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“The Naturopathic Revival offers an inspiring opportunity for students and faculty to live, work, play, and learn together in the warm embrace and immersion in the Holy Book of Nature. Such times of deep reflection, deep connection, and deep celebration together are rare in our academic environments and this offers an extra-ordinary antidote to studies as usual formats. As Francisco Varela – founder of the Mind and Life dialogues between scientists and contemplative inner scientists once said, ‘When a living system is suffering from ill health, the remedy is found by connecting it with more of itself.’ The Revival provides this opportunity to connect with more of ourselves in an omnidimensional way and this model will hopefully inspire other academic institutions from other discipline to follow similar models in the future.”
-Joel and Michelle Levey’s reflection on Revival 2012 |
…was an organized yet relaxed series of nature-cure experiences that gave attendees the opportunity to integrate naturopathic philosophy with nature-cure experience. More importantly, experiencing the actual effects on the body of sitting in a steam tent, then doing a cold plunge, cannot be mimicked by just reading about such treatments. Performing the wet wraps and lying wrapped in wool blankets cannot be duplicated in a standard conference setting.
(Pamela Jeanne, ND on Revitalization Retreat) It is a very special thing to embody and experience the “Healing Power of Nature” in its truest form and context, i.e., the fresh air, water, and sunlight; the grass and trees and other parts of the natural world that the founders of our profession knew and utilized on a daily basis. Being on the land to do this work of connection to the roots of our profession is such a gift, and something that cannot be replicated in a classroom or indoor clinic.
(Kurt Beil, ND, MSOM, MPH) Revival 2014 Poem
This poem came from a session lead by Dr. Erin Westaway and Robert Lester on story telling in the patient encounter. Each person in the session individually came up with a phrase and shared it with the group and this is what came out of that. Enjoy! I have a fire burning inside. I feel the earth beneath my feet. My heart is singing; my heart is singing, But I can’t tell why it is crying. The stars have aligned for me And I’m seeing what they do. Everything is going to be OK. My wilderness heart is expressed through my eyes, the stars of my eyes. I picture moss on a rock, How we travel the journey. Waves breaking Storm making Within will Remain still. A dark forest surrounded my heart. I opened the vessel, The forest entered and emerged From its new holy home of light. Memory loss becomes a guide. I could get lost in the gravity Of soul surrounding me. We are together in more ways than the physical. I will find my way home. Give me a chance – right now; I will destroy you again for good. I’m a detective; I’m going to find my patient’s story With or without them. I feel airy and light. Nature is the root. Thank you for your hearts. Sunlight infused rest. Traveling backwards Can take me forwards. When I don’t know what else to do, I sing to my patients Bones. Bones. I reconnected with my soul family. I’m free. |
