Winter Programs | Office Closed

Moon Phase: Waning Crescent

Greetings! yasmine (they/them), Artistic Apothecary’s jelly of all trades, here. Our sweet sweet Moon is showing off its Waning Crescents in this moment, approaching its New Moon. During this Waning Crescent, I am reflecting on making space, within and around me, and preparing myself for planting seeds with the New Moon. What are you releasing? How do you make space for new growth?

We are beginning the Winter season in Ghanaian culture (November to February), celebrated here in honour of our founding steward, kuwa jasiri. The Winter is an invitation for slowness, rest, and reflection. Other aspects in balance with Winter are Elders, Ancestry, visioning, dreaming, inward focus, kidney, bladder, y semillas. Aspects that are out of balance with winter are afuera and social energy.

Winter offers moments for us to expand into, to take space and consider the past few seasons. Moments for identifying lessons that we may integrate into the Sun cycle ahead, when we meet Spring again. Where I am, Tkaronto (in so-called Canada), the grayness of weather can become difficult as the circadian cycles blur together. To nourish my rest and reflection, I attempt to fill and surround myself with the colours and warmth of longer, sunnier seasons, and to share this warmth with others. For me, that means crafts, candles, music, great company, and hearty soup!

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE OFFICE

CELEBRATIONS
We believe it is very important to take moments to notice and celebrate the positivity and growth in life, oneself, relationships and community. How do you celebrate?

We are celebrating another year on Patreon and the generosity of our Seed Pod Giving Tree collective! We are grateful for you all, past, present and future!

• November
  • 1 – New Sun Cycle Begins
  • 13 – New Moon
  • 13-19 – Transgender Awareness Week
  • 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
  • 25 – Honouring Indigenous Peoples
  • 25 – Full Moon
  • 28 – Giving Tuesday 
• December – Office Closed
  • 7 – ‘New Mexico’ Gives Day
  • 13 – New Moon
  • 19 – Radical Racial Reckoning 
  • 21 – Winter Solstice
  • December 26 – January 1 – Kwanzaa!!!
  • 27 – Full Moon
• January
  • 11 – New Moon
  • 26 – Full Moon

WINTER PROGRAMS
Please apply for the below programs by messaging us. Share our request for Seed donations and our ‘Tis The Season Fundraiser.

***Please note that our Founding Steward is on a Winter sabbatical, an unpaid leave to focus on self and dream up the next chapter of Artistic Apothecary. All staff is off resting in December. If we are NOT already in contact or collaborating, please be aware all requests will be addressed in Spring.

Ways to Play with Nature

Joy and Imagination Exercises

Liberation Meditation – Series began airing August. Previous episodes – What is Liberation Meditation? and Autumn seasonal changes. Follow our channel for 2-3 new episodes per Moon cycle.

We are hiring for our Spirits Beyond Home Birth Team. Applications due February 1st, 2024. We are full of excitement to shift deeper into growing intergenerational families. Want to join our Advisory Council?

Shut-In Pen Pals – Pen Pals are paper letter writing/art based relationships through the postal service. If you are needing an outlet for connection, one of our caring staff will write letters to you.

Land Reparations through our GIVE Campaign

Indigenous Solidarity Trip – May 2024, apply to attend by February 1.

Check out our Liberatory Network Resource List. We are steadily adding resources and reformatting our directory.

COMMUNITY OFFERINGS

• Stillness Practice (Last Thursday, moonly, 20:00 EST), Q.T.P.O.C. Only!
• ‘ABQ’ Community Resource List
• ‘ABQ’ Area Resources Quick Directory
• ‘ABQ’ Community Support Shuttle Schedule
• Africantown Apartments in ‘Chicago’ Accepting Applications
• Storytwigs’ Writing Contest due 11/30 instructions are here
• Sex worker support group – drop in registration
• Reparation Generation’s Winter Virtual House Meetings – register

DECOLONIZE YOUR HOLIDAY REASON

Holiday Observation: Find out the truth of the holidays you celebrate. What are the stories you tell and narratives you uplift? Get clear on what you celebrate and why, who is harmed while you celebrate, shift your lifestyle and educate others. ‘my culture is not a costume‘. 
Pray: light a candle, build an altar, be spiritual, commune with Ancestry, ground, meditate, body movement, rituals.
Use Traditional Medicines and Knowledge: Turn to your Ancestry and cultural practices to support your emotions, accountability processes and immune system.
Build Lasting Community: get to know those most vulnerable and become part of their network. Figure out strategies and ACT. Grow a plant they are our allies!
Go Outside: Bask in the Sunshine, play in the dirt and/or hug a Tree. Go deep into Nature, hang in a backyard, community park and/or garden! Learning the names and properties of the plants and other animals around you! YOU ARE NATURE!
Meet Up: Small groups physically distancing (6-8 feet), wearing masks and protective gear, sanitizing and observing quality hygiene are safe and necessary for us as social creatures and to give/receive care of our most vulnerable. Especially if we meet up outside. Total isolation is a privilege. Remember vaccinations are optional.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

Aim beyond with your participation. Joining our Seed Pod Giving Tree is an easy, flexible and the most efficient way to give your dollars. Why support our work? Other ways to contribute, volunteer, land reparations. donate supplies, paypal cash donations or venmo, and/or Take Our Feedback Survey.