The District House (Wed. 02/15 Workshop with Eric Adler)

The District House is a benefit of District216. Come by for a portion or all of the evening, meet amazing members + guests, and interact with speakers on a variety of topics.

Workshop: “Interactive Relational Workshop: Sacred Play"

When: Wednesday, February 15, 2025 from 6pm to 10pm (Workshop at 6:15pm)

Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)

Early Bird Tickets: $30 (through Feb 14th)

Day of Tickets: $40 (on Feb 15th only)

Note: We will not be filming this event. Refreshments provided.

About the Evening:

An interactive, relational workshop that blends narratives about ecology, human wellness, the intelligence of sacred plants as well as movement with Qigong & Tai Chi. We will close with a cacao sharing circle. The event will be 3 hours long and 1 hour at the end for free social time.

Mother Nature's natural processes for keeping life alive are nothing short of magical. And, as earthings, we are part of it as well. And, so what happens in us is also magical.

In this workshop, Eric will tell stories of how ecology functions, and then we will form breakout groups to integrate the stories. The groups will return and share their discoveries through spoken word, art, dance or in whichever ways come to them. We will incorporate movement in our time together with neo-shamanic practice of Qi Gong & Tai Chi. And discuss why it is neo-shamanic.

What to Bring:

We will be sitting on a wooden floor. So please bring items to make yourself comfortable, mats, back-jacks, zafus, blankets, teddy bears, pjs. Please eat a meal before you arrive, and bring a snack for break time.

Timing:

6:00 pm - Arrival

6:15pm - Begin

8:30pm - Cacao

9:00-10:00pm - Departure

Facilitator: Eric Adler, Ecologist, Soil Scientist & Certified Educator of Holistic Management

I have been fascinated by the workings of Mother Nature for as long as I can remember. This passion led me, in my mid-twenties, to pursue a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science with a focus on rangeland ecology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Early on, I noticed the influence of corporate interests on the curriculum and faculty—mechanized and chemical agriculture were prioritized, while sustainable farming practices were dismissed as unrealistic. In response, I pursued a credential from the Center for Holistic Management, eager to learn how to plan and implement regenerative agricultural practices.

Despite my academic and professional pursuits, I struggled internally. Consumed by stress and limiting beliefs, I transitioned to a career in IT to provide for my wife and two children. Though my company became financially successful, I was miserable. I was going through a divorce, overwhelmed by anger and blame, and traditional counseling didn’t seem to ease my pain.

Then, one evening in the spring of 2015, an acquaintance invited me to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony at his home. The week before, I had attended a fundraising event for the legalization of psychedelics for PTSD treatment through MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). That evening, it became clear to me that this was what I needed. I said yes and attended my first ceremony, and that was when the walls I had built to protect myself began to crack.

I was raised by two parents who had both suffered severe childhood abuse, and as a result, I too experienced neglect and abuse. At the time, my own children were being raised by a father who was battling his own demons—victimhood, unresolved anger, depression, and anxiety. By the grace of a divine spirit, I had access to medicine and healing, and I began regularly attending plant medicine ceremonies. I also engaged in various forms of therapy to heal. There’s a saying in the plant medicine community: “The journey starts the moment one says yes to medicine, and the real work happens between ceremonies.” I've lost count of how many ceremonies I’ve participated in, but it's somewhere around 100, and I consider it a practice I’ll continue for the rest of my life.

In 2020, I sold my IT company to return to my true passion: ecology. I enrolled in a rigorous program focused on soil regeneration and plant nutrition, with an emphasis on soil microbiology. Microorganisms are the true regenerators of soil, and this is a field I feel deeply connected to. I’m currently in the final stages of this program, demonstrating my ability to regenerate soil through a test plot of Vroma Bush Bean.

The more I’ve learned about soil, the more I’ve been amazed by the magical work that microbes can perform. I’ve also discovered that many of the same microorganisms that support plant life are also vital to human health. In fact, it’s increasingly understood that our overall wellness—both spiritual and physiological—depends on maintaining a healthy balance of microbes in our bodies.

As I continued to digest these insights, I came across a book called The Healing Promise of Qi by Roger Jahnke. Roger, a resident of Santa Barbara, explores the healing properties of Qi in a way that resonated deeply with my understanding of ecological systems. This sparked my journey into Qi Gong, which eventually led to a meaningful friendship with Roger. Encouraged by him, I began my training at his institute and am now a practice leader in Qi Gong and Tai Chi.

Most recently, I’ve opened my own coaching practice, where I support individuals in facing their challenges, just as I’ve faced mine. It’s an honor to help others navigate their own journeys of growth and healing.

Host or Publisher District216