artemisia @ harmony woods - spokane
Soak in the radiant floor heat of the beautiful handcrafted Harmony Woods Retreat Center as we spiral inward and attune our senses to the subtle patterning of Artemisia douglasiana.
Artemisia is the first plant in Cultivating Relationship with Place, a 3-part series. Register for one or all three as they roll out.
About the Series…
We all yearn to be in a relationship with the beings of our place and to deepen those relationships over time. This yearning is as instinctual as avoiding danger, eating, or finding shelter. Relationships mean survival.
When we anchor ourselves into the nature of our place, our “community” encompasses everyone and everything - the big, the small, the common, and the rarest of beings. The unique characteristics of the land and waters become more apparent and we begin to appreciate that there is no other place quite like it.
History shows humans excel at acquiring information about a subject or a place, but when it comes to listening, observing, and responding with the heart, it appears there can be a dissonance. We can be quick to claim space and look for a practical use but we can forget to embrace the inherent responsibilities of a reciprocal relationship with the place in which we live. For example, creatively responding to threats to our place or standing up for those who need extra help. This includes the water, the land, disadvantaged people, etc.
In this Lapis Sky series “Cultivating Relationship with Place,” we will be deepening our connection with three common wild medicinal plants growing in our backyards, parks, and public lands. Through the use of our six senses (including the subtle heart sense) and through a study of the plant’s signature patterning we will learn about the individual niches these plants have created for themselves in the rich tapestry of the human and non-human community.
The plants we will be spending time with are:
- Artemisia ~ October
- Yellow Dock ~ November
- Ponderosa ~ December
When we approach the plants as the artisans and guides they are, we open our minds and hearts to a more intimate and satisfying relationship with the land. Parallel truths, metaphors, and life lessons become illuminated and this reflection of ourselves within nature - this relating - becomes a place of refuge for the soul.
artemisia
Artemisia douglasiana (Mugwort)
Named after the moon goddess Artemis, this local wild plant ally has an affinity to the cyclic nature of women’s bodies and can provide a helpful bridge to the realms of consciousness when cultivating a deeper relationship with the natural world and our own deepest selves.
During our time together we will deepen our understanding of Artemisia utilizing our six senses (including the subtle heart sense). We will examine ki’s unfolding growth patterns, texture, taste, and ecological niche found within the rich tapestry of our human and non-human community.
This will look like:
meditation, focused breath, storytelling
sensory exploration with wildcrafted tea, oil, and/or tonics
kinesthetic learning and plant pattern recognition through a somatic movement practice called WildCore™.
Pairing Plant Medicine with Somatic Movement
During the somatic movement (WildCore), we hold a safe container of space for one another to move unencumbered by perfection and self-judgment. Open to all levels. No dance or movement background is necessary. Come as you are.
At the end of our time together each participant will bring home condensed guidance on the expanded medicinal values, ethical harvesting tips, and tried and true recipes for use in cultivating a deeper personal relationship with Artemisia.
All Lapis Sky offerings aim to appreciate the significance of the plant in the larger ecology of our homeplace so that we may walk away with the peaceful reminder that we are always living in relationship with others - only some of which are human.