Curious to hear the experience of one of our intensive herbalist course students in her own words? Kate joined the journey for year one of our intensive herbalist course - Awaken Herbal Wisdom - in 2023. Along the journey, she felt her creativity burst into life and made some wonderful friends. Read on to hear more of her experience.
What inspired you to want to take a herbalist course?
I'm studying Ayurveda and I wanted to know about the herbs which we have on our doorstep, believing that our local environment must hold the key to some seasonal healing. I love the Ayurvedic herbs but looked at the hedgerows and knew they held medicinal gifts.
Why did you choose to enrol on the Awaken Herbal Wisdom herbalist course?
It was the right time and the right place. I just knew I had to as soon as I saw it advertised, I felt like it was an offering gifted from the universe! It wasn't something I'd been looking for, it found me. I just had to follow the herb urge.
What did you most enjoy about your journey on the herbalist course?
I didn't really have any expectations, but I have been blown away by how much I have got from this course.
It's been a joy to meet other like-minded people.
Before this course, I felt in a minority in the way I looked at health and the connection to our nature and the nature around us.
Meghan's teaching has been absolutely excellent. She is so knowledgeable and incredibly generous with her knowledge.
The course has sparked my creativity. I have been growing herbs and turning them into medicines and body creams and furthering my knowledge around how plants and nature can create balance and health.
What most surprised you about your journey whilst taking this herbalist course?
How this information seems rooted in our bones, it was lying dormant and suddenly needed resurrecting! I had no idea I would have this profound and new found love for something.
How has the herbalist course impacted your life?
As I mentioned, I've met some wonderful people. It really has brought me much joy - the seasonal in-person workshops are a delight. It has made me quite busy, as I've been compelled to try as many of the things that we have learned as possible! Meeting online twice a week means a lot of learning takes place. I naturally started using more herbs in my daily life. My intellect has been put to use, I'm often thinking about herbs in weird and wonderful ways.
What's the one word you would use to describe how you feel having completed one year of Awaken Herbal Wisdom?
Blessed
If you could share one piece of advice to someone considering joining Awaken Herbal Wisdom, what would you tell them?
It's a total pleasure, from start to finish. It can be taken as seriously or as lightly as you like, but there is much to get from it. See what gifts there are waiting for you....
What's the next step for you on your herbal journey?
Year two, thank goodness!!! And planning the 2024 herb garden!
Meghan’s reflections on Kate’s journey
What a joy it has been to have Kate in the year one cohort of our intensive herbalist course in 2023! It was a delight to see all of those connections, all of that deep body memory coming to the surface for Kate at each and every session. As the teacher and guide for the group’s journey, I loved Kate’s creative, thought-provoking questions, which gave us the opportunity on the herbalist course to explore more nuances and connected threads as a group. For me, that’s one of the beautiful things about both teaching a live group and holding space for their own journeys to evolve. Yes, we have a structure to the skills and knowledge I’m guiding the group in developing across the four seasons, but it’s the alchemy of the group, itself, that brings forward inspiration, that awakens what is deep within each of us and that weaves community and friendship. I am so thrilled and honoured Kate will be continuing on to a second year of her journey with our intensive herbalist course and cannot wait to see what she creates in year two!
If you’re feeling inspired by Kate’s experience on our intensive herbalist 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 herbalist 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 learning herbalism is, 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!
