Gathering in the hallowed space of a new day, Fauna Waken is a week-long journey. Hosted by our fauna kin and 5 humans, each with an affinity for interspecies collaboration and specific offerings devised to deepen that daily. Fauna Waken’s design features brief (30-min) but potent practices of embodiment/connection for 5 mornings, fellowship on the 6th, and for the 7th: rest.
Waking up with the animals and each day more to the animals of our selves, Fauna Waken builds a beautiful web of daily ritual strengthened by gathering. Intended to offer levity and support to our day and journey. Also positioned within the week preceding Equinox, celebrating the chapter turn into Spring.
Monday, March 13: Kristen Houser, Opening Ceremonies with Hare
Tuesday, March 14: FayePatrick Kennedy, Resonating Care-Giving (Sound + Body Listening)
Wednesday, March 15: Lana Smithner Greenleaf, Embodied Mo(u)rning + Movement
Thursday, March 16: Laurie Aman, Lighten Up Your Day (Creativity + Vocalization)
Friday, March 17: Jessica Headley Ternes, Resourcing for your Day
Saturday, March 18: Recap + Fellowship
Sunday, March 19: REST
AND Monday, March 20th is Spring Equinox!
We meet at 10 am ET/7 am PT each morning for a half hour. There will be recordings provided if you cannot attend each one. The price listed is for the series and recordings. Scholarships available upon inquiry. You are welcome to contribute to the scholarship fund as well in increments of 10$.
Email faunaspeak@gmail.com with any questions.
MEET THE HOSTS
Kristen Houser (Fauna Speak): I began remembering my ability to communicate with the animal kingdom in 2015. My teachers ranged from lineaged human communicators to matriarch orca to wildflowers and Tibetan yaks dwelling in the foothills of my old Kentucky home. My curiosity and heart for this field of connection has only grown since, blossoming into my wildest dream. Every day the vision I held in my heart since childhood comes true: to speak and be friends with the animals.
I now live beside the Salish Sea, home to such inspiring beings; from curious selkie seals to the orca who have been my guiding light all along.
Monday, March 13: Kristen Houser, Opening Ceremonies with Hare
Fauna Waken is a dream-becoming-reality that was born in the hearts of five. We all gravitated towards Hare as a symbol of Spring, but also detector of subtle energies and guide in designing this event. Hare feels like the shuttle carrying the thread across a loom, dancing atop the warp yarns of us at dusk and dawn. And so we decided morning was a ripe time to gather, reverent and still. Our opening ceremonies include connecting with Hare and the greater family of Leporidae while preparing our hearts and bodies for the day.
FayePatrick Kennedy: It has been a joyful practice of presence and a deeply personal Spiritual endeavor, in being an ever evolving vocal sound conductor over the past 2 decades. Professionally, my energy work continues to expand as I have been called to share my channeled healing sounds as a way to reflect each of our own unique RESONANCE with life. For me, the healing possibilities are limitless when we listen with our bodies to what may be surfacing and asking for our loving attention.
Tuesday, March 14: FayePatrick Kennedy, Resonating Care-Giving (Sound + Body Listening)
Our time will be in part listening to a channeled healing sound transmission gifted to us by the beauty and bounty of Hare. The family of Hare can be seen as playfully bringing Earthly reverence for the Spring Equinox as well as celebration of the mystical musings sometimes hidden within seasonal transitions.
Additionally, there will be a brief exploration of what is meant by ‘listening with your body’. I will guide all participants to bring a gentle awareness to the areas of both their Heart and Throat Chakras. Noticing any physical sensations that may resonate in the chest and throat when listening to the sound offering and/ or any emotions or stored stories that come to mind while feeling into the vibrational signature of the Hare inspired sound offering. With curiosity and imagination, we may explore this energetic space together to sense what resonating with our beloved animal care-givers feels like in our human-animal bodies and spirits.
Lana Smithner Greenleaf (Mourning Rituals): I've been dancing with grief, death, and embodiment for most of my life. Recently I've begun re-membering mourning rituals that allow us to focus on the exhale, to look to the animals and waters of the world for movements that help to ripple and release our sadness and by doing so, metabolize our grief and pain into heartfelt lung-fuel to continue breathing in life. My background as a certified death doula, somatic practitioner, and grief guide informs all the movement and metabolization work that I share.
Wednesday, March 15: Lana Smithner Greenleaf, Embodied Mo(u)rning + Movement
During this Morning Ritual, we will begin with soft somatic breathing and movements, both to wake up the body, and to welcome sensation and all emotions into our space. You can do everything seated or standing/lying down, this will truly be a gentle gathering. We'll then move into a simple embodied mourning ritual, which is inspired by how our ancestors used to move their bodies when releasing and grieving, and how the animals do. This shared time will end with a body scan so you can sense yourself even more deeply, and be ready for your day. Optional: if you have time, perhaps brew some tea, as drinking an herbal ally can help with digesting and metabolizing grief. I always recommend setting a little time aside after any mourning ritual to find a body in nature that is older or larger than your own. A stone, patch of soil, tree, mountain, or body of water are all examples- since they have a larger/older physical body than yours, it can help to be in their presence, to be held by them, as you hold whatever it is you're holding. This is a form of co-regulation and can help to grow your capacity for carrying and metabolizing your grief.
Laurie Aman (Hello from the Cocoon) is an Artist and Soul Art® Guide who believes in the power of creativity to move through transitions, healing, and stepping into a new version of yourself. Laurie began her work with a degree in Visual Arts. At the age of 26, she sustained a spinal cord injury, changing the course of her life. She dove inward, spending over 10 years in self development courses and training, as well as getting her certification in Soul Art. She guides others to enhance their intuition and creativity; to deepen their connection to themselves, to others, and the world. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two cats, where she enjoys observing nature, appreciating the cycle of seasons, and continuing to develop her skills as an artist.
Thursday, March 16: Laurie Aman, Lighten Up Your Day (Creativity + Vocalization)
In this morning ritual you’ll be guided on how to greet the day using Nature-Inspired Feelings. There will be prompts for journaling and light activities to open up your creativity and voice. To wrap up your Morning Cocoon, you’ll be planting seeds of intention for the next season. No prior artistic experience is needed.
What you’ll need:
Journal and Pen
A few pieces of paper to draw
Colored pencils, markers, or pens
Preparations to support this Ritual (optional):
Taking 15 minutes in (or with) nature before the start time
Writing out any “To Do’s” that are taking up space in your mind
Making yourself a warm beverage
Preparing your space with a totem, a candle, or a crystal that feels supportive
Distancing yourself from distractions like phones or other people
Jessica Headley Ternes (Sacred Thresholds): Alongside her father, mother, and mother's mother, Jessica was raised by flora and fauna kin in the land that is called Joshua Tree. She is a certified ancestral lineage practitioner and her ancestors hail from the British and Irish Isles, Scandinavia, Prussia, Germany, France, Switzerland, and parts of Southern Europe. She draws wellsprings of inspiration from her ancestors, the Little People they are in relationship with, flora and fauna beings, and the gods. She has been immersed in ritual healing for over a decade and some of her most beloved living teachers are Daisy, Mordecai, and Serafina, the companion animals she is lucky enough to live with and learn from.
Friday, March 17: Jessica Headley Ternes, Resourcing for your Day
During this morning ritual we will experience a resourcing practice, a morning devotion to come into active and conscious connection with our support network. We will spend time intentionally opening up to the connections and resources that support us in and throughout our daily lives. There will also be space to open up to new connections and wellsprings of support who you may be seeking and who may be seeking you in return! Whether these be well ancestors, the elements, flora and fauna beings, this practice will be a time to both feel into and build our relationships with our support systems, with space carved out to share our appreciation and gratitude with those who resource us. This will be a meditative and connective drop-in space, so arrive in and with whatever makes you feel most held (soft blankets, warming tea, etc.).
Hare image purchased from Getty Images: JMrocek