Welcome to the VanLife Newsletter: Edition 7

This week's newsletter is powered by @Vanlifepride. In honor of Pride Month we are excited to share their page and create a more inclusive community.

1. Wood River Destination Highlight: Fort Klamath, OR

If you are interested in kayaking, paddle boarding or fishing the Wood River in Southern Oregon is a must have destination on your travel list. Less crowded than many other Northern California and Oregon destinations, the Wood River still comes with the crystal clear water, beautiful landscapes and activities you want with a lot less people.

Activities:

Paddle or Kayak: 

Stretching 4 miles between Jackson F. Kimball State Park and the Wood River Day Use Area, this paddle features forests, farmland, and wide-open meadows, with the surrounding Cascades in view above it all. The gentle flow of the river is great for beginners while the remote nature of the journey will be great for the experienced.

Visit Crater Lake:

Only a short distance to the north sits Crater Lake National Park. After a beautiful morning paddle down the river be sure to set aside time to visit America’s deepest lake at 1,943 feet deep and its bright blue water.

Camping:

Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Area: 

Located directly on the river with paddle access we highly recommend you take advantage of one of the 12 primitive sites located here. Exceptionally clean sites and pit toilets make this spot even more desirable. Sites are first come first serve and cost $11 so bring a little cash.

Jackson F. Kimball Website

*There are other camping and RV options in and around Fort Klamath and Klamath Falls. 

Overall this is a great 1-2 day destination for anyone looking for a remote campsite, beautiful scenery and easy access to one of our favorite national parks. Check it out and be sure to tag us in a photo or two when you do.

2. Rooting Ritual for Nomads: Part II

Hi, I'm Beth! My pronouns are she/her/hers. I'm a nomad, life coach (The Heart Wants Adventure), and baby green witch. On the road, I've been working on some rituals that help me to maintain my sense of place and rootedness however far I may travel. I'm excited to share some of my practices with you so that you can create "home" wherever you are as well!

Last week, I shared my rooting "elixir" recipe, and this week I’ll share a practice you can use to “root” yourself in all your nomadic “homes.” 

Note: I learned from a pharmacist this week that an elixir is what you get when the essence of a plant or substance is extracted using alcohol distillation! So in making and spending time with your elixir, your focus on the essence of the ingredients is what will bring you all their benefits :)

Rooting Ritual

Grab your rooting elixir, and do this ritual preferably during the sunrise or sunset (I prefer morning), but any time of day will do. 

You will need:

• Your rooting elixir
• A natural partner (I like to find a tree who I’m drawn to, but yours can be any being that calls to you)
• A journal & writing utensil
• Information about your location from native-land.ca and tree/plant identification

In all of this ritual, feel free to take the pieces that serve you, and leave those that do not!

Prepare for the ritual

1. Know whose land you are inhabiting. Go to native-land.ca and search your location. In some cases, you may need to do further research or clarify land stewardship with the nearby tribes (when multiple show up).
2. Since you’re likely moving around a lot, I don’t stress the heavy research too much. What’s important is shifting your mindset toward honoring the Indigenous.
3. Select and name a natural partner. I like to walk around my space (with my elixir) to find a semi-secluded area where I can perform this ritual without being bothered or feeling too self-conscious.
4. Ask permission from your natural partner to work with them in their space. Whether you select a tree like I do, or another type of plant/natural formation, you'll want to do your best to identify who you're communing with.
5. Prepare your elixir. Heat 4 oz of water, and mix in your cacao, ceylon cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and coconut oil into a mug - one that is special to you. Bring a spoon with you, as cacao tends to settle in the bottom of the cup.

Perform the ritual

1. Cast a circle if that serves you. You can do that by turning toward each direction and calling in the following energy guides:

• Spirits of the East, of thought & beginning (know that in Lakota tradition, the color Red represents the East)
• Spirits of the South, of spark and action (Yellow)
• Spirits of the West, of resiliency and the underworld (Black)
• Spirits of the North, of groundedness and knowing (White)
• Look up/raise your arms to the sky and acknowledge the Source that you recognize [God, god(ess), Father Sky, etc.]
• Bend down and touch the Earth and acknowledge your ancestors and the indigenous people (name them) who have learned lessons before you. I also acknowledge Mother Earth here.
• Say, "The circle is cast."

2. Take a seat with your natural partner and reflect on the intentions heated into your elixir:

• Water, for renewal and flowing with change
• Cacao, for grounding and connection
• Cinnamon for increased spiritual connectedness
• Ginger for healing
• Cayenne for rooting and heart connection
• Coconut oil (if using) for protection and purification
• Leave an offering, or if it feels right to you you can do what I do and pour a tiny amount of your elixir on the ground/at the tree’s roots.

3. Reflect on the connection between you, your natural partner, and the indigenous people who once occupied these lands. Both your natural partner and native people both were likely displaced without their consent. I meet a lot of trees who are not native to their current location. Sometimes you will meet a natural partner who does grow naturally in that part of the country. Journal on all your reflections and intentions!

4. Take time to state your intentions for this day out loud. Include both what you plan/hope to accomplish/DO, and how you want to approach your day/BE. Feel into your body to know if you really, truly want those things or if they are coming from others' expectations.

5. Find a way to thank your natural partner for their time and community.

6. Uncast the circle, by acknowledging each energy source, in the opposite direction (starting with ancestors, and going counter-clockwise to end in the East). Say, "The circle is uncast but not unbroken. My intentions go out into the world to become what they will. Heck yes [or insert other energetic closing statement]."

Let me know how it goes for you to perform this ritual!! You can find me on Instagram (@theheartwantsadventure) to get in touch.

3. Hike Highlight: Professor Creek and Mary Jane Canyon Trail

Located just outside Moab and Arches National Park this hike proved to be one of our favorites in the area. Rated as easy, 7.6 miles out and back and creek crossings throughout make this hike manageable and fun for all levels of hikers. Be sure to push all the way to the end to enjoy the beautiful waterfall that makes the trip more than worth it.

Be sure to wear water appropriate shoes and bring plenty of water as temperatures can rise quickly in the spring, summer and fall months. 

Check out the AllTrails Link here and enjoy.

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Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and support of our contributors. Be on the lookout for upcoming updates on our first @nomadic_volunteers events coming this summer.

Have a great rest of the week.

-The VanLife Newsletter Team

@VanLifeNewsletter