Forest Refuge Practice
The ground of the Forest is our refuge and womb to release any armoring, layers, blocks, hooks, and tears. Forest is the earth element as it recycles waste into nutrients through the interconnected support of our biological place in things. In the forest we lay our bellies to the earth surrendering all ideas of separation from the cycle of life. All the while being held by the mossy soft, yet firm, layers of support. We learn the purification practice of deep humility where we offer prostrations on the forest floor. This ancient method of surrender allows us to let go of our notions of separations from the earth and our relationship to it. Further, it is a natural way to bring balance to the ego. Forest goes deep under the soil where the roots of receiving both stability and nutrients allow for the vertical ascension into the sky. We can only go as high as we go deep. Movement cannot happen without support. The roots and interconnected biome of the Forest informs our body to connect to our energy source from deep in the earth. Each retreat we spend time in the forest in the intentional practice called Forest Refuge. The group collective provides the safety and courage to be in a quiet and vulnerable open state in the forest. Each retreat offers a different focus of engagement; be it building a mandala, poetic verses to invoke presence, silent tea ceremony, or stops for journaling and inner reflection.
Eco-Listening
Giving ourselves the opportunity to slow down to earth time we silently walk to find our plant or tree to be in sacred dialogue with. The art of listening to the trees, flowers, and plants is one that is easy and full of our primal evolution as a species. Awakening our senses through touch, smell, taste, and sight we enter into a state of curiosity and inquiry. This allows us to explore how a plants morphology or structure can offer us insight into stability and flexability. Further, as we look at the physical attributes of plants and trees we see the doctrine of signatures. The doctrine of signatures say’s that the physical attributes of plants serve as signs to indicate their therapeutic value. We take notes and draw our plant friends leaves, and shapes. Allowing the organic and playful details of the plant to enliven your own senses. The land around Golden Spruce retreat is filled with Natives and cultivares from similar climates. We slowly come into the morphic field resonance with the plant and the open curiosity leads to space to receive communication. Our ability to listen to the world around us is imperative for our survival and wellness.