This month, each of our intensive herbalism course cohorts gathered together in the yurt one last time to mark the end of their journey across the four seasons this year. As the wheel prepares to make another turn, many of our students will be returning on one of our courses in herbalism in the UK again in the spring and a few are choosing to take some time to let it all settle in before hopefully joining us again, but the consensus from this year's students as they reflected on their herbalism journeys was clear - the experience has been 'life-changing'.
The Moment Our Students Realised Our Courses in Herbalism in the UK Aren’t Just Courses - They’re Circles
As each of our students entered the yurt on these cold, damp December days, the warmth of the wood burner and the twinkling of the fairy lights welcomed them in as always, the familiar scent of their year’s herbal incense wafting towards them. But this time, the scene was a bit different. Gone were the tables, and the comfy chairs were all tucked away. In their place was a space of ceremony, with their twelve familiar herbs from the year surrounded by foliage, votives, quilts hand-crafted for the occasion and comfy bean bag cushions arranged round in a circle. For our first-years, something was rising in them - something they had known, felt and seen emerging all along - yes, they had been on a herbalism course. But they had also been in an intimate circle for nearly a year.
Our Students’ Consensus - Our Courses in Herbalism in the UK Are ‘Life-Changing’
Once everyone was smudged and settled in, we began with the familiar, sinking into one of our guided meditations we work with along the journey. And as we passed round the ribbon-bound bundle of fresh rosemary (for remembrance), each student had a moment to share whatever she wished about her experience.
Gratitude to the plants. Awe at how much they’ve learned. Wonder at what has transformed. Love for their fellow students. Joy for the new community they now have to share life’s experiences with.
We all cried. (We always do - I buy extra tissues for the occasion!)
But something that stood out to me and still gives me chills every time I think of it is just how many of these wonderful women said,
As my students know, I am never short on words, but there are truly no words to express how deeply moving it is to hear this not once, but over and over again as the rosemary bundle goes round the circle. It is incredibly humbling to watch the ripples that begin on our courses in herbalism in the UK expand and spread.
Weaving a Living Tapestry of Empowerment, Wisdom and Connection
After everyone has had a turn to reflect and express themselves (and shed a tear or two!), we clear away the cushions and begin our ritual. I’ll keep the details special for the students who are marking the completion of this stage of their journey, but it is a ceremony that is simple, beautiful and powerful. It is a time for each student to acknowledge for herself just how far she’s come and all the effort she’s put in, however that ended up looking from spring through to winter. And then they receive their gifts from me. (We open and close the year with gifts - I can’t help it. A journey into the heart of herbalism is worth celebrating!)
When the ritual is complete, we settle back down together with our goodies and mugs of tea, shuffling in towards each other so everyone can make their mark on our herbalism school’s living tapestry. These are the moments that can only happen when individuals have come together to form friendships, meaningful bonds, living community. The casual conversation, the laughter, the poignant moments. It is pure magic. Depending on the timing of the ceremony, some groups book in for a nice lunch afterwards, other groups bring a cake to share together in the yurt. We always miss members of our groups who can't make the closing ceremony, but we know we'll look forward to seeing many of them again at our annual student and alumni gathering and then again in the spring.
One of the first-year cohorts went out for a gorgeous celebratory lunch this year, which was followed by a flurry of photos of hugs and grins shared round the Whatsapp group, as well as another lovely group photo. All I could say when I saw that shot was - Magic and Trouble - the essence of empowered women having fun and enjoying each other’s company. Absolute perfection.
Why Our Courses in Herbalism in the UK Have Closing Ceremonies
Our closing ceremonies are something we hold quite dear and consider to be an important part of the journey. So many extremes have surfaced in our society - from the erosion of the presence, value and role of rites of passage in our lives to the surplus of superficial tick a number of boxes and download your certificate now offerings. Our courses in herbalism in the UK are about tapping into what is much deeper - deeper knowledge, deeper understanding of ourselves and of the rest of nature, deeper reflections and changes, deeper connections with each other. Yes, we keep things very conversational, very practical, very tangible, very fun on our intensive herbalism course, but there is no fluff, no bureaucracy and certainly no doing something purely because that’s ‘what you do when you’re on a course learning something’. Everything we do is intentional and meaningful. And so it is only natural that each full turning of the wheel, each completed stage of the journey is marked, acknowledged and recognised for the commitment and dedication that has been, for the twists and turns that have come through for each student, for the changes and shifts that have manifested for them. Because as our students agree, our courses in herbalism in the UK are not something you book onto and simply learn a bit about herbs and how to use them. Awaken Herbal Wisdom is life-changing.
If you’re looking for a herbalism course in the UK that creates true shifts in your life, brings you deeper into connection with yourself and the rest of nature and surrounds you with wonderful new people who become cherished friends, you’re very welcome to join us on our intensive herbalism course - Awaken Herbal Wisdom - which spans all four seasons and gets herbalism both deep into your bones and your daily life. You can learn more about our herbal medicine course here. Be sure to put your name on the waiting list to see what the current cohorts are up to and get first access to enrolment before it opens.
I can’t wait to see how your journey unfolds!
At Rhodes Roots & Remedies School of Herbal Medicine, our practice of herbalism is rooted in the belief that we must remember, reclaim and relearn our knowledge of our bodies, our autonomy and how to work with plant medicine in order to bring control of our own health back into our families and homes for a sustainable future for ourselves and the planet. Through our intensive herbalism course, we facilitate the development of confident, empowered herbalists, attuned to the messages of their bodies and the natural world. Living the deep wisdom of herbal medicine within themselves, their homes and their communities, they uplift themselves and others, creating a stronger society organically. We do hope you'll join us on your journey!
