Welcome to 2011! At this time of year, Lichenwood should be resting under chilly blanket of snow. Instead our one snowfall of the season is currently melting during a very early January thaw. Not even Lichenwood pond is frozen! We will have to wait and see what the rest of the Winter season will bring.
2010 was quite a year. Personally things ended on a very positive note. Daryl's close call with an unexpected heart attack on the Spring Equinox transformed our lives. Daryl tweaked an already healthy lifestyle into one that has somehow erased all evidence of any heart damage. The latest stress test and echocardiogram show no damage at all, much to the surprise of the cardiologist who had told us that while Daryl's heart could learn to compensate, the damage could never reverse. Healing is always possible! The cardiologist said that Daryl must be immortal!
I traveled across the country and had the time of my life at the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference in New Mexico. I can't recommend it highly enough. I have already got my ticket for the 2011 conference. Maybe we can meet up there?
The Herbal Mentorship of 2010 was very satisfying. It is wonderful to see students expand their knowledge and create materia medica that I hope will further inspire them. I love to walk with students and introduce them to the plants, helping them to use all their senses as they interact. Of course, I always learn a new plant or two from the students or from friends that come to walk with me.
Flower Essence Practitioner Training was equally fulfilling. Every time I teach this class, it reinvigorates me to do deeper essence work, both in co-creation and exploration. Currently some graduates of my past training programs are involved in the Lunar Cycle Flower Essence Project which is revealing the properties of some essences that I have not yet listed on the website.
If you are thinking about enrolling in the Herbal Mentorship or Flower Essence Practitioner class, please send in your application as soon as possible. Space is limited, but there are still spots available. The Herbal Mentorship begins on March 7th. The first meeting of the Flower Essence Practitioner Training is April 25th.
2011 classes have all been moved to Mondays. You will find the dates, times and other details listed on the website. New workshops are up too as I continue to offer Magickal Mondays, and our first Magickal Monday Evening. Kate Leigh will be the guest teacher for Magickal Monday Evening. In this interactive presentation, Kate will assist each participant in ultimately creating an aromacharacteristic essential oil blend, which is a reflection of some of the individual's key elements as displayed in their birth chart. We will begin with some basics about astrology, which will necessarily have to be abbreviated, but will include a discussion of how the chart shows the layers of the personal make-up. Then we will explore the handouts, which are keynote sheets, guiding each participant to their dominant elements and planets, and suggesting essential oils and fragrances that have correspondences to these features of the chart. Then each person will have a chance to smell these oils and fragrances, to use their inner guidance system, the nose, to help them select ingredients for their blend. Next, Kate will help each person arrange the blend, with appropriate ratios of the scents to be used together. Details on Kate's class and other workshops can be found on the workshops page of the website.
I continue to offer herbal and flower essence consultations on Wednesdays through Fridays and occassional Saturday mornings. There is also a complete herbal apothecary (herbs, extracts, flower essences, essential oils, etc.) at Lichenwood. Flower essences and essential oils are listed on the website. Herbs, extracts and other products are available. Just give me a call or send an email to let me know what you are looking for and I'll let you know about pricing and availability. You can pick up your order or I can mail it out.
Other plans are in the works and when these possibilities become certainties, I'll be sure to let you know.