Rooted: A Gathering for BIPOC Women

The gathering: 

Rooted is a three-day gathering for BIPOC women at Stonehedge Gardens in Tamaqua, PA. Its purpose is for BIPOC women to explore radical self-care, mutual support, and community love in nature. It is an act of resistance and a sacred form of activism for BIPOC women to peacefully gather in a time marked by such extreme levels of tragedy, violence, and injustice. By tending first to ourselves and our community, we heal intergenerational wounds as we regulate our own nervous systems, connect with the Earth, and truly see one another. It is only then, with a fuller cup, that we become available for connection with more distant others, building bridges that ripple out to create lasting peace. 

This gathering is a chance for BIPOC women to come together and co-create a healing experience that serves our collective liberation. It asks nothing more than for each of us to show up exactly as we are and to contribute only to the extent of our capacity. Immense magic and power arise from being truly held in community; healing together is a birthright.

Who is this for?

We welcome any Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color who feels that the label ‘woman’ speaks to their identity in a significant way. This is a feminist space, and we abide by a definition of womanhood that is explicitly inclusive of trans women, gender-fluid, twospirit, and non-binary people. No transphobic language or activities are welcome at this event. 

There is certainly value in intergroup dialogue and fellowship; however, this event will be a closed container for BIPOC women. Though we welcome the support of allies in leading up to the event, the event itself will be a chance for BIPOC women to focus on healing within our community without the pressure to explain, justify, or appease others, which can sometimes come up in more open spaces. It is our hope that this peaceful gathering will help its participants feel more open to connection with others after the close of the event.

To our allies:

We gladly welcome support from allies. 

Helpful support could mean donating money, materials, or time. All donations will directly support our programming, and some of the funds will help us grant scholarships to those of higher financial need. Volunteering time could mean promoting the event on social media, hanging flyers, or reaching out directly to BIPOC members of your community who could benefit from this event. It could also look like helping to set up the space before the event, or helping folks get to Stonehedge by providing transportation from Philly or surrounding areas. These are just examples of the many ways allies can support us. 

To make a monetary donation of any size, click "Get Tickets" and choose the Donation option. If you would like to pay it forward by sponsoring a full ticket for a member of our BIPOC women’s community, you can select the full sponsor option. Rooted is a project of Stonehedge Gardens, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Finally, please reach out to Asana at auokocha@gmail.com or Isa at Isabelszel@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer your time or donate supplies (click here to see our wish list).

Thank you to all who are actively supporting the healing of BIPOC women. 

What will happen at the event?

Sharing circles, sacred fires, nature walks, dancing, holistic workshops, gentle movement (e.g. yoga), sound healing, cacao ceremony, grief rituals, and/or whatever else we can dream of to facilitate our collective healing. Programming from a few lead facilitators will make up the bulk of this event; however, we will also allow plenty of room in the schedule for leisure time as well as some time for participants to share their magic with the community.

Simplified Schedule:

Friday, 10/11 --

• 3:00 - 9:00 pm: Arrival
• 6:30 pm: Ancestral potluck
  
• 10:00 pm: Quiet time

We strongly encourage all participants to arrive on Friday afternoon/evening to allow time to settle into the space, greet one another, and begin to attune to the slower frequencies of nature. We are excited to host an ancestral potluck dinner at 6:30pm (this dinner will be on the lighter side, bring snacks for the evening!). After dinner, we will start a fire and open up space for any women who would like to share an offering (please read about offerings in the participation section below). Quiet time will begin at 10 pm.

Saturday 10/12 --

• 8:00 - 9:00 am: Late arrival
• 8:00 - 9:00 am: beginner-friendly energizing yoga flow
• 8:00 - 9:30 am: Light breakfast
• 9:30 am: Opening Circle
• 4:00 pm: Community grief ceremony
• 6:30 pm: Dinner
• 8:00 pm: Sound healing
• 10:00 pm: Quiet time

The bulk of the event will happen on Saturday. Though we prefer all participants to arrive on Friday, women can also arrive between 8:00 and 9:00 am on Saturday, if necessary. In the morning, we will provide a light breakfast, and there will be an opportunity for gentle movement before we gather for our Opening Circle. 

Our intention for the afternoon and evening is to support emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and communal connection through hands-on workshops, ceremony and ritual, personal reflection, and leisure time. A nourishing lunch and dinner will be provided.

Quiet time begins at 10 pm. In the evening, the tea temple will be open, and we will have a fire going (weather permitting) for women who would like to socialize at night. 

Sunday, 10/13 -- 

• 8:30 - 10:15 am: Light breakfast
• 9:00 - 10:00 am: Morning slow yoga flow
• 10:00 am - 1:00 pm: Cacao blessing & Closing Ceremony
• 1:00 pm onwards: Grab-and-go lunch, Departure & Integration
  

On Sunday, we will enjoy a gentle rise, with the option for yoga and a light breakfast. We intend to hold a sacred, ceremonial container from 10 am to 1 pm (with time for short breaks throughout). During this time, we will commune with the spirit of cacao, engage in free-flowing movement, and gather for our Closing Ceremony. There will be many opportunities for connection and reflection during this time. 

After the closing ceremony, we will offer a grab-and-go lunch for those who need to depart quickly, but we invite all attendees to remain on the land for more connection and integration during the afternoon if they wish. 

Participation:

We believe that full participation fosters community and supports our collective healing. To that end, we are asking each woman to bring something to share at our ancestral potluck (preferably nourishing food), plus an offering if they feel called. An offering is something from our heart that we wish to share with the community. It could be a physical gift (e.g. pillows for the cozy space, healthy snacks), an experience (a short workshop – up to 30 mins, an activity, or a song to sing at our sacred fire), or service (an hour or two of volunteering for support roles). The size of the offering may be large or small, but its spirit and intention should be rooted in bringing forth our collective healing, which we acknowledge can happen through a myriad of ways. 

(Note: If bringing food for our potluck presents a hardship for you, don’t stress. Please join us anyway!)

An important note. Please read!

This is intended to be a chance for us to gain presence and clarity of mind in nature. As such, the event will be alcohol—and drug-free. 

We understand that some folks engage with plant medicines as part of their personal practices or for their health needs. If this is the case for you, we ask that you consume these substances away from public space and maintain a clear and present mind to the best of your ability.

Where is the gathering?

LENAPE HOKINK LAND, STONEHEDGE GARDENS TAMAQUA, PA

Address: 51 Dairy Rd, Tamaqua, PA 18252

We honor the original stewards of this land, Lenape people past, present, and future. 

We honor all beings who have tended to this land and the Tamaqua community who have not been seen or acknowledged throughout history.  

Stonehedge Gardens & Holistic Learning Center is a beautiful, landscaped sanctuary with walking trails, ponds, and perennial gardens located in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. Stonehedge provides a healing, sacred, inclusive environment for the cultivation of community and personal transformation through wellness, art, holistic education and connection with nature. To read more about Stonehedge Gardens, click here. 

Accommodations:

Participants are welcome to camp on the land (bring your own tent) or to bring materials to sleep on a carpeted floor in the Summer House at no additional charge. If you choose to stay in the Summer House, expect cozy sleepover vibes. Please bring a sleeping bag or bedding and a mat for yourself. 

*Note: the Summer House is connected to the Tea Temple, which will be open for socializing after bedtime. If you are enjoying the Tea Temple, please keep your voice to a level that honors those who may be sleeping in the Summer House. We recommend bringing a pair of earplugs or headphones if you staying in the Summer House and are particularly sensitive to sounds during sleep. 

Food:

On Friday, we will host an Ancestral potluck dinner, and we encourage you to bring a dish that connects to your heritage or personal history. This dinner may be on the lighter side, so bring snacks for the evening, just in case!

On Saturday, we will provide a light breakfast, full lunch, and dinner. 

On Sunday, we will provide a light breakfast and grab-and-go lunch for folks who need to head out after Closing Circle. However, you are welcome to stay on the land as long as you wish to eat, pack, and integrate on Sunday. 

FAQs

For a continuously updating list of answers to commonly asked questions, click here.

Inclusion

If you are a BIPOC woman who feels called to this gathering and needs support financially to make it happen please reach out to us at auokocha@gmail.com. We have scholarships, payment plans, and other forms of support to offer you. It’s important to us that if you want to be there, we make it happen!

In the case that you experience symptoms resembling a cold or flu, have been exposed to COVID-19, or received a positive COVID-19 test within 5 days before the gathering, we kindly request that you remain at home. 

See you soon, beauties!

Love and blessings,

Asana & Isa