Earth, Body, Spirit:
Embodying the Elements
APRIL 25-28, 2024
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA
Earth. Water. Fire. Air. Ether.
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Earth. Water. Fire. Air. Ether. △
Earth, Body, Spirit is a 3-day Elemental Immersion aimed at teaching you about the 5 elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether) to build your personal tool-kit for self-empowerment and integrative health rooted in the wisdom of our living planet.
If you are seeking…
A toolkit of practical strategies for staying grounded, connected, and healthy in these times
A holistic understanding of your body
More likeminded community
Nature immersion and deep Earth connection
Knowledge of healing plants and how to use them for emotional, physical, and spiritual balance
Nourishing, elementally inspired home-cooked meals
Embodied movement classes
A supportive learning environment
FUN and play!
This immersion is for you.
Course Schedule
Thursday, April 25:
Arrival 3:00-6:00pm
Dinner 6:00-7:00pm
Authentic relating + Meet and Greet 7:00-9:00pm
Friday, April 26:
Grounding Yoga 7:00-8:00am
Breakfast 8:00-9:00am
Earth + Air Wisdom with Kealy 9:30AM-1:00pm
Lunch + Break 1:00-3:00pm
Herb walk + Elemental Herbalism 3:00-5:00pm
Dinner 6:00-7:00pm
Vision Boarding from the Heart 7:00-9:00pm
Saturday, April 27:
Qi Gong to Nourish Your Inner Waters 7:00-8:00am
Breakfast 8:00-9:00am
Water + Fire Wisdom with Kealy 9:30AM-1:00pm
Lunch + Break 1:00-3:00pm
Lymphatic Self-massage 3:00-5:00pm
Dinner 6:00-7:00pm
Fire Ceremony + Ecstatic Dance 7:00-9:00pm
Sunday, April 28:
Elemental Integration Movement 7:00-8:00am
Breakfast 8:00-9:00am
Ether wisdom and closing circle with Kealy 9:30AM-1:00pm
Light lunch + send-off!
Once you come to see the world through the elements, your perception of reality shifts.
The elements are what existed before time. They connect us to the wisdom of our ancestors and this living planet that we call home.
Like Myers-Brigg or astrology, the elements are a lens through which to view yourself and the world around you, and their relevance is all-encompassing. They offer us timeless physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational wisdom.
The elements dance through our external environment, as well as in our bodies. As without, so within.
Why the Elements?
Why the Elements?
About the Venue
Sanctuary Farm // Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sanctuary Farm is a beautiful oasis for connection to the Earth and community. Home to the Eco-Institute, it has served as a hub for community activism, Earth-connection, art, potlucks, youth education, herbalism and ecology workshops, and more for over two decades. The community is centered around a stunning remodeled barn with space for communal meals, movement, and classes, plus a big grassy lawn out front with picnic tables for chatting and connecting. They have a robust community garden where they host weekly co-op gardening days and teach budding farmers of all ages how to grow bountiful produce. Cozy yurts are scattered throughout the sweet pine forest, inviting restful sleep and late night chats.
During your time at the course, you will have access to the beloved pond + gazebo (yes, you can swim!), the communal kitchen and dining area for meals + gathering, an outdoor fire pit, and the renovated barn loft with a dance floor! There is plenty of space to wander and find solitude, as well as to gather and spark new friendships.
The
Integra
Collective
The Integra Collective is an organization dedicated to regenerating the human-Earth relationship through embodied educational events + programs. Our mission is to connect communities to their bodies, the Earth, and each other.
We believe that these times call for deep transformation and reclamation… and that the revolution must be sexy, silly, and pleasurable as much as it is profound. We are honored to partner with one of our mentors and guides, Kealy Rudersorf, to bring you this elemental medicine.
“The Integra team facilitated moments of raw curiosity, structured play, discussion, and more—making it a beautiful experience to be present, interact with my surrounding environment, and bond with others who were doing something of a similar dance! They created such a safe space for everyone to be heard and feel supported no matter where they were at in their journey. An experience I would do again in a heartbeat!”
— Grace S., 2022 Convergence Participant
Meet Your Instructor
Kealy Rudersorf is a mother, teacher, writer, herbalist, mover of energy, intuitive healer, lover of homegrown food, a community builder, a tree hugger, a student of the 5 elements, a mentor, a jungle dweller, a silly song singer, a medicine maker, an avid dancer, a truth teller, a joyful laugher, and friend to all. Kealy’s path has twisted and turned, from structural engineering to elementary school garden teacher to energy medicine and herbalism. Kealy’s fierce passion and truest life purpose is connecting people to Mother Earth, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Through curiosity, crafted experiences, the 5 elements, and the 5 senses, she delights in observing her students understand nature and themselves more deeply. Since 2013, she has been studying and practicing energy medicine including reiki, polarity therapy, shamanistic techniques, soul retrieval, and more, where she has developed a strong connection to Spirit, the ancestors, nature, and soul.
She co-founded KIS Botanicals with her husband Solin García Sánchez in 2017 in Costa Rica where they live, farm, teach, parent, maintain an apothecary and celebrate life together. Kealy teaches courses on herbalism, energy medicine, spiritual connection to nature, permaculture, gardening with kids, and provides private healing sessions. She is passionate about connecting people to nature, working with kids, building resilient communities, spreading joy in everything she does, and as a life-long student is always eager to learn more.
“Kealy is an incredible teacher. Her patience, love of what she does, and depth of knowledge is evident during every minute of her class. Her classes are like being wrapped in a big hug because she fills them with ceremony, knowledge, and joy! She continues to be my mentor in energy medicine and am so grateful I found her.”
Registration + Accommodation
Yome Shared Accommodation:
$249
The yomes at Sanctuary Farm are yurt/dome hybrids built on raised platforms. They receive their distinction from the geodesic frame supporting their canvas walls. These canvas and wood octagonal structures allow for rustic, yet comfortable living. They do not have electricity or running water and the nearest bathroom is about a 200 yard walk. Each yome is supplied with two bunk beds (double lower bunk, twin upper bunk), a clothing rack, personal storage bin under each bed, a rug/floor covering, and an assortment of other furnishings which vary between yomes (e.g., desk and chair, dresser, bedside table etc.). The yomes are connected by pathways and nestled in the forest, affectionately referred to as the Yome Village.
We welcome you!
This class is for seasoned elemental students and newbies alike. Here’s a sneak peek into the profund wisdom we will share during the weekend, and a brief introduction to our elemental guides…
This
I am Earth.
I am Earth. I am the solid foundation upon which all is built. I am crumbly, moist soil squished between your toes. I am perseverance to completion, crystallization of energy into form. I am millenia-old rock and unmoving mountains. I am the electromagnetic pulse of a living world that thrums through your body. I am slow and steady, solid and reliable.
I am nurturing and generous. I crave community and interdependence. I offer the container in which we will gather. I am the warmth of a grandmother’s hug and the comfort of chicken soup. You know where I stand and who I am.
I am predictable. You can count on me.
I am Water.
I am Water. I am the deep, mysterious depths of the ocean and the wildly flowing river. I am the tears that come from within to express our innermost emotions and the nurturing rains that fall from the sky to give life to all things.
I am mystical, creative, and deeply intuitive. I am a healer, a nurturer, a giver of life. I am intense, unyielding, and sometimes hard to contain. I have never been good with boundaries and overflow with a wide range of all emotions.
I am fluid, intuitive, and deeply passionate. My imagination runs wild and vacillates between the worlds. I sometimes exist as a dream. I am imaginative, empathetic, and can be deeply guarded. I offer myself in service to my community, pouring myself into others. Encouraging them, as the river always meets the sea, to flow deeply back into me.
I am Fire.
I am Fire. I am the warmth of the hearth and the center of the circle. I am both the spark of creation and the force of destruction. I am the core of the Earth and the radiant heat of the sun.
I am the kindling that fuels the heartbeat of community, family, romance and passion. I can be subtle or strong, nurturing or rageful, easeful or impassioned. I am your greatest fear and your deepest desire.
I am the life of the party and a vibrant leader. People are drawn to me and my dazzling energy, my sensuality, and my play. But don’t get too close, or you will feel the strength of my power.
I am Air.
I am Air. I am the breath of life. I am ruled by the heart, generous and loving, always looking to build connections across the universe. I am the deep and great thoughts, the dreams that can turn into realities and change the world. I am a visionary.
I am attuned to my surroundings, intuitively knowing when to stay and when to move. I am compassionate and understanding, encouraging clear communication to the self and others. I function best when I am in service, creating the space for expression, imagination, and creativity. Come fly with me!
I am Ether.
I am Ether. I am the delicate spider’s thread that connects all of life. I am the bridge between matter and spirit. I am the everything in the nothing. At first glance, perhaps I resemble the Void… but in fact, I am the antidote to disconnection.
I long to return home—not to a house or hometown, like you might think, but that place where we all come from. I crave spiritual community. I love to sing and sound and tone, being located in the throat. I need my space—please respect this, it is sacred to me. Peace, harmony, and tranquility are in my nature. You can find me in the stillness, in those moments in between.
FAQs
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Upon registration, you will submit a your payment to secure your spot in the course.
In the case that the course is cancelled, you will receive notification of cancellation at least two weeks prior to the anticipate start rate and a full refund.
Under all other circumstances, registration is non-refundable with no exceptions. As a small organization running on a tight budget, we hope you understand what it takes to support the production of this course.
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If you are flying into the area, you will fly into RDU International Airport, which is just 35 minutes away from Sanctuary Farm.
You can put this address into maps:
8519 Pickards Meadow Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Keep following Pickards Meadow Rd. all the way and stay right onto Eco Inst Way when you reach the fork. You will curve right around the bend and pull up to Sanctuary Farm, where you will find a large gravel parking lot. We will greet you upon arrival!
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We will be nourishing you with homemade, locally sourced meals prepared by the Integra team and our dear friend and chef Constantine! We will serve both vegetarian and omnivore cuisine, though we will always have a vegan option available. Gluten free + dairy free option at every meal. Let us know in the checkout form if you have any specific dietary restrictions, and we will do our best to accommodate you!
You can bring your own shelf-stable snacks and food for us to store labeled in the communal kitchen (it’s best not to leave food in the yurts due to critters). Unless you have extenuating circumstances, we are not able to store food in our communal refrigerators due to space.
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Arrival and check-in is from 2-6pm on Monday, April 22nd.
We will be sending you all off by 11:30am Sunday, April 28th.
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The property is lovely to explore, and you are free to wander, excluding certain private areas that we will point out upon arrival. Go for a swim in the pond, birdwatch for King Herons, and sit with herbs in the garden. Journaling, movement, and naps will be key to integrating your learning! Chat with new friends or take some time to yourself. This experience will fly by before you know it!
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Sanctuary Farm is located about 15-20 minutes away from the town of Chapel Hill, which is home to grocery stores, pharmacies, Urgent Cares and anything else you might need.
Do let your facilitators know if you have any emotional, physical, or mental health needs arise during your time at the course—we are here to support you.
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There is phone service and password-protected wifi at Sanctuary Farm; however, we ask that participants refrain from using phones, tablets, and computers during our time together. Presence is the pathway to connection and deep learning!
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We are excited to fully embody each element during our time together—and that means costumes are welcome! We’ve created a lookbook on Pinterest to inspire your packing. Think cozy lounge wear during the day, and elementally-inspired, festive wear for evenings. This is your stage to play!
We will be sending out a more detailed packing list to registrants as we near the course.
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You can contact the Integra team at hello@integracollective.org. Please reach out, we’re happy to hear from you!
REGISTER NOW FOR EARTH, BODY, SPIRIT
April 25-28, 2024
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Hosted by The Integra Collective
