Classes

Our Faculty and Classes Master List

Herbal Spa Workshop: A Natural Approach to Beauty

What ingredients truly give us the gift of lasting beauty without jeopardizing our health? Discover the secrets used by herbal spas to obtain beautiful skin. Learn how to easily prepare customized beauty products from all-natural ingredients and create delightfully scented herbal facial steams, clay masks, skin toners, moisturizers, body and foot scrubs and massage oils for yourself and loved ones. Experience samples and have an opportunity to try an herbal facial mask in class. Recipes and supplies provided. Dress appropriately for trying an herbal mask and other products. 3 hours.

Instructor

Dr. Jennifer Echert

Dr. Jennifer Echert is a Naturopathic Doctor who has been in private practice for 11 years. Her professional background includes fformulating holistic herbal and aroma therapeutic products for her company, BerkanaWay~A Wholistic Way to Life~, National speaker for ACT (Aromatherapy Council) on clinical use of essential oils in treating chronic health disorders, Faculty at College of DuPage in the alternative health department, and member of several professional organizations committed to the education and empowerment of individuals in their healthcare.

Claudia Arredia

Basic Swedish Massage

Learn basic Swedish Massage techniques for a full body massage. Learn about objectives that need to be met performing the techniques, such as Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Vibration, Percussion, and Compression. Your correct use of cream or oil and knowing when is a better time to use one over the other. The proper draping of the client to ensure a stress free massage for both of you. The use of correct pressure and speed for the various strokes will be shown to ensure a smooth and relaxing massage. A description of the benefits of receiving a Swedish Massage as well as the contraindications concerning massage shall also be covered.

The Pipe Ceremony

The pipe ceremony is a sacred ritual for connecting the physical and spiritual aspects of people. The pipe is our prayers in physical form. The smoke becomes our words. The fire in the pipe is the same fire that lights the sun. This is the source of all life. Tobacco is used in the pipe because its roots go deep into the earth and its smoke rises high into the sky.
A great holy man once said that as long as one Indian holds the pipe and prays to the Great Mystery, we will live. The ceremony is a time of prayer. All prayers are said out loud and what is prayed for stays within the circle. This is one of our most sacred ceremonies and should be entered with respect and honor.

Native American Sacred Path Cards

Since the dawning of Time Man has tried to divine what will come to him/her in the future. There are many methods of doing this and the use of cards is a common method. Native American people have always used signs to look into the future and the use of cards with Native meaning is a comfortable blending of the two cultures. The use of the Native American Sacred Path Cards not only teaches the reader many Native symbols and their meaning but guides the one who is being read to a path that will help them find their way when lost or confused.

Group Drumming Circle

The coming together of people to celebrate life with music and dance has taken place as long as Humans have walked this planet. Today we are still instinctually drawn to the sound of a drum beat. From the beating of our mother’s heart while we are still in the womb, to the beat of the rhythm in our favorite song. This sound is primal in all of us. When we gather in a drumming circle the leader guides the life of the song that is created by the many drummers so that the song takes on a life of it’s own and every one within hearing is effected.

Title: Women’s Medicine Wheel

Women coming together to form a circular configuration of rocks, that when put together will bring up the energy of Mother Earth in a healing manner. The power of the medicine wheel, allows us access to the healing energies that will allow us to heal ourselves, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We will explore the basic understanding of the meaning behind the medicine wheel and how to construct one of their own. We will experience the making of our own medicine wheel using rocks brought in by the instructors and students. We will explore the different experiences by everyone in the medicine wheel.


Sherwin Cotovsky

Nutrition With Sherwyn

A six week course presenting nutrition without the coloration of corporate profits, book sales, or the allure of customer convenience. There will be no textbook; just lecture and discussion. Classroom notes desirable. A Certified Clinical Nutritionist is coming out of retirement to teach this course. Get ready for plenty of attitude. The topics include a discussion of vegetarianism. A physiologic basis of weight loss. The question of red meat. The major theories of diet including high protein, low carbohydrate and low fat. Macrobiotic discipline. Arnold Ehret’s fructarianism, vegetarianism and veganism. The unwise restriction of vitamin D. A survey of the B-complex. Glycotoxins in your future. Blood sugar and insulin control. The state of meditation as an instance of neurotransmission. Food combining made difficult. Health problems related to diet: Doctors in denial. The character of a square meal. Omega 6 and W-3 fats. Saturated misinformation. Acid and alkaline diets impact bone loss. Complete proteins, introducing the amino acid cast.


Dr. Jennifer Echert

Whole Approaches to Weight Loss

Join a Naturopathic Doctor for 6 weekly 1-1/2 hour sessions and enjoy a unique whole approach to achieving and maintaining weight loss. The emphasis is on healthy, real weight management for the body and mind. Learn how discovering the underlying cause of weight challenges and applying nutrition, herbs, hypnosis & aromatherapy allows us to achieve our goals. We will focus on an area each week to start us on our path of good health. Dress comfortably. Handouts provided.

Herbal Spa Workshop: A Natural Approach to Beauty

What ingredients truly give us the gift of lasting beauty without jeopardizing our health? Discover the secrets used by herbal spas to obtain beautiful skin. Learn how to easily prepare customized beauty products from all-natural ingredients and create delightfully scented herbal facial steams, clay masks, skin toners, moisturizers, body and foot scrubs and massage oils for yourself and loved ones. Experience samples and have an opportunity to try an herbal facial mask in class. Recipes and supplies provided. Dress appropriately for trying an herbal mask and other products. 3 hours.

What’s Your Personality? Discovery & Enhancement with Aromatherapy

“Aroma-Genera” is a process of personality discovery and enhancement through essential oils. The system was developed by Valerie Ann Worwood, author of “The Fragrant Mind”, and it explores which oils best suit a person and help them progress rapidly in positive directions by profoundly impacting their whole person. Dr. Jennifer Echert (a Registered Clinical Aromatherapist) shares the experience of her “Magnificent Nine” typing oils synergized from over 150 individual essential oils to help you discover your abundant self. Supplies and in-class handout will be provided.

Herbs For Your Health

This series consists of four 3-hour hands-on classes designed to teach the information about medicinal herbs needed to use and include them in your life and healthcare.
Learn about the plants and their parts used to make preparations and observe how preparations are made. Investigate how to build a personal herbal pharmacy and determine what to include for yourself to enhance your life and manage stress and what is appropriate for children and the elderly. Supplies included. In-class handout will be provided,

Herbal Preparations

Ever wonder how to turn all those dandelions in your yard… into something helpful?
Or what exactly is an herbal infusion?
Why would you take it, how do you make it &… where does it come from?
This is a hands-on class preparing healing plants!
• No previous experience needed. Discover the ease & fun of learning practical applications of herbs & develop the confidence to practice this knowledge.
• Learn what parts of the plant to use & participate in the making of herbal formulas. We focus on herbs that grow locally.
• Techniques covered will include the making of infusions, liquid extracts, syrups, balms and more.
6 weeks- 3 hours per session-Handouts provided-Recommend taking “Herbs For Your Health” first.

Treatment of Chronic Disorders with Aromatherapy

Beneficial to persons challenged with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and similar chronic disorders and those working with them in a healing capacity. We will discuss:
• Understanding the disease and healing process and determining where a person is within this process.
• Consideration of immediate, intermediate and long term care goals.
• Selection of specific essential oils based on care goals and the properties that make these oils effective.
• Blending of essential oils and application methods and tools.
• Follow-up, reassessment and adjustments to insure complete healing.
Case histories presented and hands-on experiencing of the essential oils and blends utilized. Handouts provided. 3 hours.

Creating Health Within The Seasons

The seasons of the year affect us externally and internally. Awareness and adaption to the outer and inner cycles enables us to promote health and prevent stress and illness. Discover how to tune in to the organs, experiences, activities, emotions, colors and flavors that are the focus in each season. Learn the foods, herbs, therapies and exercises that create well-being during the cycles. Students should wear comfortable clothing, preferably not jeans, as we will be demonstrating meridian acupressure points and reflexology points. Handouts provided. 3 hours.

Aromatherapy: Level I Workshop

Discover Aromatherapy! In this workshop with Dr. Jennifer Echert, a Registered Clinical Aromatherapist, we will explore the basics of aromatherapy and learn safe and effective uses for essential oils. Designed as a ‘stand-alone’ class to accommodate students who are unsure whether they are interested in more in-depth training, a foundation sufficient for the casual use of a dozen primary essential oils will be built. Includes supplies, handouts and recommended reading list. 6 hours including lunch break.

Essential Oils: Healthy Childhood Companions

Aromatherapy is beneficial for addressing childhood illness and maintaining the health of children of all ages, temperaments and states of health when used responsibly. Learn the principles of using essential oils and hydrosols from plants safely and effectively, including age suitability, dilution rates, blending techniques and sourcing excellent quality oils so that you can positively impact your child’s health.
Handout provided. 3 hours.

Planting for Health

A discussion on herbs that can be grown in the home garden, and used to keep you and your family healthy. Learn their medicinal actions and ways to prepare them for use. Plant and harvest with intention, using organic methods.
Handout provided. 3 hours.

Essential Oils: Cancer Companions

Aromatherapy helps to lessen and/or alleviate the debilitating effects of cancer and it’s conventional treatments including depression, anxiety, nausea and loss of appetite, fatigue etc.. In this workshop we will discuss the most effective essential oils to use in blends before, during and after cancer treatments. The focus will be on building, supporting and strengthening the immune , digestive and nervous systems and of course targeting the side effects of cancer treatments with the effective use of specific essential oils. Participants will create an aromatherapy blend for nausea and stomach discomfort to take with them. 3 hours.

Cancer Miasms

Discussion will center on the dynamics of the cancer miasm and the ten primary essential oils found to have an affinity for this miasm. A miasm is a reactional mode, or predisposition, to disease transmitted from generation to generation bioenergetically rather than by genetics. The themes of loss of control and inability to establish one’s personal identity are characteristic of the cancer miasm. The identification of an individual’s prominent miasmatic influences, and specific essential oil responses to them opens up a dynamic in aromatherapy which penetrates the layering of superficial symptoms and gains access to the central disturbance of the dynamic plane from which those symptoms emanate. 3 hours.


Michele Knight, CEC, ACC

The 7 Levels

There are 7 levels of consciousness. These levels determine how we see the world and each person in it, including us. The 7 Levels of Consciousness will help you to see how your thoughts and energy create your outcomes and even how you originally created your circumstances in the first place. You will leave with tangible skills and concepts to use everywhere to inspire and motivate others-and yourself!


Judith Monahan

The Chord: Assessing the Healing Power of the Earth

This class consists of seven sessions. Each session lasts approximately 2-2 ½ hours. The purpose of the class is to assist students in establishing a meditation routine and improving their ability to ground energy which allows them to be more open, aware and focused. Students whose career of hobby is to assist others in healing will find this class most beneficial to assist in raising their vibration as well as the vibrations of their clients. Mastery of the techniques taught in this class will enable students to be more focused in their healing sessions and more sensitive to the needs of their clients.

Walter Perschke

Intuition Development I

Get in touch with your intuition using several proven historic techniques and methods. Find the one or more most suited to your needs and abilities. Learn how it works, and how you can use it on a daily basis to improve your life. Improve your intuitive accuracy utilizing the practices and methods presented in class. Discuss the origins, symbology, historical uses, and current applications of divination and oracles. Practice using Nordic rune stones, Celtic oracles, Native American medicine cards, the tarot, palmistry, and psycometry for intuition development. Beginners Welcome.

Intuition Development II: Extrasensory Perception

Explore tools for developing your sixth sense. Discover your primary intuitive faculty, and how it is expressed in your daily life. Know when your intuition is on, how to increase intuitive hits, and have fun doing it! Expand your intuitive horizons by learning how to utilize your own psychic abilities with methods and practices presented in class. Chanelling, Psycometry, Shamanic journey, and past lives demonstrations by professionals in their field. Prerequisite: Intuition Development I

Secrets To Your Success: Changing Your Life

Define Personal Success for yourself and learn to consciously manifest your daily life. Identify your limiting beliefs and replace them with liberating thought patterns while transforming driven behavior into authentic action. Explore how you program yourself for success, or failure, and how to bring the control of your own programming into your conscious control. Learn how you are already sending programming to your subconscious mind, how it follows your commands, and how to change those commands.

Science and Spirituality: Finding Your Place In The Cosmos

This course is about opening your perception to new ways of thinking that are beneficial to explore. The present will be placed in an historical context of intellectual and spiritual thought to provide an overview of how we got here and provide a framework to answer the question, “Where do we go from here?” Explore the synergistic relationship between science and spirituality based upon the new physics, or quantum mechanics. Discuss the philosophies of Galileo, Newton, Buddha, Jesus, and other great minds for improved self awareness, intellectual stimulation, and spiritual enlightenment. You can learn how to utilize the powerful tools now available to you. Textbook: The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav

Ancient Scriptures: Lost Books of the Bible

Explore the Gnostic Gospels and examine the political and social influences at the time the Bible was written. Learn what Rome was like in Biblical times and how the Bible came to become the Bible. Discuss the impact and the implications omitting these scriptures from the Bible has had on modern day Christian society. Read the gospels of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Judas Iscariot, infancy gospel of Jesus, and other ancient texts.

The Early Christian Church:

The early church was very different from the church most people know today. Explore the development of the early church (to 400 A.D.) and its many twists and turns leading to its recognition by the Roman Empire and the codification of the New Testament. Learn the importance and legacy of the Emperor Constantine to the growth of Christianity. Discuss the Council of Nicea, how the first Bible was created and how it was later changed, how Bibles are different today in different parts of the world, and how the historic Bible changed to become the one most Christians read today.

Metaphysical Jesus Science and Religion: Metaphysics and the New Testament What Jesus Really Said. The Hidden Message of the New Testament

Jesus spoke in parables, metaphors, and metaphysical symbolism because he knew that not everyone was ready, or able, to receive the message of the new revelation he carried. Jesus spoke of “secrets” and “hidden messages” and “those who are not ready.” He also knew that he was speaking for the ages. Jesus was not giving humanity a precise set of directions leading to salvation, but rather a set of principles that would lead us there. Explore and discuss the hidden messages of the new testament with the author of the upcoming book, “What Jesus Really Said,” and examine the metaphysical symbology for intellectual stimulation and self-discovery.

Dream Interpretation

Learn the importance of your dreams in your life and how to interpret your dreams. Learn the ways your subconscious mind processes information, and how it communicates with you through your dreams. Learn to use jungian and metaphysical methods and symbols, and archetypal images to unravel your dream messages, the four functions of dreams, the steps to interpreting dreams, and the necessity of dreams to your psyche. You will learn to honor and utilize your own dreams to improve your life. The history of dreams in ancient and Biblical times is reviewed.

Barbara Schermer

Astrology Alive

Astrology is a powerful means of becoming self aware. Barbara Schermer, whose psychological approach to astrology is strongly influenced by C G Jung, here puts forward an imaginative new way of furthering the understanding. She takes us on a journey through dance, music, art and drama so that the wisdom revealed by astrology is experienced as a living entity –astrology alive. Using a wealth of exercises, rituals, meditations and games, Barbara Schermer breathes life into the planets and signs and teaches astrological principals by experience. Ideal for individual or group work this class captures the essence of the astrological influences and throws night light on their meaning in our lives.


JoAnn Seckus

Palm Reading 101 

Join us to learn the basics of Palm Reading. Palm Reading is an ancient art and science. The lines of your hands are a mirror of your soul. Through palm reading you will get in touch with your higher self. The chief lines of the hand are Life Line, Head Line, and the Heart Line. The strength and the direction of lines in conjunction with different markings on the hand will determine the actions, habits and the significant events in the life of a person that will lead to success in career, health, wealth, love, marriage, children and happiness.

Angel Card Reading

Learn how to use Angel cards, to find answers in the life of yours and others too. How do Angel Cards work? Using the power of Synchronicity, Angel cards tap both the subconscious and the super conscious Mind, which is the center of our psychic abilities. Each card is symbolic of an angelic energy. Its relevance depending upon its position in a spread of your choice. Psychic energy is a life force that flows through every particle of the universe. Psychic work, such as divination through Angel cards, is a means to map out the influences in our lives.

Using a Pendulum

Learn how to make your own Pendulum, and use it to communicate with your higher self. A dictionary will state “A pendulum is an object that is attached to a pivot point so it can swing freely. This object is subject to a restoring force that will accelerate it toward an equilibrium position” What if this force is your subconscious. Your higher self, will influence the pendulum, and give you spiritual truth . After making your pendulum, we will use it as a divination tool to establish yes and no answers, and program our pendulum to work with some basic charts we create.

Clues to your past lives

This class is based on Barbara Lane’s “16 Clues to your past lives!”
Through a discussion of recurring patterns, and a half hour guided meditation, the class will allow you to see clues in this life time that can point to experiences you had in another life time. Imagine the intriguing idea that after death we can live again as another person. As you look at these clues you may have insight, and understanding into joyful patterns, or soul bruises. Acknowledging this can allow you to reevaluate your life.

Card Reading using Playing Cards

This class will show you how to use a regular deck of 52 playing cards to foresee the future. Right from the first hour of class you will be able to answer basic questions for you and your friends. By time we finish you will be able to see just as much detail, as if you were using a full tarot set of cards. This is a technique that has been handed down through generations.


Keri K. Silk, MS

Find the Skinny in You

Like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ you’ve had the power all along. You just didn’t believe it. In this interactive workshop you’ll touch on the five core strategies of SLIMTASTIC: Vision, Nutrition, Movement, Community and Spirit. Discover new techniques for making weight loss fun. Learn tips and tools that are easily integrated into your life. So be ready to click your heels together and say “I am skinny, happy and healthy”!

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements has been on The New York Times Bestseller List for over eight years. In it don Miguel Ruiz shares four simple messages: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Never Make Assumptions and Always do your Best. A former Wisdom Circle facilitator Keri Silk will take you on a transformational journey. There will be new exercises, discussion and insights. You will learn awareness, still the negative inner voices, identify toxins and more to create your own heaven on earth. If you are ready to change your self-limiting beliefs join us. ** There is no need to have read the book prior to class.

The Ancient Art of Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a traditional Chinese method of altering the flow of energies so that it enhances health, wealth and personal relationships. Create a basic Feng Shui (Ba-gua) map of your home or office. You will learn how to use Feng Shui colors, elements, symbols and decor in the proper areas of the Ba-gua map.(Please bring a scale diagram of the area of your home or office that you would like to work on) You can expect some pretty “incredible” things to start happening as you make simple changes in your environment.

Dragon Energy

Dragon energy abounds. It is a form of ancient strength and wisdom that anyone can tap into. Come and explore with Keri Silk as she explains how you can tap into this energy field. The class will include history the history of dragons, guided mediations, and instruction for tapping into this powerful form of elemental magic. As part of the class Keri will show how to use the Dragon Cards for guidance. Keri has been influenced by the works of D. J. Conway. Keri has been working with Dragon Energy for several years. Join us. Discover how to “Dance with Dragons”


Arlene Tilghman

Beginners Astrology Class

Astrology is a sacred tool for self discovery and enlightenment into the “whys” of life. Having kowledge of the Cosmos, “As above”, will impel and guide you in the “So below” to help you understand and live out your incarnation with clarity and potential. This beginners basic concept class in Astrology covers the Zodiac, the natal chart, how a horoscope is interpreted and how to notice and look for trends going on in your life. Astrology is Light on the Pilgrim’s Path.

Akashic Record Reading Class

Learn to access the quantum energy sea called the Book of Life that holds the patterns of your past lives, present life, and future direction. Intended for self knowledge, direction, and use, this meditative class will take you to meet your Guides and Teachers to help you work with karma; dharma for soul growth; evolve to a higher level of consciousness; and where to find areas in your current life that need healing or talents to be invoked.

The Inner Council of Wisdom Workshop – Level 1

Learn to work with your Inner Guides for enlightenment, discovery, and delivery according to your own personal energies in your birth chart. This workshop is based on guided meditations which will take you to meet your Inner Guide, Arch Angel, and Planetary Guides in your Astrological Birth chart. You will dialogue with them, and let them dialogue with each other for the purpose of easing the energies that are challenging and invoking the ones that need energizing.

The Inner Council of Wisdom Workshop – Level 2

Using the Major Arcana Tarot Archetypes, you will turn your personal planetary energies in your Astrological birth chart over to them for dialogue. In this dialogue, you will learn to know your weaknesses, discover your strengths and talents using the symbolism that personify the Archetypes in the Major Aacana. To work on specific life areas in your chart, your birth time will be needed for this workshop to be effective. Level one is a pre-requisite.


Judy Tobey

Australian Bush Flower Essences 101 

The Safe, effective and natural way to keep yourself and your loved ones balanced mentally and emotionally.
Learn how to utilize flower essences to overcome stresses, anxiety, low self esteem, disappointment, worry and more.
So, come learn how the vibrational signature of flowers can help to transform your life!

-What are flower essences?
-How do they work? How are they made?
-Introduces you to the full line of 65 flower remedies that covers all imbalances
-Learn how to select and combine remedies
-Learn proper dosing approaches
-Experience one of the essences right in the class room
-delve deeply into the top 10 remedies
-Great for People, Pets and even Plants!


Homeopathy 101, for Acute Conditions

The safe, effective way to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Learn how to become proficient in selecting and using homeopathic remedies for wide range of common ailments and emergency situations. In course 1 you’ll learn: What is Homeopathy? Treating the whole person How does it work? What is potency? How to choose the best potency How to select a remedy The top remedies for: Injuries –Burns, Bruises, Strains, Sprains, Broken Bones. Also for top remedies for Flu prevention, Cold prevention…all with no side effects!


Rose Whiteside

Reflexology

The Creative Mind:
A personal study of the science of mind.

Denise Sutherland

Angels 101

Did you know all religions actually share one commonality? Angels. Every faith tradition embraces some form of these Messengers of the Divine Source. Angel Therapy Practitioner®, Denise Sutherland, will introduce you to the angelic realms and guide you on connecting, working and healing with the angels. Learn how to receive and interpret directives from these celestial couriers to assist you in all areas of your life, including health, career, finances and relationships. Also, study how to identify your personalized signs from these pure beings of light and discover how to invoke them for protection, lost objects and even roadside assistance.

Fairies 101

Fairies and elementals have long been thought of as the mythical and fictitious characters cast in the stories and tales of children’s books. Did you know that fairies are indeed real and available to help us live more joyful, prosperous and healthy lives? These playful spirits of nature remind us to experience the wonder of creation in all that we do and work with us to magically manifest everything we need. Join Angel Therapy Practitioner®, Denise Sutherland to discover how to enlist these loving beings as your personal assistants and to bring more childlike joy and wonder into your life.

Danielle D. Engstrom

Tibetan Sacred Sound Healing

This modality energizes through sound and intention by the use of patterned vibrational sounds from Tibetan/Himalayan Singing Bowls, Tingshas, Ghantas, and other instruments. Many of these patterned sounds are based onSacred Geometry, which reaches deeply into us on cellular and DNA levels. The power of these sounds lies in their ability to delicately shift and align energy in a transformational manner. This assists our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energies in moving towards harmonious alignment. When these energies are aligned, the resulting body and chakra balancing makes us an ideal “environment” for healing.

Rudy Villalaz

Healing Mantra Workshop

For thousands of years Sanskrit Mantras have been used by practitioners to attain and achieve a wide range of goals.  These very powerful and effective mantras have been used to realize a myriad of intended outcomes: success in attaining employment, in overcoming pressing obstacles, in finding a suitable spouse, in helping the spiritual development of a loved one, in becoming pregnant, in the protection of self and others from danger and harm, and, perhaps one of the most important, Healing.

Join us for