The Redwood Journey is a two-hour guided experience blending herbalism, embodied practices, and inner exploration, held in relationship with coastal redwood forests of Northern California.
Since I was a little girl, I always fantasized about moving to California. I don’t even exactly know why — something about it was always calling my name, even though I grew up in Florida, had never visited, and had very limited knowledge of the area. Looking back, though, even though I didn’t know what I’d find there, I did know that people always talked about seeing these amazing trees, the largest trees on earth, trees that would take your breath away when you saw them, far away on some California landscape.
Today, I live on the northern coast of California, a nearly six-hour drive north of San Francisco, and I call the redwoods my home. Redwood trees represent a sanctuary for me. The coastal redwood forests are places where these giant ancestors make their home, and they share their gifts with those of us who ask.
Inner landscapes
Certain places have recurred for me in my inner journeys with various practitioners. My friend Kim is a brilliant facilitator of experiences, where we work with expanded states of consciousness to uncover what’s lying beneath the surface. The redwood forest is my most sacred refuge in my inner world, my safe space, the place that comes to mind when I’m asked to imagine myself somewhere peaceful and supportive. It is my orientation point, the place where I anchor my nervous system in deep quietude. A place I’ve come back to to find my home, both in the physical and spiritual realms.
The ecology of Redwood
The dominant plant species of these coastal redwood forests bears the botanical name Sequoia sempervirens, with the epithet sempervirens meaning “evergreen” in Latin. These trees are massive, reaching heights far past what other trees can. They are able to absorb water from the thick fog around their needles through tiny pores called stomata, an adaptation that makes them thrive in the coastal zone of northern California. Their barks are fire resistant and are frequently able to survive wildfires, evidenced by the hollowed-out redwood trees you see in the forests with lively green leaves growth atop them. The resistance and stability exhibited by redwood trees from an ecological perspective mirrors the experience of being in their presence.
What I mean by “journeying”
Since I am not an expert at journeying, I can only speak from my own experience. Doing inner guided exploration has been a profound way to get in touch with parts of myself I either didn’t know were there, or don’t have access to on a daily basis. This technique uses the power of the imagination, the capacity to listen to the body, and the ability to set aside skepticism just momentarily to gather insights. I highly recommend working with a skilled professional for this to enhance your experience, as I’ve had wonderful experiences working with them.
Embodied practices: yoga, breath, sound
Yoga practices as they are understood in the West largely consist of practicing asanas, or physical postures. These movements serve the purpose of opening the body and moving around the energy, or prana, to prepare the body to sit in meditation and confront the mysteries of the universe firsthand. Using yoga postures to facilitate journeying is a way to quiet the yearnings of our bodies, the need to stretch, to wiggle, to get “unstuck” from sitting in a chair all day. We bring the breath into the practice as well as sound frequencies to assist in the process — to help us let go further and to anchor us to the moment.
Redwood plant medicine
When I use the phrase “plant medicine” here, I am referring to gentle, non-psychoactive ways of working with plants, such as aroma, simple herbal preparations, or sensory engagement. Participation is always optional. These practices are supportive rather than directive, and are offered as invitations rather than prescriptions.
This workshop is for you if you are curious about how to start working with plants — whether you are a beginner who has never taken an herbal medicine or sat with a tree before, or a seasoned plant lover ready to take your connection to the next level. If you are like me and have been drawn to redwood trees, this is your chance to step deeper into that relationship with this magnificent being.