Monday, September 26, 2011
We've Moved!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Bleeding Heart, No More Drama
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tasty Toning Tea from the Wood
(White Pine information found on herbalextractsplus.com)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Horses Never Forget Human Friends
Human friends may come and go, but a horse could be one of your most loyal, long-term buddies if you treat it right, suggests a new study.
Horses also understand words better than expected, according to the research, and possess "excellent memories," allowing horses to not only recall their human friends after periods of separation, but also to remember complex, problem-solving strategies for ten years or more.
The bond with humans likely is an extension of horse behavior in the wild, since horses value their own horse relatives and friends, and are also open to new, non-threatening acquaintances.
"Horses maintain long-term bonds with several members of their family group, but they also interact temporarily with members of other groups when forming herds," explained Carol Sankey, who led the research, and her team.
"Equid social relationships are long-lasting and, in some cases, lifelong," added the scientists, whose paper has been accepted for publication in the journal Animal Behavior.
Ethologist Sankey of the University of Rennes and her colleagues studied 20 Anglo-Arabian and three French Saddlebred horses stabled in Chamberet, France. The scientists tested how well the horses remembered a female trainer and her instructions after she and the horses had been separated up to eight months.
The training program for the horses consisted of 41 steps associated with basic grooming and medical care. For example, the horses had to remain immobile in response to the verbal command "reste!" which is French for "stay." The horses also had to lift their feet, tolerate a thermometer inserted into the rectum and more. When a horse did as it was instructed, the trainer rewarded it with food pellets.
With tasty rewards, the horses "displayed more 'positive' behaviors toward the experimenter, such as sniffing and licking," the researchers wrote. Horses do this as a sign of affiliation with each other, so they weren't necessarily just seeking more food.
The scientists added, "Horses trained without reinforcement expressed four to six times more 'negative' behaviors, such as biting, kicking and 'falling down' on the experimenter."
Nevertheless, after the eight months of separation, the horses trained with food rewards gravitated towards the same experimenter. The horses also seemed to accept new people more readily, indicating they had developed a "positive memory of humans" in general.
"From our results, it appears that horses are no different than humans (in terms of positive reinforcement teachings)," according to the researchers. "They behave, learn and memorize better when learning is associated with a positive situation."
While people often train dogs in this way, also using verbal commands, Sankey and her team point out that "the majority of horse-riding training is based on tactile sensations -- pressure from bits, movements of riders' legs, weight change in the saddle."
Since "horses are able to learn and memorize human words" and can hear the human voice better than even dogs can, due to their particular range of hearing, the scientists predict trainers could have success if they incorporate more vocal commands into their horse training programs.
Jill Starr is president and founder of Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, a non-profit that provides refuge, training and adoption placement for otherwise slaughter-bound wild mustangs and domestic horses.
Starr told Discovery News that she's observed horses responding well to verbal commands, such as "trot," but she still feels "horses and people get along better if the person doesn't chatter, since this causes the individual to have greater awareness of body language that is more familiar to horses."
She, however, agrees that horses are loyal, intelligent and have very long-lasting memories -- of both good and bad experiences.
Starr said, "Horses can be very forgiving, but they never forget."
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March Classes & Healing Services at Earth Lodge
Drum Circle, Wednesday, 3/17
We offer many wonderful healing therapies and services at Earth Lodge. Our therapists are all certified with 100s of logged table hours between them. We enjoy working with all ages and species: We all can use a little boost from time to time, don’t be afraid to treat yourself or ask for help.
Immunity Boost Treatment: $30
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Many Benefits of Drumming: Circle Meets Tonight!
It is interesting to look at these ancient drumming practices from the perspective of the latest scientific research into the functioning of the brain. Using electroencephalographs, scientists can measure the number of energy waves per second pulsing through the brain. A system of classifying states of consciousness according to the frequencies of these waves was created.
Normal outwardly focused attention generates beta waves which vibrate from 14 to 40 cycles per second. When awareness shifts to an internal focus, our brain slows down into the more rhythmical waves of alpha, vibrating at 7-14 waves per second. Alpha is defined by relaxation and centering. Dropping down to 4-7 cycles per second the brain enters the theta state in which there is an interfacing of conscious and unconscious processes, producing hypnologic dream-like imagery at the threshold of sleep. Theta is the course of sudden mystical insights and creative solutions to complex situations and is marked by physical and emotional healing. People with a preponderance of theta brainwaves are also able to learn and process much more information than normal. Without some form of intensive training it is hard to stay awake in theta--one slips quickly down into delta. This is the slowest brainwave frequency, 1-5 cycles per second, the state of unconsciousness or deep sleep.
As the two hemispheres begin to resonate to a single rhythm, a sense of clarity and heightened awareness arises. The individual is able to draw on both the left and the right hemispheres simultaneously. The mind becomes sharper, more lucid, synthesizing much more rapidly than normal, and emotions are easier to understand and transform. The conscious and unconscious levels of the mind interface and integrate more easily. Insight quickens and creative intuition flourishes, giving one the ability to visualize and bring into manifestation ideas more easily. An expanded, more complete and integrated state of consciousness comes into existence. Scientists believe that hemispheric synchronization may be the neurological basis of transcendent states of consciousness.
Research has shown that rhythmic music is one of the most effective ways to induce brainwave synchronization. Musical comprehension is a joint function of left and right brains and rhythmic sound can drive the brain waves into alpha or theta states. Many ancient religious practices seem to have originated in attempts to induce the transcendental experiences of hemispheric synchronization. Traditional drumming rituals appear to be efficient techniques for entraining the right and left brains, leading to emotionally and physically healing experiences."
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Winter Schedule at Earth Lodge
No classes and events at Earth Lodge for the month of January will be meeting.Maya, our vice president, is expecting her new baby mid-month, and Sandra and the rest of the Earth Lodge staffers will be busy lending a helping hand, in addition to tending the animals and Earth Lodge throughout the cold and snow.
Events will resume in February:
Shamanic Journey Circle
The second Thursday of each month from 6-8 PM (2/11)
$15
Reiki Share
(2/12, 2/26)
This community-inspired Reiki Share meets every other Friday from 11am-1pm and is open to all Reiki practitioners, whether you are a Master or just beginning. $10 Donation for use of the space, which is regularly cleared, empowered and blessed by the healers at Earth Lodge.
Drum Circle
3rd Wednesday of each month, 6 Pm (2/17)
(FREE)
Animal Healing Clinic
3rd Saturday of each monthly, 2-4 pm. (2/20)
The time for each session will be a minimum of 10 minutes. Sessions are $10, as these are introductory demonstration sessions by Sandra, Maya and Lisa.
Dream Circle
4th Monday of each month, 6 PM (2/22)
(FREE)
Course in Miracles Circle -- FREE DEMONSTRATIONS
Sandra is conducting free sessions to demonstrate the planned Course in Miracles Circle - contact us to set up your 2-hour demo.
Please see our full class schedule for more details.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
November Events at Earth Lodge
Shamanic Journey Circle
Immunity Booster Clinics
Course in Miracles
Animal Healing Clinic
Reiki Share
Dream Circle
Native American Drumming Circle
Reiki Certifications & Classes
Shamanic Journey Circle
This circle meets on the second Thursday of each month from 6-8 PM
(10/8) and is led by Maya and Sandra.
Commune with your guardian spirits and power animals,
journey to power places of wisdom and healing, and experience new levels of Spirit.
Shamanic journeys are meditative visualizations, or miniature vision quests,
that allow you to access divine wisdom through your subconscious mind.
At each open circle we drum, journey twice, and share our experiences.
Led by shamanic healer and author Maya Cointreau.
Bring a drum or rattle, pen and paper, something to lie on and an eye mask.
Beginners welcome. $15
Immunity Booster Clinics
Saturday, November 14, 1-3 pm AND
Saturday, December 5, 1-3 pm
These clinics will use the immune booster protocol of Polarity Therapy
to strengthen the body's defenses
against foreign invaders and infections. As the cold and flu
season is upon us, keeping the immune system functioning
at optimum capacity, will keep us healthy and vibrant all year
long. The immune system functioning properly also regulates
our ph and blood sugars, thus keeping the lympathic system
doing it's job in waste removal and the endrocrine system secreting
the hormones neede to regulate sleep, metabolism,blood pressure,
digestion and body temperature. Each session will be done sitting in a chair and can take any where
from ten to fifteen minutes. $25 walk-ins welcome, first come, first serve.
Course in Miracles Circle -- FREE DEMONSTRATIONS
Sandra is conducting free sessions to demonstrate the planned Course in Miracles Circle - contact us to set up your demo.
It will be a two hour session and will include a guided meditation lead by
Sandra that will be very relaxing and will provide insight on the step by step experiential life-changing
Course in Miracles. The meditation will be followed by discussion. Sandra has been through the course three times,
and has spent at least 1000 hours on the Course.
Once we have an full group for the Circle, we will agree on a schedule to meet: The future class times for the Circle will be set by the demonstration participants who want to move forward with the Course.
These first sessions will be free demonstrations. Once the circle officially begins,
there will be a $10 fee per class session.
No materials are needed.
Reiki Share
(11/13,11/27,12/11)
This community-inspired Reiki Share meets every other Friday from 11am-1pm
and is open to all Reiki practitioners, whether you are a Master or just beginning.
Everyone who comes gives and receives, building their Reiki as well as new friendships.
The share often begins with 2-4 people working on a person on the table for 10 minutes,
then sharing views of what they felt. Then we move on to the next person,
until all at each table have experienced the healing for 10 minutes.
We find the sharing of perceptions provides useful learning
and affirmation on our intuitive physical and ethereal scanning.
Earth Lodge has a table for our use, but as the group grows,
we may need some to bring their tables. For those with tables,
if you could have it in your car, just in case it needed, it would be helpful.
$10 Donation for use of the space, which is regularly cleared,
empowered and blessed by the healers at Earth Lodge.
Drum Circle (FREE)
3rd Wednesday of each month, 6 PM
(11/18,12/16)
Bring a drum or a set of rattles if you have one. All Ages. Heartbeat native american style drumming.
Animal Healing Clinic
3rd Saturday of each monthly, 2-4 pm.
(11/21,12/19)
People may bring one dog on a leash or one cat or small animal in a crate.
Large Animals must remain in trailers unless otherwise noted.
The time for each session will be a minimum of 10 minutes.
The sessions will each be $10, as these are introductory demonstration sessions by Sandra, Maya and Lisa.
Dream Circle (FREE)
4th Monday of each month, 6 PM
(11/23,12/28)
Each participant will bring one dream to share and discuss.
It can be an old dream, if current dreaming is minimum.
In time, dreaming will increase, as one looks forward to the monthly circle and becomes more involved with their dream circle.
Experience with dream circles shows that dreaming becomes richer, more intuitive, more prophetic, and provides more messages from Source,
one’s higher self, and the subconscious. Each participant assesses their own dream’s meanings, with suggestive ideas from the Circle.
Sandra and Maya will lead the circle.
Usui and Karuna Reiki Training & Certifications: I, II, III/Master
Available by appointment. All classes taught by Usui Reiki Master Maya Cointreau or Karuna/Usui Reiki Master Sandra Cointreau
Usui REIKI I: Level One teaches and attunes you to do hands-on healing work. introducing one to the basics of Reiki Healing and all the benefits that can be realized you are a Reiki Practitioner after this first class. Receive four attunements and your first sacred symbol. Experience a guided meditation to your Reiki Healing Guides, and exchange Reiki treatments also. Cost: $150
Usui REIKI II: Level Two teaches you to do distance/absent healing and karmic work. You will receive distance healing attunements and other sacred symbols, and instruction on how to use them. Cost: $150
Usui REIKI III/Master: Level III/Master brings in the final master symbol and attunement, as well as sacred symbols from other Reiki traditions, and teaches you how to pass on Reiki attunements. Cost: $350
Karuna Reiki I: Karuna Reiki is the next step up from being an Usui Reiki Master,
bringing in significantly stronger symbols and healing methods inspired by the
Reiki Masters of Japan and further improved over many years here in America by the International Reiki
Center to raise the vibration of one's healing potential. Students must be certified Usui Reiki Masters with at least 6 months
practice following certification. Registered Karuna Reiki® brings in healing energies that are noticeably stronger and more able to heal a
wide range of challenges. The Level I Practitioner brings in use of 4 new symbols. $300
Karuna Reiki II: Only for Registered Karuna Reiki I® Practioners. Level II brings in use of 4 new symbols. $300.
Karuna Reiki Master: Receive Karuna Reiki Master training. Prerequisite: Karuna Reiki II. Registered Karuna Reiki Master students will be required to sign a code of ethics,
developed by the International Reiki Center and will receive a training manual developed by the Center.
Special training will also be provided on animal healing; and an Earth Lodge Animal Healing Level I Practitioner certificate will be
awarded. $450.
Directions:
Earth Lodge is very easy to find:
Yellow house with white trim and columns, at intersection of Route 67 and Route 317…also called Church Street at this location, as it is between the three churches of the Roxbury village. House is in center of Roxbury’s historic district. 12 Church Street, Roxbury, CT, 06783
Alternative route access from different directions:
to Rt. 317 through Rt. 64 and Rt. 6 in Woodbury, or
to Rt. 67 through Rt. 172 in South Britain, or
to Rt. 67 through Rt. 133 in Bridgewater, or
to Rt. 67 through 199 in Washington, or
to Rt. 67 through Rt. 7 or Rt. 202 in New Milford.
Please Note: We are not a commercial retail location, and are only "open" by appointment or for scheduled classes, services and events.
