Having just completed all our winter gatherings, I can say, as always, I am absolutely in awe of our students. Not only have they dedicated a full turning of the wheel of the year to awakening herbal wisdom within their hearts, hands and minds, but they have also shown incredible skill in pulling together everything they have learned as we explored the cases of themselves, their family and friends, getting to the root causes of imbalance and creating herbal blends to support each person right where they're at now.
For both our first- and second-year students, their winter gatherings are focused largely on case studies, which is just a somewhat formal way of saying we’re talking through individuals one by one with as many details as we have to understand what’s going on for them and how we could support them with herbs.
At the year one winter gathering, students worked through what sorts of information they might like to gather in order to effectively pair the best plants with a loved one who may have approached them asking for ‘some herbs for xyz’, having heard they’re on a herbal medicine course. Whilst our first-years aren’t aiming to take down a full clinical-level holistic history, they are looking at getting a few fundamental facts compiled - both physical and emotional - so they can start to explore the potential root cause of an imbalance, as well as understand if this person needs warming up or cooling down, moistening or drying, tightening or relaxing with their herbal blend. That’s one of the key differences between a random Google article sharing five herbs ‘good for’ a particular symptom or ailment and crafting a herbal remedy that will genuinely make a difference for someone.
We also explored some of the nuances of how we might ask for this information in a way that is both supportive and non-judgemental for the friend or family member, as well as discerning and helpful for ourselves as the person skilled in working with herbs.
The scenarios our first-years explored and formulated herbal remedies for were both widely varied and impressive. We discussed everything from mystery bubbles and constriction in the throat to navigating the wild ride of the menopause to rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea, stress and anxiety - the list goes on. For each case, the whole group asked questions for more information and clarity to understand what was going on for that person at the moment, as well as what their priorities were for support. We created three-herb blends with our year one groups and five-herb blends with our year-twos. The energy flowed throughout the days and exercises, both electric and expansive.
For some of the more complex or further developed imbalances in the body, we talked about the analogy of an onion. Sometimes, we have to start our support working with herbs to peel back that first layer before we can gradually get down to working on the root cause. Our students learn how to meet each individual where they’re at and for who they are, rather than applying boxed-in conceptualisations about what each herb ‘does’ and then ‘giving’ them to someone to ‘fix’ them. We’re up to something much deeper, much more nuanced in our humble yurt.
And, of course, there is so much magic in watching all the students go through this exercise in their fourth season in each year of their journeys. There are so many sparks that fly within each individual, as well as each cohort. Each student lights up, increasingly coming into their own power and autonomy when it comes to their health and the health of their families, of doing things the way they want to do them - not just ‘the way it’s done’, realising just how much they’ve learned and just how powerful they are.
I will never tire of witnessing these moments in a state of pure joy and awe.
So now, with the winter gatherings complete, I'm putting the finishing touches on the yurt, getting it into full ceremony mode, to welcome our students one last time this year to acknowledge and celebrate their journeys, their dedication and their growth. Rites of passage are fortunately starting to slowly re-emerge in our society, and I think spending a year (or more!) getting herbalism into your bones certainly warrants one. (As well as gifts - I cannot help myself. These incredible people deserve to be spoiled!)
If you’re here in the UK and feeling inspired by our students’ journeys, you’re very welcome to take the next step on your journey building your knowledge, skills and confidence as a home herbalist with 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. Although it is intense, it’s suitable for a wide range of herbalists, including beginners! 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.
Whatever your next step is learning herbal medicine, I hope you enjoy the journey!
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!
