기본 콘텐츠로 건너뛰기

Beekeeper and shaman: How bees became sacred for Colorado Springs woman

 Beekeeper and shaman: How bees became sacred for Colorado Springs woman


Within Black Forest, scattered with trees to shade from the summer sun, stands four pillars of containers propped up by breeze blocks. Near it, a human-sized wooden box.

If you stand there, quiet and still, tuning out the chirping birds or whistling breeze, you’ll hear a low hum. A buzzing. The sound of hundreds of thousands of honey- bees.

The murmur of the black and yellow striped drones is Samantha Halbrook’s peace.

Halbrook isn’t your standard beekeeper, though. She’s also a shamanic practitioner.

Her apiary, Honey Bee You, incorporates shamanic practices with beekeeping. Halbrook offers three services: traditional tours of the hives, shamanic energy work with the bees and bee bed immersion — more on that later.

072824-life-bees  02.JPG

Samantha Halbrook climbs into a “bee bed” at her apiary, Honey Bee You, in Black Forest.

“From a shamanic standpoint, when you talk about honeybees, or animals in general, they each have their own individual energy signature and wisdom to them,” Halbrook said. “Unlocking that ability to kind of see how it really works and unfolds in greater capacities was just kind of like, OK, that’s the key.”

Beekeeping was Halbrook’s original passion. She became interested in it eight years ago, after a swarm of bees settled into her parents’ barn. Looking to remove the bees without extermination, the family hired a hobbyist beekeeper to rehome them.

“I asked if I could tag along. I’d always been interested in bees and had a connection with bugs, I guess. So, he let me tag along,” Halbrook said. “It was the scariest thing I’d ever done in my life up to that point — and I totally fell in love.”

That was Halbrook’s introduction to bees. She became fascinated by the way the insects work.

“They communicated so well, even in times of distress,” Halbrook said. “It broke my heart a little bit to see that we were moving these creatures out of a place that they worked so hard to build and create such special energy around. But also, that we could provide a safe space for them where they could still do their thing and be happy.”

072824-life-bees  05.JPG

Bees fly in and out of the bee bed at the Honey Bee You in Black Forest. Halbrook offers three services at her apiary: traditional tours of the hives, shamanic energy work with the bees and bee bed immersion.

The following season, Halbrook worked with the beekeeper to learn more, and has practiced beekeeping since.

“When I’m out here, visiting with the bees or taking care of them, it’s just such a feeling of fullness and alignment with my purpose,” Halbrook said.

Halbrook maintains her hives without chemicals. Its not uncommon for beekeepers to use acids to manage varroa mites, which are parasitic to honeybees. To mitigate this problem, she instead uses thermal heat treatments that kill the mites or make them unable to reproduce.

As for Halbrook’s spiritual practices, she became interested in shamanism in 2018, after her sister found support from a practitioner for depression.

“The shaman transformed my sister’s life just completely and was able to help her in ways that she wasn’t able to find on her own or through different modalities,” Halbrook said. “That was my first introduction to there being something more to spirituality than just prayer.”

Seeing the impact shamanism had on her sister’s life, Halbrook decided to learn more. After reading Simon Buxton’s “The Shamanic Way of the Bee”, she was even more inspired to start her spiritual practice, Halbrook said, finding that she could incorporate her work as a beekeeper.

“I didn’t have any skill sets that I know could help her. I’m not a doctor. I’m not a psychologist. I’m not a therapist. Those aren’t my zones of genius, but beekeeping is,” Halbrook said. “This is perfectly combining what I’m able to provide, my zone of genius and beekeeping and a way that I can help not only my sister potentially, but also the community and something I believe in passionately.”

072824-life-bees  03.JPG

Samantha Halbrook holds up a bee-filled frame from one of her hives at her apiary, Honey Bee You, in Black Forest.

Halbrook became serious about her practice in 2020, studying the shamanic traditions of the Peruvian Q’ero tribe. She learned from Jerri Doran, an initiated practitioner in Salida.


Halbrook focuses on energy work, and believes that the frequencies bees operate at work well with her spiritual practice.

“Bees are very interesting creatures, because they prefer locations of higher frequency,” she said. “Typically, organisms don’t prefer those higher electromagnetic frequencies. But honeybees and ants are the outlier to that, and they actually thrive in places like that. So between them being just a little odd on that scale, and then the energy work, I thought that just tied really well together.”

That’s where the bee bed comes in. The bee bed is a contained wooden structure, similar in size and style to a tanning bed, that is set up for the user to lie down upon beehives. Don’t worry about stings, though — the bed portion is separated from the hives by thick, wooden boards.

Halbrook built the bee bed with her father-in-law, and considers the vibrational hymns of the bees from within the bed a way to relax, meditate or potentially heal from certain ailments, similar to the concept of Tibetan singing bowls. The idea behind the immersion, Halbrook said, is to be in close proximity to the bees to come into resonance with their natural frequency.

“The bee bed is an opportunity to step into that place, come into coherence with the honeybees and experience those additional modalities,” she said.

“We transmute the energies that maybe aren’t serving your highest good.”

Halbrook also shares belief that the closeness to the bees can provide a form of aromatherapy, potentially helping the respiratory system.

The bee bed is inspired by bee houses — wooden huts with beehives surrounding the exterior — popular in Eastern Europe. In countries like Germany, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria, beehive air therapy is used in traditional medicine to potentially combat lung ailments.

072824-life-bees  04.JPG

Honey Bee You in Black Forest. Samantha Halbrook offers three services at her apiary: traditional tours of the hives, shamanic energy work with the bees and bee bed immersion. Thursday, July 18, 2024.

As opposed to honey, very little — if any — research has been conducted around the connection between honeybees and human health, whether that be aromatics or sound frequencies. Because of the lack of studies, medical experts will not say to what degree the immersion therapy may or may not work.

Elizabeth McConnell, an entrepreneur in Colorado Springs, has visited Halbrook for several energy work sessions throughout the years. McConnell admires Halbrook’s deep reverence for the bees she works with, as well as her shamanistic practice.

“It was one of the most powerful things I’ve experienced,” McConnell said. “I was able to access some pretty deep layers of different things that I had experienced or was experiencing at the time that I hadn’t really been able to get to on my own.”

As for the bee bed, McConnell remembers the first time she laid in it.

“It was really fascinating, and I was able to really connect into my body in a way that I hadn’t before,” McConnell said.

Having a fear around bees, immersing herself in the bed was scary for McConnell. But, as Halbrook talked her through it, she was able to work through her fears.

“Laying in the bee bed and sitting with Sam and just having her kind of talk through all of it with me, it was really a beautiful way to be able to work through that fear in a safe way and to feel supported,” McConnell said. “I think it translated not only to like that fear, but also other fears that I was maybe holding on to.”

Halbrook does warn visitors not to try the bee bed if they’re claustrophobic, since it’s an enclosed space.

“Some people are able to relax right away, and they say, ‘Wow, I really wish that I had more time in there because it was so relaxing and so great,’” Halbrook said. “Then the other half of people are saying, ‘I can’t get my mind to calm down. It was plenty of time.’ So I think that just depends on how easily you can relax your nervous system and really come into a meditative state.”

For Halbrook, people come seeking different things from the bee bed — whether just a moment of relaxation and meditation, or deeper spiritual healing.

“I think it depends on what the individual’s perspective is and what they want to get out of it,” Halbrook said.

“I have a lot of people that come do hive tours that are scared of bees, and they’re just trying to get that fear worked through. And then I have other people that come out who are looking for guidance in some way — universe, spirit, God — whatever they’re familiar with. And this is a great opportunity to find that quiet space that we lack in our everyday lives.”

댓글

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering MagR and Cry2 gene expression

  Non-contact exposure to dinotefuran disrupts honey bee homing by altering  MagR  and  Cry2  gene expression Dinotefuran is known to negatively affect honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) behavior, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The magnetoreceptor ( MagR , which responds to magnetic fields) and cryptochrome ( Cry2 , which is sensitive to light) genes are considered to play important roles in honey bees’ homing and localization behaviors. Our study found that dinotefuran, even without direct contact, can act like a magnet, significantly altering  MagR  expression in honeybees. This non-contact exposure reduced the bees’ homing rate. In further experiments, we exposed foragers to light and magnetic fields, the  MagR  gene responded to magnetic fields only in the presence of light, with  Cry 2 playing a key switching role in the magnetic field receptor mechanism ( MagR–Cry2 ). Yeast two-hybrid and BiFc assays confirmed an interactio...

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis

New Report – Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis Earlier this year, midwives from 41 countries shared their experiences of working in communities affected by climate change through our survey, Midwives’ Experiences and Perspectives on Climate Change. Their voices shaped our new report, Interlocked: Midwives and the Climate Crisis , which highlights how midwives are already responding to the health impacts of climate disasters like floods, wildfires, and extreme heat—and why they must be included in climate action plans. What did we learn?Climate change is damaging community health: 75% of midwives reported that climate change is harming the communities they serve, with rising rates of preterm births, food insecurity, and restricted access to care during disasters like floods. Midwives are critical first responders: Midwives are often the first and only healthcare providers on the ground in crises, delivering care during wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. Midwives face signi...

Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor

  Bee attack claims life of newspaper distributor Newspaper distributor Pushparaja Shetty (45), who sustained severe injuries in a bee attack, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday at a hospital in Mangaluru. Pushparaja was attacked by a swarm of bees on Wednesday morning while walking at Kenjaru Taangadi under Bajpe town panchayat limits. He was immediately admitted to a hospital for treatment but could not survive the ordeal. Fondly known as ‘Boggu’ in the Porkodi area, Pushparaja was well-known for his dedication to delivering newspapers on foot to every household. He was admired for his generosity, as he often distributed sweets to schoolchildren on Independence Day using his own earnings and contributed part of his income to the betterment of society. Pushparaja was unmarried and is survived by three brothers and one sister.

“Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns

  “Global honey crisis”: Testing technology and local sourcing soars amid fraud and tampering concerns The World Beekeeping Awards will not grant a prize for honey next year due to the “inability” to thoroughly test honey for adulteration. The announcement comes amid the rise of honey fraud in the EU, where a 2023 investigation found that 46% of 147 honey samples tested were likely contaminated with low-cost plant syrups.  Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, organizes the event at its Congress, whose 49th edition will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2025. The conference brings together beekeepers, scientists and other stakeholders. “We will celebrate honey in many ways at the Congress, but honey will no longer be a category, and thus, there will be no honey judging in the World Beekeeping Awards. The lessons learned from Canada 2019 and Chile 2023 were that adequate testing was impossible if we are to award winning honey at the Con...

Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific

  Unveiling the Canopy's Secrets: New Bee Species Discovered in the Pacific In an exciting development for environmentalists and beekeeping experts, researchers have discovered eight new species of masked bees in the Pacific Islands, shining a light on the rich biodiversity hidden within the forest canopy. This discovery underscores the critical role bees play in our ecosystems and the pressing need for conservation efforts to protect these vital pollinators. A New Frontier in Bee Research By exploring the forest canopy, scientists have opened a new frontier in bee research, revealing species that have adapted to life high above the ground. These discoveries are crucial for understanding the complex relationships between bees, flora, and the broader ecosystem. The new species of masked bees, characterized by their striking black bodies with yellow or white highlights, particularly on their faces, rely exclusively on the forest canopy for survival. The Importance of Bee Conservation...

Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee

  Start the New Year Humming Like a Bee There are lots of opportunities to be as busy as a bee during these winter holidays. As we hustle toward the dawn of the New Year, it can be hard to notice that the natural world is actually suggesting something different for us right now. We’re past the solstice, but the winter still stretches ahead, the days are still short and the nights long. We’re being invited into a quieter, more inner-focused time. The ancient yogis were all about this inner focus. In India, for example, the Upanishads, the Sanskrit writings that accompanied the development of Hinduism — and alongside it, yoga — beginning around 800 B.C.E., went deeper than earlier texts had into philosophy and questions of being. With the goals of increased inner awareness and higher consciousness, yoga was at that time not yet as focused on the body or on asanas, as it now can tend to be. But the yogis did develop many practices to try to open the way to those goals. They discovered...

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face

The Essential Role of Bees in Our Ecosystem and the Challenges They Face Bees have been an integral part of our ecosystem and human agriculture for over four centuries, primarily utilized for their honey in the early days. Now, they are recognized more for their critical role in pollination, which directly impacts a vast majority of the food we consume. Mark Lilly, a prominent beekeeper, emphasizes that without bees' pollination efforts, a significant portion of our diet would be at risk. However, bees face numerous threats, including varroa mites and, in specific regions like West Virginia, black bears. These challenges necessitate concerted efforts for preservation and protection. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: Why are bees so important to the ecosystem? A1: Bees are crucial for pollinating plants, which is necessary for the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without bees, a large portion of the food we eat would not be available. Q2: What are the main threats to...

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles

The Growing Dilemma of Pet Burials in South Korea: Environmental and Legal Hurdles As the number of pets in South Korea steadily increases, pet owners face a growing dilemma due to the limited number of pet cemeteries across the country. Under the current legal framework, pet remains are classified as household waste, requiring specific disposal methods that are neither convenient nor easily accessible for all citizens. The imbalance between the rising pet population—over 5.52 million households with pets by the end of 2022—and the mere 70 registered pet cemeteries has led to significant challenges. This shortage is particularly evident in regions like Jeju Island, where pet owners must undergo arduous journeys to the mainland to ensure their pets receive proper burials. The root cause of this shortage lies in the strict regulations governing the establishment of pet cemeteries. These facilities, which must include crematoriums, face numerous restrictions, such as proximity to resident...

Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive

  Climate Crisis Claims Glacier's Vital Climate Data Archive A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals a distressing consequence of global warming: the irreversible loss of valuable climate data stored in alpine glaciers. The research, conducted by a team led by Margit Schwikowski from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), underscores the alarming rate at which glaciers are melting and highlights the implications for climate research. The study focuses on the Corbassière glacier at Grand Combin in Switzerland, where ice cores drilled in 2018 and 2020 were intended to serve as vital climate archives. However, comparing the two sets of ice cores reveals a grim reality—global warming has rendered the glacier unsuitable as a reliable climate archive. Glaciers, renowned as climate archives, encapsulate valuable information about past climatic conditions and atmospheric compositions. The fluctuating concentrations of trace substances in ice layers provide insights into historica...

German election: Climate and environment take a back seat

  German election: Climate and environment take a back seat When the coalition government comprising the center-left  Social Democratic Party (SPD) ,  Greens  and neoliberal  Free Democratic Party (FDP)  emerged after the last German federal election in the fall of 2021, then-incoming Chancellor  Olaf Scholz  (SPD) did not object to being called the "climate chancellor." That was no surprise: the climate crisis had been a top issue during the election campaign. The new government made the fight against climate change a task for the Economy Ministry and appointed Vice Chancellor  Robert Habeck  from the Greens as its head. Three and a half years later, campaign speeches barely mention climate protection. The dominant issues are how to curb irregular immigration and how to boost Germany's sluggish economy. Skeptical view of renewable energy The head of the center-right  Christian Democratic Union (CDU) ,  Friedrich Merz ...