I saw the road cutting to the left as I came around the bend on
Rt. 212.
Before I could read the street sign, I braked, snapped my turn signal
on, hoping that no one was close behind me. About a half mile down
the road I had second thoughts. Was this the road? Why had I turned
without reading the sign? Allowing self-doubt to cloud my intuition,
I turned back to check the sign to see if I was indeed on the right
path. I was to spend the next four days in the presence of a woman
who finds no charm in such silly self-indulgence. Of course I was
on the right path--I'd turned hadn't I?
The Wise Woman Center is a place of transformation and healing.
Before Susun acquired it, the land had been a quarry--rocky outcroppings,
gouged-out canyons and cut bluestone stacked high forming man-made
cliffs.Every inch of soil was laid down by Susun, transforming the
scarred earth into a place where plants, animals and women grow
and heal. I had been told that the Green Witch Intensive would be
transformative and over the next four days I came to understand
what that really means.
As I approached the driveway, one of the apprentices was there
to show me the way in. Susun stood at the top of the driveway, greeted
me by name and showed me where to park, making sure to tell me to
avoid damaging the plants. After my car was parked, Susun turned
me over to one of the apprentices. A long-limbed, willowy woman,
Meghan was the youngest of the circle of women gathered for the
Green Witch Intensive. It was Meghan's duty to orient me to the
property and the simple rules that all need to follow when living
in the midst of goats, geese and faeries. Always close gates and
doors to keep critters in or out; bluestone is slippery when wet;
keep to the paths so as not to trample the plants living there and
watch out for altars.
When all the women were gathered we were served the first of several
delicious infusions and given schedules outlining the events that
would fill our days. The talking stick was passed from woman to
woman as we introduced ourselves. Something magical happens when
that sacred stick is placed in your hands. I am not a natural speaker
and have always shied away from speaking in public. I almost never
say what is on my mind. But the stick gives permission to speak,
to put out there what is in your heart. Words, always hard for me
to come by, came easily. The stick gave me the courage to be heard.
The weed walk that followed was the shortest of the four days worth
of classes with Susun, but I learned more on that one walk than
I had in the past year of self-study. For anyone contemplating doing
a workshop with Susun, I suggest that you leave pad and pencil alone.
Her teaching style will engage you so fully that taking notes will
only cause you to miss valuable information. If you listen, what
she tells you will become yours. If you ask a question, you will
most likely be guided to an answer rich in botanical, philosophical
and mystical lore.
Susun doesn't suffer sloppy thinking. Assumptions will be questioned,
errors corrected and faulty logic challenged. One day, during casual
conversation, I spoke of something that I'd been told years ago
as a child. Something I'd simply assumed to be true. "That
makes no sense," Susun said, and proceeded to show me why.
I soon realized that, damn, it didn't make sense! What made even
less sense was that I had never thought about it, questioned it
or researched it.
Song filled our days. Mornings brought the song of the apprentices
as they made their way up from the Nettle's Patch to start the chores
of the day. Minerva, one of the oldest, brightest souls I've ever
met, led us in a moving meditation called Qi Kong. Afterwards, we
had a large breakfast of grains, fresh goat milk, yogurt, bread,
honey and fruit. And infusions--always infusions. At 10 we had class
with Susun, then lunch, talking stick followed by class at 3:30,
then dinner.
The food was simply spectacular. Simplicity being key--grains,
greens, goats milk, yogurt and cheese, and wild salads. Nutritious
infusions and strengthening vinegars will change the way you feel
in a short time. I can only describe it as a clean, centered energy.
You will be sated without feeling heavy. You will be nourished in
every aspect of your being as well, physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Each evening brought a different event. Our first night was magical.
We were served a scrumptious dinner complete with freshly picked
wild salad followed by a concert. Everyone was encouraged to dress
in Goddess garb to listen to Julia Haines sing and play the Celtic
harp. Those of us who live in jeans and t-shirts availed ourselves
of the many costumes Susun has collected over the years. A concert
under the stars decked out in our finest!
The last day was one of the most moving experiences in my life.
Right up there with birthing babies, but this time, it was I being
born in the company of women. Initiation was not something I had
really thought about. I was never one to join groups or participate
in ritual. I was there to learn about the medicinal and nutritional
uses of plants. But, after three intense days (it ain't called an
intensive for nothing), with these incredible, talented women, I
knew I wanted to be part of this thing. I'd spent my entire life
being apart--this time, I would participate.
Later, I swam naked in the pond. It had been many years since I'd
felt free enough and safe enough to be in my skin with others. I
found out that floating on my back with 30 feet of water holding
me up, beads of duckweed sparkling in my hair is a truly magical
way to spend an afternoon. I highly recommend swimming in duckweed
for what ails you.
As the day moved into evening, we began to part company. Last words
were spoken, business cards, phone numbers and email addresses exchanged.
We cried, hugged each other and Susun hugged us all. Susun's generosity
of spirit, her love for the earth, her respect for life and for
death makes her one of the most powerful women I have ever met.
Susun is nothing if not present. A hug from Susun is a hug to be
reckoned with--full of love and letting go. A mother's hug.
Woman by woman, we left as we came, but we left a little stronger,
a little wiser and fully nourished.
Many thanks go out to the apprentices, Meg, Meghan, Verena, Melina,
Corrina and Minerva. Thank you all for your hard work, kind words
and sweet songs. I hope I spelled your names right. Thank you, Susun
for the wonderful work you do; for creating a safe place where women
learn, love, discover their names and find their voices.
love,
-linda
in the end, we are all food
http://livejournal.com/users/lindasu
read more about being a Green Witch