seed
Weekend
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87269285806?pwd=alhLZFRkR3dwNmdSVDNXUzh0UFhodz09
Meeting ID: 872 6928 5806
Passcode: seed
May Gathering Recording #1
[link will be available here up to 36hrs after the gathering date via email and on your respective WhatsApp thread]
Week one
Self-healing practice #1
CONTINUE
Blessing smoke to open/close the day [daily]
Drink 1 quart infusion of a nourishing herb + musculoskeletal herb, if needed [daily]
PLANT JOURNAL
Spend 10 minutes journeying with the spirit and physical [make an herbal tisane/tea, see instructions above] medicine with one our nourishing herbs. You are welcomed to replay my the guided plant meditation during our last session [go to the recording, available on your WhatsApp thread], journey with your own instruments or silence. Spend 5 minutes writing your downloads, messages, images, and the places the plant ancestor went in your body.
At least 1x before we gather. Do not need to meditate or even sit with the plant as a tea, connect as you are called to connect.
Blessing smoke to open/close the day [daily]
Drink 1 quart infusion of a nourishing herb + musculoskeletal herb, if needed [daily]
PLANT JOURNAL
Spend 10 minutes journeying with the spirit and physical [make an herbal tisane/tea, see instructions above] medicine with one our nourishing herbs. You are welcomed to replay my the guided plant meditation during our last session [go to the recording, available on your WhatsApp thread], journey with your own instruments or silence. Spend 5 minutes writing your downloads, messages, images, and the places the plant ancestor went in your body.
At least 1x before we gather. Do not need to meditate or even sit with the plant as a tea, connect as you are called to connect.
GATHER
For Week Two
2 glass jars
menstruum [vodka, brandy, rum, vinegar]
scissors
parchment paper
tape or labels
Plant ancestors for Modules 3-4
minimum 1oz of each for guided plant meditations [leaves you with 4-7 more sits/cups];
4oz+ to make plant medicines with them too
Module 3
Week 1: Raspberry leaf [Rubus idaeus]
Week 2: Mugwort [Artemisia vulgaris]
Week 3: Damiana [Turnera diffusa]
OPTIONAL: Red clover blossoms [Trifolium pratense]*
*most likely be growing in most places in the Northern Hemisphere
Module 4
Week 1: Lemon Balm [Melissa officinalis]
Week 2: Dandelion Root [Taraxacum officinale]
Week 3: Epazote [Dysphania ambrosioides]
For Week Two
2 glass jars
menstruum [vodka, brandy, rum, vinegar]
scissors
parchment paper
tape or labels
Plant ancestors for Modules 3-4
minimum 1oz of each for guided plant meditations [leaves you with 4-7 more sits/cups];
4oz+ to make plant medicines with them too
Module 3
Week 1: Raspberry leaf [Rubus idaeus]
Week 2: Mugwort [Artemisia vulgaris]
Week 3: Damiana [Turnera diffusa]
OPTIONAL: Red clover blossoms [Trifolium pratense]*
*most likely be growing in most places in the Northern Hemisphere
Module 4
Week 1: Lemon Balm [Melissa officinalis]
Week 2: Dandelion Root [Taraxacum officinale]
Week 3: Epazote [Dysphania ambrosioides]
DEEPEN WITH THE ROOT
CHOOSE at least 1 of the following, including the REFLECT
REVIEW
LISTEN
READ
REFLECT
Describe what was present for you during the root/Muladhara meditation
Describe your relationship to your “root.” Who + what lives here for you?
What is your relationship to safety, security and stability? How has this shifted from conception to where you are now?
Acknowledge any fears that are present for you. How do you manage fear, anxiety + stress?
What can you do today to nourishing + strengthen your root?
*
Return to the root meditation, be present in the collective root chakra.
Describe what the collective root is needing. What imbalances, fears, + stresses are present for the collective?
Describe your relationship to your “root.” Who + what lives here for you?
What is your relationship to safety, security and stability? How has this shifted from conception to where you are now?
Acknowledge any fears that are present for you. How do you manage fear, anxiety + stress?
What can you do today to nourishing + strengthen your root?
*
Return to the root meditation, be present in the collective root chakra.
Describe what the collective root is needing. What imbalances, fears, + stresses are present for the collective?
LISTEN
READ
Over the next moon cycle, review one of the identification guides below. These might be plant ancestors that you are familiar with already by sight or by name, or plantitas completely new to you. We begin to practice identification muscles by remembering common plants that lives in our hoods + cities by sight + name. During our Module 2 follow up there will be a short exercise for you to share what you are learning.
*We do not promote the use of the word “weed” to talk about these common plants! Weeds can be a colonized word that promotes the division of people from nature, and nature from people.
PRACTICE
Begin a seasonal plant chart for your region
Go on 1 walk before we gather
Create 1-2 journal entry for both plants you are familiar + unfamiliar with you met on your walks
Feel free to take photos of plants + share them with our group to support you with IDENTIFICATION, also check out the Facebook Group: Plant Identification
Go on 1 walk before we gather
Create 1-2 journal entry for both plants you are familiar + unfamiliar with you met on your walks
Feel free to take photos of plants + share them with our group to support you with IDENTIFICATION, also check out the Facebook Group: Plant Identification
Post your plant journal reflections, questions + any wisdom pouring through you informed by our gathering +
healing together to our WhatsApp thread MONDAY/THURSDAY
Any private reflections can be placed in your google folder, links available in your cohort's emails + WhatsApp thread
healing together to our WhatsApp thread MONDAY/THURSDAY
Any private reflections can be placed in your google folder, links available in your cohort's emails + WhatsApp thread
Week two
At your own pace engage with each part of the exercises that bring us to the physical manifestation of the root: our immune-lymphatic system. These are sites of great resistance, LITERALLY. Our capacity to resist the psychological, spiritual + physical attacks that colonial structures + white supremacy throw at us are first felt, held + negotiated here. It is the most important that we understand how [micro]aggressions, imposed feelings of not belonging, being taken from our ancestral lands, not remembering the names of our ancestors, because their names were taken by colonial process lives in our bodies.
Each time you engage with each exercise, prepare your space [this assures
A bowl of water or fire to protect you
An herbal tea
Journal + writing/drawing tools
Sitting before your altar whenever possible
All handouts
Download or print the following handouts, they are also included in the corresponding section below:
Immune-lymphatic System
Immune-lymphatic System Herb List
Cinnamon [Plant Profile]
Herbal Preparation
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Check-in
Check-in
Before we gather next, please show this community some love.
Send us a note, photo, video of how your heart is, what's moving through your these moments, and any medicine that needs to be witnessed!
You're welcomed to send more than one update!
Send us a note, photo, video of how your heart is, what's moving through your these moments, and any medicine that needs to be witnessed!
You're welcomed to send more than one update!
PLANT MEDITATION
Cinnamon [Cinnamomum zeylanicum]
Cinnamon [Cinnamomum zeylanicum]
LISTEN
Feel free to follow our plant wisdom share on cinnamon by using the materia medica (also known as a plant profile) below side by side as you listen.
HOLISTIC ANATOMY + PHYSIOLOGY
Immune + Lymphatic Systems
Immune + Lymphatic Systems
Our immunity is our capacity to adapt to our shifting environment. In the following section we are connecting with our immune-lymphatic system, who build our immunity while ushering us through physical, emotional, spiritual, and environmental transitions. It is from these body systems + the energetic centers they hold that we begin to build social immunity. Social immunity being our collective capacity to resist, adapt + thrive.
....
MEETING OUR IMMUNE-LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
CHOOSE 1 of the following:
READ
*written by a cis white women, you are NEVER required to read white authors on this journey.
WATCH
*this creator or organization is non black, indigenous, API, person of color
REFLECT
What does immunity mean to you?
Describe your current relationship with your immunity. How has this relationship evolved as you age?
Describe your family’s general relationship with their immunity + immune health.
Describe your community’s general relationship with their immunity.
Describe your relationship with your immune-lymphatic system.
Describe your current relationship with your immunity. How has this relationship evolved as you age?
Describe your family’s general relationship with their immunity + immune health.
Describe your community’s general relationship with their immunity.
Describe your relationship with your immune-lymphatic system.
REVIEW
Remember that these herb lists are cheat sheets with more technical herbal action terms you can find in your herbal action glossary from week one module one
HERBAL PREPARATIONS:
Tincture + Double Extrations
Tincture + Double Extrations
Medicine making is a sacred act, where we call on the spirits, alchemy. You may accept and be called to make medicine that you and your family may with internally. Each month we will tap into a different process during week 2, feel free to practice along and share photos of your babes! Apologies for this older video on these herbal preparations processes.
Below you will find a through Herbal Preparations cheatsheet. Through this journey we will be connecting with many of the processes listed.
Feel free to send over your questions!
Feel free to send over your questions!
OPTIONAL
PLANT COMMITMENTS
Explore
Our immune-lymphatic herb list, do you need to journey with a plant ancestor to support your immune-lymphatic system?
Add this babe to your daily nourishing herb infusion for the next 2 weeks, what do you notice?
Notice if there are any overlaps between your nourishing, musculoskeletal, immune-lymphatic herbs: are they the same herbs?
Were there herbs that support you in multiple ways?
Continue your commitment
Blessing smoke to open/close the day [daily]
Drink 1 quart infusion of a nourishing herb + -immune-lymphatic herb, if needed [daily]
Our immune-lymphatic herb list, do you need to journey with a plant ancestor to support your immune-lymphatic system?
Add this babe to your daily nourishing herb infusion for the next 2 weeks, what do you notice?
Notice if there are any overlaps between your nourishing, musculoskeletal, immune-lymphatic herbs: are they the same herbs?
Were there herbs that support you in multiple ways?
Continue your commitment
Blessing smoke to open/close the day [daily]
Drink 1 quart infusion of a nourishing herb + -immune-lymphatic herb, if needed [daily]
Week three
Distance Gathering 2
FRIDAY MAY 28, 2020 7:30-10p EST
for both MONDAY & WEDNESDAY circles
To prepare for session 2 gather
Prepare your space
Journal + writing/drawing tools
-herbal tisane/tea: REISHI
-blessing herb [the homie you have chosen to open/close each day]
-a glass of water for drinking + snack
For ceremony
prepare:
reishi tea [the longer this babe sits, the STRONGER they will be]
sacred gathering place with an altar
gather: an object that represents or supports your embodiment of the ROOT.
this may be a representation of your ancestors, their dwellings, how they nourished themselves, etc
All handouts
Download or print the following handouts
Reishi [Plant Profile]
May Gathering Recording #2
[link will be available here up to 36hrs after the gathering date via email and on your respective WhatsApp thread]
FRIDAY MAY 28, 2020 7:30-10p EST
for both MONDAY & WEDNESDAY circles
To prepare for session 2 gather
Prepare your space
Journal + writing/drawing tools
-herbal tisane/tea: REISHI
-blessing herb [the homie you have chosen to open/close each day]
-a glass of water for drinking + snack
For ceremony
prepare:
reishi tea [the longer this babe sits, the STRONGER they will be]
sacred gathering place with an altar
gather: an object that represents or supports your embodiment of the ROOT.
this may be a representation of your ancestors, their dwellings, how they nourished themselves, etc
All handouts
Download or print the following handouts
Reishi [Plant Profile]
May Gathering Recording #2
[link will be available here up to 36hrs after the gathering date via email and on your respective WhatsApp thread]