In less than a week, we officially enter the season of spring: a time of rebirth and growth. As always, Shakti in the Mountains initiates a new schedule for every season. Here is a printable, one-page schedule for this spring. I encourage you to take a look, register early for your must-go-to events, and pass the schedule on to a friend or five. More and more events are selling out, so please do not wait too long to secure your spot.
As promised in the last newsletter, the Shakti Stewardship program is officially ready to share. After months of piloting the program, digesting feedback, and listening to intuition, the Shakti Stewardship Program is open for registration! This program has been a labor of love and distills years of experience and research into an evocative and educational intensive.
The Shakti Stewardship Program is for people who are committed to leading from a place of congruence, wholeness, and flexibility while staying present to what lives in their heart. This program explores energy, archetypes, consciousness, and spirit and is based on the premise that to live your soul’s purpose is the highest form of service you can offer the world.
I encourage you to check out the Shakti Stewardship Program and notice if the description resonates with you. If yes, then join me this spring as I guide people toward identifying their higher purpose so that they may serve the world from a place of joy and bliss.
To prepare for the new season, you are invited to this Friday’s Makerspace Open Hours (2 to 5 pm) for a Spring Equinox Celebration. During the celebration, we will make and eat “Irish Potatoes” (a sweet treat), offer intuitive card readings, and make spring pamphlet books. All ages and genders are welcome. There is no cost to attend.
If you would like to participate in a quieter honoring of the season, then please register for the Shakti Spring Equinox Ritual on Monday, March 20. This event is open to all genders and to people 18 years or older. We will begin with a potluck dinner and then spend the last hour in sacred ritual. The Spring Equinox Ritual is limited to 20 people: registration is required.
The decision to offer two different types of equinox celebrations is based on the needs of our community. Celebrations are fun and joyous: a time to play and to be loud. Rituals offer a space for quiet, reflection, and deeper sharing. Please attend one or both events based on what you are needing at the time. I appreciate everyone who gave me feedback and trusted me to respond accordingly.
Since we are entering the season of rebirth and growth, I want to share some tips for the garden. These tips reflect what will be happening soon in the Shakti Garden. On Friday afternoons, when the weather allows, I will be working in the Shakti Garden during Makerspace Open Hours. Anyone who wants to keep me company is welcomed!
Spring Garden Tips
- Turn the soil and add compost. Prepare garden beds by loosing the soil and removing grass. My two favorite tools are the stirrup hoe and the pitchfork. The stirrup hoe is great for removing grass and the pitchfork loosens the soil without deteriorating the soil like a tiller does. I love supporting high-quality businesses. My favorite local place to get beautiful, rich soil is from Hoffman Composting. Joe, the owner, is a lovely human and has great dirt. Hoffman Composting also will accept your food scraps. To learn more about Hoffman Composting services, click here.
- If you haven’t already, start your indoor sowing. Some plants need to be started indoors opposed to plants which you can direct sow or put in the ground outside. Tomato, pepper, and eggplants, for example, fare better when started inside. I recommend using a special starter soil and grow lights. One of my favorite starter soils is from Garden Supply and is called “Seed Starting Mix.” Garden Supply also offers a lot of free information about growing. Check out this page for a seed-starting tutorial as well as for a link to the Seed Starting Mix.
- Obtain ethically harvested seeds. If you are able to save seeds from plants you grew, then you can save money as well as protect certain species. Keep in mind not all seeds are viable. If you grew hybrid plants, then any seeds harvested from their fruit are sterile. Another great way to obtain seeds is through seed swaps. Before receiving seeds, I recommend asking the person if they use any pesticides or other chemicals on their plants. I also recommend asking the person if they cleaned the seeds before drying them. Unwashed seeds can carry disease. There also are some great companies to order seeds. This list is not exhaustive but is a good place to start:
- Support local plant nurseries. I plant both seeds and established plants. My favorite local place to buy plants is from Christy Shivell at Shy Valley Farms. Christy does not use pesticides and focuses on growing native and heirloom plants. Before buying established plants, ask where they were grown and how. During our annual Shakti field trip to Shy Valley Farm last year, Christy told us to look for insects in the soil: a sign that pesticides have not been used. (This year’s field trip is scheduled for April 14.) Farmer’s Markets are another great place to find healthy plants.
- Plant peas now. Peas are one of the few plants that can handle cold weather. Onions and cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) also tolerate cold weather. Mulch well to keep plants hydrated and warm. For all other plants, I recommend, at least in Northeast Tennessee, keeping to the adage of wait until after Mother’s Day to avoid a late frost.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week!
Love,
P.S. Due to an increase in attendance (Yay!), please check out the newly published “Parking at Shakti” webpage.
Free Seed Intention and Meditation Practice
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Kim Bushore-Maki is a soul-driven entrepreneur who understands the undeniable urge to create a business and a life filled with meaning and purpose. Her vision of opening a center where people could heal and grow led her to open Shakti in the Mountains in Johnson City, Tennessee: a place where the creative, feminine energy is nurtured and valued.
Kim is a licensed professional counselor and a yoga teacher. She completed the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy program as well as the Shake Your Soul Yoga Dance program. Kim is very interested in somatic expressive therapy, archetypal psychology, gardening, herbalism, astrology, wisdom traditions, and regenerative economics.
Kim continues to build and to support inclusive, vibrant communities. She spends most of her time mentoring leaders, guiding healing programs, and providing mental health counseling.
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