Ancestral Arts & Ceremony
In all of our histories are ancestors who crafted by the rhythm of the seasons and wilderness.
For us, learning the ways of our ancestors is much more than just learning a skill. While we do gain confidence and increase our breadth of knowledge, we also get to witness first hand the incredible mystery of this creation of life. We come into direct relationship with nature, acknowledge the original peoples of this land, and begin to discover some of the ancient ways that are deeply connected to our own sense of wellness, purpose and belonging.
We offer various workshops and classes throughout the season on these ancestral lifeways and arts. Join us in deepening your connection with the natural world through the ancient arts and wisdom of our ancestors. The following are some of our offerings.
In this 4-hour workshop, we will talk about the ancient skill of courting fire by friction using a bow drill. We’ll cover the tools of creating fire with a bow drill kit, how you can create your own kit to practice with, and get hands-on with creating your own coal and fire together!
Learn tools to open up and listen to your intuitive abilities, while developing a relationship with Nature as the ultimate guide in your life through this full-day foray into the wilderness of your own wild knowing.
Workshop includes:
Exploration of on intuition, the body, and knowing your knowing
Guided grounding and visualization exercises to clear blocks and activate intuition
Blindfolded Drum Stalk
Sacred Wander / Medicine Walk
Wildcrafted tea to activate intuitive and psychic faculties
In this full day workshop, we will venture out into the beautiful wilderness just outside of Estes Park, Colorado to enter into the medicine of the winter season, including a medicinal plant walk, some animal tracking, nature-connection and spacious time to reflect and connect, allowing winter to restore us in the way she does.
Join us for a 6-hour workshop to learn to weave sweetgrass coil baskets in honor of and gratitude for our ancestors and friends in the other world. Nourishment and tea from the land will be provided, as well as all materials needed.
A 3.5-hour workshop to learn how to make cordage from wild foraged plants. Making cordage is a process of taking plant materials and twisting them together to make string or rope. In this workshop we’ll work with two plants that require two different preparation techniques - Dogbane and Cattails. Once you know these techniques, you’ll be able to make cordage from just about anything, even banana peels!
Ancestral Skills workshops and events most often happen in-person in the Boulder, Colorado area. However, we have traveled to Wyoming, Texas, Arizona, and Utah for special occasions. Please reach out if you’d like to set something special up for yourself or your community.
If you’re interested in dipping your toes in, sign up to receive our newsletter with upcoming events, Earth medicine, ancestral skills, and other juicy tidbits for reconnecting in these wild and revolutionary times.
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Here’s just a couple of the videos I’ve got up on my YouTube channel, Backyard Bounty. Check them out and feel free to subscribe to get notified of new little adventures in the backyard.