You're invited to an Earth Medicine Alliance community ritual  in Golden Gate Park to celebrate passion and purpose. Especially in these challenging economic times, basic survival can easily overshadow our soul's calling to live an inspired life of joy and service. Whether it be  healing our culture by supporting green technologies and business, serving life by being a good parent or community member, organizing for social justice and equality, or 1,001 other ways that Spirit moves us to try to be loving and helpful people, we can feel in our bones when we're doing the kinds of things that we're here to do. Living an inspired life feels good and the possibility of living in this way is a reality that we here at the Alliance want to support as much as possible.

   In this spirit we are offering a two-part ritual on Saturday, October 9th from 10am-3pm. From 10am-12noon we'll share in heart circle, listening and speaking from the heart about what we are passionate about, what evokes a sense of purpose and calling in our lives. There will be no pressure to speak, and all who share will have the opportunity to be really heard and received. Then we'll enjoy a relaxed lunch together in the park followed by participatory ceremony from 1:30-3pm with the intent to feed, enliven, and support our respective passions, visions, and calling to service. For folks who wish to share in practical ways (e.g. flyers, cards, networking kind of things) about their current undertakings, there will also be a space set aside for this.

   This gathering also includes an opportunity to become a member of the Alliance. Attendees are invited to sign up for a yearly membership for a discounted $30, and on the day of the gathering you can both become a member and register for the November conference for a total of $60. Everyone is welcome to the morning circle and lunch (including flying bobcats) with no expectation of joining the Alliance; however, the afternoon circle is  an offering specifically for new and current members. 

   Directions and further details will be provided in the following newsletter. Current members who confirm in advance will be invited to help co-create the ritual on behalf of the extended community. Confirmation in advance is encouraged but not critical.

   At this stage in our development, the Alliance is run entirely on volunteer effort, and it's been amazing to see just how much has come into form over the past nine months in this way.  It's also true that with our conference less than three months away, we can use all the help we can get, especially in getting the word out. Whether it's a little or a lot, your support is totally encouraged in whatever forms work for you.

   If you are inclined to be part of our team of volunteers, please check out our scheduled 2010 gatherings: www.earthmedicine.org/volunteer. We are committed to having fun and supporting each other in our efforts, and the opportunity to be part of the team is one of numerous benefits of being an Alliance member.

   Even if you can't make the gatherings and are limited on time, there are several easy ways to help out, all of which revolve around spreading the word about our work. The flyer for our conference can be shared with this link: www.earthmedicine.org/conference.pdf or you can just forward this newsletter to folks who you think may be interested.  We're also on Facebook (here) and "liking" our page and posting something there helps to get the word out. If you know of a place you think we should be sharing about our work, feel free to let us know at: info@earthmedicine.org. In brief, if you like what we're up to with the conference, interview project and local events, taking a moment to share with your loved ones and networks would be super helpful in making our first year a big success.  Thanks!

   You're invited to the first annual conference of the Earth Medicine Alliance! This weekend gathering will host over 20 panelists, presenters, and ceremonial leaders from different earth-honoring ways of life. We are excited to welcome Native California (inc. Ohlone) council members,  initiated orisha priests, Buddhist teachers, representatives of European pagan and other earth-honoring paths, shamanic practitioners, chi gung teachers, eco-psychologists, and life-long earth activists. We will gather to learn from one another, engage in constructive dialogue, offer ceremony on and for the Earth, and also to just have a great time together over two full days in community.

   On Saturday we will gather at the Unitarian Universalist Center of San Francisco, and on Sunday smaller breakout groups will offer co-created earth healing ceremonies on public lands in and around San Francisco. Registration is limited to 250 and cost is $50. Early registration is encouraged. For more info, see the flyer on our homepage, and to register online: www.earthmedicine.org/conference. Hope to see you at the conference!