Intuitive Herbalism Online Course Now Open
Intuitive Herbalism Online Course Now Open
Plus chickweed plant ID Video and a saucy story
We are in an era of increasingly rapid change where the acceleration of events over the coming decade is likely to change life on this planet as we know it. Major climate events will reshape our environment, digital currency will reshape our economies, AI will reshape our technology and geopolitical politics is likely to swing increasingly towards extremes.
In the face of all this rapid change we can no longer simply rely on logic and education to guide us forward. Those who try to do business as usual will find themselves failing and bewildered as things get pulled out from under them. This applies to our business, our homes, and our health.
In the face of what is to come the most important skill we can develop is our intuition. That inner knowing that tells us, even in the face of all evidence to the contrary, that this is what we must do. The inner knowing that will give us split second guidance in any given moment, that may save our lives, our homes, or our health.
Using your intuition is a skill that must be cultivated, like a muscle that must be exercised to be strong. It is through the repeated use, development and trust in our intuition that it becomes stronger and we can rely on it more easily.
After working for over 25 years with plants I have been guided, protected, and helped along, when my human spirit has lost its way, many times by the plants around me.
I feel strongly that this connection with the natural world is the MOST important skill you can develop as an herbalist right now and if I can help you, even a little bit, to blow on that ember and rekindle the fire of your inner knowing then this is time well spent for both of us.
Intuitive Herbalism Online Course
This month-long online course is designed to help develop your skills in working intuitively with plants and nature.
I will be sharing the plant spirit qualities of the common weeds as outlined in my book Wildcraft and expand on ways to connect with these qualities and use them in your everyday life.
The course also covers
How to make and use flower essences.
Different types of meditations to connect with plants.
Drum journey as a way to connect with plant spirits.
How your diet and lifestyle can affect your ability to connect with nature.
You will receive a digital workbook PDF that can be downloaded and printed to work on as you do the course and beyond.
Dates: Live Calls Tuesday August 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
Time: Live calls 10am (recordings available)
Cost $249.00 inc gst
Pay with PayPal pay in 4 instalments at PayPal checkout
In honour of my Wildcraft weed walk this weekend (sorry, its all sold out!) where we are going to make a wild weed pesto, I thought I would share this little short story I wrote about this recipe. Originally I wanted to have these little creative short stories in my new book From the Wild but as the book was already 100 pages over what the publisher originally wanted they had to be cut. Maybe one day I’ll put them together into a little book of their own… But for now here is one to enjoy.
Wild Weed Pesto (it’s a party)
“Have you heard?” said Wood Sorrel to Chickweed
“Heard what? Said Chickweed
‘There’s going to be a party, we’re all invited” said Wood Sorrel bursting with excitement. “she’s making pesto and everyone who’s anyone is going to be in it”
“Do you think Nasturtium will be in it?” said Chickweed coyly “Nasturtiums so spicy and strong don’t you think?
Wood Sorrel giggled
“I don’t know, I’m quite fond of Dandelion, I just like the shape of Dandelion’s leaf, its just so interesting don’t you think?”
“I suppose it is” said Chickweed with a grin “Oh this is going to be so fun.”
Word spread quickly around the garden until all the plants were buzzing with the news.
Over by the woodshed, Nettle, Dock and Cleavers were having a philosophical debate with cleavers about whether or not manmade objects like the axe that was leaning against the woodshed had a soul or not.
“Surely, when the handle of the axe was connected to the tree and the metals of the axe head were minerals in Earth they had a soul, so at what point did the soul depart?” said Nettle thoughtfully
“Once the branch is broken and the minerals taken from the Earth then the connection to the Soul is severed.” Dock said with some certainty.
“Unless” said Cleavers “the handle is still connected by spirit to the tree and if the Tree still lives, then part of the spirit of the Tree still lives in the handle of the axe, as is true for the minerals in axe head, so in effect there is no such thing as an inanimate object”
They all went quiet for a moment to pontificate while staring pointedly at the axe.
At the edge of garden where things got less attention Cobblers Pegs was wondering out loud to Blackberry Nightshade and Nodding top “Do you think they will remember us? Do you think she even knows we are edible?”
“I still get confused with that other nightshade and people just get scared” said Blackberry Nightshade with a sigh.
“In some countries I’m eaten all the time because of my delicious carroty taste” said Nodding Top “but here they just think I’m a weed”
“It’s the same for all of us” said Cobblers Pegs kindly
“I’ve always wanted to go to a party. Do my berries look Ok? Said Blackberry Nightshade “ Are they black enough? Do you think I’m pretty enough?
“Of course you are” said Cobblers Pegs
“Absolutely” said Nodding Top
And Blackberry Nightshade felt like she had the best friends in the whole world and that whether she got included or not she was happy to be where she was. But still, it would be nice to go to a real party.
They needn’t have worried because the gardener knew her garden well and when she came, basket in hand, she was thorough and generous and no one got left behind.
As she moved through the garden music wafted in the air around her. Something soft and harmonious, filled with strings that soared and lifted the spirit to heaven as one by one she plucked each leaf and placed it in the basket.
But inside the basket the music changed, there were horns and a double bass beat that didn’t let up, it was a wild and untamed scene, frantic jazz that made everyone feel electric and like they just wanted to move, move, move.
Purslane’s stem had never looked so pink or her leaves so plump and juicy as she bounced around the basket. Fat Hen’s booming laughter mixed with that heady jazz and the scent of mugwort was contagious and made them all loose and giddy so that they laughed and whooped and yelled things that they needed to set free and no one cared or thought anything of it because they were lost in their own wild trip and it was all happening at once and they were never more themselves and never more connected to each other at the same time.
In the kitchen olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, lemon and sweet maple joined the party like those late night gate crashers with nothing to lose who throw themselves into the fray and kick it up into a frenzy.
She placed them all in the morta where they pushed up against each other as she bought in her pestle and moved it in a slow grind that that made them move together, leaves and juices started to mingle, they were dissolving into each other, as the mix got wetter she began a rhythmic pounding that moved with the music increasing in intensity until they couldn’t tell who was who any more, they were just one ecstatic mass, transformed into something sublime that made those who ate it say ‘oh’ and ‘mmmmm’ and ‘wow’ or just throw their head back and laugh in delight.
For paid subscribers for the rest of 2024 I will be sharing The Wildcraft Series where we study one plant in depth over 4 weeks, looking at how to identify it, it’s herbal monograph (folklore, historical use, scientific use, indications and cautions) as well as recipes and how it can be used in everyday life. On the 4th week I will be doing a live zoom plant meditation. The link will be sent out in week 3.
Pre-Orders of From the Wild now available. Book release on 3rd of September
For more info about this book click here
Chickweed Plant ID Video
Distribution
Origins are uncertain, distributed throughout North Africa, the Americas and Southern Europe, through the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to Malaysia and Australasia.
How to identify it
· It is a sprawling light green groundcover with weak, slender stems reaching up to 40cm.
· It has a line of fine tiny hairs running down the side of the stem. Often you will need to hold it up into the light to see the hairs.
· The leaves are oval and opposite, the lower ones with stalks.
· It has tiny white, star-shaped flowers with five very deeply lobed petals. The stamens are usually three, and the styles three.
· The flowers are followed quickly by the seedpods. It flowers and goes to seed at the same time.
Look alike plants
Petty Spurge (milkweed, radium weed, cancer weed) (Euphorbia peplus)
Petty spurge, is corrosive and will cause sores on the skin that may lead to deep ulcers. It is sometimes used for the removal of some skin cancers. If used for this purpose regular assessment of the cancer by a skilled skin doctor is recommended.
Tropical Chickweed (Drymaria cordata)
Tropical chickweed has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties similar to aspirin and is used for spasmodic coughs.
Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum)
Leaves and shoots used as a wild food, the juice used for headaches and nose bleeds.
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis aka Lysimachia arvensis)
Is toxic to many animal species so not recommended on grazing land. Has a long history of medicinal use especially externally for itching, arthritis, haemorrhoids, rabies and snake bite. Internal use requires skill and knowledge due to its toxicity, but has been used by healers for depression and lung complaints.
I would like to acknowledge the Kabbi Kabbi/Gubbi Gubbi peoples on who’s lands I live and work. I acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and pray this truth be acknowledged and respected by all who live, work and govern these lands.
Oh my heavens that saucy Story Heidi!!! I LOVED it. Every moment. Still smiling in fact. More pleeeeease :)