RVML Ashland Events

FREE ADMISSION – 1757 Ashland St., Ashland, OR. One mile west of I-5 Exit 14.

Spontaneous Painting is a pioneering work in the field of Expressive Therapy and Holistic Education, introduced in Brazil in the 1980s by its creator, Dr. Susan Bello.

The I.am.I™ Method does not aim to focus on pathology or mental illness but rather on the liberation of the Authentic Self and the innate potential of each person. As each person manifests their potential and contributes with their skills, they enrich new possibilities for themselves and for the world. Everyone can do this method! Realize your full potential to be who you truly are.

When consciousness is not being dominated by reason and anxiety we can free our Intelligences:

• Emotional
• Creative
• Intuitive
• Imaginative
• Spiritual
• Bodily
• Visual
• Symbolic

Participants are encouraged to question limiting beliefs, often experiencing breakthroughs that give rise to new, liberating thought patterns that connect them to their authentic self, innate potential, and true life purpose.

Susan Bello holds a PhD in Expressive Therapy and Art Psychology from Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned a Master’s degree in Humanistic Psychology from California State College, Sonoma, and a Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from New York University. She is a group psychoanalyst, a licensed art therapist in the United States a certified Biodanza facilitator, and a researcher in altered states of consciousness.

From 1971 to 1974, she began her studies and research on human consciousness potential in India. During this spiritual journey, she studied Vipassana meditation, Yoga, Buddhism, and Hinduism, and lived with Tibetan refugees in northern India and Nepal, participating in their meditations and learning their art of carpet weaving.

From 1980 to 1985, she lived in Indonesia and Singapore, where she further developed her painting skills. She founded the International Women’s Artist Association in Singapore and participated in group art exhibitions.

From 1985 to 2000, she lived in Brasília, Brazil, where she developed her work in Art Therapy, Art Psychology, and Expressive Therapies. She founded and directed the Creation Center in Pirenópolis, Brazil where she facilitated Spontaneous Painting groups.

Dr. Susan Bello is the author of the book Painting Your Soul: A Method to Develop the Creative Personality. The Portuguese version of the book was self-published and is currently out of print.

She published her second book, Spontaneous Painting – Creating the Symbolic Journey, in June 2013 in the USA through Balboa Press – affiliated with Hay House. The Portuguese edition is independently published.

From 2003 to 2013, she taught Spontaneous Painting courses in the Department of Education at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.

Since 1986, she has been offering workshops and lectures on the I.am.I Method of Spontaneous Painting in various cities across Brazil. She had led two facilitator training programs in the I.m.I Method in Brazil, one though UNIPAZ and the other independently online.

She is the Founder and Director of the non for profit Organization for the Arts & Whole Brain Learning Incorporated, based in New York. The organization’s goal is to offer the I.am.I METHOD of SPONTANEOUS PAINTING® in both Brazil and the United States.

FREE ADMISSION – 1757 Ashland St., Ashland, OR. One mile west of I-5 Exit 14.

RVML’s “Approaching AI” Hands-On Workshop with Ian Ingram is a welcoming space for anyone interested in exploring the world of artificial intelligence in a fun and safe way. Limited to 20 participants.

PRE-REGISTRATION and WI-FI DEVICE REQUIRED (Laptop, Tablet or Phone)

FREE ADMISSION – 1757 Ashland St., Ashland, OR. One mile west of I-5 Exit 14.

Join our Hakomi House of Ashland Training Team for a fascinating presentation and discussion and discover the power of Refined Hakomi for expanding our capacity to give and receive love and deepen our true self connection.

About The Hakomi Method:

Hakomi operates in a new paradigm moving away from the Western psycho-therapeutic model. It is an alchemy of spiritual, scientific, and healing elements. We gather in-person in small groups for an experimental, body-centered experience focusing on the experiencing self, incorporating the following foundational principles of Hakomi:

• Mindfulness
• Loving Presence
• Non-violence
• Organicity
• Assisted self-discovery
• Somatic awareness
• Nourishing contact
• Providing missing experiences

Marina McDonald is the Director of Hakomi House of Ashland. Marina moved to Ashland, Oregon from Los Angeles in 1994, leaving behind a glamorous life as owner and designer of JAZZ Furniture and Lighting Inc.
A magical set of circumstances led Marina to meeting Ron Kurtz in 1997, and she remained close to him as friend, student, and business partner until his death in 2011.

After her first astonishing session with Ron, Marina immersed herself in Refined Hakomi becoming certified personally by Ron Kurtz as a therapist, teacher and trainer. With many stories to share, Marina is writing a book about her years with Ron, and as founder/director and lead trainer for Hakomi House, she works with a gifted training team offering a pure in-person Refined Hakomi experience.

FREE ADMISSION – 1757 Ashland St., Ashland, OR. One mile west of I-5 Exit 14.

This lecture introduces participants to the Doctrine of Signatures- an ancient approach that suggests a plant’s appearance offers insight into its healing properties.

This is a way of seeing plants as teachers, each bearing visible signs of their healing gifts. Rooted in Hermetic philosophy, folk tradition, and deep observation, this presentation invites participants to attune to the symbolic language of the green world.

Explore the historical roots of this concept, its use in both folk and clinical herbalism, and practical examples of plant signatures that connect form with function.

Through stories and clinical examples, learn about how the colors, shapes, and gestures of a plant offer clues to its purpose.
Tricia bridges traditional wisdom and contemporary herbal practice, offering both inspiration and useful frameworks for herbalists, students, and plant lovers alike.

Tricia Amara is a clinical herbalist with over 30 years of experience in herbology, nutrition, and holistic healing. A professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, her approach combines deep-rooted traditional wisdom with evidence-based practice.

With academic training in biology, botany, and nutrition from Willamette University, Oregon State University, and post-graduate studies through UC San Diego and the Ojai Center for Phytotherapy, Tricia offers individualized care that addresses the root causes of imbalance.
Raised on the island of Maui with a physician father, Tricia’s early exposure to both conventional medicine and the healing power of nature shaped her lifelong calling. Her practice began as a clinic and apothecary in Encinitas, California and now flourishes in Ashland, Oregon.

She specializes in creating customized herbal treatment plans using teas, tinctures, and topical remedies, while empowering clients to reconnect to body, nature, and self.