Home is where the Heart is.

They say the best way to learn something well is to teach it.  Today has been a day of extreme learning.  I have been preparing for my day long workshop Opening our Hearts to Gaia tomorrow at the Worcester Town Hall.  We will be journeying, sharing, learning about the wisdom and power of the heart, and doing ritual to open and connect our Hearts with the Earth.

Part of my preparation was to find some quiet reflective time to meditate and refresh my energy.
I went to a local ashram where there is an exquisitely beautiful meditation cave that is lovingly tended year round.  Being in that space felt like a home coming.  I was so grateful for the deep quiet and sacred  energy of that place.  I breathed in the support of the Earth and exhaled my love and gratitude, over and over. After a couple hours which passed very quickly, i made my way home.  Everything seemed more clear and bright.  I felt at peace and in touch with a still center in my being.  My heart was wide open and i felt blessed. I made a decision to go back regularly.

I came home to find that my dog Brinx was missing.  I figured he had probably followed a neighbor home as he has occasionally done before.  Soon my phone rang and it was indeed my neighbor friend saying she had my dog and would swing by on her way to town to drop him off.  I told her she could simply let him out where we park (a 5 minute walk from our home) and drive away.  He has been good about going home from this spot when i need to drive away without him.
After a while i got a text saying Brinx had ran after their car for almost a mile after they dropped him off.  They had to turn around and bring him back again.  I walked down to fetch him, starting to feel disturbed.  Once i got within sight and sound distance, i called him.  He saw me but kept trying to go back with them.  They had to keep telling him to go.  He finally came, reluctantly.  I gave him a treat and we walked up to the house.  I was now feeling very sad.  Sad and betrayed.  I have poured so much love and care into my dog companion.  How could he want to leave me?  I was bereft while judging myself for being ridiculous.  Brinx was crying and looking miserable.

So what is the lesson here?  I got to experience the bliss of an open connected heart and then, very quickly, a sad and abandoned heart.  The wound of abandonment is an old one for me.  It is a well worn emotional path of co dependance and victimhood, neediness, and conditional love.  I am not proud but i am human and i am healing.  I know the extremes and i know the center.  The old wound may continue to rear its sad self at times and i will do my best to surround myself with compassion and love.
Meanwhile i will continue to cultivate my open connected Heart.  My dog is free to love who he loves and i am free to love unconditionally.  Having re-membered this profound lesson personally, i am now that much more able to share it with others.

Life is a journey of Re-membering.
When our Hearts are open and connected to Gaia, we are truly Home.

with LOVE,
Fearn

Testimonials about Fearn's work

Fearn is deeply at home with the energies of the Earth Mother. She hears, sees and understands the language of the Earth beings, the wind and the sunshine. She is able to convey this profound connection to her students, allowing them to expand into joyful awareness of all that is.

~ Annie McCleary, director of Wisdom of the Herbs School, Woodbury, Vermont

Should you ever want to connect deeply with the mysteries of earth&sky,
attune to the rhythms of our natural world,
or integrate magic into the fabric of your daily life-
please do yourself the favor
of traveling these sacred paths with Fearn.
I am forever grateful for her teachings & wisdoms
and thrilled that she continues to share her gifts.

-- devon byers :: lumosapothecary.com

"We sought out Fearn's help when our spring suddenly dried up during last years drought.  We had not been living at our land for too long, and were still really getting to know the energy of the place.  We were without water for an entire month!  Fearn came out and spent some time checking in with the place, the spirits of the place, and communicating especially with the water.  She heard some very beautiful information, and served as a bridge between us and the land as well, helping us to understand some other perspectives of its history, as well as the lingering energies that we have to work with.  She helped us find powerful energetic points where we could check in with the land and create ceremony over time. She gave us empowering knowledge to help us understand, appreciate, work with, enjoy, and worship this beautiful place.  And, also very importantly, she dowsed a new location for a spring.  The well guy was a skeptic, but even he couldn't argue when the very spot she picked was full of rushing water in what seemed like an endless amount, even during the driest spell.  After this i took a class of hers, because i knew that the knowledge she has to impart is sacred to this world, and the skills of listening to the deep energies of this earth are not to be lost.  I look forward to continuing to learn from her, and encourage all who can to take part in her classes!"    Casy Ellison

Fearn's powerful and accurate intuition guides her healing work. In the 14 years that I have known her and witnessed her heart-centered work, I have been constantly amazed at her profound conversations with the earth. She joyfully brings the human body, mind and spirit in connection with that of the earth and all its creatures.  Lisa Mase~ Harmonious Cookery

I highly recommend the program Guardians of the Sacred Earth with Fearn Lickfield.  What an exceptional opportunity at this moment of evolution and transformation on earth, with a beautiful, humble, powerful woman who excels at encouraging others to find their roots and center, and pursue their authentic path of self healing, and earth care. If you are on the fence about taking this class, take my advice, sign up now! What receive in return will feed you, your home, and your community, many fold!

My history with Fearn's practical, magical and innovative educational offerings and healing work spans the last 13 years. Fearn is my teacher and friend, and has helped me navigate through many significant life events. Examples of ways I have experienced her abilities include: ley line property work, various forms of dowsing, pet health care, counsel along my personal health journey (with herbal formulas, flower essences, rites of passage, ritual and shamanic extraction), custom blends for our family’s health needs, as a guest teacher for my herbalism students, as an astrological gardening resource, and as a leader of community events and intimate ceremonies.

A consultation with Fearn, in any of her areas of expertise makes for a meaningful day in life. I find her work to be accurate and resonant. I experience a positive shift that lasts long after we have met. Fearn is incredibly strong, skilled and grounded. I trust her connection with the spirits, and her ability to connect humans with the wild and invisible realms in ways that benefit the greater whole. She is a gifted and professional facilitator. She creates inclusive process within a safe and sacred container. Fearn is a listener, is patient and wise, moves through the world with integrity, and she cares about justice. Fearn is helping to keep ancient systems of healing alive. Fearn is a true healer.

Fearn's geomancy services are a fundamental and active part of our farm’s permaculture design process. Recently during an outdoor consultation on a sub-zero winter’s day (did I mention Fearn is hard core?) Fearn facilitated a fruitful dialogue between my husband and I, and the natural energies and spirits of the land. From that conversation came specific ways to respectfully develop our relationship with the seen and unseen landscape, We also arrived at the location of our new home site. We are empowered  with practical tools, awareness, and a clear idea of how to proceed thanks to working with Fearn.

Sandra Lory~ Mandala Botanicals

The Power of Community

dear readers, I am moved to share a personal story in this post.
Crisis has a way of pulling us inward to tend to the most important, immediate issues of safety, survival and support.  It also has a way of bringing community together thru compassion and service.

On Saturday i brought Ivan to the Emergency Room.  He could barely walk.  He had been dealing with increasing nausea, weakness, diarrhea, on top of the the blood clots in lungs and leg.  His blood pressure was dangerously low, and his potassium level was off the charts.  It was kidney failure.  He was in mortal danger.

My personal stress level had already hit a high that day. i was trying to prepare for a trip, while wondering if i should go, and worrying about ivan.  I am a fairly empathic person and this tendency is strongest with those to whom i am closest, especially when they are experiencing pain and suffering.  Ivan was going thru intense emotional and physical pain that night, and i felt it all as if it were my own.  I lost it.  i wanted so much to be strong for him but i had run out of cope.

Meanwhile, my dog who had been with me in the car all day had also run out of cope.  He is also very empathic and felt that something was wrong.  He was in the car at the ER for about 4 hrs and ate my seat belt in a fit of anxiety.  I could feel that too.

Thank God/dess, our amazing and extensive support system kicked in quickly to offer hugs, grounding, chocolate, a shoulder to cry on, protection, crystals, dog care, a spare bed, flowers, food, massage, healing and love.  This awesome community continues to step up for both of us thru the rocky road of ivan's health these past few years.  I'm sure its why we are feeling so strong and resilient, and why ivan is alive and recovering.  I am humbled by the web of love and power that holds us, both human and spirit.  Ivan has had more near death experiences than anyone i know; more lives than a cat!  Each time i am reminded of the preciousness of life,  the powerful teachings of death, and how grateful i am for community.

Welcome to the magical world of healing essences!

Witch Hazel is a remedy for seasonal depression.

Are you thinking about a new year's resolution but doubting your ability to follow thru? 
Do you feel stuck in old habits, thoughts, beliefs?  

Are you carrying heavy emotional funk?

The green world and i want to help release what is blocking you so you can step into 
your full expression of power, beauty and purpose in 2015!  

Custom Flower Essence Blend 

January SALE! (expires Feb. 1st)

$40 (Normally $50)

or $108 for a three month/three blend healing journey!

Includes intake, bottle, essences, and write up.  

Add $5 If shipping is required.

Start your journey!  

Email fearnessence@gmail.com.

What are Flower Essences?

Flower Essences are natural liquid extracts containing the vibrational healing imprint of a plant.  They are totally safe and non-toxic.  A flower in full bloom holds the healing “essence” or life force of a plant most potently, for it is the peak of the plant’s life cycle and expression.  Flower Essences are prepared by floating a few select blooms in water, which are infused in the sun or moon for a specific length of time.  They are then potentized, diluted, preserved and bottled.  The resulting essences are taken-usually internally- to bring balance and healing to the emotional, mental and spiritual levels of consciousness.

How do Flower Essences work?

The basis of all of life is vibrating energy and everything has a different vibration. When energy becomes blocked by dis-ease, pain, trauma or suffering, it vibrates at a less than optimal frequency.  Flowers to the rescue!  Flower Essences work on the energetic field of the body, each flower offering its unique vibration to heal a variety of specific conditions.  Essences can also be used to bring our overall energy back to health and wholeness.  The flowers show the way and the body follows.  This is the principle of Resonance.

What is Flower Essence Therapy?

Flower Essence Therapy is a process whereby a person seeks and receives the help of a practitioner to heal issues of an emotional, mental or spiritual nature.  As a wholistic approach to wellness, it can include looking at relationships with other people, animals and your home, all of which contribute to who you are.

It is a uniquely effective modality because it works with the healing plants that grow in our local environments.  Some of these will become your allies.

Connecting with the Spirit of the Earth is our deepest healing!

The benefits of Flower Essence Therapy include:

 *stress relief                                                    *a personalized formula!

 *connecting with the earth                                *tell your story and be heard with compassion

 *finding our purpose in this life                         *slowing down and breathing

 *loving and nurturing ourselves                           *feeling more joy, clarity and vibrancy

*letting go of outmoded beliefs that hold us back

*understanding and releasing stuck emotions such as fear, anger and sadness

The process is twofold: 

Self intake.   In your own time and space you will fill out my intake which is designed to get a picture of where you’ve been, where you are now and where you want to go or be in the future. Each of these questions is asked on the level of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  From this picture, I start to get a sense of the core issues that are at work within you and which plants might work to bring you toward healing and wholeness in relationship to these issues.  Another important part of the process is the use of affirmations.  Once the client becomes clear on what needs to happen and where they want to be,  you will develop an affirmation and visualization that you will be using in partnership with the essences.  This partnership is a potent combination for healing.  I may need follow up by email or phone to clarify and crystalize my understanding.

The formula.  Once I have gathered all the information necessary, I combine the plants that will be most appropriate for the client, and create a special formula with great intention and love. I currently work with about 300 plants, trees, stones and fungi and so have a wide range of healing applications at my fingertips.   Formulas are prepared in green glass dropper bottles with personalized label and given to the client along with an email which includes their affirmation and the descriptions of each of the plants’ actions that make up the formula.  Keep in mind as you read the descriptions that they are merely condensed snap shots of amazingly complex and diverse beings.  Take what works and know there is much more than meets the eye! 

Dosage is generally 3 drops, 3 times a day under the tongue.

Meditate on your affirmation/visualization each time, and if possible spend time getting to know the plants/allies you are working with in a personal way.

I recommend keeping a journal to record your experiences.  Pay attention to your dreams.   Listen to  your body.  The healing process may be subtle and it may be intensely transformative.  Each process and path is unique. 

The formula lasts about one month if taken at the suggested dosage.  After one month, I will call to follow up and see how you are doing.   A  3month, 3 formula commitment is recommended,  as this process is deep and profound when given the proper time and energy.  People also benefit after only one consultation and formula.

I am certified by Delta Gardens as a flower essence practitioner

 and have 13 years of experience in this wonderful work!

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns along the way. 

Enjoy the journey!

                                                         ~ with bright floral blessings,  Fearn 

Wassailing and the Apple Tree

Do you want to find more connection with Nature in this frenetic holiday season?  
Here is a beautiful tradition from the UK that celebrates the Apple Trees with a festive ritual and yummy beverage!

Wassailing is a term used with several meanings and associated traditions related to Yuletide and Solstice.  The word actually means "Be Healthy" and is used as a word of toast; "Wassail!"
Wassail also refers to the warm spiced alcoholic beverage imbibed by the revelers and shared with the Apple Trees.  Finally, Wassailing is a verb referring to the ritual practice of processing, singing, drinking the beverage and making offerings to the Apple Trees.
Incidentally, the origin of the phrase "to toast" with glasses raised in honor of someone or thing is from the Wassailing tradition.

The apple tree is sacred to the Druids and to many pagans who know its deep wisdom and depend on its fruits for nourishment.  Our ancestors understood their responsibility to the land and knew how to ensure the health, fertility and abundance of their food crops.  They did this not only by physical practices such as soil building and pest control, but also by attending to the spirits of Nature.

This is a folkloric tradition so practices varied from one area to the next, but here are the basics for creating your very own Wassail!

• Make some Wassail! (see recipes below)
• Invite all your apple tree loving friends
• Wear warm clothes and boots and bring instruments, especially low pitched drums, and penny whistles
• Learn a Wassailing Song.  (See Lyrics below)
• March to drum with one person (perhaps the oldest) in front, holding the bowl of wassail and toast, the rest follow with mugs of wassail
• circle around the largest apple tree in the orchard. 
• Sing and drink and drum!
• One person (perhaps the youngest) takes soaked toast from bowl, climbs tree and leaves it for tree spirit.  
• Elder pours the rest of the wassail onto the roots of the tree.
• Sing some more and toast the tree!
• Huzzah!  

Hot Spiced Wassail (non-alcoholic)

4 cups cranberry juice

6 cinnamon sticks

5 cups apple cider

1 orange, studded with whole cloves

1 cup water

1 apple, cored and sliced

1/2 cup brown sugar

Mix juice, cider, and water in large saucepan or crock pot. Add cinnamon sticks, clove studded orange, and apple slices. Simmer mixture for 4 hours. Serve hot. Makes 12 servings.

Traditional Wassail

from John & Caitlin Matthews' book The Winter Solstice.

Heat a large container of ale or beer, about 3 or 4 pints. Add:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup mixed spice (cinnamon sticks and whole cloves are also excellent)

2 or 3 small sweet apples, cut up

1 1/4 cup pineapple juice

1 1/4 cup orange juice

the juice of 2 lemons

Place over a slow flame; then, before it begins to boil, take off the heat and whip up some cream. Let this float on top of the brew like foam.

Put in a suitably large bowl (the more ornate the better)

Toast some good bread and add to the Wassail bowl.

Wassail Song

Here's to thee, old apple tree

Whence thou may'st bud and whence tho may'st blow

And whence thou may'st bear apples enow.

Hats full, caps full, bushel, bushel sacks full, And my pockets full too!

Lift your glasses to the tree and shout "Huzzah!" as loud as you can.

Guardians of the Sacred Earth; a 7 Month Immersion with Fearn Lickfield

Imagine the journey…  You have committed yourself to become a Guardian of the Sacred Earth.  Your mind has some understanding of what to expect, but your soul knows that great mysteries await.  You sense wild power and transformation are just around the corner. Your final approach takes you up a winding forested road following a babbling brook; up and up until you find yourself in Dreamland.  You meet your fellows on the journey, and together you take your first steps into the Sacred Grove. Deep connections and pathways open and your transformation begins.

Guardians of the Sacred Earth

7-Month Immersion
in Spiritual Stewardry and Earth Healing

with Fearn Lickfield

*7 full day intensives at magical Dreamland packed with transformative earth teachings and practices.

*Monthly conference calls with Fearn for Q & A and additional support,

*Membership in an active and growing community of Guardians of the Sacred Earth.

*A custom healing essence for your land,

*Activation of your healing essence, spirit helpers and the Grove to empower your work. 

*Gain clarity, skill, harmony and empowerment with your home.

Testimonials from our 2015 Immersion;

Thank you Fearn! It was a life changing experience for me and I am so grateful for you deep wisdom and huge heart. I look forward to many more opportunities to learn from you. You are such a gift to this world. Blessings!

~Kelly Iverson

Fearn's course, Guardians of the Sacred Earth, has been invaluable to me. Fearn has been an incredible teacher. With open-minded acceptance, yet a clear understanding of what is essential, she has gently guided me. Because she had no judgement, only observation, acceptance, and helpful feedback, I felt I could not fail. Because I felt such freedom in her guidance, I have grown more deeply into my own path. Fearn's course has helped me grow in ways hoped for and in ways unexpected. I am deeply grateful.

~Merrily Lovell

Topics;

Spiritual Stewardry, Geomancy

Dowsing, Earth Energies

Faery, Elemental Magic

Tree Medicine, Journeywork

Earth Acupuncture, Flower Essences

Spirit Allies and co-creation

Altars, Ceremony, Prayer

and so much more…

The mission of GSE is to facilitate the innate capacity of people to connect spiritually with the land in order to co create healing, balance, fertility and sacred space. Every human who has access to even a small piece of precious land can affect everything! We train people to become empowered and skilled stewards who can understand, respond and serve the earth in this time of great need and change.

Guardians work intimately with the medicine and teachings of the trees for wisdom and remembrance of our original instructions; our roots go deep below, our crowns rise to the stars above and our hearts open wide to life.

Become a Guardian. The Earth needs us.

$969.  Pre-registration required.  

$100 off if you reg. by 2/1/16!
Dates; 4/9, 5/14, 6/11, 7/9, 8/13, 9/10, 10/8 

10am- 5pm.                       

Payment Plan

If you cannot prepay in full you can opt for our accessible payment plan;

$200 deposit, + $115 per month for 7 months.

Lunch

During our Saturday immersions we will share lunch.  This will be an organized potluck.  You will be coordinating a meal with one or more other students, at least once.

Conference Calls
In between each Saturday Immersion there will be a conference call to deepen your understand of the practices, to ask questions, get support and to stay on track with the work.  There will likely be new information and practices offered on these calls.
These will be Thursday evenings from 7:30-8:30pm.  They are not required but highly recommended.  I will be sending the call in number and password a few days before each call.

Camping

Students are welcome to camp out at Dreamland Friday night and/or Saturday night.  You will have access to a plumbed bathroom (sink and toilet,) swimming pond and tipi.  Please bring any food and camp gear that you need.

fearnessence@gmail.com

facebook.com/fearnessence


and now there is more!

Guardians of the Sacred Earth 2 

Taking our tools to task.

Sundays; 4/17, 6/12, 8/7, 10/16

10am- 5pm.

4 full days of Geomantic hands on learning, practice and magical adventure with Fearn and Ivan. 

Prerequisite; Completion of GSE 1, GM Druid Training, or Foundations of Geomancy.  Must have basic understanding of Earth Energies, ability to dowse/ divine for information and location, and have at least one Geomantic Spirit Guide (one who can work with you to heal, balance and clear the land). 

We will work together on several exciting projects around central Vermont including;

*Making a flower essence(tree or fungus) and divining its application for the land.

*Pilgrimage to meet and honor a powerful mountain Dragon.

*Labyrinth design and installation

Montpelier River Temple Stone Circle- design  (we hope!)

*Healing techniques for wounded land and waters; Sound, Crystals and Essences…

*Mapping the major Ley Lines of VT

*House and Land Clearing

*Dowsing Practice!

Practical application of knowledge gained. 

Please pre-register by Feb. 1

Tuition $400. 

$200 deposit to register, $50 payments due on each of the training days.  

Gratitude; The Practice of Offering

This is the healing essence and spontaneous earth altar
that i made with Genevieve Drutchas for the Honey Bees.

O Holy One, I ran thru the fields and gathered flowers of a thousand colors-

And now I pour them out at your feet.

Their beauty and their brightness shout for joy in Your Presence.

You created the flowers of the fields and made each one far more lovely

Than all the skill of man could design.

Accept my joy along with theirs,

This field of blossoms at your feet.

Holy One, as the wind flows through these flowers

Till they dance in the ecstasy of creation,

Send Your Spirit to blow through my being

Till i too bloom and dance with the fullness of Your life.

Ishpriya R.S.C.J.

Dear earth dwellers,
I want to share a few words from my heart about unconditional giving and reciprocity to the Earth.  You know that bumper sticker that says "Commit Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Beauty"?  I love this notion and have been moved to make this part of my spiritual practice.

Unconditional giving in the form of regular offerings to the earth is a potent way to bring balance back into our relationship with the land.  

Here are a few tips to consider when making offerings;

• Make an outdoor altar.  It can simply be the base of a special tree, a flat rock or a stump.  
• "Taken, tendered and turned." Don't just give Her something that she made to begin with!  A good offering is one to which we have added our special human touch.   Home or locally crafted is best.  Something that represents your love and gratitude for the Earth.
• Living essence/life force.  The spirits eat the living essence of the objects we offer.  Let your offering be filled with life.  It is traditional for offerings to be fermented for this reason; alcohol, kombucha, fermented food, especially if you made it yourself.  The first plate of food, and glass of drink at your feast can be offered to the Earth.   
• Love and Creativity as food for the spirits. This includes songs, poems, eloquence, prayer, blessing, dance, sculpture… from you heart, especially if you created it!  
• Keep it fresh, biodegradable, and active.  Don't let your altar get moldy, dusty or cluttered with objects that won't break down.  Tend it as you would a sacred temple!

At this time of Thanksgiving, let us remember the generosity of the Earth 

and take some time to give back to She who gives everything that we may live.

Our East Faery Altar