Earth Medicine Practitioner training THREE YEAR, 250hr TRAINING PROGRAM
A TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH TO SHADOW WORK + SPIRITUAL HEALING + ANCESTRAL RECONNECTION + PLANT MEDICINE
This class combines the neuroscience of trauma healing with traditional magic, land based practices and other vibrational healing modalities. Our first year together will focus on self development while cultivating the framework for practitioner skills. Second year encompasses practitioner ethics and good practices and advanced healing ceremonies. In addition to functioning as a student clinic, an optional third year also incorporates administrative and business practices to help get you on your feet as a practitioner. This class explores many aspects and facets of being a healing arts practitioner, offering exposure to several modalities to help you build the framework of a sustainable practice rooted in solid methods.
Sharon and Vanessa approach this work from the framework of their own lineages, folklore, histories, and practices. Sharon's expertise lies in Irish, Scottish, and other northern European traditions while Vanessa's experience comes from middle eastern and Mediterranean practices. We offer this framework as a starting point to assist you in reconnecting and reclaiming your own connection to spirit and ancestors through ethics, right relationships, and reciprocity.
The space we hold for this class is one of compassion, resilience, and sovereignty. All levels and practices are welcome. Our teaching style is structured and comprehensive with room for all the senses to play and integrate the learnings both intellectually and viscerally. We teach all concepts and practices through a non-binary lens and focus on unsettling settler colonialism while holding space for the breadth and complexity of all lived experiences and lineages. All are welcome to join us in this supportive work. Please see below for instructor bios.
A healer is someone who facilitates another person in realizing their inherent wholeness, regardless of symptoms or states of being. Being a healer means promoting healthy feelings, actions, thoughts, and beliefs in a client without compromising the same within themselves.
The root of most symptoms and dis-associative patterns lie in the imbalances caused by unprocessed traumas and internalized wounds born from the formative experiences of this lifetime, internalized systemic and cultural beliefs, and the loss of severed ancestry.
Over time these energetic blockages can crystallize, taking up space in the body and energy field, displacing Spirit and causing physical and emotional manifestations. The multi-modality approach you will learn works to reintegrate displaced soul part(s) by examining the root source of wounds, accessing felt senses and using positive bio-feedback through vibrational healing tools such as energetic clearing, sound healing and plant medicines to remind the soul the body is no longer in danger. This creates a natural and unforced invitation, calling to any dis-integrated soul parts to return as they are ready while developing skills for energetic hygiene and sovereignty.
First Year: personal altar 120 in class hours
January 2021- December 2021 This foundational year focuses on deepening into your own healing experience, ancestral reconnection, remembering and reclaiming the wisdom-keeper within.
In this class you will learn to incorporate therapeutic dialoging, shadow work, mindfulness, somatic approaches, purification and blessing rituals, divination, guided journey work, and vibrational healing tools such as energetic channeling, sound healing, and plant medicine energetics.
These modalities will guide you first in exploring the origins of your own wounding to shift any limiting beliefs and clear stagnant energy so you are prepared to assist another in the same process.
You will learn:
How to define your relationship to self and the cycles of nature
How to befriend your shadow self
Connect with your guides and healing spirits
Reconnection to ancestors and lineage based practices
Grounding + energetic hygiene
How to listen to Spirit
Instinct, intuition, and the clair senses
Subtle energetics of plant medicine
Energetic healing techniques
Classes include:
Lecture
Visual aids
Experiential exercises
Demonstrations
Partnered hands on time to give/receive
Safer space to process in community with other healers
An online learning platform with access to all recorded lectures, class notes, and assigned homework
Syllabus: final dates will be published in Sept 2020
WINTER QUARTER - Earth
Altar Elements + Wheel of the Year + Ancestral Reconnection
Plant Allies + Non Appropriative Purification Rituals
Journey Work + Allies + Guides
SUMMER QUARTER - Fire
Energetic Hygiene: Shielding + Energy Raising
Clair Senses
Divination
AUTUMN QUARTER - Water
Anatomy of the Subtle Body
Energy Medicine Theory
Vibrational Tools + Practices
Please note: This 120 hour training is an intensive curriculum with several hours of homework assigned each module. Your commitment to yourself and the group dynamic is fundamental to this work.
Classes meet twice a month on 2nd and 4th Sundays for 4 quarters. Each quarter will have an overarching seasonal theme with a group ritual or project often taking place the last integration day of each quarter.
*Core Classes: every 2nd Sunday, 10-5pm Each module will offer different teaching concepts taught through experiential exercises, lecture, hands-on practice time, and assigned homework.
*Integration Days: every 4th Sunday, 11-3pm Because the material is so dense, in between each core module will be a shorter day for review and practice to integrate the learning.
Full Tuition: $2400. Payment plans are available:
$600 quarterly. Payments due at the beginning of each quarter.
$200 monthly. Payments due at the beginning of each month.
Class size is limited to 14 students to ensure the quality of this program.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 (goes towards your tuition) is required to hold your place.
One sliding scale space available for those who identify as BIPOC.
***Tuition price includes:
12 Core Classes: 72 hours @ $20/hr = $1440
12 Integration Days: 48 hours @ $20/hr = $960
An online learning platform with access to all recorded lectures, class notes, and assigned homework
50% off full price tickets to our sibling program: Plant Medicine Learning Lab, a monthly drop in class focusing on one herb each month.
Tuition cost is based on in-class time, lesson planning time, space rental, cost of materials, platforms, and other misc overhead costs.
Requirements:
All levels and practices welcome. There are no prerequisites to this class other than a commitment to self, and an open heart and mind
Homework - Includes reading assignments, group projects, and practice sessions outside of class
Enrollment will officially open in Sept of 2020. If you would like to be added to the list please fill out the application below and you will be contacted in Sept to finalize your enrollment.
January 2022- December 2022 Our second year focuses on practitioner skills, ethics and good practices, ritual and ceremony crafting, and advanced healing modalities including cord cutting, softening of hardened energies + entities, extraction work, and compassionate deposession.
You will learn:
How to stay grounded and neutral as a practitioner
How to track your own experience
The differences between empathy, sympathy, and compassion
How to journey and divine on behalf of your client
How to work with intrusive energies + entities
Overshadowing + Sovereignty
Classes include:
Lecture
Visual aids
Experiential exercises
Demonstrations
Partnered hands on time to give/receive
Safer space to process in community with other healers
An online learning platform with access to all recorded lectures, class notes, and assigned homework
Please note: This 120 hour training is an intensive curriculum with several hours of homework assigned each module. Your commitment to yourself and the group dynamic is fundamental to this work.
Classes meet twice a month on 1st and 3rd Sundays for 4 quarters. Each quarter will have an overarching seasonal theme with a group ritual or project often taking place the last integration day of each quarter.
*Core Classes: every 1st Sunday, 10-5pm Each module will offer different teaching concepts taught through experiential exercises, lecture, hands-on practice time, and assigned homework.
*Integration Days: every 3rd Sunday, 11-3pm Because the material is so dense, in between each core module will be a shorter day for review and practice to integrate the learning.
Full Tuition: $2400. Payment plans are available:
$600 quarterly. Payments due at the beginning of each quarter.
$200 monthly. Payments due at the beginning of each month.
One sliding scale space available for those who identify as BIPOC.
***Tuition price includes:
12 Core Classes: 72 hours @ $20/hr = $1440
12 Integration Days: 48 hours @ $20/hr = $960
An online learning platform with access to all recorded lectures, class notes, and assigned homework
50% off full price tickets to our sibling program: Plant Medicine Learning Lab, a monthly drop in class focusing on one herb each month.
Tuition cost is based on in-class time, lesson planning time, space rental, cost of materials and other overhead costs.
Requirements:
Completion of First Year
Homework - Includes reading assignments, group projects, and practice sessions outside of class
Syllabus: final dates tba
WINTER QUARTER - Earth
THERAPEUTIC DIALOG + PRACTITIONER ROLE + POWER DYNAMICS
JOURNEYING/DIVINING/ENERGY READING FOR YOUR CLIENT
SESSION COMPOSITION
SPRING QUARTER - Air
RITUAL + CEREMONY CRAFTING
CORD TENDING + UNBINDING
OVERSHADOWING + SOVEREIGNTY
SUMMER QUARTER - Fire
GUIDED THERAPEUTIC IMAGERY
INTRUSIVE ENERGIES + ENTITIES
EXTRACTION
AUTUMN QUARTER - Water
COMPASSIONATE DEPOSESSION
SPACE CLEARING + BLESSING
GROUP SOUND HEALING
third Year: student clinic + Business practices 54 in class hours
February 2023 - November 2023
Our final year together will be comprised of 9 student clinics which will each include practice sessions and discussion topics around the practicality and administration of a practitioner business. Students sign up in advance for client work and choose what modality they want to practice.
Clinics meet on first Saturdays of the month from 10-5pm
Services are offered to the public for free or by donation, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Clinics include:
Review + practice
Mentored sessions
Group decompression
business practices + ethics
Full Tuition: $1080
Monthly Payment plan is available:
$120 per month for 9 months. Payment due first of the month.
***Tuition price includes:
9 Student clinics
An online learning platform with access to all recorded lectures, class notes, and assigned homework
50% off full price tickets to our sibling program: Plant Medicine Learning Lab, a monthly drop in class focusing on one herb each month.
Tuition cost is based on in-class time, lesson planning time, space rental, cost of materials and other overhead costs.
Prerequisits:
Completion of First + Second Year
syllabus: final dates TBA
CLINIC 1
Orientation and practice run through. No public clients.
Discussion Topic: practitioner bio + session descriptions
CLINIC 3
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: intake questions + new client forms
CLINIC 4
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: overhead costs + pricing your sessions
CLINIC 5
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: record keeping + privacy
CLINIC 6
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: accounting
CLINIC 7
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: business ethics
CLINIC 8
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: marketing
CLINIC 9
Two practice sessions
Discussion Topic: work life balance + self care
class location
All classes are held at:
Madrona House Apothecary 1423 34th ave Unit C Seattle, WA 98122
Floor cushions and chairs are provided. Please dress comfortably and bring a journal and writing utensil and anything else you might need to feel comfortable during our time together.
We do have a mini fridge, microwave, and kettle for hot water should you need them. There are a few restaurants and coffee shops in the neighborhood for lunch and breaks.
Parking is abundant throughout our neighborhood, you can expect to walk about 1-2 blocks from your parked car. Metro bus routes 3 and 4 are located at 34th and Union which are less than a block away from our door.
Look for the red cow restaurant and take the concrete stairs to the immediate left. Come up the wood porch to the right and through glass door that says Unit C! Street parking is abundant in the neighborhood.
Accessibility Info We have an up sloping driveway with 5 concrete stairs that lead to a wood porch with 3 more stairs.
Due to the nature of being an Apothecary we are not a scent free environment. We do, however, strive to keep our space free of any synthetic fragrances and APPRECIATE YOUR ABSTAINING FROM WEARING ANY SCENTED BODY PRODUCTS.
About your facilitators
Vanessa Ainslie (she/her), LMT, CLC, CST, AWC "I am an intuitive empath, clairvoyant, clairsentient, ritualist, licensed massage therapist, certified coach, certified Ayurvedic wellness counselor, energy healer, craniosacral therapist, sound healer, plant medicine practitioner and educator.
I have been a practitioner for 14 years and work through a trauma informed lens to offer somatic bodywork, personal ritual, shadow work, and energetic + spiritual healing which focuses on re-mything limiting self beliefs to establish good boundaries, energetic hygiene and sovereignty.
I am descendant of many mixed lineages including Sephardi and Askenazi Jew of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Baltic regions. I am a 4th generation immigrant from Greece, my practice being rooted in exploring and reclaiming the ancient traditions of my Greek heritage in right relationship to the Spirits of this land and its Ancestors.
My part in this course is a distillation of the education and experience I have gleaned over the years through the many modalities I’ve practiced and the great teachers I’ve learned from along the way. I will be sharing with you both skills and techniques I have been taught and others that I have developed. My areas of expertise are trauma and how it relates to the body; practitioner skills, ethics, and good practices; the subtle energetics of plant medicine through an Ayurvedic and Greek lens; Vibrational medicine (sound healing, aromatherapy, energy work).
I do not claim to have all the answers nor do I believe my way is the only way. I am not the gatekeeper of this knowledge and firmly believe we all carry our own valuable wisdom deep within our bones. Please understand that this is an offer of framework and I invite you to take what you want, leave what doesn’t feel right and make this work your own.
This work is stirring and provoking at times in order to get to the root of your own healing process and is designed this way so you have first hand experience to draw from in assisting others.
Healing is a misnomer. We are not un-whole or broken or wrong. There is only a re-aligning to the health already present in our being. We must always hold this truth in our hearts to be encouraging and empowering to ourselves and our clients.
We are not healers. We simply do not have that power. We may be the conduit for healing energy but ultimately, it is the client who is the healer of themselves.
My personal Cosmology: Creative Life Force Energy, or Source, is at the root of all cultural practices and beliefs. We look to the root of this source energy (magic) for inspiration, intuition, channeling, visioning, and journeying to find our way back to the indigenous land based practices of our own ancestors. We all have access to this magic. No one has the power to take this away from us. "
Sharon Arnold (they/them) "I’m a writer and educator working in the intersection of arts, activism, and cultural histories. My areas of interest and expertise are in art and philosophy, semiotics and divination, journeying, and ritual; and ancestral connection and restorative practices in reciprocity and right relationship with the land. My identity is queer, nonbinary/fluid, femme in presentation and masc in mindset and attitude. My conditions are neuroatypical, with an autoimmune syndrome.
I'm descended from multiple Northern European-American lineages, including Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, and Scandanavian heritages. I currently work within syncretic folk traditions, primarily rooted in the study of Irish and American traditions and folklore. While I've had a lifelong personal spiritual practice, my work has recently shifted towards more public-facing service with a committed devotion to community, land, and spirit. I approach this work through the examination of capitalist systems, settler colonialism, community ecosystems, and solidarity networks to support new paths forward. It’s my belief that reconnection to the traditions, heritage, language, folklore, and histories of our ancestors is critical work. I believe in rigorous study and understanding of these because I believe concrete and useful knowledge is rooted in historical precedent and documentation. But I also believe new ways, individual experiences, and personal gnosis are an important part of personal growth and development.
What I bring to the course is all the previous, but also: experience with ancestor veneration traditions; an understanding of the daily work of a devotional spiritual practice; the varying differences in community organization and responsibility versus individual spiritual guidance and council; and both a practical and scholarly perspective of the range of spiritual and cultural histories and practices present in our work. I am hard-edged, blunt, annoyingly specific, and rigidly ethical, and believe in community accountability. I strongly believe teaching is more about listening, learning, and facilitating than it is a hierarchical flow of information.
My personal cosmology: I'm an animist who walks between this world, an saol seo; and the Otherworld, an saol eila. I believe in the Irish cosmology of land, sea, and sky; talam, muir, nem. I believe all things have life, beyond the scope of our metrics for what constitutes being “alive”; and that for each of us, magic, poetry, and free will are at the root of everything. I'm interested in a spirituality that tethers our ancestral traditions with our bioregion, to form a syncretic practice in right relationship that doesn’t steal from others but respects who as well as where we are. My way isn’t the only way or even your way, though it may guide you to yours. Ultimately, it’s my belief that only the land can truly show you where to go, how to pray, and how to be in right relationship with all your spirits, deities, and ancestors."