New Director | Over the last two years Karen Milgate has helped us reinvest in the Plant Spirit Medicine program.  We are sad to say goodbye as she leaves us to explore the healing practice that has called to her for many years – midwifery. We offer our deepest gratitude for all of her gifts.

Help us welcome Jessica De la O as the new director of Plant Spirit Medicine.  We are excited to have her aboard!  As a practitioner, educator, and someone deeply committed to the Blue Deer and the Sacred Fire Community, we are fortunate to have her skills and knowledge to continue moving the medicine forward. 

New Teachers | We welcome four new Plant Spirit Medicine Faculty -- Anna Murray-Preece, Clare Pearson, Lucy Wells, and Pip Waller. 

Over the last three years they have listened and learned from Eliot Cowan and Alison Gayek. This year they had the opportunity to ‘practice teach’ via Zoom and to discuss future strategies for teaching. They bring new excitement, creativity, and decades of experience and deep love for Plant Spirit Medicine. With these teachers, along with Eliot Cowan, and the support of our Director, Jessica, we are in the process of planning two new Plant Spirit Medicine Healer Training Courses in 2021.

New Property Manager | In July, John "J" DiMenna came to live and work at the Center. In the past, J has attended programs and volunteered here. We are fortunate to have his presence, enthusiasm and creativity in taking care of the Center on a daily basis.

New Programming | As you may know, the pandemic hit New York in March, forcing us to cancel all programs. In August, we were allowed to start re-opening in compliance with NY State guidelines.

We hosted a Volunteer Work Weekend in August. Many hands of love – Linda, Randy, Shawn, Traci, Bea, Vickie, Gerti, Mace, Anna Lena and Krishna – came to clean, garden, organize, paint and prepare the Center so we could open. During their time together, they all enjoyed delicious food, protected each other with social distancing and masks indoors. Randy returned later in the month with Brian to continue repairs and renovations. J cleaned out the barn, filling a 30 yard dumpster in the process. 

Behind the scenes, Wendy, Linda and Amanda, were planning and organizing in preparation for the three day Summer Healing Retreat in Nature. We wanted everything ready, so that our volunteer program coordinator, Lois, could come and help us run it, with Gerti, who has been our COVID-19 Volunteer Coordinator, and of course J, who prepared the rooms, facilities, and Fire Tent.

WOW, so many hours of hard work, so many people. Our generous donors and volunteers made it possible for eight participants to come and receive traditional healing in nature. Now they can bring their transformation back home. 

And there is more...  

Registration is open for Fall and Winter Healing Retreats in Nature.

The mission of Blue Deer Center is bringing benefit to our social structures and modern lifestyles, which we can all agree are especially needed during this time.

Together we are moving this work into the future.