Hemlock - a virtual community.

My loves, I am designed to build communities. I want to welcome you to the outpouring of my soul - my brand new Monthly Membership Program - HEMLOCK. But first, may I tell you a story?

On a cold January morning earlier this year, a friend texted early one morning to tell me that she felt prompted to tell me that, “the trees are female.” This prompted me to spend an hours journaling stories of the joy I’d found in the branches of trees as a child before I was ushered into the female “role” expected of me. I let the memories wash over me that day. Then I left them alone.

3 months later, in the breeze of early May, another friend felt prompted to pull cards for me. She shared that NATURE had been pulled and sent a photo of well-loved pages that included a description of a HEMLOCK TREE. I was fascinated by the way it drew nourishment from a nurse log. I let these images bring me comfort. Then I left them alone.

On May 25th, the anniversary of my mother’s death, I was unknowingly drawn to The Trail of Trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As I hiked, I attempted to keep my eyes on the path as tears streamed down my face. A sharp turn caused me to grab the trunk of a tree to keep from slipping. When I looked up, I saw a plaque labeling the type of tree I was grasping, (apparently I’d missed many others along the way). This bark, rough against my hand, belonged to a female Hemlock tree. I felt this message deeply, but I didn’t know what to do with the richness of these symbols, so I left them alone to germinate in my heart.

Over the next few months, graduates began asking for monthly journal prompts, colleagues began encouraging me to focus more deeply on the erotic feminine, and students, after hearing a voice message meant to calm their fears, began asking for a monthly podcast and book selections.

My loves, there are so many times that I look back at my life and wonder how I got here. It could seem my life today is nothing but the remains of what was - a marriage, a home, a faith, a reputation, an identity…

But I have discovered my life, my entire story, is a nurse log.

“A nurse log is a fallen, decaying tree upon which other trees are growing. The saplings growing on a nurse log take nutrients from it, feeding upon it long before it has had time to rot and turn to soil. Nurse logs also provide a safe haven from soil fungi that can kill seedlings. These logs thus facilitate new growth by creating an ecological niche that some saplings can exploit. They also promote a different pattern of succession than would occur if they were not present.”

I am able to teach specifically FROM the parts of me that died. I am able to provide a safe haven because of the pain I have known. It brings me ENDLESS joy to know my story has the possibility to alter the succession of your lives by nourishing you from the nutrients within me. Welcome to my community of growth, healing, and flourishing.

The Eastern Hemlock commonly grows atop nurse logs and the message of the Hemlock TAKING what she needs to grow and flourish is not lost on me. As a Professional Sexuality Educator, I spend my days helping individuals understand that there are beautiful and consensual ways to “take.” Our lives can be so rich when we TAKE what is offered.

And so, my loves, as the leaves begin to change, and the air begins to cool, I am launching a community - a Monthly Membership Program entitled HEMLOCK. My deepest hope is that you TAKE boldly of that which I am joyfulling offering.

For only $10 a month, you will receive monthly journal prompts, a New Moon Book Club Gathering, a Full Moon Podcast, UNDER THE HEMLOCK (listen to the intro episode for free HERE), and FREE ACCESS to occasional Masterclasses, virtual gatherings, film viewing parties.

For $20 a month you will receive access to all of the above, PLUS a members only virtual network (much like a fancy group chat) entitled THE NURSE LOG and 15% off discounts to classes, individual sessions, and workshops.

I am so thrilled I cannot even really put it into words. I have deeply believed that sexuality education and resources for personal growth should be accessible from the day I began SEX ED FOR YOU. And now, for the cost of two coffees, you can discover just what I mean.

To read FAQs, click HERE. To see the books we’ll be reading, click HERE. To learn more, click HERE. To join now, choose your option below.