I am back from the Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium and I am filled to the brim with joy and inspiration! It's hard to summarize this amazing event, and photos only show the tiniest piece of the whole puzzle, but I will try to give you all an idea of the magical world of women and herbs and wisdom and playfulness that happens at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville every year. This first photo probably encapsulates the feeling the best:
Me and my bestie Linda, striking our best "the spaceship has just beamed us onto planet earth" pose
This was my seventh time going, if I am counting correctly, and still my husband says he doesn't really understand what the Symposium is like. I mean, I come home with a head full of crazy stories, which never spill out in any logical or linear order- everything seems equally important, from a conversation I overheard in the food line to the thought I had around the fire at 3am to the thing I learned about grindelia's effect on helping asthma to.... well... things like accounts of spontaneous mud wrestling contests tend to stand out, naturally. (Ahem.)
This year I decided that it could best be described it as a magical summer camp that is run entirely by the counselors... the weirdest, coolest, most super playful counselors. A ton of work goes on behind the scenes, but the overall impression for us campers is that the Authority Figures have all *poof* disappeared, along with all the usual rules which limit us as women in the "real" world (how to dress, or undress, how to behave, how to connect with each other), and yet: everything is working just fine. In fact, it's working better than ever! Everyone is connecting as if by magic... synchronicity grows wilder and more lush every hour of the camp, until, by Sunday night's ceremony and drum circle around the fire, everyone's minds and energy fields are electrified and it feels as if we are talking to each other without words. The moment you think of a question, it seems, the answer will appear. Even if you have a whole wheelbarrow full of questions. This is why this is so much more than a "normal" experience for me... it is actually a spiritual infusion. After the long cold winter, it is so amazing to sleep outside and feel my energy field expand down to touch the earth- literally!- and then up to touch the stars. It is a coming home to community, to earth, and to my connection with the spirit world.
Home sweet home: this is the tent that was baptized many years ago as "Daft Home" (because it is an REI "Half Dome" tent and Chris and I just can't leave a name alone). Sleeping outside was so different after all of these months indoors.... me and Linda were laughing that we could sell bags of dirt in major urban centers with the sales pitch "Ground... the ORIGINAL relaxing surface!"
The Moon Tent, aka the Red Tent... filled with beautiful red velvet pillows and books about women's bodies and cycles. Isn't it amazing that not long ago, women still called their periods "the curse"? We've come a long way, baby...
Dress up is encouraged all day, every day. Here is my friend Chelsea, who was leading a singing class for children bedecked as a beautiful blue fairy:
My stall at Marketplace. It was so fun to see all of the clothes out in the open, in a little pop-up "store"!
This is Lindsey, wearing a dress that she bought from me and Amber at Violet Folklore two years ago! She is still loving it.
A spontaneous sing-a-ling starts at Marketplace:
My friend Beth's tie-dye booth:
Okay, back to the spaceship people, aka me and Linda! This year was a very special Symposium, to celebrate the 21st year, and part of the celebration was a Masquerade Ball. I won't say much more, cause I don't want to give away all the surprises, but here we are getting ready for the amazing feast that started the Ball!
One of our amazing organizers, Terri!
A magical band entertains the diners....
Hand-washing in rose water:
Linda and our friend Heather, who works her butt off for us on the RTF (aka Random Task Force), and has the very important job of taking care of the campfire at night:
Heather and the organizer extraordinaire, Karen!
Beautiful flower girls:
This weekend for me was all about conversations and connections. Here on the right is my dear friend Jen, who runs the Wellness Center at the Symposium, talking with a friend:
It wasn't quite as busy in Wellness as it can be sometimes, so me and Jen actually got to steal some sweet Friend Moments... she played me the songs she learned this winter on her banjo and her ukulele, and we sat by the creek and talked about life, plans, questions... it was so good to connect.
Stargazer Li, an incredible wizard of time and space, who leads stargazing talks at night, and Linda:
Li has been in my life for many years, since one of her calenders came to me as a gift back in the 90s. She has expanded her community and her teachings from the base of the Symposium, and she is an incredible example of someone who is doing her true Work in the world. That might sound easy, if you are called to be a banker or an accountant, but imagine if you were a Shamaness of Interplanetary Dimensions? The most incredible thing about Li is that not only is she a true genius (brains. so many brains) but she is a gifted teacher- she can actually impart this wisdom in a way that makes it accessible to the layperson. You can find out more about Li's work here.
Chelsea and I, saying our goodbyes:
When I drove up to Black Oak ranch this year, it felt like it had been mere minutes since last May... time is so funny like that. Now I can't believe it will be another year til I go back! Luckily, there are options... there are actually TWO sessions in May and this year there are TWO in September. I think that after seven years I have started to love the Symposium too much for one session to be enough! I am going to keep those weekends free... and we'll see, we'll see. Maybe with some luck I can be back there again, filling up my soul and my spirit. Meanwhile, all of you should sign up ASAP.... it's really a unique happening on planet earth, and it is sooooooo worth putting aside the time and money to make it happen for yourself.
Think about it.
Awe lady it looks amazing, and I'm going to check out this sign up right now.... with luck I'll see you there!!
Posted by: *winter | 05/24/2011 at 02:35 PM
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Posted by: Thebayareabrit | 05/24/2011 at 02:40 PM
Oh I so badly want to go. Ever since you and Amber first posted about it I've known I just will one day. I have to. Maybe next spring. I'm glad you had a fabulous time and thank you for sharing these tales and images.
Posted by: Milla | 05/24/2011 at 06:23 PM
I HAVE TO go! looks like a wonderful time. so beautiful!
xo m
Posted by: Mindy Sue B. | 05/25/2011 at 10:29 PM
i am freaking out trying to get packed and stopped by your blog for last minute inspiration :)
thanks so much for sharing all your wisdom, passion, and beauty!
Posted by: nicole | 05/26/2011 at 05:13 PM
Wow! This looks like a fun event. Love the tent decorated with vintage. i live in Nor Cal and have never heard or seen any of this. Thanks for sharing.
Sophia
http://lasophialasophia.blogspot.com
Posted by: Sophia | 06/08/2011 at 01:16 AM
oh my, every year that you post about the symposium i die to be there.
maybe in 2012!!
thank you for sharing with us that cannot attend.
love from Italy
Posted by: Antonella | 08/02/2011 at 02:33 AM