April 2023 Events
April 1st, Saturday, 3pm
WORKSHOP: The Magical World of Medicinal Mushrooms
Join mycologist & artist Eric David Wooddell exploring the fascinating world of medicinal fungi that are healing agents for life globally. He will be sharing experience harvesting, identifying, and researching medicinal mushrooms. Current scientific research & clinical trials will be highlighted, and dried specimens will be on site for identification. In this workshop, participants will: Learn to identify local species, where and what season to find them. Learn how to sustainably harvest, dry , store & prepare medicinal mushrooms into tea & tinctures. Spend time on the land (weather permitting) learning identification, lookalikes, and foraging practices. Learning where to look to learn more.
Eric has been practicing sustainable mushroom & plant foraging, research, tincture making, and facilitating workshops since 2016. Certified in Mushroom toxicolgy, identification, and foraging in state-approved course through Mushroom Mountain. Licensed to identify and sell multiple species of mushrooms.
Cost: all donations to the Hostel land trust are appreciated to protect these mushrooms, the land, and all the forest creatures
April 8th, Saturday
WORKSHOP: Rooted in Presence
An all-day, immersive opportunity to explore various tools for cultivating mindfulness. Mindfulness is non-judgemental present-moment-awareness that can help us experience more peace, acceptance, and ease in our daily lives. Mindfulness has been shown to decrease stress, rumination, and emotional reactivity while increasing focus, working memory, cognitive flexibility, relationship satisfaction, immune functioning, self-insight, morality & intuition.
Guests are asked to arrive at the Hostel in the Forest on Friday, April 7th by 4pm to enjoy community dinner and a restful evening before their full day of mindfulness practice. Please plan to stay at the Hostel in the Forest Friday, April 7th - Sunday, April 9th.
Saturday morning: 9:30am 45min welcome circle, land acknowledgement, lineage acknowledgement, introductions, open share, 70min gentle Hatha yoga (to include guided mindfulness throughout), 20min guided mindfulness meditation, 30min mindful eating practice | 12pm Lunch break & rest, 2hr | Saturday afternoon: 2pm 60min mindful walking meditation, 30min guided in group, 30min independent practice, 20min guided mindfulness meditation practice, 60min restorative yoga practice with optional gentle massage, 30min body scan meditation, 45min closing circle, group reflection, Q&A
Cost: donation-based, and you're encouraged to pay what you can (suggested donation $75; if you're well-resourced please consider giving more; no one is turned away for lack of funds and your donation is confidential).
@createmindfulmoments Instagram, Facebook.com/createmindfulmoments, createmindfulmoments.com
April 12th, Wednesday
EVENT: Cacao & Kirtan
Invoking the spirit of Bhakti Yoga, Noah and Sema invite you to join in the ancient practice of 'kirtan,' - the chanting of sacred mantras. Having been chanted for thousands of years, these sanskrit mantras hold the powerful energies of healing and awakening. This evening is designed to attune the mind and spirit to prayer, connection, and celebration.
Noah Proudfoot is a staple in Asheville's transformational music scene. He has been sharing heartfelt music for over a decade. His soulful songs have reached listeners across the world- having performed at Tedx and alongside acts such as Matisyahu, Gone Gone Beyond, Satsang, and Yaima. Certified as a yoga and meditation teacher, he weaves his passion for inner exploration with a wide range of uplifting songs and mantras. Sema is a devoted healer, space holder and a singer-songcatcher from Turkey. Born and raised by the Aegean Sea, she has been traveling the world for the last 13 years collecting medicines. Her foundation is in traditional sound healing; she has a private practice in Asheville, NC where she facilitates cellular healing through sound and voice woven with many other healing modalities. As well as a student and teacher of Yoga, she is a Drum Maker under the alias of Gravity’s Lullaby. She teaches drum making workshops, offers ceremonies; and is passionate about medicines of the Earth, love and singing prayers.
Cost: Donation-based
April 22nd, Saturday
EVENT: Earth Day Plant Swap
Come celebrate Earth Day in the Forest! Got plants? Want plants? In honor of Mother Earth, we will be hosting an exchange of plants, seeds and knowledge! If you don't have something to swap, plants will be available for donation on a sliding scale. *Special request - Cranberry Hibiscus!*
April 23rd, Sunday
WORKSHOP: Nonviolent Communication
Learn techniques to speak your needs, listen empathetically, and build mutual understanding in your relationships
Cost: Donation-based
@integracollective
April 27th, Thursday, 8pm
MUSIC IN THE FOREST: The Ultima Zone
Award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Venuti is on a coast to coast tour and will be performing a very special event is called The Ultima Zone which consists of performing a live soundtrack using an array of amazing acoustic and electronic instruments, all set to captivating visuals he’s filmed throughout the US, including when he was Artist In Residence in some of our great National Parks. This is part amazing concert, part film and part deep sound immersion.
Matt explains and demonstrates some of it in this video: The Ultima Zone Promo Video. www.mattvenuti.com
April 29th, Saturday
EVENT: Blood Donation Drive
Come enjoy the forest and be of service to your community by donating blood. Donate your lifesaving gift and the Hostel staff will nourish you with a yummy lunch and goodies will be offered by One Blood. Signups are encouraged on oneblood.org/donate-now and using sponsor code 70506
Please note, the Hostel is not dedicated to any particular religion or denomination. Event, workshop, and retreat instructors and leaders are not Hostel employees or representatives, and instructors’ and leaders’ views are solely their own. The Hostel is not liable for any experiences a participant may have during an event, workshop, or retreat; attendees assume all risks of participation.
Accommodations are limited so please visit Your First Visit to make your reservation. Unless otherwise noted, any event fees are in addition to overnight Hostel fees.