Possible Side Effects

About

A Burning Mugwort event about creating our own healing. Expect fantastic accessibility considerations (inflatable beds, HEPA filters, FPP2 or better masking protocol), queered grassroots herbalism, and a hopeful orientation towards collective care.

The evening will probably look a bit like this:

* people arrive, on their own or with friends, and collect on the beds and chairs in the venue. There will probably be lots of rearranging of mobility aids and bags and cushions as we figure out how to coexist with each other in the space.
* After a wee while, the facilitators will open the space and welcome a check-in where we go around in some kind of circle and spend 1-2 mins responding to some prompts (about how we are, what we want held/ witnessed by the room, any access needs we have right now, and anything we'd like to request or offer this evening). Maybe we'll sink slightly into a sense of feeling a bit safer in the room by sharing in vulnerability like this.
* Next, there will be some historicising of why novice community herbalism feels like a worthwhile project to some of the facilitators, and the naming of some important lineages of knowing/beingwith that have shaped our journeys.
* Then we will separate into small breakout groups to chat with a few other people about the healing we've seen created outside of systems that we've been part of / heard about / witnessed. Each breakout group will then combine with another breakout group to share what we've just heard/ felt with others.
* Many of us may want to keep chatting to people we've just met, or reconnected with, and some of us may want to take a cig break or stretch out. While this is happening, the optional craft / engineering activity of making relational mythology booklets will be introduced, wherein readily available materials such as paper and thread will be transformed into a technology of reclaiming our bodies & spiritually divesting from the NHS prescription pamphlet (and all that it symbolises).
* After a while, the facilitators will give some context about the event, explaining where the funds are going, outlining the herbal medicine offerings we have brought with us, and giving pointers to how you can stay involved with Burning Mugwort.
* Finally, there will be a check-out, again responding to some prompts we will offer (around what has come up for us this evening, what we'll be taking away with us, anything we'd like to offer / request as we leave the space, and any gratitude, affirmations or grief we'd like to share)
* Leaving will probably take a while as we disentangle from this comfy space of connection, and engage with the teas and tinctures and salves on offer. Maybe some generous people will offer support with packing up the inflatable beds and helping rearrange the furniture, maybe people will swap numbers and meeting-places, maybe schemes are a-hatching...

Please have tested negative for COVID in the past day, or be prepared to take a test before entering the building. If you have viral symptoms, we love you, and please don't come!

Fundraising for a friend's family in Gaza. Suggested donation 5-15 but PWYC, nobody turned away for lack of funds. Bring:

* cash for homemade medicines we'll be offering to fundraise too (5-20)
* anything you need to be comfy, and
* reflections on ways we create our own healing.