The School of Forest Medicine Immersion Course
On this 9-month Odyssey that traverses the vibrant landscapes of the Cascadia Bioregion, the plants will be our guides and their songs will be our vehicles as we weave our spirits with the forces of nature, restoring the connections between the human and spiritual realms through song, ritual, and prayer.
This program, focused on psycho-spiritual Plant Medicine Healing, is firmly grounded in the basics of Ethical Wildcrafting, Medicine Making, and Plant Identification. It is designed to be a transformative, initiatory experience that reawakens and strengthens the experience of deep plant/human relationship.
Each month we explore a different landscape; immersing ourselves in the healing power and teachings of the plants. We sit each day and commune with one or two of our native Plant Teachers, learning about them as we learn about ourselves and each other, participating in rituals that will open new channels of healing potential. These once-a-month trips range in length from 3-8 days.
This course offers a structure for each participant to do his/her own deep healing work while holding space for others to do the same. As we deepen our relationships with the plants, we not only learn about ourselves but aid in the process of reawakening and illuminating the beings who are responsible for giving us life.
In the first months, we will spend some of our time indoors acquainting ourselves with the basics. In addition to the field trips, there will be a couple of mid-month special topic nights—a medicine making class and an ethical wildcrafting class. Students are encouraged to attend the Tuesday night Plant Teacher Circles or join the Wednesday night Plant Teacher Group as a way of deepening and refining their connections with the plants.
Dates for 2012 Course
February 24-26: Opening Ceremony; Medicine Circle 1—Redcedar/Center, Earth, and Water; Investigation and Intention (indoor classes)
Thu Mar 8: Medicine Making class
March 16-18: Medicine Circle 2—Fire and Air; Boundaries and Trust (indoor classes + 1 day excursion)
Thu Mar 29: Wildcrafting class
April 20-22: Panther Creek 1 (3 days)
Devil’s Club, Dogwood, Alder, Cascara Sagrada
May 11-13: Panther Creek 2 (3 days)
Dragon Root (Smilacina), Oregon Grape, Vanilla Leaf
June 26-July 1: Siskyou Mountains—Water (5 days)
Yerba Santa, Silktassel, Angelica, Aralia, and others along the Illinois River in one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
July 25-29: Wy’East (aka Mt. Hood)—Air (5 days)
Yarrow, Arnica, St. John’s Wort, Elder, Mugwort, and Redroot.
August 21-26: Medicine Mountain Pilgrimage—Ochoco Mountains—Earth (5 days)
Ligusticum (Kishwoof/Oshala), Sweetroot, Baneberry, W. Peony, Werewolf Root (Dogbane) and others in a primal medicine mountain setting.
September 17-September 25: High Desert Odyssey—SE Oregon—Fire (8 days)
Green Ephedra, Juniper, Aspen, Sagebrush, and many others as we visit the amazing landscapes of the Eastern Oregon desert and its many shades of green. Serious healing work with the ancestors and soaking in hot springs under the stars. Steens Mountain, Pueblo Mountains, Hart Mountain.
October 13-14: Closing Ceremony (2 days)
Deposit
A $200 non-refundable deposit is due within two weeks of your acceptance. This deposit secures your place in the program.
Tuition 2012
Tuition is $2000 (there is a $200 discount if if paid in full by Dec. 15). The full tuition is due on or before Feb. 1.
Refunds
You will be refunded in full (less the $200 non-refundable deposit) if you notify us three weeks before the first day of class. After that, we will give you a refund only if we can find a replacement from our waiting list. Once classes begin there will be no refunds.
Caveats
Please be aware that we are not seeking comfort in the woods. We will be actively working to get ourselves out of our comfort zones to help open ourselves up for healing and learning. You may be expected to: sit in the hot desert sun for hours at a time, be in the rain for days, have your normal sleeping patterns altered, and/or spend lots of time in cars driving on bumpy dirt roads.
Registration
To apply for the Immersion Course, please send your application to the address shown below.
The School of Forest Medicine
P.O. Box 15007
Portland, OR 97293
You will be interviewed after your application is received. If you are accepted into the program, you will have two weeks to submit your $200 non-refundable deposit.
