This year’s intensive herbalism course students have completed the first four seasons of their journey learning herbal medicine. There are many herbalism courses in the UK to choose from, but the students who joined me this year were looking for something different - a UK-based herbalism course that went beyond memorising facts, that took them out of the old school revise for exams approach. They wanted to know herbal medicine deeply. They wanted to feel it in their bones. They wanted to live it. When we came together for their final seasonal gathering and then to celebrate their journeys at our closing ceremony, everyone had ample time to reflect on where the course has taken them so far. Here’s a snippet of their experiences.
Our Winter Gathering - Well on Their Way to Mastery
At our final seasonal in-person session, we pulled everything together from this year’s journey, focusing on what and how to approach giving the best support when friends and family inevitably get wind of you being on a herbalism course and come knocking on your door for the green version of a pill. And - crucially - how to understand and identify their current boundaries of what they are and aren’t able to support safely.
A Herbalism Course in the UK that Honours Your Journey and Yourself
One of the core values within the journey on which I guide students who join this UK herbalism course is honouring ourselves, which is why our final gathering was a celebration, but also a ceremony, a rite of passage.
These intrepid souls have been on a journey over four seasons. Gathered in a very special yurt, we held our ceremony - welcoming this year’s students into the lineage of herbalists that has no finite beginning, weaving the web of people carrying forward this fundamental knowledge of nature into their homes and communities.
Yes, everyone cried!
And once all the acknowledgements and seriousness and crying had their moments, we sat in the sort of deep comradery you can only feel when you’ve truly shared an experience with each other, and we began a living tapestry, which will grow each winter with every cohort who undertakes the journey deep into the heart of herbalism.
A UK Herbalism Course that Inspires Real Changes in Your Life
Did this intimate herbalism course nestled in the north of the UK have a tangible impact on this year’s cohort?
‘This is something my life was compelling me to learn. I couldn’t turn away from it.’
‘I’m feeling so much more prepared for my clinical herbal practitioner training now.’
‘Having explored so many things, and now finally finding the path I’m meant to be on.’
‘My heart is so full.’
‘Making big changes in my life. Coming back to what I wanted to do in my 20s after spending 40 years getting swept up in life.’
‘Giving myself permission to be who I always wanted to be.’
‘This course has changed my life.’
After four seasons, these herbalism students have knowledge. They have skills. They have understanding. They have community. They have full hearts (not to mention jars and bottles of herbal remedies they’ve been creating). They have a deeper sense of self.
Nearly all of this year’s cohort are continuing on to a second year to further deepen their knowledge, skills and connection - and I can’t wait to guide them!
Reflecting on This Year’s Cohort and Looking Ahead
Yes, this year’s Awaken Herbal Wisdom cohort have completed a herbalism course across four seasons. But more than that, they have all truly been on a journey - many parts shared, just as many parts their own unique paths. They have acquired skills and knowledge and are using them to make real changes in their lives - for themselves, their families and their communities. These students have awakened something that was deep within their bones and now they are all looking forward to the next part of their journey.
If you’re looking for a herbalism course in the UK that isn’t all books and exams, but which is grounded, practical and hands-on, you’re very welcome to take the next step on your journey learning herbal medicine 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. 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!
