Following The Water: Relational Practices With LA Waters
ABOUT CLASS:
LA is known as a dry place, a desert, - a kind of ultimate urban sprawl metropolis of concrete and an almost disembodied dream-like quality. What is hidden behind this story? Where did this story come from? What else might be true? And if something else is true, what does it mean for what this place is, was, and could be?
Turning to the waters of LA we find subterranean waterworlds and the memories of marshes. We find egrets and herons reclaiming channelized rivers, and babbling brooks in the spring. Alongside these whispers and shouts of LA’s watery nature we also find culverts, poisoned areas, and elusive underground creeks that we can't even be sure are still running.
The LA river has been channelized from headwaters to the sea, but it is still alive. The giant aquifer under the san fernando valley has been poisoned by spilt chemicals but it is still there. The wetlands ballona creek meets the pacific ocean are tiny, but vibrantly holding the memory of an expanse. What happens when we bring our attention to these places? What do we notice? What do we bring? How are we changed in turn, by them? What do we long for? What happens next?
This is a class of exploring these questions and cultivating practices of relationship and attention in these living places of complexity. Here we see the material shapes and impacts of colonialism, capitalism, and many grand histories of devastation, and we also see the small stories of a sycamore tree and a squirrel, a spring coming through sand, the light hitting the surface of the stream as it comes out from under a road.
Bringing ourselves to these places with our divergent bodies and minds, we find mirroring and kin. In what ways do we get to know ourselves better through our relating here? How does witnessing the physical impacts of ideologies in the land and in our bodies deepen our solidarity with others? Noticing the parts of ourselves and the waters that don't conform to narratives about what a productive body should be like, what do we find instead?
LOGISTICS & ACCESS:
Follow the waters with anarchist mystic Sophie Macklin and herbalist Fino (of snakeroot apothecary) in this five week class. We will meet each Sunday (like a sacred little freaky water church) at different locations of special water zones in the LA area.
Class will be held five Sundays in a row: APRIL 10th, APRIL 17th, APRIL 24th, MAY 1st, May 8 from 10am-12pm(class cancellations possible due to health reasons! We will make up other Sundays in May if that is the case!)
Actual Locations TBA - PLEASE SEND US YOUR ACCESS NEEDS SO WE CAN PLAN IN ACCORDANCE. We will not be walking more than 10 minutes in any locations for sure, and can definitely adapt all sessions to be wheelchair/walker/cane accommodations if needed. We can also make chairs available as needed too. Please let us know! Locations will be ALL OVER LA county and you will most likely need a car/uber to access many of them. We are not organizing carpools due to covid. We will be outside and distanced. Class size is limited to 12. Let us know if you have any questions!
ABOUT PAYMENT:
THERE ARE THREE PAYMENT PLAN OPTIONS:
Lots of time, energy and devotion has gone into this class! Please pay what you can in true sliding scale form - please refer to this chart, etc… to place yourself accordingly . ⅓ of price includes donation to Owens Valley Indian Water Commission .
Tier 3: $350
Tier 2: $250
Tier 1: $150
when you sign up for this class you are holding your spot with a $100 deposit - that deposit will save your seat and go towards your class payment! look for a follow up email from fino (snakeroot) ~ and please join waitlist here if class is sold out <3