This page includes descriptions of the two distinct year-long 2009 Earth Medicine progressions (Mount Diablo and the Guadalupe Watershed).  Both of these series are the outgrowth of the year of ceremony described on the page Earth Medicine 2008. Both progressions were a big success with participants offering over 30 distinct ceremonies and other events in 2009 with/for the land in these two areas.

2009 Earth Medicine on Mount Diablo:

Plant Medicine Circles and Autumn Prayer Walk

            From a collaborative statement issued by Save Mount Diablo, California Native Plant Society, U.C. Berkeley and others, "The mountain is the most important wildlife habitat in the East Bay. Mount Diablo includes appoximately 253 vertebrate animal species. 900 plant species, three quarters of which are native, are found on and around the mountain, representing one tenth of the native plants found in California. More than 150 species are rare or listed, and fourteen are endemic [native only] to the Mt Diablo region." Towering over the East Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Mt. Diablo is one of the Bay Area’s highest peaks, a sacred mountain for the region’s Native peoples, and teeming with biological diversity

Plant Medicine Circles

Intention: Unlike much of modern Western culture, earth-honoring cultures and individuals view plants as intelligent beings and sources of not only physical medicine and food but also wisdom, perspective, and companionship. In the vessel of nurturing ceremony, we will walk the land sharing stories, songs, and direct visioning with the plant relations of Mount Diablo. Consider joining us in to celebrate and learn from our often overlooked green-blooded relations.

2009 Earth Medicine Training:

            The Guadalupe Watershed includes a sacred mountain, an important Bay Area river, and hundreds of thousands of South Bay residents. Despite profound ecological disruption and enormous population increases over the past two centuries, the spirits of this land continue to invite intimate, reciprocal relationships with the area’s human inhabitants. Throughout 2009 our community will dedicate diverse ceremonial and eco-service gatherings to the healing and wellbeing of this magical and often-disrespected region of our Bay Area home.

            Structure. Through day-long intensives participants will learn and help to craft shamanic-style earth healing ceremonies for the diverse beings of the Guadalupe Watershed. Each day training can stand along; however, ongoing involvement is encouraged. Each day is from 10am to 5pm and may involve mild to moderate hiking. Cost is $50 per day-long intensive.