Imbolc
“O most honored Greening Force,
You who roots in the Sun;
You who lights up, in shining serenity, within a wheel
that earthly excellence fails to comprehend.
You are enfolded
in the weaving of divine mysteries.
You redden like the dawn
and you burn: flame of the Sun.”
– Hildegard von Bingen, Causae et Curae
Happy Imbolc Dear Ones,
After intense rain storms here in southern California, we are anticipating a beautiful and verdant spring. Imbolc is the Irish festival of the triple goddess Brighid, and means 'in the belly', in reference to sheep being pregnant with ewes and spring gestating in the belly of mother earth. Ireland is the land of my ancestors and holds a dear place in my heart, as does the goddess Brighid (the goddess of healing, smithcraft, and poetry), whose favorite tree, the Rowan tree, my son is named after. Imbolc is the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
It will soon be the season of Viriditas, which comes from the Latin words for both green and truth. This beautiful neologism was coined by the German nun Hildegard von Bingen of the 12th century. It means greenness and growth as well as vigor, vitality, and freshness.
Viriditas, green-truth, has both spiritual and practical applications. It is the season of rebirth and renewal, and is a part of the calendar year, but also available to us always in our capacity to renew, to heal, to be reborn in spiritual growth and even in our professional work or relationships.
In my autumn newsletter, which you can review here, I sent out an image of the lemniscate or infinity symbol, a beautiful tool for meditation on the cycles of the year, but also the inner cycles we experience in times of personal darkness and death (think literal death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job or home, etc) and also personal times of renewal and rebirth.
There are of course, teachings from both the darkness and the light, but I am so grateful for the return of warmth, longer brighter days, and the sweet, momentary magic that is the viriditas, the green-truth unfolding of spring on the earth.
This spring I will be offering an exciting new workshop in collaboration with SEAreniTEA sanctuary. It will be an Ayurvedic cleanse workshop with some beautiful new additions, offered as a two day non-residential retreat on the epic Gaviota Coast at SEAreniTEA healing sanctuary. Please look below for more information and links to early bird pricing and easy online registration.
I will of course be continuing to offer Integrative Holistic Health Counseling, Therapeutic Bodywork, Ayurvedic Bodywork, Private Yoga Instruction, and teaching at the Waldorf School of Santa Barbara in the Farm and Garden program.
I hope to see you in my office, on the trails, or in the garden soon!
With Love, Gratitude, and Viriditas,
~Liz
P.S. Beginning in February this year I will be in a new office at 1101 Eugenia Place in downtown Carpinteria in the chiropractic office of Dr. Ron DeSandre.
Spring Renewal Retreat
at SEAreniTEA Healing Sanctuary on the Gaviota Coast
Saturday March 18th 11-2 and
Sunday March 20th 10-1
(for women only)
This retreat is a two day non residential gathering on the pristine Gaviota Coast at SEAreniTEA Healing Sanctuary.
On Saturday we will gather to learn the foundations of Ayurveda through the five elements and the three doshas, and orient to our Anahata Healing Arts Cleanse Guidebook so that you can undertake your own traditional Ayurvedic spring renewal.
We will share in a cooking demo of Ayurvedic kitchari and eat lunch and drink tea straight from the garden together in the lovely and serene environs of SEAreniTEA, surrounded by running water, herbal gardens, and the majesty of the Gaviota coast, adorned by the presence of each of the 10 women circling together.
On Sunday we will return to SEAreniTEA to learn about the gifts of abhyanga, Ayurvedic massage with herb infused oils, and to participate in gentle yoga accessible to all levels followed by a traditional Homa, fire ceremony, to make offerings to the seven tongues of Kali (the flames of the fire) and observe the teachings of Ayurveda in a living and vital way, seeing that indeed our inner fire of digestion is a sacred fire into which we offer the gifts of food and nourishment to the holy vessel of our body.
More information can be found here.
Investment for the retreat is $250. Early bird pricing before February 12th is $200. Register here.
Once you register, please send payment through PayPal to iinhale@hotmail.com with a note that reads ‘Spring Cleanse 2023 Workshop' and your space will be reserved.
(As mentioned, there are only 10 spots and your space is not reserved until payment is received. Payment is non-refundable, but can be transferred to bodywork, Integrative Health Counseling, or private yoga if an emergency arises and you are unable to attend)
