Song Circle & Plant Spirit Meditation with Lavender

360 Friendly Lane,Wilmington NC 28409

27 May, 2023

Description

Event Overview: Join us for a song circle and plant meditation hosted by Kristy Pace with Sacred Wild Roots in collaboration with musical enchantress, Jackie Deconti! For this community meditation, we will gather in sacred space, a safe place for all, in the comfort of a home setting. The intention of this meditation is to embody a sense of connection with ourselves, with others in community, and with both the plant and spirit world through an opening song circle and plant spirit meditation with an overnight infusion of Lavender. This plant spirit meditation practice is rooted in the Wise Woman Tradition, one of the oldest traditions of our time, that is honored by many ancient cultures and indigenous people. The timeline of activities will include: Warm welcome and connection through brief introductions and overview; Jackie Deconti will lead us in song with guitar and opportunities for drumming; Kristy Pace of Sacred Wild Roots will guide us through a 45-minute meditation with an overnight infusion of Lavender, followed by 45-minutes of weaving experiences, plant profile discussion and open-discussion; Closing of our circle and closing in collective song and rhythm. General Description of Plant Selection: The wonderful, heady scent of fresh lavender instantly generates a feeling of tranquility. For over 2000 years, lavender has been used by cultures around the world to attract peaceful energies and ward off evil spirits. Lavender gets its name from the Latin word Lavare, meaning ‘to wash’, which is believed to refer to the way infusions of this herb were used for washing and cleansing purposes. Prior to industrialization, clothes were washed and left to dry on lavender bushes. Lavender's many traditional uses, such as this one, speaks to the herbs’ powerful physical, mental, and spiritual healing powers. Lavender is revered as a potent spiritual purifier by many faiths, including Christianity and Shamanism. Its aroma is thought to uplift the spirit, promote inner peace, and aid in the process of connecting to the Divine. The bluish-purple flowers of lavender are often associated with devotion, grace, and tranquility, which is likely due to their hypnotic and relaxing scent. Lavender is for Spiritual Appeal, the seventh and final chakra, the crown, connecting us to the cosmos and the super consciousness of the universe. Our chakras can become blocked by negative energy which often manifests as emotional distress and feelings of worthlessness. Lavender is highly regarded as an effective tool to remove these blockages and it is believed to be particularly beneficial in opening the third-eye chakra. Lavender is commonly used in meditation practices to quiet the mind, attract mental clarity, enhance creativity & self expression, promote psychic insight and intuitive visions associated with the third eye chakra. Lavender can be employed to draw nature spirits in and keep the bad ones out. A gate keeper much like Elderberry, stands of Lavender act like an invisible fence around your home and living space. You do not need heavy purges, or many day long retreats into the Amazon or hipster houses in L.A. to experience the depth of plant spirit. All plants are connected by the roots to the heart of the world, they are the voices of the mystery, the givers, keepers and receivers of all life. Their bodies consume the sun, providing us with oxygen and food, that they then offer to the soil for more life to thrive. The best plants to connect deeply with spirit are those who have walked with us humans throughout history, Lavender, Rose, Elder, Rue, Ginseng, Sage, Artemisia, Blue Vervain, Bitter Melon, Willow and Oak. Lavender helps us tune in, quiet the mind and listen to the heart so we can listen to the cries and laughter of everything else around us. Internally as a water infused tea of the flowers and leaves, Lavender clears internal spaces including the mind, body and spirit. Lavender moves stagnant womb blood as well as alleviate gas and cramping in the digestive system. Lavender flowers can be smoked in floral blends for those who enjoy that form of medicine and burned in a sensor as an incense to clear the room of negative energy. Use along with Chamomile and Yarrow Tea for sluggish menstrual period with clotting and cramping. Use with Peppermint and Chamomile for a soothing herbal digestive tea after dinner. From the Latin word Lavare, Lavender takes its name due to its highly antiseptic and aromatic qualities that made it a favorite for soaps and bathing oils to the ancient Romans. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, first noted in the 6th century BCE and on by famous physicians and scholars such as Theophrastus, Cato the Elder, Varro, Vergil and Pliny the Elder. Used throughout the Middle Ages in monastic and country gardens, it had a strong place in the Greco-Arabic medicine as an antiepileptic. Widely cultivated around temperate regions of the globe, Lavender scent can be found in everything from body lotions, shampoos, household cleaners, decorative sachets, dream pillows and eye masks. Select only organically grown Lavender from reputable companies… I personally like Floracopea, Aroma Flor, Pangea Organics and Mountain Rose Herbs. (Description of Lavender and Uses from www.outofstress.com/spiritual-benefits-of-lavender/ & www.villagewitch.org) Guided Plant Meditation: For the guided meditation, Kristy will cast a circle of protection and begin guiding you through a meditation to soften the body and connect with the heart space. During this meditative journey, you will be guided to enter sacred communion with the Lavender plant spirit, as you sip an overnight infusion of this herb, further opening to receive the plant medicine, healing, and plant wisdom. Through this communion and practice, we open and soften into deeper sense of connection with our intuitive self, the earth, & spirit. At the completion of the meditation, you will have an opportunity to jot down your observations and experience. We will follow with an open discussion by sharing & weaving our experiences together, followed by an overview and discussion of the plant profile & traditional uses before we close in gratitude. A pdf of the Lavender Plant Profile can be emailed to participants upon request, following the event, in an effort to conserve paper. In Preparation for the Event: Please wear comfortable clothing, bring your favorite mug, a journal and pen, water, and a blanket, floor pillow or yoga mat to sit on. Due to the nature of this meditation and limited timeframe, please arrive 15-20 minutes early as we will begin joining in circle promptly at 1pm to allow for brief introductions before beginning the meditation. Arriving early with plenty of time to get settled, will help ensure that everyone's time and energy is mutually respected, enhancing the collective energy of the space and optimizing the bliss, connection, and experience for all. Jackie and I look forward to gathering in community together, connecting through the rhythms of our hearts, music and song, and sharing this beautiful communion with the plant spirit of Lavender together. Lastly, there is no fee required to attend the event and we wish for anyone interested in experiencing this practice to be able to participate without any financial stress or concern. If you feel led, following the event, gratitude offerings will be warmly accepted, but is not required. Any offerings received will be split evenly between collaborators. With love and gratitude, ~ Kristy @ Sacred Wild Roots Contact Email: [email protected] Follow on Instagram: @sacredwildroots_