Floracopeia has now hosted two of the three training programs that will constitute our complete teacher certification series, both of which were spectacular successes on all levels. The first, “In the Garden of the Medicine Buddha,” was a celebration of how plants and natural medicine can create a healthy spiritual culture. The second was our Teacher Training program in essential oil therapeutics. The third is coming this fall, titled The Aromatic Alchemy Retreat.

Many people have asked about the nature and content of this retreat, scheduled for September at the beautiful Shady Creek center.

There will be three primary subjects and activities.

The first is guided body-centered meditations to experientially study the nature of essential oils, their effects, and the botanical pranic intelligence they contain. These are the mindfulness practices that have been offered during the Contemplative Aromatherapy retreats for the last two years around the country, but we will have more time to explore them in a sustained and comprehensive way.

The second is an in-depth focus on the therapeutic uses of specific oils. We will do this by studying herbal texts and monographs that explain the properties and functions of each plant and its oil in detail, complemented with an overview of recent scientific studies.

The third is teachings on the principles of eco-spirituality found in Ayurveda, and its relevance specifically to aromatic plants and their functions.

We will move cyclically through these three activities in a relaxed but focused way, from a study of therapeutics to a meditation to a discussion about the Ayurvedic interpretation of the teachings and contemplative experiences. Each cycle of study will last about twenty minutes, so we will explore one oil or one group of oils from all three perspectives every hour.

When we approach an essential oil with concentration and mindfulness it begins to reveal hidden dimensions of beauty, power and intelligence that are not ordinarily noticed. As we integrate these new perceptions into a greater awareness of our own physiological reactions to the plant’s essence, we begin to understand how we are deeply connected to all of life, specifically to the photosynthetic beings that give us nourishment and medicines. By exploring this biological unity through our own senses, we come to realize directly that the processes of life occurring in and around us are truly the expressions and manifestations of an underlying miraculous and profound consciousness, as so eloquently described by the language of Ayurveda. For that reason, we call are calling this retreat Aromatic Alchemy.

Unlike the previous retreats where many teachers were featured, I will be teaching the entire program.

With the completion of this third retreat, Floracopeia will have reached an important milestone: offering a complete teacher training program in three large events, consisting of a global vision of the healing power of plants, a more focused study of the field of aromatherapy and the uses of oils, and a contemplative and still deeper study of the intelligence which the oils contain. It has been a truly remarkable year of growth, expansion, hard work and celebration for all of us at Floracopeia; we thank you for your commitment and support, and invite you to join us for the completion of this series.

David

Learn More and Register Here

To join the new Mandala program, go to www.floracopeia.com/affiliate and sign up!. It is a very dynamic and powerful system and its free to join!

For a complete overview of what the Mandala program is all about and how to use it, please take the time to listen to last night’s training. It is well worth it!

Audio: Mandala Training 7/14/10

Click the audio player below to listen to last night’s training and also utilize the slide show as you go through the recording. Simply click the arrows at the bottom of the slide show to advance the slides.  If you’d like to view a larger version of the slide show, click here, or click the ‘View on SlideShare’ button at the bottom right of the player (make sure to open it in a new tab or window so you can still hear the audio).

Enjoy and please leave us your comments and questions at the bottom of the page.

Audio Player

Slide Show Link (Make sure the slide show opens in a new window or tab)

The launch of MedicineCrow.com is right around the corner. We are currently in the beta-testing phase of the site with a small selected group of a couple hundred members signed up and testing things out. The response so far is phenomenal.

MedicineCrow is a website unlike anything ever done before. It features powerful and inspirational education from the world’s leading experts in botanical medicine within the framework of a living community of people from all over the world.

Please watch this amazing video on the site.

We will be launching MedicineCrow to everyone in 2-4 weeks…stay tuned!

Below is all the info you need to attend this Wednesday, June 9th 6pm PST (9pm EST).

(The following info will also be sent to your inbox)

You may either attend by listening in on your phone or on the internet via our webcast page.

To attend by phone, use the call-in number and pin provided below. Please call in 5-10 minutes early and introduce yourself!

To attend on the internet, go to the link below at the time of the class….its that simple.

1. Attend By Phone: Call 916-414-0605 and use Pin Number 080705#

2. Attend On the Internet: Go to the following address at the time of the class, http://attendthisevent.com/?eventid=13128978

We look forward to hearing from you on Wednesday! Its going to be an exciting call.

Dear friends:

Lately, there has been one major development after another at Floracopeia, and this one is no exception.

If you are in any way involved with Floracopeia at a business level (affiliate, retailer, aromatherapist, herbalist, teacher, etc..), or would like to be, please make sure you take a moment to read about the new and enhanced Flroacopeia Mandala Program.

Last fall we launched the early stages of our affiliate program, which many of you have been actively participating in now for several months. Since then we have been working behind the scenes and have made some incredible enhancements to the program that you will definitely want to know about.

This coming Wednesday, June 9th at 6pm PST  (9pm EST), we will be hosting a very special free teleseminar/webcast about the Mandala Affiliate Program and to fill you in on how you can get started. If you are already an affiliate, you definitely will want to attend the class as the system has been given a complete makeover. If you’re new to the program, this will be the perfect time to orient yourself to what it is all about.

During the class we will give you the latest info on:

-How you can integrate Floracopeia products and education into your own businesses and/or start a Floracopeia side business of your own.

-The latest developments with the Floracopeia mission and how you can play an important role.

-The latest on MedicineCrow.com and how affiliates can benefit and earn money from spreading the word.

-And much more…

Mandala Program Webcast and Teleseminar

The recording of the call is now available. Please click the audio link below to listen.

http://www.floracopeia.com/audio/affiliate-training-6-10.mp3

Please read this personal message from David Crow and then sign up for the free class below!

A Message from David Crow

Dear friends…

In this time when we seem collectively determined to push beyond all bounds and limitations of reason, sanity, and sustainability of ecological, economic, and social integrity, I find it important to remember all the things we can never have too much of.

My heart tells me we can never have too many songbirds, too many empty spaces filled with natural beauty, or too much diversity of plant and animal species as our companions. We can never have too much time spent studying and learning about the wonders of the Creation that gave birth to us, or meditatively reflecting on the presence of the Spirit that animates all within it.

We can never have too much fertility of soil, purity of water, freshness of air, and never too much abundance from organic farms and gardens. We can never have too much knowledge of how to care for our families with healthy food and natural medicines, and never have too many friends in nourishing and supportive communities.

With those simple affirmations, I would like to invite everyone to join William Siff, his family, and myself over the summer for the Farm to Pharmacy training programs, where we will relearn what was once part of our common heritage. In response to the endless exploitation of peoples, resources, and environments, we will re-empower ourselves with knowledge of how to grow our own herbs, prepare them into simple and safe remedies, and become caretakers of not only the health of our families and communities, but of the ancient and endangered lineages of plant species and the wisdom of how to use them to nourish, detoxify and rejuvenate ourselves.

While our society continues suffering from the waste and destruction of endless wars, increasingly serious violations of the planetary body and soul, and the collective despair of losing our jobs, homes, schools, and life savings to uncontrollable corruption, we will celebrate creating a new culture with the simple joys of working with seeds, soil, sun and water, finally tasting the myriad flavors and enjoying the fragrances of the healing medicines offered freely by the earth to those willing to care for her.

Come join us! The need for creating all the things in life that we can never have enough of has never been greater.

David

Click Here for More Info on the Farm to Pharmacy Intensive

(Note: The intensives can be taken separately or as the complete series)

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Teleseminar and Webcast Class

This Thursday, May 27th, at 6pm PST (9pm EST), Floracopeia is hosting a very special class that you can attend from the comfort of your own home via your computer or telephone.

The Farm to Pharmacy Teleseminar/Webcast Class will be a dynamic dialogue between Floracopeia founder, David Crow and Goldthread founder, William Siff. William has been one of the star presenters at the last two Floracopeia retreats and is becoming very well known for his revolutionary work in western Massachussetts with the Goldthread herbal CSA, apothecary, farm and Farm to Pharmacy Intensives.

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Class Recording Now Available

Many thanks to all who attended the live class. For those of you who didn’t have the chance to listen in, the recording of the class is posted below. Enjoy and leave us your comments and questions below.

Once again, I am amazed at the response to our latest retreat at Shady Creek, and deeply grateful to everyone who traveled from near and far to contribute to the high energy with their dedication to aromatic botanical medicines. Many thanks to everyone, especially those who traveled internationally (France, Canada, Brazil) and long distances within the US (Hawaii, east coast). Special thanks also to the wonderful teachers, who got rave reviews, thunderous applause, and overwhelming devotion. Much appreciation goes to all who patiently endured the rustic conditions during the first two days of rain and cold, to be rewarded with the spectacular emergence of the full moon on a frozen white landscape which soon transformed into the full glory of a warm and flower-filled springtime in the Sierras. The food was organic and delicious, the room cathedral-like and at times obviously filled with an enchantment of light, flowers and visiting hummingbirds, and the heartfelt stories and testimonials of healing brought tears to many.

For me the experience was a powerful teaching in focus, concentration, openness and enjoyment of each moment, as it was by far the longest stretch of time that I have ever been in front of such a large and attentive group; as our new beloved friend Arjun-Das commented, it was a magic room that got bigger when you sat in the front. Teaching like this is an ongoing process of seeing yourself reflected back in the eyes of everyone participating, with all the aspects of yourself that you are comfortable and uncomfortable with.

Since the retreat I have given a lot of thought to what was fulfilling and rewarding and what needs improvement for next time. Each group will be different and each retreat will happen under different circumstances, but themes have emerged from everyone’s helpful feedback about how to make the program better next time. My overall impression is that we accomplished the goal of presenting a wide range of material about a broad and complex field to a diverse group of students, and that going deeper into more specific therapeutic applications will be an ongoing process. I also feel that we accomplished the goal of learning to see and appreciate the aromatic plants in a global context, which for me is a kind of spiritual view of interconnectedness with life.

Many thanks again to all who made this event so special: Jillian for her hard work as Event Coordinator, Jai Dev, Kari, and Taya who worked so many long hours, Jonathan for bringing his still and offering us fresh essential oils and hydrosols starting on the full moon, Lorenzo and the team for keeping us well nourished, to my father for his surprise visit, and everyone else. In gratitude, I would like to post here the first part of the series titled “Beloved Plants,” a piece which I wrote for the SW Conference on Botanical Medicine recently. It has not been released before, although I read it during the teleclasses. This will be the first of a series of blog posts that I will make over the next few weeks, as we have many important developments coming with the affiliate program, new web site, and other events, and each time I will include some of this new writing. As you all know, this is the ultimate fulfillment for me, to express these thoughts and feelings and insights about nature’s beauty in a poetic way.

David

Read Part One of David Crow’s ‘Beloved Plants’ Below

Lavender

Like serpentine waves of color undulating across the continents, the lilac hues of lavender farms weave together all that is good about us humans. For love of beauty people flock to the cascading purple terraces of Provence, New Zealand, Himachal Pradesh, California, drawn like the bees climbing through their miniature labyrinthine worlds of ultraviolet scent. Because there still lives, somewhere in our heart and soul where the artificialities of modernity are not allowed, an innate indescribable love for nature’s tender expressions, the soft voice of lavender’s gentle spirit is universally understood. Because there still abides beneath our hardened, agitated, aggressive, restless madness an inescapable vulnerability to the feminine power of the earth’s compassion, lavender’s soothing touch transcends our painful imagined differences, bonding us together again in the simple child-like truth that we all suffer and need comfort.

Open a bottle of fine lavender oil, as if you were one of those who feel reverence because it has cured them of sorrows in ways that science could not do. Bring it slowly to your nostrils, for inside lies more than you ever realized. Can you perceive the fresh notes of rain, dewy transparent pearls rolling off silken petal and leathery leaf? Draw your attention further inward: there await rich earthen notes of loamy fertile soil or mineral notes of harsh wild landscapes. It is easy to get lost in the smell of purples, the sweet aquamarine notes of fruit and flower so distinct yet so indescribable, but anyone can do that. Do you sense the pungency, the soft sharpness of sunrays, the fiery acrid heat of Mediterranean summer days? How can you not notice the cool air of evening that settles on the flowing contours of color at dusk, changing the heliotrope undertones to fuschia then magenta then indigo as the plants exhale their purifying breath into the night sky?

But wait, there’s more…that was only the terrain the oil came from. What has created this wonder, this sublime artistic expression like a fragrant Impressionist painting from a palette of wind, water, earth and fire? What intelligence, what evolutionary force, what biological necessity, what inborn instinct, what genetic genius, what devic magic has mixed and melded and separated and compounded and purified and refined this alchemical gem, this elixir of healing, this infinitely valuable aromatic talisman of protection? Can we name it, or should its name not be spoken, so profound a mystery it represents? More importantly, can we smell it? We must, for its presence now permeates the cavities of the sinuses, aroma molecules now vie for receptor sites, receptor sites now fire in unison, enzymes cascade in torrents of information converting the sheer pranic power of this supreme presence into holographic neural networks. In an instant, something that did not exist a moment ago is now manifest: the fragrance of lavender within our own unique private universe of perception.

Rest a moment and breathe; new revelations will appear. Notice how this apparently simple essential oil has, in its profound botanical wisdom and primal spirituality, covertly carried the nutrient life force of the earth, the soothing cooling touch of water, the energizing rays of sun, and the uplifting breath of air directly into the deepest recesses of our brains, our hearts, our mind.

Notice its effects.

Are the sinews not softer, the nerves somehow more translucent, the joints younger? Are the pains of unconscious habitual contractions and chronic irritation of smoldering inflammation not receding? Is the chest not more open, the breath smoother, and the heartbeat steadier?

Notice also the effect on the intangible parts of our being. Is the mind not more clear, the mood more elevated? Can you not feel the somber cloud of collective despair and frustration, so closely entwined with the empathic fibers of our being that we can no longer perceive its weight, lifting, in its place a simple joy that needs no cause to arise?

Give thanks. Thanks to the compassionate plant that heals a multitude of ailments without causing harm, to the ancient intelligence that enlivens it, to the soil that nourished it, to the water that moistened it, to the air that it breathed, the sun that awoke it from slumber. Give thanks to the men and women who labor with love tending their precious children until mature, and then tending them more. Give thanks to the sacred alchemical arts and sciences of distilling the essence of these beneficent beings, and the lineages of teaching and knowledge that have brought us this precious blessing in humanity’s hour of need.

Please leave your comments, thoughts and questions below.

We are now less than a month away from launching a brand new website. This is a project that has been under development now for many months. The idea was birthed out of our desire to provide an online destination that will give our community access to the most dynamic and compelling education in the fields of plant-based medicine, ecology and spirituality.

Introducing…MedicineCrow

The Grassroots Healthcare Network

Below is an audio interview and conversation with Floracopeia’s David Crow and Jai Dev Singh. The topic of the conversation is the Grassroots Healthcare Revolution. It is a compelling and inspiring dialogue that covers a wide variety of information and ideas. Towards the end, David and Jai Dev discuss the upcoming launch of the Medicine Crow website and everything it represents.

The first audio piece below is the entire interview.

The second audio piece is the section where the MedicineCrow website is discussed  Sit back, enjoy and leave us your comments and feedback below…

The Grassroots Healthcare Revolution: An Interview with David Crow

About the MedicineCrow Website

The Cedar of Lebanon Oil is without a doubt one of the most interesting and powerful essential oils we have had the pleasure of carrying at Floracopeia. It is truly a one of a kind aromatic treasure of the highest quality.

Many of you have met the Cedar of Lebanon Oil and are familiar with the project we initiated for it about two years ago. After two years of concentrated effort we have not been able to bring the replanting project to fruition and we are now bringing it to a close.  Perhaps it will reincarnate in another form some time in the future.

This Weekend’s Special Sale

The Cedar of Lebanon Oil which was being sold at $250 per dram to support the replanting project is available for only $60.00. We are now offering the final supply of the oil and hydrosol for this special sale this weekend.  In addition, for each dram of Cedar of Lebanon Oil purchased, we’ll send you a free 4oz bottle of the Cedar of Lebanon Hydrosol (regularly $20).

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Click Here to Purchase the Oil

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The Story of the Cedar of Lebanon

Once, these majestic trees covered the mountains of Lebanon and surrounding regions. Because of their great value for a multitude of purposes they were deforested over millennia, until now only a few groves remain.

The Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a tree with an ancient history, revered and considered sacred by Christians, Jews and Muslims for millenia. Those who are familiar with the Judeo-Christian traditions will know that this tree is mentioned numerous times in scriptures, referring to its strength, beauty and religious significance. King Solomon built his temple from this wood, and the Phoenicians their boats. The trees were renowned throughout the Old World, venerated and celebrated as spiritual monuments.

In the spring of ‘08 we received a letter from a gentleman who is an expert in the history, plants and musical instruments of the Bible. He informed us that about one hundred years ago a Cedrus libani had been planted on an estate in North Carolina, that it had recently blown down in a storm, and that a small amount of the wood remained for sale by a rare wood collector. We immediately purchased this wood with the intention of distilling its precious oil, a fragrance from a bygone age.

Two-hundred and twenty pounds of heartwood was shipped to our distiller in Crestone, Colorado, where it was custom-distilled for Floracopeia. The distillation produced one liter of essential oil and ten gallons of hydrosol.

The olfactory characteristics of the oil are those of a fine cedar wood: softly woody and balsamic, subtly complex with a tinge of sweetness. But it is not the aroma itself that makes this oil marvelous, but its rarity and connection to another time and place. It is the fragrance of a past age, the scent of ancient cultures and histories and a link to a deeply spiritual chapter of human life. It is possible that this liter of oil is the only Cedar of Lebanon essential oil available in the world.

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As many of you know, the first ever Floracopeia Certification Course is being held at the end of April.

We knew from the beginning of its creation that this course would be a one of a kind event, and for those of you who attended the In the Garden of the Medicine Buddha retreat in September, you are well aware of the power and inspiration that comes out of these retreats.  As we are getting  closer to the event, we are seeing it develop into something quite extraordinary.

Here are just a couple of the developments to look forward to:

Full Moon Distillations

One of the most exciting announcements we have to share is the launching of the monthly Full Moon Distillations. This is a project that blossomed out of a collaboration between Goldthread Apothecary and Farm, Floracopeia, and Sudarshan Botanical Sanctuary.

Beginning this Spring, both Goldthread Farm, in western Massachusetts, and Sudarshan Botanical Sanctuary in Nevada City, California, will be conducting a full moon essential oil distillation under the night time sky on both sides of the country. These are going to be community events and open to all who wish to take part.

It just so happens that the full moon of April falls on the 28th, which is during the certification course retreat. Fortunately for all of us who will be there, Floracopeia, Goldthread and Sudarshan will collectively conduct the first official Full Moon Distillation event  on site at the retreat!

There are still a small handful of spots left at the course. Call us at 530-470-9269 or visit the event page. (Due to the conference center policy, only course participants will be able to attend the full moon distillation).

Floracopeia Certification Course Teaching Staff

We have brought together a world class faculty of teachers for the retreat who will be traveling from all over North America to teach. Of course, Floracopeia’s own David Crow is the visionary and primary teacher for the course.

Here are the guest teachers for this year’s course that David has personally picked to teach on their areas of expertise: Internationally renowned aromatherapist and herbalist, Kathi Keville; Goldthread founder and herbalist, William Siff; acupuncturist and herbalist, Joshua Geeter; medicinal plant grower, distiller and essential oil researcher, Herbert Strobl; aromatherapy expert, educater and Massage Magazine contributor, Katie Haley; and ayurveda and yoga teacher, Jai Dev Singh (yours truly).

There are over 200 people traveling from around the world to attend this retreat. It is going to be an experience unlike any other in the field of aromatherapy and botanical medicine. There are only a few spots remaining so if you’d like to jump in, now is your chance!

Click the link below to register.

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Register for the Floracopeia Certification Course

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