The Gathering:

Rooted is a four-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 can continue to 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, 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:

Thursday, 9/4 -

Arrival and Set up: 3 pm - 9 pm

Ancestral Potluck: 7pm

Around the Sacred Fire ~ Open Mic: 8:30 pm-10 pm

* quiet hours begin at 10pm but we can still spend time at the fire

Friday 9/5 -

Final Arrival time: 7:30 am - 9 am

Breakfast: 8 am -9 am

Opening ceremony: 9-10 am

Intentional Offering Share: 10:30 - 11:30 am

Movement Practice: 11:45 - 12:15 am

Lunch: 12:30pm - 1:30 pm

Intentional Offering Share: 2pm - 4pm

Relax/Explore and Sacred Conversations : 4pm - 6pm

Dinner: 6:30 - 7:30

8 pm - 11 pm - Evening Happenings

* quiet hours begin at 10pm but we can still spend time at the fire

Saturday -

Breakfast - 8:00 - 9:30 am

Morning Check In - 9:30am-9:45

10:00 am - 11:45 - Ceremony

10:00 am - 11:00 am Intentional Offering Share

11:15- 11:45 - movement

12:30pm - 1:30 pm lunch
2 - 3pm Intentional Share

3pm - 6:00 pm - Movement Experience

6:30 - 7:30 family dinner

8 pm - 11 pm - Around the Sacred Fire ~ Open Mic

* quiet hours begin at 10pm but we can still spend time at the fire

Sunday -

8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast

10:00 - 12 pm Intentional Offering Share

12:30 - 1pm Closing circle

1 pm ~ lunch / hangout integration / packing up heading out

Participation:

This year we are building on the idea of what participation means for Rooted. We believe that full participation fosters community and supports our collective healing.

We want each of you to feel a part of this co-creation. So what does this mean? This year we are going to have Intentional Offering Share time. Intentional Offering Share - gives anyone who is coming the opportunity to share their gift/medicine. This can be a short workshop, guided meditation, creative arts practice etc, the possibilities are endless. We ask that this share be no more than 30 mins. The time blocks will be specified on the schedule.

There will also be time for Intentional Offering Share during our Ancestral Potluck and Around the Sacred Fire - Open MIC each evening! This can be a poem, a story, a song, or experience! Let yourself dream and create! We are doing this to cultivate our voices and presence in taking up space with the gifts we were born to share!

The size of the offering may be large or small, but its spirit and intention should be rooted in bringing forth our collective healing. All gifts are held here.

Other forms of Participation this year includes:

Thursday evening Ancestral Potluck -we are asking each woman to bring something to share (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, altar pieces, literature, healthy snacks, teas/bevs).

** NOTE: If bringing food for our potluck presents a hardship for you, don’t stress, we all get a seat at the table. We honor your presence and here to share in the abundance!

Be of Service: We ask each of our guests who can offer a half hour or up to 2 hours of service time. For example: Supporting the set-up or cleaning up crew from the different meals. There will be clearer directions for support once we all arrive for the gathering.

** We are looking for a small team of volunteers this year, please reach out if interested!

What does participation hear like, feel like, look like to you? What are you passionate about bringing to ROOTED this year?

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?

LENAPEHOKING 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 and camping supplies) or to bring materials to sleep on a carpeted floor in the Summer house (the summer house will be active until 11pm most evenings). 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.

*If camping supplies support is needed , reach out please! We are a collective that is here to make this possible for ya’ll.

*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 are staying in the Summer House and are particularly sensitive to sounds during sleep.

Food:

This year you all will be receiving 8 nourishing meals, made by the amazing Chef Mel. These meals will be made from locally sourced, mainly plant based, whole foods. If you are a farmer or grower who would like to support food offerings please connect with us!

Thursday we will host an Ancestral potluck dinner and we encourage everyone to bring a dish that connects to their heritage or personal history in some way.

On Friday and 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.

*Any questions please reach out

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 or isabelszel@gmail.com

We have scholarships, payment plans, volunteer opportunities 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