Zhiva

26/04/2026

Rerooting. Slowing down. Resting deeply. Creating remedies in alliance with the Mother. What are your plans for this spring?

25/04/2026

This spring feels like a quiet return.

After a very full season and a little burnout, I’ve been slowing down, resting, and reconnecting with the simple things. The light, the blossoms, the hands in the soil, the remedies simmering gently, the small moments that ask nothing from me except presence.

Too often we push ourselves to be more, to do more, to improve endlessly. But grow into what, if we are not listening to the deeper whispers within? Growth cannot be forced. When we push too hard, something in us begins to break.

I’m learning to choose a softer way. Not perfection, but honesty. Not pressure, but attention. To allow learning to happen quietly, without the voice that demands and rushes.

After a month of digital detox, I am returning to my senses. To stillness. To prayer. Asking for guidance on how to grow in a way that is gentle, grounded, and true.

I’m deeply grateful for the journey, for the beautiful people I met, and for the team that held me when I couldn’t keep pushing, and to my beloved for helping me reach home when the journey got tough. And I’m just as grateful to be back on my lands, in Croatia, both city and in the Žumberak hills, planting new seeds for what is to come.

This season, I’m taking things lightly. Feeling into what truly resonates. Creating space not only to organize and support, but to participate, to learn, to receive.

I’ll be focusing more on my own path, nurturing Zhiva’s Garden and letting it grow slowly, in its own rhythm.

If you ever feel called to come, to spend some time with the land, to garden, to learn, to share, you are welcome.

For now, I’m here. Breathing. Listening. Beginning again. 🌱

22/04/2026

Nakon povratka iz Paname i evo već skoro mjesec dana od svih tih intenzivnih iskustava, osjećam koliko je zapravo potrebno vrijeme da se živčani sustav vrati u ravnotežu, da se sve slegne i integrira.

Bilo je to jedno jako, duboko i zahtjevno putovanje, puno susreta, interakcija i situacija koje stvarno testiraju kapacitete. Ali istovremeno i ogromno učenje, blagoslov i podsjetnik na to koliko je važno znati procijeniti vlastite granice i slušati sebe. No o svemu tome, nekom drugom prilikom... 🌞

Vratili smo se s oko 50 kg prtljage 😅 punih rukotvorina, prirodnih medicina i raznih lijepih stvari koje sam donijela s namjerom da ih pošaljem dalje.

Dio tih stvari želim ponuditi ovdje, i time također podržati projekte koje moja kolegica Aisen vodi kroz našu organizaciju GeoParadise, gdje radimo na suradnji i podršci lokalnim zajednicama i narodima u realizaciji njihovih inicijativa.

Iskreno, stan mi je trenutno prepun svega 😂 jer uz to što već radim svoje prirodne pripravke (čajeve, tinkture, macerate…), sada imam još i sve ovo što sam donijela, tako da ću u narednim danima polako objavljivati što je dostupno.

Za početak 🌿

Yerba mate (mate čaj)

Tradicionalni napitak iz Južne Amerike, poznat po tome što daje blagu, stabilnu energiju, povećava fokus i podržava probavu.

👉 Kako se koristi: – stavi se u šalicu ili tradicionalnu posudu (mate)
– prelije toplom vodom (ne kipućom, idealno oko 70–80°C)
– može se piti više p**a dolijevanjem vode preko istih listova

Ključne karakteristike i dobrobiti:
Prirodna energija: Sadrži matein, teobromin i teofilin koji podižu energiju i raspoloženje, djelujući opuštajuće.

Nutritivno bogatstvo: Sadrži 11 vitamina i minerala te 15 aminokiselina.

Antioksidativno djelovanje: Ima više antioksidansa od zelenog čaja, što pomaže u borbi protiv slobodnih radikala.

Zdravstvene prednosti: Potiče bistrinu misli, smanjuje umor, poboljšava probavu i može pomoći pri mršavljenju. (izvor: Kreni Zdravo)

Daje osjećaj budnosti bez naglog “crasha” kao kod kave, i često se pije kao dnevni ritual ili u društvu.
Ako vas zanima, slobodno mi se javite 🌿
U narednim objavama dijelim još stvari, a vi slobodno pišite i pitajte što god vas zanima 🌞🤗🌻💖

13/12/2025

In March this year, I had an honor of meeting Linda Mariscal - Yolomiqui during the brief time she spent at Tribal Gathering. Sadly she didn't have more availability and had to leave after just couple of days, but our team was determined to invite her to join us again for TG 2026 and luckily this time our invitation was perfectly timed 🤗

Yolomiqui is an Indigenous ceremonial guide from Mexico with Purépecha lineage, carrying over twenty five years of lived experience in ancestral medicine, Temazcal ceremony, sacred song, and Mexhica cosmovision. Born in Mexico Tenochtitlan, her path bridges traditional Indigenous knowledge, ceremonial practice, cultural education, and contemporary therapeutic approaches.

At Tribal Gathering, Linda will share a rich constellation of free talks, circles, and workshops, open to all participants. Her offerings explore the living philosophy of the sacred Temazcal, ceremonial use of copal and smoke, sacred song with the Panhuehuetl drum, movement as prayer through Mexhica warrior dance, women’s circles at Red tent, and ancestral arts rooted in ritual, remembrance, and community.

In addition to her free offerings, Linda will also guide several ceremonial and wellness sessions, including Temazcal ceremonies, traditional limpias, and ancestral tarot readings inspired by Mexhica codices. These sessions can be booked on site through the Wellness Reception in the Tribal Village.

Linda joins Tribal Gathering not just as a performer, but as a carrier of living tradition, inviting us into spaces of prayer, remembrance, healing, and shared learning. Excited to spend more quality time together this year and especially for her initiation into the temascal medicine which has been calling for so long. 🦅🪄🌺

11/12/2025

Ayllu Parcomarka, from the Aymara Nation of Jach’a Karangas in Bolivia, will be represented at Tribal Gathering by two respected elders and cultural guardians, Tomás Huanacu Tito and Ubaldina Chambi Capurata. They carry one of the oldest living Andean traditions and come from the high-altitude community of Andamarca.

They will share teachings on Aymara cosmovision, a worldview grounded in reciprocity, balance with nature, communal identity, and ancestral continuity. Their offerings include explanations of the cultural significance of the Sacred Leaf within Aymara spirituality, presented through storytelling and ritual.

Their program also brings traditional Aymara music with instruments such as charango, tarka, zampoña, and quena, along with ritual movement and expressions of gratitude to Pachamama and the Apus. They will additionally share demonstrations of Aymara textile arts, explaining weaving techniques, symbols, and the deeper meaning that textile patterns hold for their people.

For the past six years, we have been supporting families from Ayllu Parcomarka in addressing severe drought that affects their region. The lack of water is threatening their llama herds, which are essential for food, textiles, ceremony, and community livelihood. Tomás and Ubaldina join us this year to raise awareness of the challenges Indigenous Andean communities face. If you feel called to support, you are welcome to contact us and we will share information on how to assist their community.

Their intention at Tribal Gathering is to reconnect with other Indigenous nations, exchange visions, and strengthen global bonds of ancestral knowledge.

Event tickets with 15% discount available via link: https://geostore.tribalgathering.com/events?aff_ref=23 or use code REATG at checkout 😉

09/12/2025

Danielle Hill Greendeer
Mashpee Wampanoag Nation
Cultural Educator, Performer, Author, Indigenous Childbirth Educator, Rights of Nature Advocate

Danielle Hill Greendeer is a multidisciplinary Indigenous educator, cultural bearer, performer, and author from the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation. Rooted in the living traditions of her community, she has dedicated her life to revitalizing Wampanoag knowledge systems through song, dance, story, and ceremonial teachings. Her work bridges cultural preservation, community health, and environmental justice, and she travels widely to share the deep heritage of her people with audiences of all ages.

As a performer, Danielle and her family offer traditional Woodland social songs and dances, sharing the significance of regalia, drum, rhythm, and language while inviting participants into an immersive experience of Indigenous identity and community connection. Their performances bring forward both Mashpee Wampanoag and Ho-Chunk cultural expressions, creating a vibrant space for education, participation, and joyful intertribal exchange.

Danielle is also the author of the acclaimed children’s book Keepunumuk Weeachumun’s Thanksgiving Story. At Tribal Gathering she will guide a cultural reading and discussion centered on food sovereignty, the teachings of the 3 Sisters plants, and the ancestral agricultural practices that have sustained Indigenous peoples across the Americas. Participants will also be invited to make protective corn necklaces and learn about Wampanoag seed traditions and planting techniques.

Her knowledge further extends into Indigenous reproductive health. As a childbirth educator and doula, Danielle facilitates conversations on traditional birthing practices found in North American tribal communities, bringing forward ancestral teachings that honor mothers, babies, and the sacredness of life.

In her role as a governance lead with the Bioneers organization, she also works on Rights of Nature initiatives throughout North America. At Tribal Gathering she will offer a session exploring how tribal nations are using legal and cultural mechanisms to protect sacred beings, lands, and ecosystems.

Danielle is additionally skilled in traditional finger weaving, an art used throughout her tribe to create sashes, bag straps, and ritual adornments. She will host a weaving workshop and share the meaning, technique, and ancestral lineage behind these textiles.

Through her diverse offerings, Danielle brings a powerful, grounding presence to Tribal Gathering ( GeoParadise). Her participation honors the wisdom of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation and invites all who meet her to learn, listen, reflect, and carry forward stories of land, lineage, and resilience.

Event tickets with 15% discount available via link: https://geostore.tribalgathering.com/events?aff_ref=23 or use code REATG at checkout 😉

01/12/2025

It has been a humbling part of my journey to help create spaces where ancestral wisdom, living traditions, and modern world can truly meet. Through my work in cultural coordination and relations with Indigenous communities, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with remarkable human knowledge-keepers across the world, people who carry stories, rituals, and ways of life that have survived despite the pressures of time and modernity. Each year, as one TG ends, planning for the next one begins. Since April, my team and I have been working on organising EVERYTHING needed in order to bring together more than 170 authentic, inspiring people from various Indigenous communities and in the following days or weeks, my intention is to introduce them to everyone who's curious to learn more about this unique Gathering.

One of these inspiring guardians of culture is Abdrahamane Ag Mohamed, Project Coordinator of Association Timidwa and an authentic voice of the Tuareg people of Mali.

Known for his commitment to preserving nomadic and Sahelian heritage, Abdrahamane plays a central role in developing community projects, cultural initiatives and educational programs within his organization.

At Tribal Gathering, Abdrahamane will share meaningful aspects of Tuareg life and tradition. Join him for an authentic Tuareg tea ceremony, a symbolic ritual of hospitality and connection. Discover the artistry and symbolism of Tuareg craftsmanship during his jewelry workshop, where he will present traditional techniques and the cultural significance behind them. He will also offer insights into daily life in the desert through storytelling and documentary content, highlighting the resilience, creativity and identity of Tuareg artisans.

Abdrahamane’s presence at the festival is an invitation to explore the depth of Tuareg culture and to build bridges of understanding between communities. His dedication, leadership and cultural knowledge make him a strong voice for heritage preservation and intercultural dialogue.

Tickets with 15% discount available via link: https://geostore.tribalgathering.com/events?aff_ref=23 or use code REATG at checkout 😉

22/11/2025

04/11/2025

🌿 Zhivi svijete, a posebice dragi ljubitelji prirodnih darova i fitoterapije, vrijeme je berbe šipka tj. šipurka, moćnog voća punog zdravlja! Negdje je to vrijeme već prošlo, ali je na našem bregu baš ovih dana u idealnoj fazi za berbu, tako da srećom još nije kasno za vašu zimsku zalihu😊🙏

Ukoliko niste sami u prilici ubrati si koju vrećicu ovog jarko crvenog zdravlja, slobodno se javite!
🍂 Šipurak (Rosa canina, porodica Rosaceae) poznat je po svom bogatom sastavu: sadrži vitamin C, flavonoide, tanine, karotenoide, pektine i organske kiseline. Svi ovi fitokonstituenti doprinose jačanju imuniteta, poticanju probave i općem osjećaju vitalnosti.

💚 Učinci šipka:

Pomaže u prevenciji prehlada i gripe zahvaljujući visokom udjelu vitamina C

Podržava zdravlje kože i vezivnog tkiva

Djeluje kao blagi antioksidans

Može ublažiti upalne procese i podržati zdravlje zglobova

🍵 Kako ga najbolje konzumirati:
Da bi šipak zadržao svoje vrijedne sastojke, idealno ga je koristiti sušenog, bilo u cijelom obliku ili mljevenog. Možete ga pripremati kao čaj, dodavati u smoothie, kaše, jesti pomiješanog sa medom itd. Za više informacija sugeriram uvijek fantastičnu Martinu, prvoklasnu stručnjakinju i njene sjajne članke sa mnoštvom korisnih informacija.
https://studio-martina-natura.hr/2019/12/12/kako-se-zapravo-kuha-caj-od-sipka/ #:~:text=Kada%20naru%C4%8Dimo%20%C4%8Daj%20od%20%C5%A1ipka,U%C5%BEivajte

💫 Opcije koje nudim:

Sušeni cijeli šipak

Sušeni mljeveni šipak – lako se dodaje u razne recepte

⚠️ Količina je ograničena i dostupna samo po narudžbi, pa ako želite osigurati svoju zimsku zalihu, javite mi što prije koliko vam treba. Jer jedan mraz I šipak je pa - pa do iduće godine u ovo vrijeme...

💛 Kako naručiti:
Pošaljite mi poruku s željenom količinom, a ja ću javiti približnu vrijednost ili predložiti razmjenu ako ste za trampu; primam med, domaće proizvode ili druge oblike barter razmjene.

Iskoristite ovu priliku i pripremite svoj prirodni zimski „boost“ dok je šipak u sezoni! 🌿

01/11/2025

🌾 Night of Veles: A Slavic Story for the Turning of the Seasons

When the days grow shorter and the air begins to whisper of cold, the world slows its breath. Fields fall silent after the harvest and people, like the animals, return to their homes to prepare for winter’s hush. In the old Slavic lands this moment marked not just a shift of weather but the deep turning of life itself.

It was said that during this time Veles, the ancient god of the underworld, livestock and hidden wisdom, walked closer to the realm of the living. As guardian of herds and keeper of souls he watched over cattle, riches and the boundary between worlds. The people honoured him with simple offerings of milk, bread or grain asking for peace, protection and a good passage for the seasons ahead.

Fires were lit to guide those who had passed and the stories of ancestors were told again so that they would not sleep in silence. It was believed that the veil between worlds grew thin and if someone listened closely they might feel the presence of those who came before them.

In these same days the goddess Mokosh, the great Mother and spinner of fate, was honoured for her connection to the earth, to fertility and to the threads of life. Women would spin late into the evening and leave the spindle by the window. If the thread remained straight, it was seen as a favourable sign that the year ahead would flow smoothly. If it tangled, it was taken as an omen of challenge and toil. As the cattle were stabled and tools were stored the people looked inward in quiet reflection and gratitude.

Together Veles and Mokosh held the balance of life and death, abundance and rest, visible and invisible. Their time reminded the Slavs that every ending held within it the seed of a new beginning.

This story is my humble offering to the invitation from GeoParadise to share our ancestral traditions at this time of year. If you carry a story, ritual or memory of this moment in your culture please share it and tag as collaborator so we can weave our voices together. Many voices, one heartbeat. 🌿✨