it was good to get back.
This weekend marked the tenth anniversary of the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference, an event I attended the first five years, ending with the year I was about 6 months pregnant with Claire. There were plenty of women at the conference with their babies, toddlers, children.... but I knew enough about myself that I knew I didn't want to wear both hats at once, you know? I knew. So I didn't go for a handful of years. It was, as always, wonderful. Having grown to over a thousand women (and only women), I'm quite sure this annual fall event is here to stay. I took several classes, rose early each morning for yoga, walked all over, camped with friends that drove down from Illinois to attend, ate incredible food (seriously, look at this menu!) and was inspired again and again. My mind is swirling with all of the information shared in the classes, particularly the ones about nutrition, stress response, and integrative pediatrics. I listened to women I've heard speak in years past, was excited to hear new ones that have long inspired me through their books and messages, and learned quite a lot.
So now I'm back home with renewed motivation and inspiration to commit to getting more sleep and exercise, and to look even more closely at the foods I put into my body and the way my body reacts to them. I am inspired to make some medicine, and feeling good about choices I've made regarding Claire's health, diet, medical care, etc. Good times, good people, amazing and empowering information.
weekending with Karen~
It all sounds fantastic! I want to attend next year.
ReplyDeleteoh Tracey that'd be so much fun! we could camp near each other and have a blast! it is the first weekend of October next year, the 2nd-4th, I think.
Deleteand I believe Rosemary Gladstar will be teaching there next year, too. She is wonderful to hear and learn from.
DeleteSounds wonderful. I always find those kinds of weekend leave me feeling motivated, inspired and empowered.
ReplyDeleteit is always a highlight of my year when I go to the conference. such an amazing group of speakers come and the food, classes, music, yoga, and camaraderie are stunning.
DeleteIt looks and sounds like so much fun! I wish they had more things like this in the southwest. We are still such a cowboy country here.
ReplyDeleteit really is pretty wonderful. and while it isn't just for women there is the Southwest Conference on Botanical Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. I've been to their Southeast version- Medicines from the Earth, and it is pretty great. also, I get such a funny picture in my head thinking of what 'cowboy country' must be like!
DeleteSounds amazing, a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteyes!
DeleteI thought I saw you there! I could only attend for a few hours on Friday (my sister-in-law took the rest of my registered time), but I loved being there for my first time!
ReplyDeleteOh fun! Were we in a class together? I'm so glad you got to go at least for part of it, Molly- hopefully next year you can stay the whole time!
DeleteSounds like an amazing experience. My husband and I were at a retreat for Wisconsin Sierra Club members last weekend. We found it so wonderful to be surrounded by those with similar beliefs. I'm sure you felt the same at your conference.
ReplyDeletethere's something about being surrounded by about a thousand other women for a whole weekend. wow.
Deletea Sierra Club member retreat sounds incredible, too- yes, it can be so energizing and empowering when you get a group together that really wants to move something forward!
what a lovely weekend and we should all rethink what we eat and do with our bodies! I know I could clean up my diet every day.
ReplyDeleteoh me too, for sure. I'm riding the conference high still and doing pretty well, getting in some good walks and yoga, herbs and good food every day. the trick is holding onto that and making it a lifestyle. or at least a large part of my lifestyle ;)
DeleteHm...this sounds lovely. Perhaps a field trip for moi is in order in 2015.
ReplyDeleteoh YES YES YES! My tent is enormous, we can bunk up together ;) maybe the school needs a fall break right around then? October 2-4?
DeleteHee hee. Great because my (our) tent is silly small. Must upgrade. I just love your pictures of autumn and those mountains. Sigh. It never gets old.
ReplyDeletefor years we kept using our backpacking tents for car camping and finally got one that is ridiculously big thinking it'd come in handy if we ever camp for a week at the beach or something~ we've since added a 3 person backpacking tent that works well for us for that and is much more politely sized for most uses. happy to bust out the big one for an herb conference get-together!
Deleteoh my gosh these colors- we need to take a drive up the parkway towards Mt. Mitchell soon SOON. it's like we blink and it goes from just changing to gone!