Original Medicine
Original Medicine Yearlong Program
Original Medicine Yearlong Program is a psycho-spiritual cross-cultural mindfulness approach to healing and personal development. The contemplative teachings weave together Indigenous wisdom, mindfulness, and earth-based practices. This program teaches participants how to work with the four seasons as tools of self-awareness, to learn the process of tracking one’s own changes, and to connect to one’s own natural phenomena as a human being. In Indigenous societies, there are long-standing practices of creating the sacred, cultivating stillness, and embracing silence. Being in nature and engaging in rituals is important to honor the forthcoming changes in the world both within and around us.
Indigenous societies recognize individuals holding their personal power as their Original Medicine. The shadow of the false self is purified as humans strengthen their authentic selves through the practice of coming home to their truth and power. The teachings of Buddha and Indigenous wisdom build this foundation of truth, trust, and love. Together we will explore ways of coming into our own Original Medicine and enhance our personal growth and purpose.
Applications for the 2026 program will open soon in November. Please see below for more information on how to apply.
See how Original Medicine has impacted our participants:
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“Before coming to OMYL, there was this persistent sense that something was inherently wrong with me. I would often go into spirals of self hatred. I couldn’t see my own worth. In OMYL, I was fully witnessed in my inherent value, pain and challenges, and I started to see I could be my own medicine. Being witnessed by others is the most beautiful thing I’ve experienced."
Nancy Pham, Nurse Practitioner
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“I love being with the seasons and elements as a metaphor for our emotional landscape. Something I experienced in the fall season was getting clear on what was serving me and what needed letting go. OMYL helped me consider what it means to be in integrity. This exploration helped me build an internal strength, allowing me to braid together the medicine within, and connecting me to the inspiration of my ancestry."
Jamil Moises Liban-Ortañez, artist, Filipinx folk medicine, expressive arts therapist
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"The Original Medicine Yearlong Program supported me through an important period of healing and transformation in my life. Mindfulness practices helped me become aware of generational trauma and patterns of harm in my family. Earth-based rituals allowed me to hold my family’s pain with gentleness, forgive myself and my beloveds for the suffering we caused, and release resentment. Because of my participation in the OMYL program, I am better able to honor my natural rhythms and show up with more authenticity in my relationships. I walk this Earth with gratitude for our sacred interconnectedness and trust in the Great Mystery."
Irazema Guerrero Meléndez, associate clinical social worker, educator, lifelong learner
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"Through the Original Medicine program, I developed a spiritual practice rooted in connection to the earth, the elements, and all living beings. Mindfulness and earth-based rituals have helped me slow down, heal old wounds, and choose compassion over old stories. I now feel deeply supported by my ancestors, the natural world, and a beloved sangha—and I no longer feel alone."
Lori Billela, Director, Clean Energy Services at Ava Community Energy
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"Original Medicine affirmed my path toward healing and strengthened my relationship with myself in a kind and authentic way. It gave me the courage to make life changes aligned with my values, opened me to greater joy and compassion, and deepened my trust in both my intuition and the mystery of allowing life to unfold."
Jen Racho, Practice Leader, Common Ground Meditation Center and Clouds in Water Zen Center
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"Original Medicine gave me the clarity and confidence to authentically invite nature and ancestors into the spaces I hold, even in settings where I might once have been cautious. This connection has become foundational to my work, allowing me to ground spaces for healing, invite others to bring their full selves, and embody a deeper relationship with nature and ancestors as teachers."
Jonathan Relucio, Facilitator and Coach
2026 Schedule
SAVE THE DATES
** All sessions are Live-Online via Zoom**
Monthly Tuesday Sessions
6:00 - 8:00 pm PT
January 13
February 10
March 10
April 14
May 19
July 14
August 11
September 8
October 13
November 10
December 8
Please note: There is no session in June 2026 due to in-person retreat.
Tuesday Small Pod Sessions
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm PT
February 24
April 28
June 30
August 25
October 27
December 1
Earth-Based Community Gathering
Thursday, June 4 - Sunday June 7, 2026 at Wolf Dream Mountain in Northern California
Application Process
Thank you for your interest in our Original Medicine programs! This immersive experience is designed to provide participants with the tools, practices, and guidance needed for profound personal transformation and growth. Over the course of a year, participants will engage in a combination of experiential learning, personalized mentorship, and community connection to deepen their understanding and embodiment of the program’s principles and framework.
Our programs emphasize:
Holistic integration of mind, body, and spirit.
Cultivating resilience and clarity to navigate life’s complexities.
Building connections within a supportive and diverse community.
Given the personalized nature of these programs and the commitment they require, space is limited, and each application is carefully reviewed by our team. We seek to create a balanced community that honors diversity, shared intentions, and the acceptance of being ready for transformative personal growth.
Core Program Components
Monthly Sessions
Monthly two hour Tuesday sessions from 6:00 - 8:00 pm PT for wisdom teachings and contemplative practice
Pod Meetings
Every other month one hour mentor pod meetings with a small group of participants with assigned Mentors and Teaching Assistants for group practice
Mentor 1:1 Support
Twice a year meetings with an assigned mentor for personal support and development
Spiritual Friends
Monthly check-ins with assigned Spiritual Friends to connect with peers and cultivate community
Land Retreat
Land-based gathering at sacred ceremonial Indigenous land in Lake County, CA to learn earth-based practices and cross-cultural ceremony
Learning Tools
Online learning portal to access course assignments and personal journal assignments
Additional Support
Guided Self-Regulation Movements
Teachings from Elder Wisdom Holders who offer diverse perspectives and approaches to Indigenous practices (Original Medicine 4-part Series)
Required assignments, readings, audio, and video
Personal journal assignments to do on your own time to help you reflect on the teachings as you go
Personal practice, ritual, ongoing meditation practice, mindful movement
In-Depth Program with Carol Cano
The In-Depth Original Medicine Program with Carol Cano is a psycho-spiritual cross-cultural mindfulness approach to healing and personal development. The contemplative teachings weave together Indigenous wisdom, mindfulness, and earth-based practices. This deeper level program teaches participants how to work with the four seasons as tools of self-awareness to learn the process of tracking one’s own changes, working with the false-self system and to connect to one’s own natural phenomena as a human being.
Who is this program for?
Those who have completed a full year of the Original Medicine program or attended the Original Medicine Earth-Based Intensive Retreat are eligible to apply. This In-Depth offering provides guidance and a deeper understanding of the teachings. Together, we will explore how to embody these teachings in everyday life with authenticity and gratitude, fostering a profound sense of harmony within yourself and with the world around you. The teachings of the Buddha and Indigenous wisdom build this foundation of truth, trust, and love.
Teaching Team
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Carol Cano
Teacher
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Janet Roos
Teacher
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Carmen Alvarez
Teaching Assistant
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Kimber Simpkins-Nuccio
Teaching Assistant, Movement Teacher
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Jonathan Relucio
Teaching Assistant, Movement Teacher
FAQs
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There are no prerequisites to participate in OMYL, only a commitment to your own personal growth.
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No, the Original Medicine Yearlong Program is open to all people with any cultural background or spiritual practices.
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OM Yearlong Program - This is an intensive, fully immersive multi-month program with several components that require a regular time commitment. Participants must attend an information session and meet the lead teacher to be considered.
OM 4-Part Series - This offering is a series of four seasonal 2.5 hour virtual sessions often with special guest teachers held on Saturdays throughout the year. This series is open to the public. You do not need to attend any prior session to participate. To explore and register for future sessions, please visit our events page.
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No, the 4-Part Series is open to the public. Anyone can join us.
Sign Up For the Waitlist
Information and dates for the 2026 Original Medicine Yearlong Program will be announced in Fall 2025. Sign up to stay informed.