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Jen is a practicing herbalist and certified massage therapist and is interning as an ayurvedic practitioner in Sebastopol. She finds joy and empowerment in reclaiming the womanly art of brewing beer, using traditional and nutritious all-grain brewing methods. She is delighted to weave the herbs and the grains into the transformational dance of fermentation. She lovingly thanks and credits her many inspiring teachers.
1. INTENSIVE: Herbal Beer Making
This hands on class will lead you thru the processs of all-green beer brewing and how to integrate herbal and medicianl recipes into that process.
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Beginning with a love of chemistry and natural sciences since early childhood, Naomi's alchemical path includes life as a professional clown, magician, storyteller, mystic and healer. Naomi is honored to return to the conference for her second year. She hopes to inspires other women to use the traditional oriental wisdom for sustainable wellness . Naomi has a Oriental medical practice in San Francisco and San Rafael. Currently she is a researcher acupuncturist at UCSF working with postoperative patients and was an internist at the Haight Asbury Free Clinic. Her wisdom teachers include Angeles Arrien, Marcel Marceau, Patch Adams and many wise and effective herbalists and healers. Naomi is also a martial artist and practices Japanese bojutsu and Shintaido, a new form of karate developed to foster cooperation and peace.
qiwizard@mindspring.com
www.bayareamagicmakers.com
1. Plant Stories and Herbal Lore from Asia
Naomi is a professional storyteller and licensed Acupuncturist and herbalist. From her travels to Taiwan, Japan she has collected plant stories and will also share her favorite traditional Asian legends of plant wisdom and medical applications. You will have the opportunity to be part of the traditional method of imparting herbal knowledge..through storytelling. This is meant to be an educational and entertaining class for all ages.
2. Secrets of Happiness from the Golden Cabinet
The Golden Cabinet is a classical Chinese medical Text written over 2,000 years ago. This is where you find the real gold of Chinese Herbal Medicine specifically written addressing Women's health concerns. Formulas and modifications to diet will be discussed that help with depression, anxiety, temporary mania , PMS and menopause. These are the classical formulas that are as relevant today as they were 2,000 years ago. The class will assume that you have some herbal background in Western or Chinese Herbology.
Tongue and Pulse reading. A low tech system of diagnosis and evaluation. It enable you to understand quickly the constitutional Imbalances of your clients. Critical to correct herbal treatment in most Western and Eastern traditions.
This is a form designed to bring the Qi to your hands quickly and is designed for healers. You can learn the form in these three days. There are 5 powerful positions and you can do it in 10 minutes before you see clients. It is a traditional Chinese Qi Gong form not typically taught. No previous experience is necessary. I am also a martial artists and practice Japanese bojutsu and Shintaido a new form of karate developed to foster cooperation and peace
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Donna lives on a Botanical Sanctuary in Mendocino County where she gardens, makes medicine, wildharvests, howls at the moon, and teaches day-long to year-long herb classes. Donna is also a papermaker, storyteller, student of plants and acorn enthusiast.
1. Welcome to the Symposium Herb Walk (Beginning/Intermediate)
This will be a plant walk to begin the Symposium, to ground ourselves on this beautiful land and to learn what grows here. Our focus will be on the weeds and native plants. We will discuss the importance of using wild plants as food and medicine. We will also take time to set our intentions for the weekend.
2. Oaks: Food, Medicine, Magic (All levels)
This class will be a little about the medicinal and magical uses of oaks and a lot about acorns. Learn how to collect, dry, store, leach and enjoy this free, high-quality food source, using a quick and simple method of processing them. The class will include ethnobotanical information as well as hands-on processing and tasting.
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(Loughrienne Night) Goose has lived on and practiced erosion control methods at Black Oak Ranch for 20 years, and was a 15 year employee of a local company Bioengineering Associates in its early years, pioneering the use of vegetative methods of stream bank restoration and erosion control within Mendocino County at the agency level.
1. Land Restoration: Branch Packing part 1 & 2 (All levels)
An easily applicable method of back yard erosion control using vegetative materials appropriate to addressing ongoing cuts within gullies. We will go over some basics and apply them in a near by area. If you have hand pruners etc bring them. This will not be particularly strenuous. Diagrams and explanations provided.
Jennifer is co-owner with SaraHope Smith of BioFuel Oasis, a small biodiesel station in Berkeley. Jennifer teaches classes on homebrewing biodiesel, has taught interns for the Eastbay Biodiesel Internship Program, works for Neoteric Biofuels who sell veggie oilconversion kits, and is a member of the Berkeley Biodiesel Collective.
Kimber Holmes along with her partner Eric Vogt own and operate The Biofuel Station, a small independant biodiesel distribution business in Laytonville, CA. In 2004 Kimber contributed to the organization of the California Biodiesel Consumers Confrence. Bioidesel consumers, small producers, and distributors from all over the United States and Canada gathered at the confrence to discuss the creation of a sustainable model for the biodiesel industry. The Biodiesel Council of California was born from this gathering to promote a sustainable vision and voice for the growing biodiesel indusrty in California, in which Kimber is now active. Kimber lives in community, assists in homeschooling her children, raises preservation breeds of chickens, practices permaculture, do-it-yourself earthen construction, and works twords a sustainable future.
In this class we will cover everything you ever wanted to know about biodiesel. We will begin with a Biodiesel 101 discussion. Then we will move into an overview of making bioidesel. As we make a liter batch of biodiesel together we will cover; where to get your oil, how to test your oil, as well as learn about prossesors and equpment. Come get greasey, and learn how we can fuel our own future!
2. INTENSIVE: Earthern Plasters & Straw Bale Construction
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Terri and Karen organize the Women's Herbal Symposium, and own & operate the Herbal Apothecary,
a full line herbal pharmacy. They also are on the faculty of the California School of Herbal Studies. They have been working with plants and herbs for a combined 33 years. Each season they Put-Food-By, canning, drying and pickling the bounty from their fruit trees and vegetable gardens.
1.INTENSIVE: Putting Food By
In this intensive we will roll up our sleeves, get our hands sticky and juicy, and Put Some Food By; we will can-up a lug of fresh fruit, turn some of it into a yummy jam (which we will also can, of course), and explore a variety of recipes and styles. If time allows we will also do some pickling. Along the way we will discuss the hows, whys, and how-tos. Everyone will take home jars of everything we make. Yum! Bring a cutting knife, if you have one.
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Rebecca's studies of Feng Shui began in 1983, following a deep experience while traveling in mainland China. She is certified by Denise Linn, Interior Alignment Feng Shui (an eclectric, intuitive style.) She offers workshops, does consulting work throughout Mendocino County and the Bay Area, and teaches Wicca in Redwood Valley.
1. Feng Shui: Goals, Tools, Cures & Enhancements
The ultimate goal of Feng Shui is health, both in body and environment; they are inter-connected. Because our living spaces reflect back to us who we are, changes we make in our space will affect us personally, and vice versa. Among other things, we will look at the importance of symbolism, how clutter affects our lives, how to use the Ba Gua as a map to assess our life cycles, and the difference between cures and enhancements. At its heart is the concept of Chi, vital life force. We will look at how to attract it, gather it and strengthen it in our lives.
2. Feng Shui in the Garden
The origins of Feng Shui began with a study of the natural environment, and its principles were later applied to include the interiors of dwellings and workplaces. We will cover the Five Elements (and their representatives, color, form and material), Yin and Yang theories applied to the outdoors, how to optimize the use of garden sculptures, prayer flags, wind socks, bird baths, fountains and outdoor altars for many types of gardens (vegetable, herbal, flower and meditation). We will look at the importance of honoring the Earth Spirits from a Findhorn Garden perspective.
3. Feng Shui to Increase Prosperity
There are as many definitions of prosperity as there are ways to increase it through Feng Shui. We will first use the
Ba Gua as a map to look at the overall home, including its surroundings. We will then look at individual rooms. It is important to discover if there are 'missing areas" such as found in U-shaped, T-shaped or L-shaped homes. We will look at how we reinforce our beliefs about abundance and scarcity through symbol, including how we repeatedly seek the same type of home or apartment. Simple pencil diagrams of home are encouraged (indicating main entrance, rooms, hallways, closets & garage).
4. Using Feng Shui to Enhance Magick
Feng Shui was greatly influenced by Taoism, and the Taoist priests were renowned for their magical work, healing abilities and philosophy. They also made significant contributions to hard science in the areas of chemistry, cartography and the like. Both Feng Shui and Magick are nature-based and work with subtle energies and intention. 'Where intention goes, energy flows." We will cover appropriate symbolism in depth and how to use the Ba Gua to enhance magickal practice, including location of powerful places to place written affirmations.
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1. INTENSIVE: Ayurveda as an Eco-System
This intensive will address the Ayurvedic principles that balance the fragile eco-system and the inter-relatedness of the four kingdoms in nature and their relatedness to the five sheaths that the human being must consciously penetrate with awareness.
2. Ayurveda & the Kitchen Pharmacy
Basic principles of Ayurveda that every woman can use daily, with a kitchen pharmacy at home. Creating wellness and addressing common complaints with simple principles.
Penny has been teaching and working professionally in the land management, and permaculture field for 25 years. She specializes in site planning & design of resource rich landscapes integrating, rainwater harvesting, edible and medicinal planting, ponds, water systems and habitat development. She lives on
a farm on the Northern California Coast.
Permaculture:
Principles and Practices Beyond Sustainability.
Healing the Human Relationship with the Earth.
In this introductory class Penny will share design principles for creating rich human based ecologies in urban, suburban and rural settings.
2. Deep Listening to Gaia Part 1
Learn how to gain information, knowledge and wisdom from the living beings in the landscape and garden. We will explore plant spririt communication, bird language, dowsing andmuscle testing techniques. We will also make our own dowsing rods to use in class and then take home.
3. Deep Listening to Gaia Part 2
We will continue
4. Water in the Landscape:
How to Drought Proof Your Land
This class will explore various techniques in water harvesting and purification. Erosion control techniques will also be addressed.
1. Art Braiding: Braided Rugs, Part 1 & 2
This 2-part class is designed to teach a basic simple and sturdy method of braiding. You will be provided with a basic braiding tool as well as lacing and fabric to begin your project. You could braid a rug, a basket, meditation mat, wall hanging, hat, hand bag, simply decorated object, or even a bed for your cat or small pet. Reuse of all the great discarded materials around us is the tradition of this great craft. Interested young people 8 and older are welcome.
Limited to the first 15 participants.
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Kelly has studied and worked with herbs for the last eleven years. She co-operates Coyote Moon Farm in Sebastopol, CA where she grows vegies, fruit, honey, and herbs. Both her family cars areBiofuels reserach cooperative. powered strictly by vegetable oil and she is a founding member of the Biofuels Reserach Cooperative in Sonoma County. She also holds classes for children - playing with the herbs, plants, animals and growing food.
We will begin this class by sharing information on vegetable oil cars: basics, such as, what types of cars are available, how to convert your car, what systems are available and oil collection/filtration methods. The pros and cons of driving on vegetable oil and others experiences will be discussed as well as the history and future of veggie oil cars. Questions will be answered, followed by a trip to the parking lot, to visually see a two-tank system.
2. Inner and Outer Beauty with Henna teens & teen wanna-bes ages 13 & up
In this class we will discuss our inner beauty and reflect that brillance outward, by coloring our hair with henna. We will also treat one another to nurturing foot massages, while relaxing in the sun. When we leave, we will be filled with radiance both within and without.
In this class we will discuss natural ways to care for your skin and hair, that nourish the inner and outer you. We will then learn a variety of ways to braid and wrap your hair. Lastly, we"ll adorn our heads with ribbons, beads and flower garlands, ready to set out into the world with a new radiant look.
Palika is the award winning Artistic Director of Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance in Santa Cruz, renaissance woman, beekeeper, mother of two teens, and all round radical cauldron stirring woman. Her life is dedicated to serving Earth in some small capacity by supporting the wisdom of woman in the social, spiritual and physical realms through all their life stages. Her history and practice of monasticism, existential soul searching, love of learning and research, and facilitating Circle for the woman's community for over 25 years is humbling and Grace. She is currently embedded in the mysterious maze of men? oh pause!
1. Sacred Dance part 1 & 2
Evolution and Practice of Sacred Dance of Birth. We will exlore the origins and history of sacred Belly Dance in practice and theory. Part 1 will root out the origins of sacred dance, talk about its evolution and relevance as a spiritual practice for women today and why our connection to the processes of birth and nurturing life on Earth is fundamental to social and spiritual change. Part 2 will offer the direct experience of dance as a metaphor for human growth, healing and community building.
2. Sacred Drumming for Women part 1 & 2
Julie has been playing with plants most of her life. She has been happily earning her livlihood through herbs for the past 15 years with Flower Power Teas and Harvest Moon Extracts. She is also passionate about cooking, gardening, mothering her 3 year old daughter, travelling, keeping bees and playing Capoeira. Julie makes our yummy teas for us this weekend, which she has done every year for all of our 15 years! She lives in Santa Cruz.
We will discuss how to get started formulating tea blends.
We will explore medicinal and beverage teas, various brewing methods and creative ways to approach flavor combining. Also, we will have hands-on time for blending teas for one of the Symposium's meal. Please bring a cup/mug to sample teas and enthusiasm to blend teas together.
Not only do herbs serve as wonderful teachers for our children, they are also a gentle and effective system of healing for them. Herbal medicine encourages parents to be become active participants in the health care of their children. In this class we will discuss natural approaches to common childhood ailments and concerns. We will also go over ways to make herbs taste great for kids and be a fun addition to their lives.
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TBA: Design & Installation of Photo Voltaics
Carol Venolia is a Santa Rosa eco-architect who views our homes as healing centers for all of life. Her design work includes homes of earth, straw, and "good wood," and she is the author of Healing Environments: Your Guide to Indoor Well-Being and the "Design for Life" column in Natural Home Magazine.
1. INTENSIVE: Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly
Do you want your home to be more comfortable, use less energy, be kinder to the earth, and help you feel more alive? Whether you want to make minor or major changes, this class will introduce you to the basics of eco-rehabbing: responding to site and climate, using energy and resources appropriately, minimizing waste, and increasing vitality. You'll learn how to find the materials and information you need, get light and heat from the sun, cool your house naturally, use water wisely, get the most for your money, and come out smiling.
2. Eco-Friendly Home Slide Show
Carol will show slides of eco-rehabbed homes, from naturalized rentals through major remodels. You'll see simple projects like planting a backyard wildlife habitat garden, fun facelifts like earth-plastering interior walls, and whole new rooms made of earth-friendly materials. Lots of delicious images, and something for every budget. This slide show stands on its own, and it is highly recommended as an accompaniment to the "Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly" class.
3. Your Senses, Your World
Your senses connect you with the world around you; they tell you what you need in your environment to help you thrive--or what sounds, sights, smells, and thermal qualities are sapping your energy. Through sensory exercises and discussions, we will explore how to increase our sensory awareness to bring ourselves into greater harmony with the natural world, especially at home.
Miss Beatrice comes from a small village in Belize. She is a Mayan Midwife, healer, shaman, teacher and all-around powerful woman. She has been practicing bush medicine for more than 25 years, using plants form the rainforest and dream visions. She is the mother of thirteen children and daughter of a shaman who honored the traditional ways of healing. She believes in sharing her knowledge and wisdom to offer people an alternative way of healing. Over the past few years, Miss Beatrice has been sharing her wisdom throughout the United States and Europe
We will explore the integral way by which Mayans used to heal at home and in villages. This traditional way deals with various aspects of healing: curing and preventing ailments with the use of spirits, plants, massage, faith (prayers), laughter, amulets, pulse, and burning copal. The strongest and most important element is a sacred ceremony called Primicia, a Mayan ceremony to give thanks to the benevolent spirits, preferred on Fridays. all levels
Herbal baths are an integral part of Mayan traditional healing. They are used for a variety of ailments, espcially for skin conditions, muscle spasms, backache, nervous disorders, insomnia, bruises, and swelling. All children ailments receive a series of herbal baths. These baths are personally made with a combination of medicinal leaves mixed into formulas to suit age, sex and symptoms. all levels
3. Women Wellness and Moon Cycle
In this class we will look at the sacredness/meaning of the first menstration, special ceremony steam bath, herbal bath, and special teas. We will also look at the prepartion of a normal/healthy menopause without other health implication which are not normal. This class will help in the understanding of premenopause, menopause, and post-menopause.
1. Crone Health: Loving Life After Menopause
Finding joy, appreciation and health in our Crone years. We will discuss diet and herbs for our physical health and explore the many tools available for our spiritual and emotional health. This is not a life style change circle, rather celebrating and appreciating where we are while choosing some healthy and fun additions.
2. The Spirit Side of Being a Crone
This is time to reflect and share our experiences of Cronehood and our love for our Wise Crone ways and bodies. Past menopause and into memorypause, we will tell our stories. A time to make a ritual Crone Broom will follow.
4. Honoring the Loss of an Unborn Child
Join us for a quiet honoring of the loss of an unborn child through miscarriage or abortion.
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1. Dragon-Time: A Class for Newly Menstruating
Young Women
Welcome maidens, to the circle of women! Join us in celebrating the beauty and strength of this phase of your life, the time of your bloods. We will chat, play a game, explore ideas and feelings, hear stories, make things to care for ourselves and prepare for the Maiden' s Rites of Passage Ceremony to be held Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.
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1. Inner and Outer Beauty with Henna
In this class we will discuss our inner beauty and reflect that brillance outward, by coloring our hair with henna. We will also treat one another to nurturing foot massages, while relaxing in the sun. When we leave, we will be filled with radiance both within and without.
In this class we will discuss natural ways to care for your skin and hair, that nourish the inner and outer you. We will then learn a variety of ways to braid and wrap your hair. Lastly, we'll adorn our heads with ribbons, beads and flower garlands, ready to set out into the world with a new radiant look.
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Carla has been inspired by plants and natural living since 1997 when she first began going on herb walks in Boston. Since then she has apprenticed at organic and bio-dynamic herb and vegetable farms, worked as a gardener and seed-saver, and taught gardening to kids. She gathers plants for food, medicine, fiber and basketry and likes to spend time in the woods hiking, playing, and practicing primitive skills. She is currently completing her Master's in Teaching and hopes to work with kids in an experiential education setting. She is also the creator of Wild Wines, sustainably harvested medicinal wines.
1. Ashcakes
2. Bent-Willow Animal Figures
3. Cattail dolls
1. Herbal Beer Making - Jen Bredesen
2. Biodiesel 101 - Kimber Holmes & Jennifer Radtke
3. Putting Food By - Aguiar & Jensen
4. Ayurveda as an Eco-System - Mamta Landerman
5. Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly - Carol Venolia
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Click the teachers name to see her class descriptions.
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