Curious to hear about our herbal medicine training from one of our intensive herbalism course students in her own words? Tracy joined the journey for year one of our intensive herbalism course - Awaken Herbal Wisdom - in 2024. Along the journey, she gathered more knowledge to incorporate into her regenerative farming and satiated her academic instincts without the burdens of a traditionally structured academic course. Read on to hear more of her experience.
What inspired you to want to undertake herbal medicine training?
Having lived and worked on a farm for many years I have always appreciated the beauty and importance of plants. However, since changing to a regenerative farming approach I have become more aware of the healing characteristics of many of our common plants. Seeking to improve the health of my cattle I began to observe their hedgerow browsing and choice of field plants. This inevitably drew to exploring and learning more about plants and their medicine.
Why did you choose to enrol in our herbal medicine training?
I was searching for a course which would give me the academic rigour and depth my natural academic instincts demand without the formality or commitment requirements of a formal course. The Awaken Herbal Wisdom herbal medicine training also includes Ayurvedic elements which I had been exploring separately so combining the two was a win for me. I also liked the rhythm of the course – full day events supported with bi-weekly zoom sessions kept the momentum going.
What did you most enjoy about your journey on our herbalism course?
Working with a small group of like-minded people, guided by a great and very knowledgeable teacher.
What most surprised you about your journey?
Realising how effective Meghan’s course structure is for real in-depth learning despite lots of light-hearted humour and seemingly light touch.
How has taking our herbal medicine training impacted your life?
I feel more confident to tackle illness and disease with herbs. I will be making my own tinctures, teas, and infused oils, primarily with a view to improve health for me and the family. As I learn more, I hope to be able to make interventions on behalf of the family for illnesses and conditions which need support.
I have also increased my deep respect and gratitude towards all plants that live on this earth, recognising their incredible qualities and the connectedness they bring to facilitate the web of life.
I will continue to advocate for pesticide, herbicide and fungicide free land management and the importance of managing our gardens for nature as well as in agricultural and forestry scenarios.
What's the one word you would use to describe how you feel having completed one year of Awaken Herbal Wisdom?
Buzzing
If you could share one piece of advice to someone considering joining Awaken Herbal Wisdom, what would you tell them?
What's the next step for you on your herbal journey?
Sign up for year two and create more opportunities for harvesting and making next year.
Meghan’s reflections on Tracy's journey
Tracy has begun her journey with us seeking to expand her regenerative farming skills through herbal medicine training. We have another regenerative farmer in our current year two cohort, and I’m very much looking forward to the two of them meeting at our annual student and alumni gathering in February! What I really appreciate about Tracy is how her background brings her to her herbal medicine training already dialled in, observing all of nature - behaviours, connections, patterns. At our herbalism school, we enjoy sharing the full spectrum from the very practical to the healthy dose of magical, so it’s wonderful to see how Tracy’s contributions to her cohort are visceral, tangible, grounding. Tracy brings her own rigour and thoroughness in how she approaches her herbal medicine training, which means she’s able to connect to the structure of the course without having to be formally accountable for papers, required reading, etc. As a recovering academic myself, I’m delighted and very much of the same mindset. By the time someone is choosing to undertake herbal medicine training, unless they are intending to become a clinical practitioner, they are already passionate to learn, to experience, to try things out. They don’t need formal coursework hanging over them - they’ve got lives to live! I’m thrilled Tracy has chosen to continue her journey with us for year two and am very much looking forward to more of her insights and connections as they unfold.
If you’re feeling inspired by Tracy's experience on our intensive herbal medicine course, you’re very welcome to take the next step on your journey learning herbal medicine with us. The course - Awaken Herbal Wisdom - spans all four seasons and gets herbalism both deep into your bones and your daily life. Registration for our herbal medicine course opens each autumn to the waiting list first, so click here to make sure your name is on it. You’ll receive updates on the current year’s cohort as they go on their own journeys and then first access when enrolment opens. For more details about the structure, content and energy of our intensive herbalist course, you can learn more here.
Whatever your next step is in uncovering the importance of herbal medicine to you, 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!
