College of the Melissae
Center for Sacred Beekeeping
Meet our Bee-Loved Facilitators
Laura Bee
Director Laura Bee Ferguson (OR): A beekeeper, educator and activist, Laura Bee brings a unique perspective to the study of the honeybee with cutting edge natural beekeeping methodology and practices, and a cross-cultural and spiritual context within a well rounded curriculum. Laura founded the College of the Melissae; Center for Sacred Beekeeping on January 1, 2012 and serves as its current Director. Laura is passionately devoted to the College goals, her students, apis meliferra and her blog; Here
Laura hosts a weekly radio show; Honey Culture Radio
1-2pm PST kskq. org livestreaming/ archived
and regularly contributes to various blogs, workshops, activism events, pollinator forums and conferences and has travelled internationally to learn and teach organic beeleeping. Laura is also currently contributing to the development of the Pollinator Project Rogue Valley, Bee City USA; Ashland and Bee Mystic Gathering Asheville, 2016 and Sacred Bee Immersion at Findhorn, Scotland, 2016.
Experience contributing to Laura's Leadership:
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Leadership Training (High Ropes Challenge Course, Volunteer & Trainer, WA, 6 years),
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Disaster Relief (Hurricane Katrina, MS), formal art study and counselor training
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BA in Anthropology and Religious Studies (Macalester College)
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An artist and poet, Laura brings an ability to connect the scientific to the Sacred and is spiritually influenced by her work in the many apiaries she serves.
Krista Holland
Krista Holland; Yoga and Living Arts instructor has been teaching yoga for over 15 years and has been practicing yoga and studying the living and contemplative arts for over 20 years. Krista's teaching and dharma draws from a mandala of life-enhancing modalities both ancient and modern. Surya Soma Yoga, Tantrik philosophy, sacred drumming, permaculture, organic gardening, aromatherapy and the contemplative arts combine symbiotically to offer a deeply nourishing, practical and alchemical pathway to healing, ecological reawakening and holistic life mastery. Krista offers classes, immersions and retreats on yoga, sacred drumming, and aromatic alchemy. She is also is a designer and plant ally who works in the mediums of landscape /permaculture design and aromatic botanical alchemy. Krista has been a student of Layne Redmond author of When the Drummer’s Were Women since 1995 and holds numerous credentials in her chosen fields of study. Krista began apprenticeship to Apis Mellifera in 2012 through the College of the Mellisae; Center for Sacred Bee Keeping and envisions the honey bee at the very center of her mandalic world view and life's work. For more information please visit:
Nikiah Seeds
Nikiah Seeds (Canada): Nikiah has been beekeeping since 2007.For the past 17 years Nikiah has been working in the realm of woman's spirituality both is the birhting field as well as a ceremonialist and priestess. Nikiah is an elder priestess in the 13th House Mystery School, an ordained Spiritual Minister, and shamanic drum artist. As a sacred and shamanic beekeeper Nikiah has been working with the bees spiritually, while learning how to care for them within the current state of our environment. Since 2006 she has been a devout student of shamanism and this deeply informs her work as a beekeeper and priestess.
Her training in shamanism comes from core shamanic techniques with several different teachers over the years including the Foundation of Shamanic studies, and her initiation into a Northern Celtic Shamanic tradition known as the Sagh’ic-Tire Dhream.She is also the co-author of the book Moon Mysteries; Reclaiming Women's Menstrual Wisdom. She honored to bring her wisdom in these realms to the faculty at the College of the Melissae. For more about Nikiah:
photo by Haley Melrose, 2014
Pati Tozer
Pati (Canada) is a painter, sculptor, aesthetician, computer programmer, and alchemical artist, who holds a Master's degree in Art History. An eternal student, she is excited and honoured to join the College of the Melissae as both a student and as a member of the faculty.
With Contributions from:
Brooke Nuckles-Gentekos
Brooke Nuckles Gentekos (OR): Brooke is an Artist, Arts Advocate, Ava-Sha Priestess, Sacred Beekeeper, founder of the Arts Alliance of Southern Oregon, and nonprofit consultant/ Grant Writer. Brooke has been teaching art for over 17 years and 2015 will be her fourth season sacred beekeeping. Brooke's contributions to the curriculum focus on helping students to reawaken ancient traditions and offers illuminating steps to manifest one’s sacred beekeeping dreams through art, journaling, and conscious intention.
Brooke’s artwork can be seen on her website:
Les Crowder
Les Crowder (CA & NM) Les served for many years as the president of the NM Beekeepers Association and previously served as the NM Honeybee Inspector for five years. His hive-of-choice is the Top-Bar and he also brings over 15 years of experience of treatment-free beekeeping and queen-rearing to his course. Les is a published Author and winner of the “Best Instructor” award at the NM Organic Farming Conference, Les brings a great deal of experience, knowledge and forward thinking methodology to the College of the Melissae. Les is also working on development of the International Natural Beekeeping Federation as well as dozens of International programs. He is a popular speaker and educator and is sought after for workshops and conferences, worldwide.
Nao Sims (Canada): Nao founded BeeCause Pollination Project:2008 A project dedicated to keeping bees in the backyards of neighborhood gardens.
In 2011 Nao moved from her city home a 6-acre rural property on Vancouver Island to create Honey Grove, a sanctuary for honeybees. www.honeygrove.ca Honey Grove has since become an international destination for Agriculture Tourism. Nao offers hive tours, honey tastings, flower essence workshops and educational talks with regard to beekeeping.
For Nao, her bees are her greatest teachers. The wisdom she gleans from the hive profoundly impacts all aspects of her work.
Nao is also a teacher of Sacred Dance for Women www.dancesacred.com and co-author of the book Moon Mysteries- Reclaiming Women’s Menstrual Wisdom, which she wrote together with Nikiah Seeds.
Nao and Nikiah have been working together in the realm of Women’s Spirituality for well over a decade.