2009 Earth Medicine Trainings (Four quarterly intensives)
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. In four quarterly trainings, participants will learn and help to craft shamanic-style earth healing ceremonies for the diverse beings of the Guadalupe Watershed. Commitment is by season, and each season’s training will entail three monthly outdoor gatherings, each from 10am to 5pm (mild to moderate hiking). Space for quarterly intensives is limited to 15. Cost is $200-$300 per season ($67-100 per day-long intensive, further reductions available as needed). See flyer for year-long overview:
Just south of San Jose, from 1845-1976, over 83 million pounds (40,000 tons) of mercury were mined in what is now Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Often mined under terrible conditions, this mercury continues to pose health risks to the land’s inhabitants in the South Bay and beyond. Together we will weave ceremonies to honor those who died in the mines or from mercury poisoning and bring healing intent to the enduring presence of mercury in Bay Area ecosystems. Winter gathering dates are 1/24, 2/21, and 3/21.
Spring Series: Mount Umunhum
The highest peak in the Guadalupe Watershed, Mt. Umunhum is a sacred mountain to the Native peoples of this area. From 1958-1980 the U.S. Air Force operated a now abandoned site on the mountain’s summit. Although this land has returned to the public domain (http://www.openspace.org), unaddressed lead and asbestos toxicity from the Air Force site prevents public access. We will make ceremony to honor the spirits of this sacred mountain and support the restoration of Mt. Umunhum as a place of healing sanctuary, ecological health, and public access for all peoples. Spring gathering dates are 4/25, 5/30, and 6/20.
Summer Series: Guadalupe River
From the slopes of Mt. Umunhum, creeks and streams descend northward and converge to become the Guadalupe River. After flowing for miles through the heart of San Jose, the waters of the Guadalupe nourish the southernmost wetlands of San Francisco Estuary. This river’s namesake Our Lady of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), for some, is also a manifestation of the indigenous Aztec earth mother, Tonantzin. Working in partnership with the spirits of the land (and perhaps Guadalupe and Tonantzin), we will co-create earth healing ceremonies to help realize the vision of a vibrant, living river that is well-loved and well-respected by surrounding Bay Area residents. Summer gathering dates are 7/11, 8/22, and 9/12.
