Magical Herbalism

Six Online Sessions
May - August 2024

Healing Rituals with Plants

Six Zoom Classes ~ May 14th, June 4th, June 25th, July 16th, August 6th & 27th
4 – 6:30 pm on Tuesdays

🌸✨ The Medicine of Flowers ✨🌸

Across cultures and centuries, flowers have been cherished as healers, teachers, and companions of the human spirit. From the sacred Egyptian blue lotus, used in temple rituals to induce trance and dream states, to the calming chamomile of European folk medicine, flowers have offered both subtle and profound gifts. The Medicine of Flowers is a weekend immersion into this ancient lineage, exploring blossoms as food, medicine, and ritual allies.

We will journey through the healing traditions of 20 flowers. Hibiscus, prized in Africa and the Caribbean for its cooling tea, lowers blood pressure and replenishes the heart. Egyptian blue lotus, painted on tomb walls, was revered for relaxation and dreamwork. Butterfly pea, a Southeast Asian flower, is famed for its vibrant blue teas that also support memory and reduce stress. Jasmine, beloved in China and India, soothes the nervous system and uplifts the spirit, while lilac has been traditionally brewed in folk medicine to treat fevers and digestive issues.

Other flowers we will explore include rose, the universal flower of love, long used in Persian medicine to cool the heart and calm emotions; lavender, the purple blossom of relaxation and sleep; calendula, with its golden petals applied to wounds and inflamed skin since medieval times; and elderflower, a staple in European remedies for colds and fevers. Chamomile, treasured since Roman times, eases anxiety and digestive troubles, while dandelion flowers have been crafted into wines and liver remedies for centuries.

The edible beauty of blossoms will also shine. Violets, used in medieval syrups and candies, add sweetness to the table. Nasturtiums, with their peppery leaves and flowers, bring vitamin C and antimicrobial benefits. Pansies and marigolds brighten dishes while aiding immunity and digestion. Chrysanthemums, long brewed in Chinese teas, support eye and liver health. Honeysuckle, used in East Asian traditions, clears heat and toxins. Magnolia flowers are inhaled in traditional remedies for sinus and respiratory relief. Clover blossoms enrich the blood and tone the body, while apple blossoms have symbolized renewal in European folklore and were once steeped in tonics to ease melancholy.

Throughout the weekend, you will learn not only the practical ways to prepare these flowers in teas, syrups, vinegars, wines, and foods, but also their cultural and symbolic significance. From elderflower cordials of Northern Europe to hibiscus teas of West Africa, from lotus offerings of ancient Egypt to the rose sherbets of Persia, we will step into a living tradition that spans continents. These flowers have long been guides for the body and spirit, teaching us presence, beauty, and connection with nature.

🌿 Whether you are an herbalist, cook, gardener, healer, or simply someone enchanted by the wisdom of blossoms, The Medicine of Flowers will expand your relationship to the plant world. Together, we will celebrate flowers not only as decoration, but as edible medicine, ritual companions, and timeless allies that continue to nourish humanity across cultures and centuries.

Gardening with the wild allows more medicine and food plants to grow naturally in our gardens without our intervening, giving native and wild medicinals the space they need. This method gives us a much more abundant source of food and medicinal plant harvests, as well as greater diversity of plant species in our gardens! We increase food for pollinators and create a healthier plant ecosystem. Gardening with wild nature allows us to confront and transform our tendency to want to dominate and control nature, plants, and the communities that surround us. We will explore intersections of plant medicine, deep ecology, equity, colonization, repair, re-wilding, and the healing power of gardening with nature.

Students will keep a garden journal, practice plant identification, and study their local naturalized, native, invasive, and medicinal plants. Class will include discussion about different plant species, their medicinal and food uses, as well as each plant’s growing cycles and personalities in the garden.
All classes recorded for future viewing. Students who cannot attend live can watch recordings on their own time.