Green Witch Intensiveherbal medicine and spirit healing the wise woman
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Green
Witches Gather in Woodstock NY, for Celebration, Exploration, and Initiation
Women are gathering at the Wise Woman Center in Woodstock, NY, to join Susun Weed for a magical four days. Together they will ask, “Who were the witches? Could I be one?” The rich days will be filled with walks in the woods, finding green allies, singing with the devas, making medicines, learning some botany, and touching the wild earth. All the women will come together to honor their selves as green witches and wise women in a high magic ritual, with optional green witch initiation. Susun Weed will lead the Intensive. She is dedicated to the Wise Woman tradition, and helps women to learn the oldest ways of healing. Her goal is to change how people think about health and healing, inviting us all to reclaim herbal medicine as the simple, safe primary care it is; a gift of health from the green nations. Join Susun at the Wise Woman Center, for her four-day Green Witch Intensive. The price includes meals and lodging. To reserve your place, contact the Wise Woman Center with your deposit. Mail to PO Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498, or register online. Founded twenty years ago by internationally acclaimed author and herbalist Susun Weed, the Wise Woman Center exists with the purpose of offering a safe space for women to rediscover the Wise Woman Way. Nestled in deep magical woods and located between Woodstock and Saugerties, 5 miles from the NYS Thruway, the Wise Woman Center is easily accessible while still private. Studies include plant identification, herbal medicine, cancer prevention, women and chanting, goddess belly dancing, and feeding the creative spirit. Visit the website or send a letter to the address above to find out about the schedule of events, work exchange weekends, moon lodges, and much more! Be sure to check out Susun’s other intensive offerings this year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MysticalMaiden Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:57 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 6:38 pm I am unsure that I can do the GW Intensive justice by words, but I will try to give you an overall sense of the four days I spent at the Wise Woman Center. Sharing space with such powerful energies was amazing...the woods, the gardens, the deck, the faeries, the mesa, the goats, the cats, Susun, Marie and a beautiful woman named Pamela from South Africa. Lots of magic was generated and no one needed to move anywhere or say anything - it was just swirling as is. Thursday evening brought us the most amazing storm. Watching through the glass of the front porch, the lightning was so bright that you could see the color of the lilles each time she charged down from the sky. The energies of air, water, fire and earth were conducting the most amazing spiral dance for our enchantment for sure! I have to say that we started out with a group of 10 (including Susun and Marie) and were down to 5 Friday morning and 4 Saturday morning. This may sound like a major downer, and it may have been in the beginning of the process, but like all processes the end almost never reflects the beginning. Having such a small group allowed for a level of intimacy that I do not think would have been achieved (at least by me) if the group was larger. The mornings started out lazily as we woke with the sun...breakfast was informal and Susun milked the hungry goats. Mid-morning and afternoons were spent in the woods. We were guided by the goats and the rhythm of Marieís chants. This allowed for an amazing weaving of teachings, as we were learning about what was growing where the goats lead. This always seemed to mesh together and allow for an amazing lessen that could not have been more intriguing if it was planned...those are some smart goats! Lunches and Dinners were yummy!!! A wonderful mixture of soups, beans, rice, vegetables - marinades, vinegars and of course tamari! I must say that Marie is an AMAZING cook, and one who is willing to teach those who are willing to learn. Susun worked her magic with the plants creating the most beautiful salads - a wise woman special for sure! Wild foods are so good..... When the Moon came out (by the way - the moon was FULL - talk about adding power to an already powerful situation) we sat in the Tipi and sung songs by the fire. This was a wonderful opportunity to really absorb the chants we were taught and feel the 'trancy' power of their rhythmic power. Marie also shared a wonderful ritual that I am sure to use again. The last day was a chance to slow down and focus on the Goddess, and our part in honoring her. I have been dreaming about my initiation as a Green Witch for quite some time, and all I can say is that the emotion it brought and the power I felt surpassed my dreams tenfold. The calling of directions and the power of elements swam through my veins and caressed my spirit. I am grateful that I waited until now, and did not do the intensive last year as I think that my apprenticeship and growing relationship with the Goddess and her plants lead things to an entirely different level. I am also grateful that I shared this experience with Pamela. It is a bond of sisterhood that will tie us together on the magical and mundane levels for all time. Actually, I feel that way about the group, not just Pamela but we were the initiates and entered into our commitment together...can't beat the power of that. And we were welcomed in by two powerful, beautiful, emotional, strong and knowledgeable women. The idea of sisterhood took on an entirely new level for me at that moment. This moment will guide me to find a way to share this with other women...the how is yet to be revealed, but it will be done. So Mote It be.... I encourage anyone and everyone to take an intensive at the WWC...a
day workshop is an amazing experience in and of itself and is where
I have obtained most of my knowledge of the plants, the Goddess and
me...however, spending four days give the spirit and the body a chance
to truly bond with the power of the land. My mind is still trying to
wrap itself around this.... Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Thank you soooo much for sharing Mystical Maiden!!! A beautiful description
Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Sounds like you hade a fantastic experience! I can hardly wait to get there in August. I gotta ask though, why did the women leave? Brynne Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:37 am Thank you for sharing, that was wonderful to read. Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:20 pm I can't speak for the other women but I can say that things at the WWC are not always like they are in our daily lives. One of the most beautiful things is that emotions/feelings/thoughts are expressed at a level of 110%. This means that if love or compassion is felt - it is felt and expressed with the whole being. This is also true for disapointment or frustration. Sometimes people can mix up what thier mind tells them is happening, based upon past expierences and belief, and what the true intention or more importantly true emotion is. This is what I belive happened, but as I say I cannot speak for them - only for me. Please don't let the fact that I shared this cause any doubt or trepidition in your decisions to go to the WWC. I have been going to workshops, correspondence courses and doing a live out apprenticeship for the last two years and I have never felt the need to leave. I can say that if you find something to be uncomfortable, use that time to identify what it is that is making you uncomfortable - not the action that the other person is percieved to be doing - but on the inside of you. This is hard, but an important part of embracing the wise woman within..... Susun expresses everything she does at 110% and that is totally inspiring to me. I hope to one day have half the sense she does in letting my true emotion be expressed rather than having it toned down by society or my past. I can say that I have NEVER witnessed any interactions at the WWC that was mean, disrespectful or done with the intention to harm any woman there. So - don't worry. I hope that when each of you complete you time with Susun and the goats you will share your thoughts on this with us too. I will try to come down for a consultation Tuesday in August to get to meet BrynneMorgan and I hope to meet Luvmamma next summer. Blessed Be - Nothing to Worry about - Continue on with and open mind,
heart and spririt and allow the excitement to come in! Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:39 pm Yes, I have picked up on subtle references to women leaving, apprentices
"running away" things like that. It really does peak my interest
knowing that I reallyreally want to apprentice (just waiting until my
kids are old enough to do without me for four weeks or so) . Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 6:33 pm Having the understanding that you are uncomfortable with confrontation and your reactions to it will be of great benefit to you - not just at the WWC, but in life. I think that the growth that will come from your time apprenticing will be tremendous since you have already done so much work! Susun can be the softest and the hardest woman I know. Like you, I admire this quality and hope to be able to emulate it one day. She is very open and sharing what you just shared her would be beneficial as she may have some suggestions to help you... She has taught me MUCH outside of the realm of the plants and has helped me grow in many ways. Life is an experience of what you make of it. You have the power of intention...you can use it to stay 'safe' in the know or you can use inention to manifest your wildest dreams. It is just up to you to put the inention to work. I would love to meet you too. Be sure to let me know the month that
you will be at the WWC so I can come to meet you...or maybe we will
be able to meet in another venue before that! Joined: 02 Apr 2003 Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:44 pm Another issue is food--giving up your coffee, pop, etc for a few days and if you thrive on fast food and junk, you will not like sitting down to beans, salads, soups, etc... I am a roughing it tent camper-no electric and carry in water; I have friends who want beds, showers, bathrooms (not woods or pit toilets), AC, no bugs, curling irons, coffee makers, microwaves,etc.. make-up, all the foo-foo stuff every day. They would never function outside of the control of home and to subject them to a camping experience would freak them out! I think the same is true for some women going to WWC and getting outside their control/comfort zone. It brings up physical challenges, doubts, fears, vulnerabilites, emotions, etc... Women need to take the time away for themselves undistracted and be
fully PRESENT each day. I think they try to (and expect to) create the
experience the way they want it, rather than let it create them. Allow
for flexibility and change. Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Well all the stuff Joanne mentioned is no problem for me (so no one worry) I camp fairly regularly in the desert/mountains, though sadly not yet this year. No electric, no bathrooms (and usually no porta potties), no water, (bring your own), etc. I'm not looking forward to the mosquitoes at the WWC, but I'll survive. I've already weaned myself off of coffee in preparation for the trip (I wanted to do it anyway, now I had motivation) and I look forward to new foods, ideas and information. I still smoke though. I've been working at weaning myself off of that too, but it's much more difficult! Brynne Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:03 pm I too am a smoker... What I do when at the WWC is only smoke in my truck...no place else. All butts go into my ashtray and that way I don't freak out and I don't pollute people who do not want to be polluted. So, if you are unable to not smoke (I don't even pretend to want to not smoke, I like it) then you may want to pitch this idea with Susun. Also...the added benefit is that she has wonderful ideas on how to wean oneself off of ciggs when ready.... Can't wait to meet you. Joanne, thanks for your post...it explained a lot that I didn't even
think about! Joined: 13 May 2004 Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:52 pm MM! I would LOVe to hear those ideas.. I am ready to let go of my smokes-
but some part of me is very resistant. HELP! Thanks for all of your
wise and thoughtful words... My reason for not smoking is not because
I think its bad- I dont- for some people- it doesnt harm them in the
slightest... but I feel for me its best to let it go now.... Thanks!
Aimee click here to join this conversation at the forum...remember, you must register to post! Susun Weed's Wise Woman forum exists to provide a community space for women and men the world around to explore the Wise Woman Tradition through the sharing of our wisdom, experiences, knowledge and support in a spirit of mutual respect. Want to register for a workshop or intensive? return
to the wise woman center page ASH TREE PUBLISHING
Women's Health, Women's Spirituality P.O. Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498 USA Phone/Fax 1-845-246-8081 |
