Open Heart
“You hold and anchor in the light of God.
You are the strength beneath the roots of the Cedars and the beauty of the Raven.
You are divinely loved and always will be.
You are the harmony of the sun, the moon, the wind and the sea.”
— Emily Werner, Living Wild Mother +Visionary
About
Open Heart
Open Heart is a purely hearted ceremonial offering under Living Wild. Open Heart honors ceremony as a way of life. Participating in ceremony deepens our bond to ourselves, others and Nature. Ceremony weaves the mundane with the spiritual, reminding us that everything is sacred. Through ceremony we show Reciprocity and Respect for all beings and beliefs. The intention is to resonate harmony with self, others and Nature.
Below you will find the ceremonies Open Heart provides to support individuals and community. Open Heart is based in Northern Washington. Inquire in the booking form about travel for aligned ceremonies.
Open Heart also hosts and co-hosts community ceremonies including Sweat Lodge as well as Equinox and Solstice Celebrations.
Pipe Ceremonies
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A Pipe Ceremony is a traditional practice supporting individuals or groups in sending their sacred prayers to Great Spirit through the pipe, sacred homegrown herbs , the smoke, intention and Guardian Eagle or Raven. The ritual creates Sacred Space for our prayers to be heard and answered. This experience may be chosen during times of loss, creation and also creating treaties or agreements. Open Heart can provide intimate pipe ceremonies solo as well as larger pipe ceremonies for communities, alongside Brother Vision Wolf Dancing, a fellow Lodge Pourer and Pipe Carrier.
The herbs used in a pipe ceremony are sacred. They may contain Lavender, Chanshasha, Sweetgrass, Mullein, Tobacco, Red Raspberry Leaf, and other sacred herbs dependent on whether the facilitator is using a female pipe or a male pipe, as well as what herbs the pipe carrier has access to in their region.
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During your pipe ceremony, your facilitator will load their pipes with sacred herbs honoring all the directions before offering silent prayer to Great Spirit. They will then guide you through how to receive and smoke from the pipe. The pipe will then be passed to all those participating in the ceremony to offer their prayer aloud.
Please read through the Expectations for Harmonious Ceremony at the bottom of this page before booking. Booking a ceremony with Open Heart means you agree to these expectations.
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Prices/reciprocal energy exchange vary based on specific event needs. Please read “Honoring Reciprocity” below and fill out the form to request your ceremony.
Drum Journeys
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The beat of the drum mirrors the heartbeat of the Earth. We use the drum to create resonance with the beats of deer, buffalo and cow medicine, in alignment with the flow of our bodies, mind and spirit. Together with drum medicine, we attune to the frequency of the Earth.
A Drum Journey creates space in time for participants to turn inward to see visions and find clarity. Open Heart and other facilitators offer individual or group journeys.
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During Open Heart Drum Journeys, your facilitator will drum and provide some verbal guidance while participants soak into the rhythm and energy.
Drum Circles are also offered. During Drum Circles all participants are invited to drum and play instruments.
Additional instruments may be provided from Drum Circles upon requests with a monetary deposit.
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Prices/reciprocal energy exchange vary based on specific event needs. Please read “Honoring Reciprocity” below and fill out the form to request this experience.
Land Blessing Ceremonies
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Honoring the land you live, work or pray on is vital to create respect and cultivate deep relation with the land and all who have dwelled on it. From the mammals that visit and help spread seed, to the birds nesting in the trees, the worms feeding the soil to the plants that grow beneath your feet, all of the Beings that walked the land before yours, and all that exist in between… the land is sacred.
An Open Heart Land Blessing Ceremony invites you to foster deeper relations with the land you inhabit cultivating respect, gratitude and care for Earth and all Beings.
Our Land Blessing Ceremonies are unique to you, your guests and the land beneath your feet.
Following the ceremony, Open Heart encourages all in attendance to share a potluck meal. Offerings should support health of one another and the land. We recommend sourcing ingredients locally and in season.
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We begin by smudging the land with homegrown herbs such as Sage, Sweet Grass, Lavender, Rosemary or Sacred Copal from Belize and South America. This opens the intention of the space by communication with the land, introducing ourselves and the ceremony, as well as cleansing all participants to ensure new electrons appear in the space.
At your request, we will co-create an altar utilizing elements Open Heart provides as well as from the land, such as feathers, twigs, rocks, shells, crystals, flowers, foliage, etc. All in attendance are invited to join in intentionally curating this sacred offering to help enhance experience and relationship with the land.
We may provide you with wisdom on Plant Species living alongside you or tips for tending to the land with a garden.
Each ceremony is unique depending on the season, the land and the internal season of the community.
If you have any other requests during your Land Blessing Ceremony, please let us know in the form.
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Please read through the Expectations for Harmonious Ceremony at the bottom of this page before booking. Booking a ceremony with Open Heart means you agree to these terms.
Hape & Grounding Ceremonies
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A Hape and Grounding Ceremony invites individuals to experience a purification with a calm and grounded mind and body through the use of sacred medicine and support of the land.
Hape is sourced from South America and assists in clearing energy fields and resetting the nervous system. Hape is offered in many varieties with different barks and other herbs that produce varying results. Open Heart is extremely mindful when sourcing Hape.
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Do not make plans to be anywhere immediately after your ceremony. Plan for time to continue slowing down, grounding and integrating.
Do not eat a large meal before.
Ensure your phone is off and in your car during your ceremony.
Read through ENTIRE booking details
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This experience begins with energetic and physical cleansing utilizing sound with drums, rattles, whistles and smudging with smoke from medicine allies such as Rosemary, Sage, Sweetgrass, Palo Santo, Copal, Etc. You will spend time grounding the physical energy system by being in direct contact with the Earth.
Your Open Heart facilitator will serve you Hape and support you through a meditation. During this ceremony you will experience purification and clearing which may include crying, coughing up dense energy, and/or purging. You will be supported during the entire experience and ensure you are grounded back to a beautiful space before leaving.
Your experience will end with reflection and closing tea service of medicinal herbs.
Expectations for Harmonious Ceremony
Open Heart honors reciprocity. We believe that one of the most important values to appreciate is energy exchange. There is true power in showing respect and love through gratitude for one another, the Earth and all beings. This gratitude brings balance and harmony. While our Hape and Grounding and Land Blessing Ceremonies have a set financial exchange to cover expenses and time, our Pipe and Drum Ceremonies are offered to serve the community and Spirit. In support of these gifts being offered by facilitators, it is appropriate for hosts and communities to offer meals and/or lodging to Open Heart facilitators as well as reciprocal gifts to foster community support and balance in order to continue the work that we do. This gift exchange should be agreed to during booking of ceremonies. Gifts of financial exchange, butter, white candles, hand grown herbs, high quality coffee, and other intentional offerings are also appreciated from clients and communities for Open Heart and other Living Wild Ceremony facilitators.
Honoring Reciprocity
In addition to honoring reciprocity, please read through our Expectations for Harmonious Ceremony. By Requesting any ceremony with Open Heart you agree to the following:
No photography or videos…
unless otherwise expressed. The photos we use on our webpage are staged to portray the essence of ceremony and working with Open Heart.
No phones or other electronics…
during ceremony. All phones and electronics should be off and out of site.
Respect and honor Nature.
Allow Her to be your guide. She is the true healer.
Be mindful of your energy…
Be mindful of the energy you bring into ceremony. Take four deep breaths before entering the space.
If these expectations are not followed by all participants, Open Heart reserves the right to end or leave a ceremony at any time without a refund.
Leave it better than you found it.
We believe in supporting and nourishing the self, others, the Earth and all beings. One way we encourage participants to practice this is by making sure all dishes are washed after community potluck.
Our Values
Act with Kindness.
We believe that the way we treat others impacts our own well-being, and the well-being of the whole. We remind you to always walk with good intention.
Be Grounded.
We ask all participants to check in with themselves and their energy before attending ceremony. Settle into your body. Take deep breaths. You are responsible for your energy. If you do not feel well, physically/energetically, listen to your body and rest while providing communication if you will not be present at Ceremony.
Speak the Truth.
We ask that participants communicate and listen with presence. Respond with respect, rather than react.
Move with Beauty
We encourage you to see and help foster beauty all around you: above you, below you, beside you, within you, through intention of your actions, words and impact.
Remain Open.
We ask that you keep an open heart and mind. Allow yourself to flow, allowing experiences to move through you like water. Passing no judgement and holding onto nothing.
