Good Medicine News: December ‘24

Monthly Newsletter featuring upcoming events at GMC, creative reflections and critical commentary from our Collective members on the front lines of healing and consciousness change work.

Dec 06, 2024

It’s getting dark. Really dark. To know the dark, go dark. Next Wednesday during this month’s Psychedelic Studio we’ll be exploring the darker spaces of the mind and we hope you’ll join us.

What else shall we do in the dark? Why dance, of course! Find that the dark, too, blooms and sings. Come dance, sweat, laugh and steam your way through the darkness with us. Check out the myriad of unusual and intriguing events going on here this month.

I’m also excited to share that long-time Good Medicine friend and community member, Desi Lester, will officially be stepping into the role of Community Organizer for the Good Medicine nonprofit. I am grateful for all the ways she has brought light to this community even as we’ve navigated our own passages through darkness.
xo
Liz Strawbridge

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
-Wendell Berry

Psychedelic Studio

Upcoming Psychedelic Studio: Wednesday, December 11th 6-8pm.

These are monthly gatherings for intellectual exchange, learning and discourse around consciousness change and culture. This month will feature Riverbird clinicians Selma Holden, MD and Colin Reid LCPC discussing how to make sense of dark psychedelic spaces. All are welcome to join us in this conversation. Half the proceeds go to Wabanaki Reach, but nobody is turned away due to lack of funds.

Other Upcoming Events

Lila Yoga: Practice with Genell Huston Fridays, Dec 13, 20th at noon.

Rhythmic Ritual Dance: Dance with DJ Bodie, hosted by Sabra Saperstein. Friday, Dec 13th 7-9pm

Disco With Your Authentic Self: Join us for an afternoon/evening extravaganza that features comedian Toni Nagy for a somatic work-shop and stand-up comedy, Jonah Fertig-Burd for a community dinner and DJ Chloe Urban for dance. Saturday Dec 14th, 3-9pm.

Plant Ally Circle: Join Samantha Hubbell of Wild Wellness Within for a circle with Elder as the guide and teacher. Sunday, Dec 15th 11-2pm

Pelvic Steam Ceremony with Vivian Rae on Sunday Dec 15th 3-4pm. Join a small group of women and experience the soothing and healing effects of pelvic herbal steaming.

Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop and Potluck with Celebration Tree Farm hosted by Jonah Fertig-Burd, Monday, Dec 16th 6-8pm

Riverbird Winter Solstice Continuation Group Tue, Wed Dec 17 & 18th for those who have previously been clients at Riverbird.

Spiraldance Community Breathwork Circle with Tania Zuckerman on Tue Dec 17th 5:30-7pm

Winter Solstice Offering of Movement and Massage with Genell Huston and Lara Turnure on Wed Dec 18th 6-7:15pm

Winter Solstice Eve Candlelight Dance with DJ All For Love (Sage Hayes) Friday Dec 20th 7-9pm

Morning Solstice Dance & Circle with DJ All for Love (Sage Hayes). All proceeds after expenses go to Middle East Children’s Alliance. Saturday, Dec 21 10:30am-12pm.

Reframing Holidays: Conversation and Sound. Healing with Elizabeth Ross Holmstrom on Monday, Dec 23 5:30-7pm

Dance, Poetry and Sauna with Good Movement and DJ Tasja Sunday, Dec 29 10-1pm

Emerging A New Year’s movement and breath circle for women with Genell Huston and Ginny Gill on Sunday Jan 5th, 9-12pm

GRACE Circles (Grief Remembered And Embraced Communally) inspired by Francis Weller, facilitated by Ashley Jansen, Liz Strawbridge and David Wright. Last Tuesday of the month, starting Tue, Jan 28th 5-6:30pm.

Healing for Healers Riverbird’s 2-day ketamine assisted therapy group for health providers. Jan 31st, Feb 1st.

New Offering at GMC by Lara Turnure Healing Arts: Urban Sauna Sanctuary for private sauna/ ice bath experience for groups up to eight.

GMC Events

Notes from the Field

Creative reflections or op-ed pieces from members of the Collective about what’s unfolding in the micro and macro landscapes of consciousness change, psychedelics and mental health. This month features two poems. Darkness, by Riverbird Clinic’s Matt Stevens, MD which he wrote as an invocation into the uncertain terrain of a medicine journey. And Medicine within the Light by Natasha Salvo, founder of Good Movement, which was inspired by a set list she DJ’d for a Sunday morning dance.