Holistic Mentorship Network

The Holistic Mentorship Network, founded by a lovely, forward-thinking soul named Linda, whose vision is "To support and strengthen the holistic profession".   All disciplines of holistic healers are welcomed and encouraged to participate in events, mentor new members and network to strengthen a common goal of providing holistic healing to our communities.  Of course, the HMN mission statement says it so much more succinctly and concisely than I:

“To create a unified community of compassionate holistic practitioners that will contribute to enhancing our profession, and ourselves, by providing a supportive space to share, learn, teach, grow and lead."

One glance at the practioner directory and you will see 87+ different healing modalities represented - all trained, certified or licensed practioners.

I mention this, because in fall of 2009, I spent a week studying with famed herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in E. Barre, VT.  In my class were several herbalists from the greater Montpelier area.  I was impressed with how they all worked together to build a more (w)holistic, self-supportive community.


Returning to NJ, I wanted to recreate that sense of commonality and rural support that I felt in Vermont.  I wasn't sure how to do that....   and then I stumbled onto HMN about six weeks later.  I cannot remember exactly how I discovered them - rather, it feels to me like the Holistic Mentorship Network found me!


If you are a holistic practioner, I urge you to check out the Holistic Mentorship Network at http://www.holisticmentorshipnetwork.com/.


(on a cyber housekeeping note:  I had spent about 60 mins crafting a carefully worded blog entry to post about the HMN.  There was apparently some 'hiccup' in cyberspace because when I hit 'Publish' my original draft copy is what posted instead, and my finished, polished, final edition vanished into the electronic ether.  Note to SELF:  Remember to click "Save as Draft" often while creating any entry and/or copy the text before submitting.  You will save yourself from the mind-wrenching aggravation of trying to re-work, reword, recall and recapture the spirit of your original finished piece!  My most humble apologies as this entry pales from the original.  Grrrrrr.....)

Farms, Food and Family

On a sustainability note, today, I attended the local harvest event sponsored by the northern NJ convivium of Slow Food USA.  The theme was "Farms, Food and Family", and folks could purchase seasonal vegetables and fruit, grass-fed and finished beef and pork, poultry, eggs, cheese, breads, teas, and prepared foods from local growers and producers.  Additionally, there were some select, boutique vendors selling artisan chocolates for Valentine's Day (or as an indulgence for anyday!), and my friend, Anne, from Degage Gardens was offering organic eco-handcrafted herbal aromatherapy products for your Valentine.  Also featured were several local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, so folks could learn how to purchase seasonal farm shares at Genesis Farm, Howling Wolf Farm, and Rogowski Farm. Arthur & Friends, an entrepreneurial training program for adults with disabilities, presented locally grown organic hydroponic greens for sale.

So what is Slow Food?  A little history about the movement:

Slow Food began in Italy by Carlo Petrini with the founding of its forerunner organization, Agricola, in 1986 to resist the opening of a McDonald's near the Spanish Steps in Rome. 

Slow Food is now an international movement.  Promoted as an alternative to fast food, it strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem.  The movement has since expanded globally to over 100,000 members in 132 countries.  Its goal is to encourage sustainable foods and promote local small businesses, and is not generally a fan of the globalization of agricultural products.

Check out a convivium (local chapter) near YOU!

Celebrating the seasonal holiday of Imbolc/Candlemas

Generally occurring around February 1 and 2, this holiday is known by many names:  Candlemas, Imbolc, Brigit's Eve, Oimelc, La Fheile Brid, Lupercalia, St. Brigid's Day and many, many others.  This holiday is typically a celebration of Hope and the promise or forecasting of Spring:  the darkness of winter is retreating, the light is returning more and more each day, and the promise of spring is in the air.  (Ok, maybe not this year with the icy/snowy winter that has dumped snow on the northeast almost once a week!).

Traditionally, it was a time of forced fasting for indigenous peoples and clans on several continents because food stores were becoming scarce.