An Embodied Apprenticeship with the Five Elementals
January – December 2026
Essence
At a time when competition, polarization, and distraction dominate the cultural landscape, the very sensibilities that could guide us toward a more livable world—sensitivity, attunement, devotion—are often dismissed as liability and weakness. Yet these are the seeds of the very kind of power we most need: power rooted in the intelligence of the web of life, power in service to harmony rather than domination.
Becoming the Spiral is a yearlong apprenticeship designed to root our sensitivity into a deep, resourced ground so it becomes our compass through complexity. Guided by the cyclical wisdom of the Five Elements of Animist Daoism—Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal—we'll learn to track these forces in our bodies, relationships, creative expression, and vocation and to align our lives with the larger ecology of the primordial intelligence of the Dao.
This is not a course in collecting information. It is a practice of belonging—to ourselves, to community and to the more-than-human world.
The Elemental Weave: The Magic & Medicine of the 5 Realms
Join us for a free webinar to learn more about this yearlong offering…
What WE will learn
Learn the 5 Element Cycle and how to track it in your body, relationships, projects, and psycho-spiritual evolution.
Develop a diagnostic understanding of the Elements—how they offer a clear and cohesive map for tending to our own needs and imbalances.
Establish a foundation of Resourced Sensitivity to stay both open and empowered in challenging contexts.
Nurture Animist Consciousness through an intimate, devotional relationship with the Elements as teachers, allies, and kin.
Integrate Ancestral Wisdom — of blood, place and soul— into your daily life.
Explore and tend Ritual Structures that nourish your purpose, creativity and belonging.
All of this will unfold within a deeply caring community of practice—kindred spirits committed to shaping culture in service to life.
Who This is For
Those who feel deeply and want to transform sensitivity into a source of clarity, power and cultural influence.
Artists, facilitators, healers, educators, activists, and visionaries committed to life-centered practice.
Anyone ready to devote a year to deep study, practice, and community in service of personal and collective liberation.
All Genders welcome.A
Course Structure
Six Modules Aligned with the Seasonal Cycle
Over the course of this yearlong journey, we will trace the 5 Element Cycle in accordance with the seasons, as well as its myriad correspondences: the lunar cycle, the cycle of day and night, the menstrual cycle, and the cycle of each human life.
Live Calls
Two 2-hour calls with Eve via Zoom each month will be a combination of verbal teachings, engaged dialogue and shared practice. These calls which will be recorded for those who can not attend live, though real time participation is what truly brings the potency of this work to life.
Elemental Rituals
We will gather in collective ritual practice one time per Elemental Module, beginning and ending with Water.
Guest Teachers
Julia Inglis on Pilgrimage and Accessing our Original Magic
Bianca Casady on Creative Emergence and Authentic Expression
Carl Baccellieri on Psychological Flexibility and Polarity Dynamics
Integration & Support
Monthly Small Group sessions for intimate dialogue and supporting practice will be facilitated by the Shade Trees.
The Shade Trees are deep students and community pillars who will be helping to guide and support our journey.
There will be additional opportunities to learn from the unique ways they are integrating the teachings and practices into their own lives:
~Lyssa Morris on Translational Worldviews and Bridging Disciplines
~Abi Denyer-Bewick on the Elemental Initiation of a Menstruating Body
~Madhavi Messmer on the Personal Journey from Shatterment to Intactness
~Susan Wiencke on Plant Kin, Relational Reciprocity and Sacred Craft
~Oviya Blackerby on Body Listening and Craniosacral/Visceral/Ecosomatic Explorations
Access to The Vital Weave offerings
In addition to course access, you will have full access to all Vital Weave offerings including: weekly Jing Retrieval and Mythosomatic Forms classes, monthly Lifecraft teachings and will receive significant discounts on Immersions, Private Sessions and other special offerings.
The Pedagogy Track
As an addition to the primary course offerings, The Pedagogy Track is for those called to teach and share this work or to deepen and refine their personal relationship with the practices and our unique pedagogical approach. There is a place on the Application to indicate your interest in the Pedagogy Track.
1 additional class per month focused on refining practice and pedagogy
Opportunities for practice teaching with group feedback
1:1 mentorship with Eve
Optional Additions
Feeding the Spark is a 3-4 day in-person immersion in Northern New Mexico in July. This will be a the culmination of our Personal Yang Projects from teh first half of the course, offering an embodied experience of the transition from the passionate expression of Fire into the deep care of Earth. The cost of this Immersion (not including travel, room & board) is included in the course exchange. The first day will be specifically for those enrolled in the Pedagogy Track.
The Eros Within is a 6-day online Immersion that traces the same cycle as the yearlong course but with 1 full day in each element, including tea ceremony, wisdom teachings, mythosomatic practice and ritual integration.
Participation in this annual Yin Immersion is strongly recommended as a focused experiential frame for the yearlong course, though it is not required (Dec 26–31, 2025 & 2026). There will be a discount for enrolled participants.
Course Details
January — December 2026
Wednesdays, 10:00am–12:00pm (MTN)
INVESTMENT
Sliding scale $250-350/month
for 12 months
Pedagogy Track $300-400/month
Limited scholarships offered, please inquire
eve@thevitalweave.com if needed.
REGISTRATION
Registration opens October 1, 2025.
Limited to an intimate circle of participants.
The Application Process
Participation is by application to ensure the group is well-held and mutually supportive. There are no right or wrong answers. In this brief form, you’ll be asked about:
Your current life circumstances & support systems
Your current relationship to practice
Your experience with intentional cmmunity
Your capacity to commit to a full year of study
Your interest in the Pedagogy Track
Applications are open now and acceptance will be on a rolling basis beginning October 1 until all spaces are filled.
The Spiral is calling…
the first step is to complete this brief application…
