Original Medicine Yearlong Program 2024

 Original Medicine Yearlong Program is a psycho-spiritual cross-cultural mindfulness approach to healing and development. The contemplative teachings weave together Indigenous wisdom, mindfulness, and earth-based practices. This program teaches students how to work with the four seasons as tools of self-awareness, to learn the process of tracking one’s own changes, and to connect to one’s own natural phenomena as a human being. In Indigenous societies, there are long-standing practices of creating the sacred, cultivating stillness, and embracing silence. They cherish being in nature and conducting rituals to acknowledge the coming changes in the worlds within and around them.

Indigenous societies recognize individuals holding our personal power as Original Medicine. The shadow of the false-self is purified as we strengthen our authentic self through the practice of coming home to our truth and power. The teachings of Buddha and Indigenous wisdom build this foundation of truth, trust, and love. Together we will explore ways of coming into our own Original Medicine and enhance our personal growth and purpose. 

 

Guided Self-Regulation Movements: 

Rhythm & Dance of the Four Elements

Our bodies are a dance of the four elements:  water, air, earth, and fire. These elements express themselves as energy and emotions that reside in different parts of our bodies. When you understand where these elements are located in your body, you can use movement to activate them and harness the poer of these elements in your daily life. Through certain rhythmic movements, we will move the energy of the elements so as to harmonize and calm our body, mind and regulate our emotions. The energetic zones of the elements are based on Polarity Therapy which is inspired by the chakra system in yoga. The movement to regulate emotions is drawn from Integral Somatic Psychology taught by Raja Selvam. Short movement videos will be offered for self-regulation.

 

As we prepare to open our sangha to our forth batch of students, we would like to get to know each one of you a bit more and what brings you here. 

We request for you to fill out our Original Medicine Participant Information Form, which includes writing a 150-word essay answering the question, “What brings me to this program?”  We also kindly request filling out our Original Medicine Yearlong Beginning of the Year 2024 Self-Assessment. Please submit both forms by January 7, 2024. 

This program requires a deep level of internal engagement and exploration. We encourage you to honestly consider your time and capacity in this moment of your life to participate. As a participant, you join a tender collective of healing that grows and evolves together over a year's time. Each person's participation matters. 

 

At Braided Wisdom we strive to build an online environment that creates a safer container for all. Part of creating a safer environment is asking for participants to have their cameras on during class time. If you have an access need around this request, please reach out to info@braidedwisdom.org so we can discuss how best to support you. 

 

 

About The Teachers

Carol Cano, M.A.
Founder / Executive Director / Lead Teacher

Carol Cano, M.A., began her practice over 30 years ago at Wat Kow Tahm in Thailand and has actively engaged in building communities and teaching Dharma internationally.  She is a teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.  She is a core teacher and a former board member of East Bay Meditation Center. Carol co-founded Philippine Insight Meditation Community in the Philippines.

Her unique teachings are deeply grounded in Basque, Native American and Buddhist influences that braid the Dharma along with indigenous wisdom and Earth-based practices. Her psychology background gives her a unique view into the human condition, which helps her hold community in a compassionate and confident manner.  Carol reminds us to keep grounded in our hearts as we uphold spiritual ideals and encourages us to remain balanced within the demands of modern life.

To find out more about Carol, please visit www.carolcano.com.

 

Imee Contreras, CMT-P

Co-Teacher

Imee Contreras is the founder of Mindfulness Asia. She is a co-founder of the Philippine Insight Meditation Community and Katahimikan; Philippine National Day of Mindfulness. She is a UCLA-Trained Mindfulness Facilitator, and an authorized UCLA MAPs facilitator. She is  Community Dharma Leadership Program graduate of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and a visiting teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center.  She served as the Membership Coordinator of International Mindfulness Teachers Association.  She develops mindfulness programs for international companies, schools, and events.  She volunteers to teach incarcerated women serving life imprisonment and also supports abused women and children in the Philippines.

To find out more about Imee, please visit www.imeecontreras.com.

 

Janet Roos, CMT-P, PMP

Co-teacher

Janet E. Roos, has been recognized as an innovator in Business Technology for over 30 years. She has worked coast-to-coast as a highly respected “In-House” and “Consultant” leader for world renown companies. Most recently, she served for ten years in both a Director and Project Management role at McKesson Corporation—a “Fortune 6 Company.” Janet completed the UCLA “Mindfulness Certified Training Program” & BW Leadership Training Program and is a fully certified member of the International Mindfulness Teacher’s Association. Her passion is bringing Mindfulness Best Practices to corporate employees, athletes, and others. Her goal is to provide a “Mindfulness Framework” for supporting career development, stress management, change/ uncertainty management, and career/life transitions.  Janet is a “Hall Of Famer” recognized elite athlete who understands the inherent value of employing Mindfulness Practices for competition, sports preparedness, and training. She has sustained a personal meditation practice for over eight years and has attended numerous training and silent retreats. Janet has volunteered with Non-Profit Organizations and currently serves on two non-profit boards in the San Francisco Bay Area.  To find out more about Janet, please visit  https://www.janetroos.com/

 

Pawan Bareja

Guided Self-Regulation Movement Teacher

Pawan Bareja, PhD has practiced Vipassana meditation since 2001. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Teacher Training, a Buddhist Ritual Minister, and a Community Dharma Leader at Spirit Rock. She has taught classes and daylongs on healing trauma using mindfulness at Spirit Rock, San Francisco Insight, East Bay Meditation Center, and Esalen Institute. In her private practice as a Trauma Resolution Practitioner, Pawan works with a diverse population of clients and teaches mindfulness meditation. For the past 18 years, Pawan has been a senior assistant at the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Healing Training, and has traveled to India to teach this work to professional care providers.

 

Ramón Honea

Teacher's Assistant

Ramón Honea is a gay, second generation Oakland Latinx native. He served for 20 years as a teacher and administrator in the Oakland Unified School District. Through therapy, Ramon found meditation and the East Bay Meditation Center’s “POC sangha” where he sat on the board, led several groups, and participated on the center’s coordinating committee. Leading meditation since 2009, Ramon obtained a mindfulness teaching credential through the Mindfulness Training Institute in 2018.  He is an Assistant Teacher for the Original Medicine Yearlong Program.

 

Carmen Alvarez

Teacher's Assistant

Carmen is from the Purepecha lands in Michoacan Mexico.
Carmen has a master’s degree in Leadership which she has braided beautifully with her Toltec,Purepecha, and her Mindfulness Training Practices providing holistic approaches to healing and personal development. She received her Certification as a Mindfulness Teacher from the Braided Wisdom Leadership Training Program in 2022. She also has completed two Indigenous Master programs, Nahualismo and Curanderismo. Carmen is a practitioner of Mexica indigenous practices and she is also part of a Lakota centered community. Coaching and training are her passion as she thrives when working with others. Her belief is that we must heal ourselves and by doing so we heal our family, our ancestors, and our communities. Carmen practices and guides mindfulness meditations, leadership coaching, ancestral healing, trauma-based healing, limpias, manifestations, planting dreams,
among many other healing techniques. Her intention is for everyone to find their passion and live their best life.

 

Program Fees 

You have the option of choosing 1) the reciprocity contribution level and 2) the frequency by which you will submit payments to Braided Wisdom. 

Reciprocity Contribution 

As we look towards creating a new world, one important way to ensure continued growth and engagement with our communities is establishing a practice of sacred reciprocity contribution where individuals may support the participation of current and future participants who may not have the same capacity. We recognize most mainstream events and programs like ours are priced at levels far out of reach for many in our community. As a result, we have made our events and programs accessible to all by inviting participants to enter into a relationship of sacred reciprocity to share support with others on the path.

 

Reciprocity Contribution Levels

Benefactor Tier: Reciprocity Contribution: $900.00.

The Benefactor Tier supports the largest partial contribution for a fellow community member.

Spiritual Friend Tier: Reciprocity Contribution: $750.00.

The Spiritual Friend tier supports partial contribution for a fellow community member.

Supporter Tier: Reciprocity Contribution: $600.00.

The Supporter Tier supports most of the program cost.

Community Builder Tier: Reciprocity Contribution: $450.00.

The Community Builder Tier supports some of the program cost.

 

Payment Frequency

Full Payment Up Front, Quarterly, or Monthly 

**If you choose quarterly or monthly, you will be expected to submit a payment to Braided Wisdom at the end of each month. An event link requesting registration and payment will be sent to you quarterly or monthly. 

 

We don't turn anyone away for lack of funds and to contact info@braidedwisdom.org for support.

 

Refund Policy

If you've had a change of heart-mind and wish to withdraw from the program at least one week prior to the January 9th start date, you will be given a 50% refund of your contribution, and an additional $25.00 cancellation fee. Once the program begins, there will be no refunds. We appreciate your understanding of the effort and costs that go into preparing for the program.

 

Yearlong Program Dates:

Tuesday Classes 6:00-8:30 pm Pacific Time

January 9 & 23

February 6 & 20

March 5 & 19

April 2 & 23

May 7 & 21

June 4 & 18

July 9 & 23

August 6 & 20

September 3 & 17

October 1 & 15

November 12 & 26

December 10

 

Earth-Based Community Gathering (on the land)

Wolf Dream Mountain, Lake County, CA

June 13-16

 

Payment for the Earth-Based Community Gathering will be in addition to the reciprocity for the program.

 

** All class are online on Zoom**  

Registration closes on January 8, 2024. 

 

Thank you for your consideration and continued support. We believe liberation is a collective path that thrives on meaningful relationships and mutual sustainability and sacred reciprocity. We appreciate your collaboration to expand these offerings to more beautiful beings in our community!