Transform with grace in nature. Discover your own sacred power. This community is for folks going through change, who seek the oneness of our great Earth. Join to remember your true self through online and in-person nature immersions. https://abundanceworld.today
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July: What can Holly Wood tell you about your next 6 months?
Published 2 months ago • 5 min read
"My world and word [for this retreat] is AMPLIFYING. From the moment we left the St. John's airport, onward to the retreat, and from when we exited at the Toronto airport back home, my life has been amplified. Thank you." - You Belong to the Land retreat participant
July Tree: Holly
Holly in my own neighbourhood here in Toronto (taken just a few days ago)
Hey Reader,
In the Celtic Ogam (the Irish tree language), the Holly tree is in its time. Ogam is a bit like the astrological calendar but with earth-based trees instead of faraway planets.
Ah, we exit June -- on the heels of National Indigenous History Month, Pride Month, the summer solstice, You Belong to the Land Newfoundland retreat month, and Toronto is done hosting their men's world cup soccer games. What a month! It's been a minute and we have more events upcoming this month so read on!
You Belong to the Land - The courageous crew that met in Flatrock NL to honour what was, reconnect with nature and their soul guides, and are now in full bloom <3
Time to be a warrior of LOVE
The wisdom of energetic Holly for these Earthly times is that it increases love while vindicating our rights and freedoms. Holly, with its thorny leaves, protects us from harm as we work with and hold polarity in our lives. It has both beauty and thorn - the perfect medicine for inserting love into our lives so that life is more fair, more balanced, more whole and less dualistic, less polar.
This comes with not only the ability to defend yourself (holly becomes your backbone), but also the ability to defeat aggression (holly becomes your crown of thorns / your bubble of protection, if you will).
And yet we are in this time in the wheel of the year where the longest day of the year, the solstice has just past -- so we're called to bask in the knowing that the fruits of our labour are coming and they are coming very soon.
The sun has met it's peak and now instils energy into everything. Absorb, be proud, chin up, and let the bubble of holly protect you (perhaps without you even having to lift a finger). What if your battle is already won? And if it's not, call on the wisdom of Holly to help you be ON PURPOSE, without being overly destructive or aggressive.
And that's why this is a time to be a warrior of love.
What does it mean to you?
To bring peace into the world?
To bathe everything you do in essence of nurturing and care?
To desire to want more love and less hate?
There was a moment in Flatrock at the You Belong to the Land retreat where I felt a noticeable shift in the retreaters.
It was Day 3, our excursion day. 5 days is the perfect amount of time to deepen, especially when you're not on your phone all day.
On Day 1 and 2 we had already done some deep self reflection -- ceremoniously became honourary Newfoundanders, heard myth about the Sidhe and how to honour them (the land spirit beings of Newfoundland), put away our values that were not in season, welcomed in our core values that would help us in the next 6 months alongside our Anam Cara (our soul friend), had a beautiful releasing breathwork with Jacqui, met whale on a celtic shamanic journey with Wendy, said goodbye to the people we used to be with self-portraiture led by Erin, ocean- & forest-bathed both inside and outside, and done some deep curiosity work with Marnie in her what-if cube nutrition session. We had already bravely drove our stake into who we wanted to become in our next chapter. Day 3 brought it all together.
The excursion day was the chance to let that being meet us.
The tundra land met us at Cape Spear.
The pulsating ocean and sea foam met us on the cliffs of the most easterly point in North America.
The mystical mist met us as it whirled on the wind around us.
The whale met us while we were out in the bay.
The million or so puffins and other sea birds showed us where they flock back to every year, the same spot, the same nest, with the same partner, and the same speckled pattern on their eggs each year.
We let Mother Earth meet us. And it sank us deeper into who we are as our human selves.
Feeling refreshed on the back of what was my most FULL month yet this year -- I am ready to go deeper with you.
We want YOU to re-connect to the land. If you want to be a part of this incredible growing abundant community, please consider joining one of our next events! We prioritize in-person gatherings in the warmer months.
JULY 7th - 5:30am
Sunrise Club - Get out and enjoy the awakening of the city. Help us raise the sun at Sunnyside Beach. Bring your beach blanket, layers, fly spray and sun screen. Occurs biweekly. Sign up here.
JULY 17th - 7pm
Christie Pitts park - Healing in nature + Tea + Forest Bathing Meditation Bring your park blanket / yoga mat and a bevvie mug to try some herbal tea! In collaboration with the Toronto Queer Camping Collective Sign up here.
AUGUST 8-9th
Ontario Wilderness Overnight Retreat - This one is witchy, weird, queer, cool, honest, and all things nature. Learn to tie survival knots, make a fire, work with the plants around you, and more. Check out the retreat info here.
JUNE 2027
With so much interest in this year's You Belong to the Land retreat in Flatrock, NL -- the waitlist for the next one -- June 2027 is now open. You'll be notified when applications are open for next year's retreat in Jan 2027. Sign up here.
Gathering starts at 7:00pm
Other Upcoming Interest:
Energy Medicine & Psychic Circle - I am part of a monthly meet up of folks who have gifts. We show up with no agenda only to direct healing to each other. Then we do it. Once a month (usually Mondays) for an hour. Please email if you'd like in.
A Future AW Retreat: October 2026 Spiritual Meanings of Backyard Plants - Ancestors are Everywhere Signups Coming Soon
~ Pronounced "chin-uh" in Gaeilge ~ “Assertion. Fighting Strength. Direction and Purpose. Balance."
I am the sturdy Holly. Where I grow, expect my protection. Grow a hedge of my leaves around you when you need. Imagine my bright red berries that promise life and vigor. This too, shall pass. From the central seat of neutrality, you begin to understand wholeness. Return to neutral. Breathe in unity. Breathe in wholeness."
- paraphrased fromCeltic Tree Oracle by Sharlyn Hidalgo
Have an abundant July!
~ Big Love // Gra mor ~
Frankie
This newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace advice given from a healthcare provider. Please do not attempt to make botanical medicinal remedies at home. Abundance World stewards transformative human:nature immersions you crave (retreats, forest baths, sound healing, Celtic & Druid cosmology) for teams and individuals. Work with us.
Transformative human:nature immersions you crave (retreats, forest baths, sound healing, Celtic & Druid cosmology) for teams, groups and individuals.
Transform with grace in nature. Discover your own sacred power. This community is for folks going through change, who seek the oneness of our great Earth. Join to remember your true self through online and in-person nature immersions. https://abundanceworld.today
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