Beauty[full] Beginnings

Join us as we close out the month of February and prepare for Spring with an afternoon of deep emotional and energetic release during this season's final Full Moon, also known as the Snow Moon. This month we will be working with hapé and sananga as our primary plant allies along with individual Limpias offered by Gwendolyn Rios Dixon. Gwendolyn is a Boricua Herbalist-Curandera, Certified USUI/ Holy Fire Reiki I & II practitioner and owner of Gwendolyn’s Botánica. She assists with aligning the mind, body, spirit through restoration and grounding techniques utilizing plant allies, ancestral connections and energy work. 

Together, we will embark upon a journey of deep release and internal remembrance to living the beauty way. 

Intentional Tea Selection:

TBA

What is a Limpia?

A limpia is a cleansing or spiritual healing ritual specifically for removing any negative energies, either yours or that others throw at you. During a limpia, curandera and energy worker [Gwendolyn Rios Dixon], will perform a cleansing that focuses on removing any negative energies and restoring balance and well-being. Gwendolyn uses various techniques to cleanse including Copal incense [ethically harvested from Oaxaca], herbs, sound frequencies, and/or use a local, fresh egg around the body, which helps absorb any lingering energies. Gwendolyn will recite prayers, mantras, or invocations to facilitate the energetic clearing and protection during the limpia. It is important to note that the limpia is rooted in various cultural and spiritual beliefs, and the specific practices may vary across different traditions and regions. Gwendolyn calls on the ancestors and her Boricua roots in her energy work. Limpias are performed with the intention of providing comfort, spiritual healing, and restoring positive energy.

What is Hapé?

Hapé is a sacred tobacco snuff that is curated with medicinal plants, leaves, trees and seeds from native lands in a labor intensive, ceremonial way by the indigenous tribes of the Amazon. The tobacco harvested is not grown for commercial use or genetically modified, thus it does not contain high amounts of nicotine. The Native People greatly revere Tobacco as a Grandfather medicine, full of ancient wisdom and the ability to carry prayers to the creator. Hapé is a powerful plant ally that is often used for purification, protection and deep connection to the spirits, animals, and Mother Earth. An experience of sitting with hapé can offer powerful healing for the body, mind, and soul.

The application of hapé involves administering finely ground medicine through a long tube [tepi] into the nostrils via life force energy [the breath] of the facilitator. The experience is known to be physically uncomfortable and may cause purging. The physical response to the medicine varies from person to person as the medicine works intimately with each person's needs at the moment.

What is Sananga?

Sananga is a traditional and sacred Amazonian plant medicine in liquid form. It is derived primarily from the roots of either the Tabernaemontana undulata plant (milkwood) or the Tabernaemontana sananho plant (dogbane). Sananga is often used in traditional Amazonian shamanic rituals and ceremonies and is believed to help cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, making it easier for individuals to connect with higher consciousness and spirit realms. Sananga is also used to treat various physical conditions, such as eye infections, inflammation, and other ocular issues. Some indigenous peoples believe that it can enhance visual acuity and promote eye health. Some even consider sananga to be an emotional and mental purgative, helping individuals release negative emotions, trauma, and energetic blockages. It is believed to bring emotional clarity and a sense of emotional well-being.

The application of sananga involves placing a few drops of the liquid directly into the eyes. The experience is known to be intense, causing temporary burning, stinging, and tearing. It is often accompanied by a sensation of warmth and sometimes even temporary blurred vision. These sensations are part of the cleansing and purifying process and usually lasts no more than 10 minutes.

Note:

Participation is optional and guidance will be provided throughout the evening. We are scheduled to close out our ceremony at 3p, however please keep in mind that all medicine tends to transcend time and space.

Attire:

Dress comfortably :)

What to Bring [Optional]:

• blanket
• crystals
• water bottle
• journal + pen
• an open heart
• clearly thought-out intentions for release