hands-on immersion

ancestral somatics, herbalism & sound healing retreat
july 23rd-26th, 2026

open to anyone who identifies as Black, BIPOC, or a person of the global majority. all gender identities and expressions welcome.

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open to anyone who identifies as Black, BIPOC, or a person of the global majority. all gender identities and expressions welcome. 〰️

explore the connection between herbal healing and somatic awareness

join us for a four-day somatic herbalism intensive held on the land at SUSU commUNITY Farm, a 37-acre Afro-Indigenous farm and healing sanctuary in vermont. this immersive experience is designed as a beginner-friendly introduction to somatics and herbal practices, supporting you in building a deeper relationship with plants, your body, and ancestral wisdom.

during this immersion, we will enter into sacred relationship with the plants growing on the land, learning how to work with them to support our bodies and engage them in spiritual practice. Through beginner somatic rituals, we will root into our bodies as a gateway for deeper connection with the land and ancestral ways of knowing.

we are honored to welcome Toni Jones for a special affirmation sound bath. guided by her own healing journey through psychology, neuroscience, and community care, Toni created what she calls Affirmation Music, using sound, mantra, and intention as a practice of self-love and transformation. Her work invites us to tend to our inner dialogue, reconnect with our worth, and remember the power of our voice in shaping how we relate to ourselves and one another.

applications will open soon. please check back.

imagine this…

imagine yourself on the land at SUSU, a 37-acre Afro-Indigenous farm and healing sanctuary.

you are here to build a deeper relationship with plants, your body, and ancestral wisdom.

at the heart of this work is ori - your relationship to your inner spirit, intuition, and embodied wisdom

through somatic practice and plant teachings, you begin to understand:

how to listen to your body

how to regulate your nervous system

how to build a grounded relationship with herbal medicine

in this intensive, you will build a foundation in both somatics and herbalism, including:

somatics & nervous system foundations

the basics of the nervous system

understanding how stress, anxiety, and trauma impact the body

somatic tools for navigating chronic stress and overwhelm

foundational practices such as resourcing, grounding, and body awareness to support safety and regulation

herbalism foundations

herbal energetics and how to work with plant properties

understanding uses, contraindications, and safety considerations

how to work with herbs both medicinally and spiritually

introduction to the doctrine of signatures as a tool for understanding plant medicine

building your herbal practice

how to create and maintain your home herbal apothecary

developing your own personalized materia medica

plant meditations and intuitive ways of working with herbs

learning both the medicinal and spiritual uses of plants

you will also receive materia medica resources for the plants we work with, along with guidance on creating your own plant knowledge system.

you will make your own medicines

you will leave with:

herbal and spiritual medicines you create during the course

foundational somatic practices to support your healing journey

knowledge to safely begin working with herbs at home

resources for building your own herbal materia medica

a certificate of completion

this is your reclaiming and awakening

of your relationship to plant medicine

embodied healing

and ancestral ways of knowing

we would be honored to welcome you to the land.

cost + lodging

this BIPOC retreat is sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. pay what you can towards the cost of the retreat and housing options. the full cost of the retreat is $1000.

16 spots
left

  • homeplace apartment

    • 3 bedrooms within a shared home

      • 1 single-occupancy room

      • 1 double-occupancy room

      • 1 triple-occupancy room

    • 1 shared bathroom in the triple-occupancy room

    • 1 additional shared bathroom located in the hallway

    cabin

    • small rustic cabin

    • double occupancy

    canvas bell tents

    • two canvas bell tents accommodating 3-4 participants each

    • one canvas bell tent accommodating 2 participants

    camping

    • participants are welcome to camp on the land if they prefer a more immersive outdoor experience.

    offsitte

    • participants are welcome to book their own lodging offsite

  • in the application process, you’ll have the opportunity to select your preferences for lodging, including roommate preferences by gender in shared housing. you can also bring your own tent or book your own lodging off site.

    we will do our best to accommodate your preferences, and we will inform you of the lodging available for you on site prior to completing payment.

upcoming offerings at SUSU