STUDY HERBAL MEDICINES WITH GAIL FAITH EDWARDS
Product Description
We invite you to study herbalism here at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine.
Cross the threshold into THE WAY OF THE WILD HEART and engage the wisdom and spirit of the healing herbs with internationally recognized community herbalist, organic gardener, author and teacher, Gail Faith Edwards as your guide.
The fall session of the 18 month Herbal Medicine Correspondence course begins November 15. See below for details.
Summer/Fall Class Schedule:
August 5 - 7 - COMMUNITY HERBALIST WEEKEND - MARGI FLINT will be our special guest for Community Herbalist Weekend, teaching READING THE BODY, for two of the three days. See below for all the details.
A new session of the newly revised 18 month HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE begins November 15, 2011. This course include a full 18 months of weekly webinars, approximately 65 - 72 audio classes complimenting the lesson work we'll be covering, plus a three day weekend on the farm next summer for hands on learning.
You'll find the entire lesson plan and all the details below.
A new series of OUR LADY OF THE GREEN; RE-WEAVING PLANT WISDOM, MEDICINE STORIES AND THE FEMININE DIVINE, a 13 week on-line seminar, begins Thursday, June 2nd. See details on this class below.
SCHEDULE; Below you'll find the dates and places for summer & fall workshops I'll be offering. You can register for any of the classes held at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm at the links at the bottom of this page.
June 25 - Rosalia - Making Rose Medicines – Blessed Maine Herb Farm - Rosa species, as well as many of the plants and trees in the Rosacea family, have been considered sacred and revered as medicine since ancient times. We’ll discuss traditional uses, science, legends and lore of the rose and also explore other plants in the family such as Lady’s Mantle and meadowsweet, hawthorn, apple, and the wild brambles such as raspberry. We’ll make rose mead, rose water, rose honey and rose oil. 10-3PM Saturday - $75 includes all plants and medicine making materials.
July 30 - Athens Grange Hall - Creating Safe and Simple Herbal Remedies with Local Wild Plants – We'll take a walk around the wild edges of the Grange Hall and also visit the school grounds across the street and discuss some of the common and abundant wild herbs we meet along the way. We won't have to wander far at all, as medicinal herbs grow wild everywhere! We'll gather a few herbs together and practice several effective medicine making processes for each when we return to the Grange Hall. You'll no doubt take home a remedy we've made. Starts and ends at the Athens Grange Hall. 1-3PM Saturday. Free
COMMUNITY HERBALIST WEEKEND at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm - August 5-7 - See details below.
24th NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S HERBAL CONFERENCE- Lake Wicosuta on Newfound Lake, Hebron, NH August 19 - 21
Friday 2:30-4: JOY OF THE MOUNTAIN, DEW OF THE SEA; Herbs, Foods, Lore, Spiritual Practices, Gods and Goddesses of my Ancestral Homeland - Take a trip with me to Southern Italia, a wondrous and magical land still pulsing with indigenous language, culture and customs many thousands of years old. I’ll share with you some of the health enhancing, traditional uses for common Mediterranean herbs, foods and beverages as well as traditional practices to nourish, protect and uplift the spirit.
Saturday 9-10:30: OUR LADY OF THE GREEN - FINDING MARY - Deep in the rich dark soil of time and human culture we find her roots. Mary is our modern day Trojan horse. Under her mantle and beneath her sacred robes, she has kept hidden all the ancient sacred truths…and is now bringing them all right into our midst. We’ll discuss the healing herbs, flowers and foods long sacred to Mary, and the Goddesses before her, and trace their ancient histories.
Sunday 11-12:30: MEET THE MAGICAL, MYSTICAL, MEDICINAL ROSACEAE FAMILY - Rosa species, as well as many of the plants and trees in the Rosacea family, have been sacred to the Goddess since ancient times. We’ll discuss traditional uses, science, legends and lore of the rose and also explore other plants in the family such as Lady’s Mantle and meadowsweet, hawthorn, apple, and the wild brambles such as raspberry. We’ll play with rose mead, rose water, rose honey, rose glycerite, and rose oil.
COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR, Unity, Maine - Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25 - I'll be teaching in the Herb Tent all three days. And of course, my entire family and I will be hosting our Blessed Maine Herb Farm tent in the Agricultural Products Area of the fair all weekend as we have for the past 22 years!
Friday September 25, 1PM - The History, Lore & Healing Properties of Baltic Amber
Saturday, September 26, 2PM - Herbs and Natural Substances to Protect Ourselves Against Radiation.
Sunday, September 27, 12PM - Herbs and Natural Substances to Protect Ourselves Against Radiation.
LICHENWOOD HERBALS - Saturday, October 8th - 11AM - 4PM - ROOTS, BERRIES & BARKS - We will spend the day out in the gardens and around the wild edges of Lichenwood digging comfrey, dandelion and other roots, gather rose hips and hawthorn berries, and trimming the limbs of medicine trees such as willow, birch, pine and cherry. We'll gather cedar branches for smudge sticks and visit the pond and brook to bless and be blessed by their wild healing waters. We'll see and discuss, but not disturb, other woodland medicinals we may find along the way. We'll cover lots of uses, science, lore and spirit. You'll take home some of what you gathered and made, and the day's learning will continue to unfold long after our day together is over. Jars, alcohol, olive oil, and vinegar will be provided to make medicines. Everyone will leave with at least one sample. Please bring a dish to share for our mid-day pot luck autumn meal. What we harvest is dependent on Nature’s abundance. Our class will be held rain or shine. We’ll adapt! You may wish to bring pruners, trowels, baskets, etc. Fee: $75 includes all materials. Visit http://www.lichenwood.com/workshops.html to register for this class.
October 15 - ROOT MEDICINES - Join Gail in the Blessed Maine Herb Gardens and the surrounding woods and fields for a day-long adventure into the deep, dark soil and the many wonders of roots. Full-dug roots offer mineral rich nourishment and many life sustaining benefits. We'll spend the day with our hands in the soil, digging the roots of dandelion, comfrey, Japanese knotweed, black cohosh and perhaps a marshmallow or burdock, depending on need. We'll discuss many ways to process and use roots to create a strong foundation of robust health and you'll create your own root medicines to take home with you. 10-3 Saturday - Bring a hand shovel or small foot shovel, a sharp knife and basket or bag and something to share for our pot luck lunch. $75 includes all plants and medicine making materials.
October 22 - THE ROSEMARY HOUSE, Mechanicsburg, Pa. - 9:30AM - 3:30PM - VITALITY BOOSTING, STRESS RELIEVING, PAIN EASING HERBS. Including: Materia Medica for Enhancing Vitality, Relieving Stress and Pain. And The Herbal Pharmacy - Water Based, Oil Based and Spirit Based Herbal Medicine Making. This all day seminar will include morning hospitality, a fresh local lunch by Sweet Remembrances, and the day-long class. Morning hospitality begins at 9:00AM. Fee: $130.00
Visit http://www.rosemaryevents.blogspot.com to register for this class.
November 5 - FOREST MEDICINES - Join me in the Blessed Maine Herb Gardens and the surrounding woods and fields for a day-long adventure into the magic and medicines of the forest. We'll meet and gather twigs, branches and bark from Birch, Pine, Willow, Cherry, Oak and Elm. We'll also visit, gather and process a few medicinal mushrooms, such as Polypores and Ganodermas. We'll see and discuss, but not disturb, plenty of other woodland medicinals. It will be a full day of learning and you'll make some medicines to bring home with you! 10 - 3 Saturday - $75 for the day, all plants and medicine making materials are included in the fee. Bring pruners, a sharp knife and basket or bag and something to share for our pot luck lunch. There is a link at the bottom of this page where you can pay in full for this class. Blessings!
November 10 - BANGOR HERB SOCIETY - 10AM - Herbs for Health.
November 12 – VITALITY BOOSTING, STRESS RELIEVING AND PAIN EASING HERBS – Blessed Maine Herb Farm - In two parts: Materia Medica for enhancing vitality and relieving stress and pain, and The Herbal Pharmacy - water based, oil based and spirit based herbal medicine making. 10–3 Saturday. $75 all plants and medicine making materials included Bring something to share for our pot luck lunch.
HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE - New course begins November 15, 2011.
This course has just been completely revised, expanded and updated for the 2011 semester.
"Dear Gail, It is a pleasure and a blessing to be a part of your herbal correspondence course. Thank you for the lifetime's work that you have pulled together to share with us - the hours in your garden; in deep listening to others, to the plants and to your own heart; your hours in research and contemplation; your hours in laughter and dreamtime; in cultivating presence and care in your medicine-making; your hours in observation and attentiveness; your hours in prayer. All of this that you have woven together to share with us, I deeply appreciate and hope to do my best to both receive, integrate, and make good use of in service to myself and others. Blessings to you, Nicole"
Consider joining me for an outstanding learning experience in the world of herbal medicine. Begin your studies this May with the thoroughly enjoyable and highly praised Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course.
The Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course extends for a full year and a half (18 months) of study and consists of 18 comprehensive written lessons; each lesson accompanied by 4 weekly interactive webinars, approximately 65 - 72 audio classes in all, with Gail Faith Edwards as your personal guide and instructor.
A three day weekend during the summer of 2012 compliments the distant learning process and is included in your fee; hands-on, in person learning with the plants is critically important and will ground the herbal knowledge you will be accumulating during the course of our correspondence study. All meals (prepared with fresh organic ingredients) while on the farm, as well as all plants and materials required for making herbal medicines (jars, alcohol, honey, vinegar, oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, etc.) are also included in your fee.
The entire 18 lesson correspondence course lesson plan is outlined below. The Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course serves as the first half of the 3 year Community Herbalist Program. All students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to continue their studies at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine in the 3 year Program, if they desire to do so.
"In an unassuming and gentle presentation, Gail Faith Edwards has taught me more practical and hands on knowledge about herbs than I would have thought possible from a correspondence course. She captures the true essence of herbal medicine with her knowledge of folklore, scientific facts, and her wise spirit. Thank you, Gail, for giving me the foundation to make herbal nutrition and medicine a part of my daily life."
"I can't believe how much I have grown personally and spiritually. Your herbal medicine class was a wonderful enrichment. You taught me patience and opened my eyes to the wonderful local herbs available right under my nose. I just wanted to thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Gail Faith Edwards has been a wonderful teacher and mentor. Always available to answer questions and give great feedback. She has encouraged, praised and challenged me. Most importantly, as a true wise woman, she has passed on to me the deep, spiritual respect for the earth and all that grows here. My wild heart sings with the knowledge I've gained through this course and the memories that have been awakened. Thank you, Gail."
This herbal medicine home study course is designed to provide you with a strong foundation of herbal knowledge that you can build upon for the rest of your life. Its purpose is to empower you to use herbs safely and with complete confidence to nourish and heal yourself, family, friends and community.
The course offers the serious student of herbalism an excellent springboard from which to build a well grounded career as an herbalist. Nurses, healers and complimentary health care providers have always reported finding this course to be especially inspiring and fruitful for their work. It is expected to be all the more so given its recent expansion and revision.
THE HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE PACKAGE - At the beginning of each month you will receive a PDF file containing the current month’s lesson as well as a list of suggested and required reading. You will also receive, via postal mail at the start of the program, signed copies of two of my books; Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs and Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them, which will serve as work and reference books, as well as several dried herb samples and other herbal goodies.
Each Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course student will have ample individual attention and will find that the direction of the course is tailored specifically to their personal interests and needs. You also have the opportunity for ongoing and unlimited email discussion with me to review and comment on your work and progress, answer questions and offer clarifications and guidance for a full year and a half. This mentoring aspect of the program is invaluable for the aspiring herbalist. Four interactive webinar classes will accompany each month's lesson to supplement the lesson work we are working on that month.
In addition to all of the above, we will also have use of a private facebook page, Blessed Maine Herb Farm Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course, to use as a class forum and a support group during the class, if you wish. This will be a place to ask questions, talk over your current learning projects together and post activities, photos and links you would like to share. You will all be focusing on the same material - sharing ideas with each other will enhance your experience as well as help us develope a deep sense of community.
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to you upon successful completion of the 18 month course. Note that there is no legal certification for herbalists available anywhere in the United States of America. A Certificate of Completion is the most that any herb school can legally offer.
Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course fee is $1850. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due upon registration and the remainder is due before the Correspondence Course package is sent. A mutually agreeable payment plan may be made available to earnest students in need.
"I am amazed by the transformation that has occurred in me over the last year since beginning your course. This is a profound, completely unexpected, and much appreciated effect your course has had on me. Thank you so much."
"This was my first introduction to herbs. I knew I had a LOT to learn, but was so amazed at how my knowledge of herbal uses and the body and its systems had soared by the end of the class."
HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE - LESSON PROGRESSION - Note: The fall semester starts with Lesson 1 then moves to Lesson 7 - the schedule will be adjusted so that we're working on the gardening/gathering and medicine making lessons in tune with the seasonal progression.
Lesson 1 - Foundation - The Way of the Wild Heart, Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs, The Heart as an Organ of Perception, Choosing an Herbal Ally, Sacred Plant Medicine, Earth Awareness, Women's History, Great Goddess, Shamanism, Reclaiming our Traditions, Plants and Spirituality.
Lesson 2 – All life, and therefore health, springs from the ground. Introduction to Organic Herb Gardening – The life of the soil, nourishing the soil, seed planting and plant harvesting according to phases of the moon, concepts and practices of permaculture, compost, sheet mulching, weeding and cultivation, the importance of pollinators and planting specific plants and trees to attract them to the garden, Spring Tonics, Basic Botany for Herbalists.
Introduction to Materia Medica runs concurrently with the following 4 Medicine Making lessons and continues throughout the remainder of the course.
Lesson 3 – Protecting our Herbal Heritage - Harvesting and Processing Herbs - Wildgathering with reverence and respect, ground rules and considerations, techniques for properly drying herbs, appropriate storage. What to look for when purchasing dried herbs. Herbal Medicine Making, part 1 – pills, pastiles, powders, suppositories, washes, baths, poultices and compresses. Delivery, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 4 – Medicine making, part 2 - Water Based Medicines - effective preparation techniques and choosing which herbs to prepare as teas, infusions, decoctions, syrups, meads and fermented beverages, the healing properties of honey & yeasts, herbal water baths, spiritual bathing. Delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 5 - Spirit Based Medicines - Making herbal tinctures in alcohol, vinegar and glycerin, using both fresh and dried plant material and experimenting with different preparation methods, how to choose the most effective menstrum and ratios based on plant constituents, decanting and storage, dosages, delivery methods, contraindications.
Lesson 6 - Oil Based Medicines - making infused oils from fresh and dried plant material, cautious use of essential oils, aromatherapy, making salves, butters, lotions and creams. The skin is our largest organ of assimilation. Herbal skin care. Rashes, itches, skin afflictions and herbs that address them.
Lesson 7 - Plant chemistry – Herbal constituents and actions, terminology of the herbalist, tastes and herbal energetics, the Vitalist or Natural approach to healing, choosing appropriate herbs to treat the whole person, introduction to case study work.
Lesson 8 - Laying the Groundwork of Nourishment - Nourishing Ourselves to Optimum Health & Vitality, Vitamins & Minerals - well developed information on each vitamin and mineral, the importance of each, what they do, where to find them, specific herbs and foods that offer them, how to recognize and overcome vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Lesson 9 - The Digestive System - Physiology and Pharmacology, what foods and herbs do we consume to support over-all digestive health and vitality and how are they best prepared. In-depth examination of the role the digestive process plays in our health. Planning and executing a health supportive dietary regime. Digestive fire. Vital essence. Bitters. Food allergies.
Lesson 10 - The Reproductive and Endocrine Systems - Physiology and Pharmacology, Herbs for Women's Health, Herbs for Men's Health, fertility & reproduction, PMS, menopause/andropause, hormonal chemistry, choosing herbs that nourish, strengthen, tone and balance these systems, delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 11 - The Immune and Lymphatic System, Physiology and Pharmacology, herbs to nourish our immunity, herbal antibiotics, herbs, roots, lichen, fungi that enhance immunity, move lymph fluids, methods of delivery, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 12 - The Nervous System & Brain, Physiology and Pharmacology, Nervines and Restoratives, herbs to nourish, strengthen and tone the nervous system, herbs to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, addressing addiction and brain chemistry imbalances, herbal antidepressants as alternatives to Prozac, etc., Herbs for Mind and Spirit. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 13 - Chronic and Acute Pain, Physiology and Pharmacology, herbs that relieve pain, applications, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 14 – The Endocrine System - Physiology and Pharmacology. Adaptogens - the importance of understanding the uses of this unique class of herbs, adaptogens as a bridge between the immune, nervous and glandular systems, their importance in increasing metabolic efficiency and reducing susceptibility to illness and disease. Homeostasis and the effects of adaptogens on the whole body/mind/spirit. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 15 - The Skeletal and Muscular Systems - Physiology and Pharmacology, choosing herbs to support, heal and maintain strong bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments throughout life. The role of exercise in maintaining the health of our skeletal and muscular frame. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 16 - The Excretory System - Physiology and Pharmacology, choosing appropriate herbs to support and maintain the health of the kidneys and bladder, homeostasis, maintaining the balance between acid, water and salt base of the blood, the role of the kidneys in hormonal production, herbal delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 17 – Heart, Lungs & Circulation System - Physiology and pharmacology, transporting blood, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste throughout the body. Choosing appropriate herbs to support, nourish, strengthen and heal the heart, nourish the blood and blood vessels, lungs, air passageways, throat, mouth, and nasal passages. Delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 18 - Council of the Herbal Allies – Organs and Body Systems Review. Materia Medica Review. Earth Songs Heal Her - Initiation and Commencement
Correspondence Course Refund Policy: There are no refunds or cancellations accepted once materials are sent.
3 YEAR COMMUNITY HERBALIST TRAINING PROGRAM - New class begins May, 2011
The most basic health care provided around the world for all human beings through all ages is primary health care. Primary care is non-specialist health care and America is now in the midst of a primary health care crisis.
Community Herbalists are in the unique position to make a meaningful contribution to human culture at the local level in these turbulent times. Some of the ways we can do this is by supporting healthy choices, providing herbal education, focusing on preventive health care and offering affordable, ecologically sound, herbal alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs to the people within our local communities.
The Community Herbalist Program focuses on providing the student with a wide array of herbal and other solutions to many common primary care needs of human beings from birth through death and the guidance needed to present these solutions in a broad community context. The emphasis is on total family/community wellness and includes not only the physical body, but our minds, hearts and spirits as well.
The first year and a half of study for the Community Herbalist Program is the Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course which lays the foundation for the work that follows. (Details and complete lesson plan are outlined above.) This course takes a full 18 months to complete and serves as the first half of the three year program.
The second phase of the 3 year Community Herbalist program focuses on the work of deepening our knowledge and connection with the plants, and the wise use of the medicines made from them, and applying this knowledge directly within the family and community.
A major focus of the following year and a half of study will be on broadening your herbal and healing experience, knowledge and confidence in such ways that include being able to share it in meaningful ways in schools, clinics, hospitals, prisons, learning centers, holistic healing centers, community groups, your own organized classes and doing personal work with individuals seeking herbal education and support (consultations).
Upon completion of the first 18 months study program, In November of your second year, you will receive an extensive reading list with both suggested and required reading that will keep you inspired and diligently engaged during the rest of the program. Each month or so you will choose at least one book from the various sections of the list, keep detailed notes on the reading material and compose a report which will be emailed to me.
You are required to submit 12 book reports of at least 1,000 words in length during the following 18 months, or second phase of the program. I will respond with comments and notes and your report will then be shared with the rest of your class. Monthly reports and updates on your work as well as student-teacher interaction are required.
The work you began with case study assessment in Lesson 7, during phase one of the program, will continue during the second phase of the Community Herbalist Program, which moves you more deeply into practical field work. We will work together closely by email and phone if necessary, while you work with at least 3 individuals for a total of three months each. Detailed initial case study reports and thoroughly documented follow up work will be required for each of the three case studies. This work runs concurrently with the book reports submitted and circulated for review.
During the last six months of the program you will design and implement a plan for introducing yourself to your community as a Community Herbalist. You may choose to work in a clinical setting, an alternative healing center, present classes at a local school, initiate an herbal column for a local newspaper or regional magazine, help create a community herb garden, launch your own herbal business, or any number of projects that relate herbal medicine to your community at large.
Attendance at the on-site three day weekend intensive (Community Herbalist Weekend) in 2012 is required for all students in the Community Herbalist Program. All meals during your stay, as well as all plants and materials used in making medicine are included in the fee.
During the summer of your final year of study you are required to attend Community Herbalist Weekend (2013) and deliver a one hour presentation to those in attendance. Your summation and commencement will take place at that time.
Successful graduates of this program will be thoroughly prepared to enter the health field as a Community Herbalist. You will be awarded a Certificate of Completion stating you have completed a 3 year Community Herbalist Program at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine under the guidance of Gail Faith Edwards.
The 3 year Community Herbalist Program includes the 18 lesson Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course, books and materials, 18 months of four webinars each month, for a total of approximately 65-72 audio classes, extensive second phase reading list, on going correspondence, feedback, mentoring, review and guidance from me for full three years, two on-site 3 day weekend study sessions and a Certificate of Completion when you finish the 3 year Community Herbalist Program.
The fee for the 3 year Community Herbalist Program is $3,900. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to hold your place for the 3 year Program. Payment schedules are available.
"I have learned so much from you Gail. You are truly a wonderful teacher and healer. Thank you so much for being in my life. You are doing great things for others and have truly put your mark on Mother Earth. Many Blessing to you."
COMMUNITY HERBALIST WEEKEND - AUGUST 5-7, 2011
with Gail Faith Edwards and special guest, Margi Flint
We welcome you to join us here at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine for Community Herbalist Weekend! You do not have to be enrolled as a student to participate in this three day herbal learning intensive.
Our weekend setting is in the Blessed Maine Herb Gardens and the wild areas that surround the farm. We'll also have use of our beautiful new School House at the edge of the medicinal herb gardens, for indoor class time as necessary.
Our class time will reflect the rhythm of the season, and be an enjoyable combination of technical information with a great deal of hands-on experience with both wild and cultivated medicinal herbs as well as our natural human bodies.
Our program is specifically designed to build upon and strengthen the skills necessary to become a capable, confident and creative herbal healer. In order to do so we must possess a deep foundation of working knowledge regarding a broad spectrum of individual plants as well as an understanding of the messages expressed by the body.
Our focus will be three-fold: grounding and deepening our relationship with the natural world, perfecting our herbal medicine making skills and creating a strong foundation of practical herbal knowledge. Developing confidence in applying what we perceive from nature, including the human body, is an indispensable skill of the Community Herbalist.
During this three day intensive you will work and play with a group of like-minded people and be encouraged to fully immerse yourself in the heart and soul of traditional herbal medicine. Class time will be intimate and informal with plenty of time and opportunity for personal attention to your individual learning style.
Our special guest this year is Margi Flint RH, Herbal Mentor AHG, a renowned professional herbalist and author. She'll be offering a two day intensive entitled Reading the Body on August 6-7.
She will be sharing the meaning of the facial lines, colors and blemishes of the face, nails and tongue as a way of reading the body’s signals in regards to disease processes. This will be an engaging, dynamic and interactive presentation and includes some very traditional and valuable tools for knowing how to read the body and translate that into a more specific herbal protocol for healing.
Community Herbalist Weekend:
Our weekend begins with a day-long intensive with Gail, The Way of the Wild Heart.
The Way of the Wild Heart approach to healing is an earth-honoring tradition that stretches back in time to our earliest ancestors. Understanding and experiencing this unique perspective is the essential theme of our entire three day session.
Learning to open our wild hearts is a simple process that can easily be learned. It is through cultivating awareness of the heart as an organ of perception, and developing skill in using the heart to gather knowledge of the natural world, that we learn to connect with nature in an intimate, healing and reciprocal way. This work is the centerpiece of the learning you will do here and is the framework around which our class revolves. It requires diligent pursuit of a deep connectedness to the natural world.
"All our time with you, Gail, is nourishing and informative."
"You've made it all seem so simple, so much a part of everyday life. Taking this class is the best thing I've ever done for myself."
"I've particularly enjoyed being exposed to your wonderful outlook, uplifting personality, and spirituality."
I’m passionate about teaching, and my goal is to provide you with the best herbal learning experience possible. I’ll personally introduce you to a broad range of medicinal plants and their traditional uses, and help to ground your growing herbal knowledge with plenty of hands-on experience.
You'll learn how to use your body to understand the messages and energetic qualities of plants through the senses of sight, taste, touch, hearing and smell. We'll ground this knowledge with plenty of practice and experience with the plants themselves.
"It truly was a pleasure spending time with you. I think you are a brilliant herbalist/teacher and so enjoyed your wonderful energy and loving spirit."
"I had such an amazing time at Blessed Maine Herb Farm! Gail and her family are beautiful people and it was a blessing to share space with them. Gail I love your enthusiasm for herbs...It was just what I needed to continue opening my wild heart! Thank you thank you thank you!!!"
"Studying with you has changed my life. I see the natural world in a whole new way!"
"I've grown immensely both personally and professionally through my involvement with you and this awesome exploration of the herbs"
Organic Herb Gardening
Participants will explore all aspects of medicinal herbs, from the earth up. Your herbal study begins with understanding that the living soil creates the foundation for all life on earth. We’ll review the concepts and practices of organic gardening, including "natural gardening" and permaculture, cultivation, wildgathering and proper harvesting techniques, and all types of herbal processing.
Herbal Medicine Making
You will have the opportunity to prepare an assortment of herbal medicines during our medicine making segments and these will be yours to keep.
Water-based Medicines - We’ll cover the proper preparation of water-based herbal medicines, using both freshly gathered and previously dried plant material, you’ll gain confidence in making and using herbal teas, infusions, decoctions and syrups and learn when and how to use a wash, soak, compress and poultice. We’ll most likely have a spiritual flower bath in the garden!
Spirit Based Medicines - You will have the opportunity to explore different techniques for tincturing herbs, including using a variety of menstrums such as alcohol, vinegar and glycerin.
Oil Based Medicines - You'll also put up an oil-based medicine of your choice and we'll hope to find time to make a salve as well.
"I have to tell you that after all these years of studying herbs and being familiar with Wise Woman Ways, meeting and learning from you really helped me understand nourishment as medicine. For the first time I really felt that I was "making medicine" because it was happening in a beautiful, humble, prayerful, faithful way. Thank you, thank you."
Wildgathering
We’ll go on a wildgathering adventure together and you'll have the opportunity to meet and gather medicinal herbs from the wild mountain meadows and woods surrounding the farm. During this outing you'll learn about wild plants in their native habitats, gain an understanding through practice of ethical and sustainable gathering techniques, and learn plant identification. This will also provide you with a wealth of information and experience regarding what plants to look for in what types of locations, and when to best harvest and process them for optimal medicinal value.
Herbal Healing
An important aspect of our work is focusing on our case studies and addressing the health of the whole person. This segment will help you to acquire and develop diagnostic skills, as well as intuitive herbal skills. We’ll delve into preventive health care, how to safely and effectively use herbal antibiotics, and how to treat chronic pain and other common ailments.
In the evening, third year students in the Community Herbalist Program will give their final and in-depth herbal presentations.
"My health, and that of my family, is so much better now. You taught us so many ways to nourish and heal ourselves, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well."
Spirit Healing
Herbs are not drugs. They contain not only measurable, but unmeasurable qualities as well. During your three day weekend here you'll be exposed to sacred plant medicine and have opportunities to experience the magical, spiritual and emotional properties of herbs. You will encounter and deepen shamanic skills, participate in earth ceremony and expand your connection to spirit.
"Your magic, your knowledge and wisdom, your connection with the earth and the plants have inspired and empowered me. Thank you so very much."
Herbal Medicine Chest
Your learning experience will continue long after our Community Herbalist Weekend has ended, as you gain confidence by using the medicines you have made here and in applying them using techniques you learned in Reading the Body..
You'll be well on your way to becoming a creative, confident and accomplished herbal healer.
"The herbal knowledge you shared with me has spilled into my practice and greatly enhanced the work I do with my clients."
"I'm a much better nurse now after taking your class."
"Thank you for a wonderful class, your time, your wisdom, your wild heart, your yummy food and you!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed everything and look forward to more time with you!"
"Thank you for all of your wise words and energy, for welcoming me on your land, in your life and heart. I am blessed to have met you."
"Thank you so much! You demystified so many key points, showed me how to harvest plants with care and reverence, and how to nourish my soul. Thanks!"
All our meals will be freshly prepared with organically grown produce, and this is included in your fee. All medicinal plants used in medicine making, as well as all supplies, including alcohol, vinegar, oil, honey, beeswax, cocoa butter, jars, etc. are also included in your fee. You will need to bring a tent and camping supplies, a knife, basket or bag, and your personal items of choice.
Fee for this three day Community Herbalist Weekend is $275. A $100 deposit can be placed at the top of this page and is necessary to hold your spot. Alternately, there is a link at the bottom of the page where you can pay in full. Blessings!
Instructors:
Gail Faith Edwards, is an internationally recognized Community Herbalist with more than thirty years experience. She currently has correspondence course students in many countries around the world. She is the author of three books on herbal medicine and has offered herbal education programs for the past 18 years. Some of the places Gail has taught include the Sambhavana Clinic, Bhopal, India; The Gardens of Monte San Giacomo, Italy; Yale School of Nursing; University of Maine and College of the Atlantic.
She has personally trained hundreds of students and apprentices, many of whom have gone on to serve as community herbalists, health education teachers, herb gardeners, holistic healers, herb-wise mothers, and successful herbal business owners.
"You are the most gifted and influential teacher I have ever known."
Margi Flint owns and operates EarthSong Herbals, a busy family practice and herb school on the East Coast of the United States. Her filters of wisdom include over thirty years of labor coaching, polarity therapy, and herbal practice. Margi regularly speaks at nationally known herbal seminars in the States and in Europe.
She has been Adjunct Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine where she taught a four-week rotation in clinical herbal medicine for Fourth Year Medical Students and practitioners at Union Hospital and her clinic in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She continues to teach Herbal Pharmacology at North Shore Community College, and for The Masters of Applied Natural Products course at Massachusetts College of Pharmacology, The Birkmayer Institute in NM, plus Bastyr University and The School of Traditional Western Herbalism. The second edition of the textbook titled The Practicing Herbalist, Meeting with clients, Reading the body will be available for purchase and inscription.
OUR LADY OF THE GREEN; RE-WEAVING PLANT WISDOM, MEDICINE STORIES AND THE FEMININE DIVINE
I'm excited to offer a repeat of this exceedingly well received webinar course beginning Thursday, June 2 - Our Lady of the Green - Reweaving Plant Wisdom, Medicine Stories and the Feminine Divine. I'd love for you to join me for what I promise to be a life altering and deeply soul nourishing experience this summer!
This 13 week series of webinar classes will present a historical perspective on women’s spirituality, explore the roots of the Divine Feminine, devotion to Mary in the 21st century, and examine in-depth the herbs and foods long associated with the Divine Feminine, Mary and the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Week 1 – In the Beginning – The past is our heritage. It is our roots and our sustenance. Knowing the true story of our past brings us nourishment through the ages. This knowledge opens up doors to us, presents us with a myriad of new possibilities. It connects us to our ancestors. This nourishing connection gives us the courage and strength we need to act in the present. It brings us clarity of purpose. Our prehistoric ancestors of the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras.
"I LOVE your class so far! You are amazing and have such a warm voice too! Thank you for creating this - it is an important source of wisdom for me at this time."
Week 2 –The Land of Milk and Honey – From Fruitful Mother of the Clan to the destruction of Divine Ancestress and the end of the matrilineal clan system. The Goddess Religions – the theological structures and universal features spread over large geographical areas – female kinship, rites and customs and the subsequent social restructuring. She Who Holds the Reigns of Kings, ritual drama, the dying god or consort and the grieving priestess/mother.
Week 3 – Symbols of Sacred & Prophetic Powers – Serpent/wise counsel, Sacred trees/communion. From Adam & Eve to the Prince of Peace. The Cumaen Sybil. The Feminine Face of God is shining from our faces.
Week 4 – Finding Mary – The continuing evolution of the Goddess. “Mary has a lineage; it is more than the lineage of the House of David. All Neolithic Goddess roads lead to Mary.” Great Mother - Queen of Heaven – The Triple Goddess – Mother of God. The Protestant Reformation and subsequent “de-throning of Mary.”
"Thank you, Gail! That was such an exhilarating talk. I was not raised Catholic, but I have been drawn to Mary in recent years, and I have a lovely little alabaster statue of Mary. I've always felt that she is a representation of not just the mother of Jesus, but of Kwan Yin and all of the other goddesses through time, just with another name. Thank you for your wonderful insight and wisdom." T.Schultz
Week 5 – Reclamation – Reclaiming a most important party of our Judeo-Christian heritage. The secret stories of plants, perceiving the wild heart of nature, gathering information directly from the Wild Heart of the Earth. Reading from the Book of Life. From the Songs of Solomon to the new physics. The transfer of ancient knowledge through association with plants. Acquiring true knowledge.
Week 6 – The Burning Times – Revisiting marea, strigae, lamiae and night spirits – witches and women shamanism. The Inquisition, Heinrich Kramer and The Malleus Maleficarium. The role of the local, secular tribunals, intellectuals, printed manuals and peasant participation. St. Joan of Arc.
Week 7 – The Mary Garden – The great body of wisdom accumulated through the ages regarding the wondrous earth goes underground. Gardens as devotional practice. Early Christian’s shamanic practices, the transference of ancient seasonal celebrations and local geographical goddesses into the evolving liturgical calendar. Queen of the May and the flowers/trees/shrubs long associated with the Feminine Divine. Planning and planting a Mary Garden.
"I just listened to the Mary Garden class again ... each time I listen, I get something new!"
Week 8 – The Angelic Psalter – The rosary is a string of beads used as an implement of prayer and meditation – it is a powerful tool for peace. Early history of prayer beads. Two simple and ancient prayers form the heart and soul of the rosary and their recitation leads us into the timeless sacred dance of our ancestors. How to Pray the Rosary – stepping into the mysteries of the Rosary as mythic ritual performance unfolding before our eyes. These mysteries contain the stories of our primeval theological truths, they are Medicine Stories. Prayer is a living tradition, praying for the earth community.
"What a lovely class! I love the rosary, but until now I have said "alternative" prayers. I have read books about the rosary but they all drown in "religious" terms and ideas. I really love how you present it Gail. Still traditional but in a new way. Thank you!"
Week 9 – The Sacred Mystery Stories – Examining each of the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries and naming the traditional herbs, foods and medicines associated with each of them – The Sacred Wheel of Life.
Week 10 –Our Lady of the Green - Our Lady’s Florilegia – Teachings of the Herbs, Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 1 – The Joyful Mysteries – The Eastern quadrant of the wheel – Liliaceae and Lamiaceae plant families, Figs, poppies, chamomile – Hathor, Persephone, Demeter, Hera, St. Ann, Cybele, Ceres, Flora, Mary and the Assumption, the Eleusian Mysteries.
Week 11 – Teachings of the Herbs, Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 2 – The southern quadrant of the wheel – The Luminous Mysteries – Grains, grapes, fermented foods and beverages, Brassica family plants.
Week 12 – Teachings of the Herbs, Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 3 – The western quadrant of the wheel – The Sorrowful Mysteries – Olive, St. John’s wort, Aloe vera, Passionflower.
Week 13 – Teachings of the Herbs Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 4 – The northern quadrant of the wheel – The Rosaceae family of plants – Mary’s Emblem - Roses, hawthorn, apple, pear plum, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, seaweeds.
This 13 week webinar course will begin Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 PM. A downloadable recording of each 1 hour class will be made available to students within minutes after the class. Those unable to attend the live webcast can listen at their convenience. An extensive reading list will be provided and suggested reading for individual classes will be offered but not required. Students will also receive links to YouTube videos and a weekly image album that relate to the course work and will enhance their experience.
A copy of Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them and a hand-made, natural olive wood rosary will be provided to each participant. This course will be life altering and soul nourishing. I welcome you to join us!
Course fee $250. There is a link at the bottom of this page where you can register.
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Cross the threshold into THE WAY OF THE WILD HEART and engage the wisdom and spirit of the healing herbs with internationally recognized community herbalist, organic gardener, author and teacher, Gail Faith Edwards as your guide.
The fall session of the 18 month Herbal Medicine Correspondence course begins November 15. See below for details.
Summer/Fall Class Schedule:
August 5 - 7 - COMMUNITY HERBALIST WEEKEND - MARGI FLINT will be our special guest for Community Herbalist Weekend, teaching READING THE BODY, for two of the three days. See below for all the details.
A new session of the newly revised 18 month HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE begins November 15, 2011. This course include a full 18 months of weekly webinars, approximately 65 - 72 audio classes complimenting the lesson work we'll be covering, plus a three day weekend on the farm next summer for hands on learning.
You'll find the entire lesson plan and all the details below.
A new series of OUR LADY OF THE GREEN; RE-WEAVING PLANT WISDOM, MEDICINE STORIES AND THE FEMININE DIVINE, a 13 week on-line seminar, begins Thursday, June 2nd. See details on this class below.
SCHEDULE; Below you'll find the dates and places for summer & fall workshops I'll be offering. You can register for any of the classes held at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm at the links at the bottom of this page.
June 25 - Rosalia - Making Rose Medicines – Blessed Maine Herb Farm - Rosa species, as well as many of the plants and trees in the Rosacea family, have been considered sacred and revered as medicine since ancient times. We’ll discuss traditional uses, science, legends and lore of the rose and also explore other plants in the family such as Lady’s Mantle and meadowsweet, hawthorn, apple, and the wild brambles such as raspberry. We’ll make rose mead, rose water, rose honey and rose oil. 10-3PM Saturday - $75 includes all plants and medicine making materials.
July 30 - Athens Grange Hall - Creating Safe and Simple Herbal Remedies with Local Wild Plants – We'll take a walk around the wild edges of the Grange Hall and also visit the school grounds across the street and discuss some of the common and abundant wild herbs we meet along the way. We won't have to wander far at all, as medicinal herbs grow wild everywhere! We'll gather a few herbs together and practice several effective medicine making processes for each when we return to the Grange Hall. You'll no doubt take home a remedy we've made. Starts and ends at the Athens Grange Hall. 1-3PM Saturday. Free
COMMUNITY HERBALIST WEEKEND at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm - August 5-7 - See details below.
24th NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S HERBAL CONFERENCE- Lake Wicosuta on Newfound Lake, Hebron, NH August 19 - 21
Friday 2:30-4: JOY OF THE MOUNTAIN, DEW OF THE SEA; Herbs, Foods, Lore, Spiritual Practices, Gods and Goddesses of my Ancestral Homeland - Take a trip with me to Southern Italia, a wondrous and magical land still pulsing with indigenous language, culture and customs many thousands of years old. I’ll share with you some of the health enhancing, traditional uses for common Mediterranean herbs, foods and beverages as well as traditional practices to nourish, protect and uplift the spirit.
Saturday 9-10:30: OUR LADY OF THE GREEN - FINDING MARY - Deep in the rich dark soil of time and human culture we find her roots. Mary is our modern day Trojan horse. Under her mantle and beneath her sacred robes, she has kept hidden all the ancient sacred truths…and is now bringing them all right into our midst. We’ll discuss the healing herbs, flowers and foods long sacred to Mary, and the Goddesses before her, and trace their ancient histories.
Sunday 11-12:30: MEET THE MAGICAL, MYSTICAL, MEDICINAL ROSACEAE FAMILY - Rosa species, as well as many of the plants and trees in the Rosacea family, have been sacred to the Goddess since ancient times. We’ll discuss traditional uses, science, legends and lore of the rose and also explore other plants in the family such as Lady’s Mantle and meadowsweet, hawthorn, apple, and the wild brambles such as raspberry. We’ll play with rose mead, rose water, rose honey, rose glycerite, and rose oil.
COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR, Unity, Maine - Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25 - I'll be teaching in the Herb Tent all three days. And of course, my entire family and I will be hosting our Blessed Maine Herb Farm tent in the Agricultural Products Area of the fair all weekend as we have for the past 22 years!
Friday September 25, 1PM - The History, Lore & Healing Properties of Baltic Amber
Saturday, September 26, 2PM - Herbs and Natural Substances to Protect Ourselves Against Radiation.
Sunday, September 27, 12PM - Herbs and Natural Substances to Protect Ourselves Against Radiation.
LICHENWOOD HERBALS - Saturday, October 8th - 11AM - 4PM - ROOTS, BERRIES & BARKS - We will spend the day out in the gardens and around the wild edges of Lichenwood digging comfrey, dandelion and other roots, gather rose hips and hawthorn berries, and trimming the limbs of medicine trees such as willow, birch, pine and cherry. We'll gather cedar branches for smudge sticks and visit the pond and brook to bless and be blessed by their wild healing waters. We'll see and discuss, but not disturb, other woodland medicinals we may find along the way. We'll cover lots of uses, science, lore and spirit. You'll take home some of what you gathered and made, and the day's learning will continue to unfold long after our day together is over. Jars, alcohol, olive oil, and vinegar will be provided to make medicines. Everyone will leave with at least one sample. Please bring a dish to share for our mid-day pot luck autumn meal. What we harvest is dependent on Nature’s abundance. Our class will be held rain or shine. We’ll adapt! You may wish to bring pruners, trowels, baskets, etc. Fee: $75 includes all materials. Visit http://www.lichenwood.com/workshops.html to register for this class.
October 15 - ROOT MEDICINES - Join Gail in the Blessed Maine Herb Gardens and the surrounding woods and fields for a day-long adventure into the deep, dark soil and the many wonders of roots. Full-dug roots offer mineral rich nourishment and many life sustaining benefits. We'll spend the day with our hands in the soil, digging the roots of dandelion, comfrey, Japanese knotweed, black cohosh and perhaps a marshmallow or burdock, depending on need. We'll discuss many ways to process and use roots to create a strong foundation of robust health and you'll create your own root medicines to take home with you. 10-3 Saturday - Bring a hand shovel or small foot shovel, a sharp knife and basket or bag and something to share for our pot luck lunch. $75 includes all plants and medicine making materials.
October 22 - THE ROSEMARY HOUSE, Mechanicsburg, Pa. - 9:30AM - 3:30PM - VITALITY BOOSTING, STRESS RELIEVING, PAIN EASING HERBS. Including: Materia Medica for Enhancing Vitality, Relieving Stress and Pain. And The Herbal Pharmacy - Water Based, Oil Based and Spirit Based Herbal Medicine Making. This all day seminar will include morning hospitality, a fresh local lunch by Sweet Remembrances, and the day-long class. Morning hospitality begins at 9:00AM. Fee: $130.00
Visit http://www.rosemaryevents.blogspot.com to register for this class.
November 5 - FOREST MEDICINES - Join me in the Blessed Maine Herb Gardens and the surrounding woods and fields for a day-long adventure into the magic and medicines of the forest. We'll meet and gather twigs, branches and bark from Birch, Pine, Willow, Cherry, Oak and Elm. We'll also visit, gather and process a few medicinal mushrooms, such as Polypores and Ganodermas. We'll see and discuss, but not disturb, plenty of other woodland medicinals. It will be a full day of learning and you'll make some medicines to bring home with you! 10 - 3 Saturday - $75 for the day, all plants and medicine making materials are included in the fee. Bring pruners, a sharp knife and basket or bag and something to share for our pot luck lunch. There is a link at the bottom of this page where you can pay in full for this class. Blessings!
November 10 - BANGOR HERB SOCIETY - 10AM - Herbs for Health.
November 12 – VITALITY BOOSTING, STRESS RELIEVING AND PAIN EASING HERBS – Blessed Maine Herb Farm - In two parts: Materia Medica for enhancing vitality and relieving stress and pain, and The Herbal Pharmacy - water based, oil based and spirit based herbal medicine making. 10–3 Saturday. $75 all plants and medicine making materials included Bring something to share for our pot luck lunch.
HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE - New course begins November 15, 2011.
This course has just been completely revised, expanded and updated for the 2011 semester.
"Dear Gail, It is a pleasure and a blessing to be a part of your herbal correspondence course. Thank you for the lifetime's work that you have pulled together to share with us - the hours in your garden; in deep listening to others, to the plants and to your own heart; your hours in research and contemplation; your hours in laughter and dreamtime; in cultivating presence and care in your medicine-making; your hours in observation and attentiveness; your hours in prayer. All of this that you have woven together to share with us, I deeply appreciate and hope to do my best to both receive, integrate, and make good use of in service to myself and others. Blessings to you, Nicole"
Consider joining me for an outstanding learning experience in the world of herbal medicine. Begin your studies this May with the thoroughly enjoyable and highly praised Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course.
The Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course extends for a full year and a half (18 months) of study and consists of 18 comprehensive written lessons; each lesson accompanied by 4 weekly interactive webinars, approximately 65 - 72 audio classes in all, with Gail Faith Edwards as your personal guide and instructor.
A three day weekend during the summer of 2012 compliments the distant learning process and is included in your fee; hands-on, in person learning with the plants is critically important and will ground the herbal knowledge you will be accumulating during the course of our correspondence study. All meals (prepared with fresh organic ingredients) while on the farm, as well as all plants and materials required for making herbal medicines (jars, alcohol, honey, vinegar, oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, etc.) are also included in your fee.
The entire 18 lesson correspondence course lesson plan is outlined below. The Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course serves as the first half of the 3 year Community Herbalist Program. All students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to continue their studies at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine in the 3 year Program, if they desire to do so.
"In an unassuming and gentle presentation, Gail Faith Edwards has taught me more practical and hands on knowledge about herbs than I would have thought possible from a correspondence course. She captures the true essence of herbal medicine with her knowledge of folklore, scientific facts, and her wise spirit. Thank you, Gail, for giving me the foundation to make herbal nutrition and medicine a part of my daily life."
"I can't believe how much I have grown personally and spiritually. Your herbal medicine class was a wonderful enrichment. You taught me patience and opened my eyes to the wonderful local herbs available right under my nose. I just wanted to thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Gail Faith Edwards has been a wonderful teacher and mentor. Always available to answer questions and give great feedback. She has encouraged, praised and challenged me. Most importantly, as a true wise woman, she has passed on to me the deep, spiritual respect for the earth and all that grows here. My wild heart sings with the knowledge I've gained through this course and the memories that have been awakened. Thank you, Gail."
This herbal medicine home study course is designed to provide you with a strong foundation of herbal knowledge that you can build upon for the rest of your life. Its purpose is to empower you to use herbs safely and with complete confidence to nourish and heal yourself, family, friends and community.
The course offers the serious student of herbalism an excellent springboard from which to build a well grounded career as an herbalist. Nurses, healers and complimentary health care providers have always reported finding this course to be especially inspiring and fruitful for their work. It is expected to be all the more so given its recent expansion and revision.
THE HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE PACKAGE - At the beginning of each month you will receive a PDF file containing the current month’s lesson as well as a list of suggested and required reading. You will also receive, via postal mail at the start of the program, signed copies of two of my books; Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs and Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them, which will serve as work and reference books, as well as several dried herb samples and other herbal goodies.
Each Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course student will have ample individual attention and will find that the direction of the course is tailored specifically to their personal interests and needs. You also have the opportunity for ongoing and unlimited email discussion with me to review and comment on your work and progress, answer questions and offer clarifications and guidance for a full year and a half. This mentoring aspect of the program is invaluable for the aspiring herbalist. Four interactive webinar classes will accompany each month's lesson to supplement the lesson work we are working on that month.
In addition to all of the above, we will also have use of a private facebook page, Blessed Maine Herb Farm Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course, to use as a class forum and a support group during the class, if you wish. This will be a place to ask questions, talk over your current learning projects together and post activities, photos and links you would like to share. You will all be focusing on the same material - sharing ideas with each other will enhance your experience as well as help us develope a deep sense of community.
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to you upon successful completion of the 18 month course. Note that there is no legal certification for herbalists available anywhere in the United States of America. A Certificate of Completion is the most that any herb school can legally offer.
Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course fee is $1850. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due upon registration and the remainder is due before the Correspondence Course package is sent. A mutually agreeable payment plan may be made available to earnest students in need.
"I am amazed by the transformation that has occurred in me over the last year since beginning your course. This is a profound, completely unexpected, and much appreciated effect your course has had on me. Thank you so much."
"This was my first introduction to herbs. I knew I had a LOT to learn, but was so amazed at how my knowledge of herbal uses and the body and its systems had soared by the end of the class."
HERBAL MEDICINE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE - LESSON PROGRESSION - Note: The fall semester starts with Lesson 1 then moves to Lesson 7 - the schedule will be adjusted so that we're working on the gardening/gathering and medicine making lessons in tune with the seasonal progression.
Lesson 1 - Foundation - The Way of the Wild Heart, Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs, The Heart as an Organ of Perception, Choosing an Herbal Ally, Sacred Plant Medicine, Earth Awareness, Women's History, Great Goddess, Shamanism, Reclaiming our Traditions, Plants and Spirituality.
Lesson 2 – All life, and therefore health, springs from the ground. Introduction to Organic Herb Gardening – The life of the soil, nourishing the soil, seed planting and plant harvesting according to phases of the moon, concepts and practices of permaculture, compost, sheet mulching, weeding and cultivation, the importance of pollinators and planting specific plants and trees to attract them to the garden, Spring Tonics, Basic Botany for Herbalists.
Introduction to Materia Medica runs concurrently with the following 4 Medicine Making lessons and continues throughout the remainder of the course.
Lesson 3 – Protecting our Herbal Heritage - Harvesting and Processing Herbs - Wildgathering with reverence and respect, ground rules and considerations, techniques for properly drying herbs, appropriate storage. What to look for when purchasing dried herbs. Herbal Medicine Making, part 1 – pills, pastiles, powders, suppositories, washes, baths, poultices and compresses. Delivery, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 4 – Medicine making, part 2 - Water Based Medicines - effective preparation techniques and choosing which herbs to prepare as teas, infusions, decoctions, syrups, meads and fermented beverages, the healing properties of honey & yeasts, herbal water baths, spiritual bathing. Delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 5 - Spirit Based Medicines - Making herbal tinctures in alcohol, vinegar and glycerin, using both fresh and dried plant material and experimenting with different preparation methods, how to choose the most effective menstrum and ratios based on plant constituents, decanting and storage, dosages, delivery methods, contraindications.
Lesson 6 - Oil Based Medicines - making infused oils from fresh and dried plant material, cautious use of essential oils, aromatherapy, making salves, butters, lotions and creams. The skin is our largest organ of assimilation. Herbal skin care. Rashes, itches, skin afflictions and herbs that address them.
Lesson 7 - Plant chemistry – Herbal constituents and actions, terminology of the herbalist, tastes and herbal energetics, the Vitalist or Natural approach to healing, choosing appropriate herbs to treat the whole person, introduction to case study work.
Lesson 8 - Laying the Groundwork of Nourishment - Nourishing Ourselves to Optimum Health & Vitality, Vitamins & Minerals - well developed information on each vitamin and mineral, the importance of each, what they do, where to find them, specific herbs and foods that offer them, how to recognize and overcome vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Lesson 9 - The Digestive System - Physiology and Pharmacology, what foods and herbs do we consume to support over-all digestive health and vitality and how are they best prepared. In-depth examination of the role the digestive process plays in our health. Planning and executing a health supportive dietary regime. Digestive fire. Vital essence. Bitters. Food allergies.
Lesson 10 - The Reproductive and Endocrine Systems - Physiology and Pharmacology, Herbs for Women's Health, Herbs for Men's Health, fertility & reproduction, PMS, menopause/andropause, hormonal chemistry, choosing herbs that nourish, strengthen, tone and balance these systems, delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 11 - The Immune and Lymphatic System, Physiology and Pharmacology, herbs to nourish our immunity, herbal antibiotics, herbs, roots, lichen, fungi that enhance immunity, move lymph fluids, methods of delivery, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 12 - The Nervous System & Brain, Physiology and Pharmacology, Nervines and Restoratives, herbs to nourish, strengthen and tone the nervous system, herbs to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, addressing addiction and brain chemistry imbalances, herbal antidepressants as alternatives to Prozac, etc., Herbs for Mind and Spirit. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 13 - Chronic and Acute Pain, Physiology and Pharmacology, herbs that relieve pain, applications, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 14 – The Endocrine System - Physiology and Pharmacology. Adaptogens - the importance of understanding the uses of this unique class of herbs, adaptogens as a bridge between the immune, nervous and glandular systems, their importance in increasing metabolic efficiency and reducing susceptibility to illness and disease. Homeostasis and the effects of adaptogens on the whole body/mind/spirit. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 15 - The Skeletal and Muscular Systems - Physiology and Pharmacology, choosing herbs to support, heal and maintain strong bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments throughout life. The role of exercise in maintaining the health of our skeletal and muscular frame. Delivery methods, dosages and contraindications.
Lesson 16 - The Excretory System - Physiology and Pharmacology, choosing appropriate herbs to support and maintain the health of the kidneys and bladder, homeostasis, maintaining the balance between acid, water and salt base of the blood, the role of the kidneys in hormonal production, herbal delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 17 – Heart, Lungs & Circulation System - Physiology and pharmacology, transporting blood, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste throughout the body. Choosing appropriate herbs to support, nourish, strengthen and heal the heart, nourish the blood and blood vessels, lungs, air passageways, throat, mouth, and nasal passages. Delivery methods, dosages, contraindications.
Lesson 18 - Council of the Herbal Allies – Organs and Body Systems Review. Materia Medica Review. Earth Songs Heal Her - Initiation and Commencement
Correspondence Course Refund Policy: There are no refunds or cancellations accepted once materials are sent.
3 YEAR COMMUNITY HERBALIST TRAINING PROGRAM - New class begins May, 2011
The most basic health care provided around the world for all human beings through all ages is primary health care. Primary care is non-specialist health care and America is now in the midst of a primary health care crisis.
Community Herbalists are in the unique position to make a meaningful contribution to human culture at the local level in these turbulent times. Some of the ways we can do this is by supporting healthy choices, providing herbal education, focusing on preventive health care and offering affordable, ecologically sound, herbal alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs to the people within our local communities.
The Community Herbalist Program focuses on providing the student with a wide array of herbal and other solutions to many common primary care needs of human beings from birth through death and the guidance needed to present these solutions in a broad community context. The emphasis is on total family/community wellness and includes not only the physical body, but our minds, hearts and spirits as well.
The first year and a half of study for the Community Herbalist Program is the Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course which lays the foundation for the work that follows. (Details and complete lesson plan are outlined above.) This course takes a full 18 months to complete and serves as the first half of the three year program.
The second phase of the 3 year Community Herbalist program focuses on the work of deepening our knowledge and connection with the plants, and the wise use of the medicines made from them, and applying this knowledge directly within the family and community.
A major focus of the following year and a half of study will be on broadening your herbal and healing experience, knowledge and confidence in such ways that include being able to share it in meaningful ways in schools, clinics, hospitals, prisons, learning centers, holistic healing centers, community groups, your own organized classes and doing personal work with individuals seeking herbal education and support (consultations).
Upon completion of the first 18 months study program, In November of your second year, you will receive an extensive reading list with both suggested and required reading that will keep you inspired and diligently engaged during the rest of the program. Each month or so you will choose at least one book from the various sections of the list, keep detailed notes on the reading material and compose a report which will be emailed to me.
You are required to submit 12 book reports of at least 1,000 words in length during the following 18 months, or second phase of the program. I will respond with comments and notes and your report will then be shared with the rest of your class. Monthly reports and updates on your work as well as student-teacher interaction are required.
The work you began with case study assessment in Lesson 7, during phase one of the program, will continue during the second phase of the Community Herbalist Program, which moves you more deeply into practical field work. We will work together closely by email and phone if necessary, while you work with at least 3 individuals for a total of three months each. Detailed initial case study reports and thoroughly documented follow up work will be required for each of the three case studies. This work runs concurrently with the book reports submitted and circulated for review.
During the last six months of the program you will design and implement a plan for introducing yourself to your community as a Community Herbalist. You may choose to work in a clinical setting, an alternative healing center, present classes at a local school, initiate an herbal column for a local newspaper or regional magazine, help create a community herb garden, launch your own herbal business, or any number of projects that relate herbal medicine to your community at large.
Attendance at the on-site three day weekend intensive (Community Herbalist Weekend) in 2012 is required for all students in the Community Herbalist Program. All meals during your stay, as well as all plants and materials used in making medicine are included in the fee.
During the summer of your final year of study you are required to attend Community Herbalist Weekend (2013) and deliver a one hour presentation to those in attendance. Your summation and commencement will take place at that time.
Successful graduates of this program will be thoroughly prepared to enter the health field as a Community Herbalist. You will be awarded a Certificate of Completion stating you have completed a 3 year Community Herbalist Program at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine under the guidance of Gail Faith Edwards.
The 3 year Community Herbalist Program includes the 18 lesson Herbal Medicine Correspondence Course, books and materials, 18 months of four webinars each month, for a total of approximately 65-72 audio classes, extensive second phase reading list, on going correspondence, feedback, mentoring, review and guidance from me for full three years, two on-site 3 day weekend study sessions and a Certificate of Completion when you finish the 3 year Community Herbalist Program.
The fee for the 3 year Community Herbalist Program is $3,900. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to hold your place for the 3 year Program. Payment schedules are available.
"I have learned so much from you Gail. You are truly a wonderful teacher and healer. Thank you so much for being in my life. You are doing great things for others and have truly put your mark on Mother Earth. Many Blessing to you."
COMMUNITY HERBALIST WEEKEND - AUGUST 5-7, 2011
with Gail Faith Edwards and special guest, Margi Flint
We welcome you to join us here at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal Medicine for Community Herbalist Weekend! You do not have to be enrolled as a student to participate in this three day herbal learning intensive.
Our weekend setting is in the Blessed Maine Herb Gardens and the wild areas that surround the farm. We'll also have use of our beautiful new School House at the edge of the medicinal herb gardens, for indoor class time as necessary.
Our class time will reflect the rhythm of the season, and be an enjoyable combination of technical information with a great deal of hands-on experience with both wild and cultivated medicinal herbs as well as our natural human bodies.
Our program is specifically designed to build upon and strengthen the skills necessary to become a capable, confident and creative herbal healer. In order to do so we must possess a deep foundation of working knowledge regarding a broad spectrum of individual plants as well as an understanding of the messages expressed by the body.
Our focus will be three-fold: grounding and deepening our relationship with the natural world, perfecting our herbal medicine making skills and creating a strong foundation of practical herbal knowledge. Developing confidence in applying what we perceive from nature, including the human body, is an indispensable skill of the Community Herbalist.
During this three day intensive you will work and play with a group of like-minded people and be encouraged to fully immerse yourself in the heart and soul of traditional herbal medicine. Class time will be intimate and informal with plenty of time and opportunity for personal attention to your individual learning style.
Our special guest this year is Margi Flint RH, Herbal Mentor AHG, a renowned professional herbalist and author. She'll be offering a two day intensive entitled Reading the Body on August 6-7.
She will be sharing the meaning of the facial lines, colors and blemishes of the face, nails and tongue as a way of reading the body’s signals in regards to disease processes. This will be an engaging, dynamic and interactive presentation and includes some very traditional and valuable tools for knowing how to read the body and translate that into a more specific herbal protocol for healing.
Community Herbalist Weekend:
Our weekend begins with a day-long intensive with Gail, The Way of the Wild Heart.
The Way of the Wild Heart approach to healing is an earth-honoring tradition that stretches back in time to our earliest ancestors. Understanding and experiencing this unique perspective is the essential theme of our entire three day session.
Learning to open our wild hearts is a simple process that can easily be learned. It is through cultivating awareness of the heart as an organ of perception, and developing skill in using the heart to gather knowledge of the natural world, that we learn to connect with nature in an intimate, healing and reciprocal way. This work is the centerpiece of the learning you will do here and is the framework around which our class revolves. It requires diligent pursuit of a deep connectedness to the natural world.
"All our time with you, Gail, is nourishing and informative."
"You've made it all seem so simple, so much a part of everyday life. Taking this class is the best thing I've ever done for myself."
"I've particularly enjoyed being exposed to your wonderful outlook, uplifting personality, and spirituality."
I’m passionate about teaching, and my goal is to provide you with the best herbal learning experience possible. I’ll personally introduce you to a broad range of medicinal plants and their traditional uses, and help to ground your growing herbal knowledge with plenty of hands-on experience.
You'll learn how to use your body to understand the messages and energetic qualities of plants through the senses of sight, taste, touch, hearing and smell. We'll ground this knowledge with plenty of practice and experience with the plants themselves.
"It truly was a pleasure spending time with you. I think you are a brilliant herbalist/teacher and so enjoyed your wonderful energy and loving spirit."
"I had such an amazing time at Blessed Maine Herb Farm! Gail and her family are beautiful people and it was a blessing to share space with them. Gail I love your enthusiasm for herbs...It was just what I needed to continue opening my wild heart! Thank you thank you thank you!!!"
"Studying with you has changed my life. I see the natural world in a whole new way!"
"I've grown immensely both personally and professionally through my involvement with you and this awesome exploration of the herbs"
Organic Herb Gardening
Participants will explore all aspects of medicinal herbs, from the earth up. Your herbal study begins with understanding that the living soil creates the foundation for all life on earth. We’ll review the concepts and practices of organic gardening, including "natural gardening" and permaculture, cultivation, wildgathering and proper harvesting techniques, and all types of herbal processing.
Herbal Medicine Making
You will have the opportunity to prepare an assortment of herbal medicines during our medicine making segments and these will be yours to keep.
Water-based Medicines - We’ll cover the proper preparation of water-based herbal medicines, using both freshly gathered and previously dried plant material, you’ll gain confidence in making and using herbal teas, infusions, decoctions and syrups and learn when and how to use a wash, soak, compress and poultice. We’ll most likely have a spiritual flower bath in the garden!
Spirit Based Medicines - You will have the opportunity to explore different techniques for tincturing herbs, including using a variety of menstrums such as alcohol, vinegar and glycerin.
Oil Based Medicines - You'll also put up an oil-based medicine of your choice and we'll hope to find time to make a salve as well.
"I have to tell you that after all these years of studying herbs and being familiar with Wise Woman Ways, meeting and learning from you really helped me understand nourishment as medicine. For the first time I really felt that I was "making medicine" because it was happening in a beautiful, humble, prayerful, faithful way. Thank you, thank you."
Wildgathering
We’ll go on a wildgathering adventure together and you'll have the opportunity to meet and gather medicinal herbs from the wild mountain meadows and woods surrounding the farm. During this outing you'll learn about wild plants in their native habitats, gain an understanding through practice of ethical and sustainable gathering techniques, and learn plant identification. This will also provide you with a wealth of information and experience regarding what plants to look for in what types of locations, and when to best harvest and process them for optimal medicinal value.
Herbal Healing
An important aspect of our work is focusing on our case studies and addressing the health of the whole person. This segment will help you to acquire and develop diagnostic skills, as well as intuitive herbal skills. We’ll delve into preventive health care, how to safely and effectively use herbal antibiotics, and how to treat chronic pain and other common ailments.
In the evening, third year students in the Community Herbalist Program will give their final and in-depth herbal presentations.
"My health, and that of my family, is so much better now. You taught us so many ways to nourish and heal ourselves, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well."
Spirit Healing
Herbs are not drugs. They contain not only measurable, but unmeasurable qualities as well. During your three day weekend here you'll be exposed to sacred plant medicine and have opportunities to experience the magical, spiritual and emotional properties of herbs. You will encounter and deepen shamanic skills, participate in earth ceremony and expand your connection to spirit.
"Your magic, your knowledge and wisdom, your connection with the earth and the plants have inspired and empowered me. Thank you so very much."
Herbal Medicine Chest
Your learning experience will continue long after our Community Herbalist Weekend has ended, as you gain confidence by using the medicines you have made here and in applying them using techniques you learned in Reading the Body..
You'll be well on your way to becoming a creative, confident and accomplished herbal healer.
"The herbal knowledge you shared with me has spilled into my practice and greatly enhanced the work I do with my clients."
"I'm a much better nurse now after taking your class."
"Thank you for a wonderful class, your time, your wisdom, your wild heart, your yummy food and you!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed everything and look forward to more time with you!"
"Thank you for all of your wise words and energy, for welcoming me on your land, in your life and heart. I am blessed to have met you."
"Thank you so much! You demystified so many key points, showed me how to harvest plants with care and reverence, and how to nourish my soul. Thanks!"
All our meals will be freshly prepared with organically grown produce, and this is included in your fee. All medicinal plants used in medicine making, as well as all supplies, including alcohol, vinegar, oil, honey, beeswax, cocoa butter, jars, etc. are also included in your fee. You will need to bring a tent and camping supplies, a knife, basket or bag, and your personal items of choice.
Fee for this three day Community Herbalist Weekend is $275. A $100 deposit can be placed at the top of this page and is necessary to hold your spot. Alternately, there is a link at the bottom of the page where you can pay in full. Blessings!
Instructors:
Gail Faith Edwards, is an internationally recognized Community Herbalist with more than thirty years experience. She currently has correspondence course students in many countries around the world. She is the author of three books on herbal medicine and has offered herbal education programs for the past 18 years. Some of the places Gail has taught include the Sambhavana Clinic, Bhopal, India; The Gardens of Monte San Giacomo, Italy; Yale School of Nursing; University of Maine and College of the Atlantic.
She has personally trained hundreds of students and apprentices, many of whom have gone on to serve as community herbalists, health education teachers, herb gardeners, holistic healers, herb-wise mothers, and successful herbal business owners.
"You are the most gifted and influential teacher I have ever known."
Margi Flint owns and operates EarthSong Herbals, a busy family practice and herb school on the East Coast of the United States. Her filters of wisdom include over thirty years of labor coaching, polarity therapy, and herbal practice. Margi regularly speaks at nationally known herbal seminars in the States and in Europe.
She has been Adjunct Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine where she taught a four-week rotation in clinical herbal medicine for Fourth Year Medical Students and practitioners at Union Hospital and her clinic in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She continues to teach Herbal Pharmacology at North Shore Community College, and for The Masters of Applied Natural Products course at Massachusetts College of Pharmacology, The Birkmayer Institute in NM, plus Bastyr University and The School of Traditional Western Herbalism. The second edition of the textbook titled The Practicing Herbalist, Meeting with clients, Reading the body will be available for purchase and inscription.
OUR LADY OF THE GREEN; RE-WEAVING PLANT WISDOM, MEDICINE STORIES AND THE FEMININE DIVINE
I'm excited to offer a repeat of this exceedingly well received webinar course beginning Thursday, June 2 - Our Lady of the Green - Reweaving Plant Wisdom, Medicine Stories and the Feminine Divine. I'd love for you to join me for what I promise to be a life altering and deeply soul nourishing experience this summer!
This 13 week series of webinar classes will present a historical perspective on women’s spirituality, explore the roots of the Divine Feminine, devotion to Mary in the 21st century, and examine in-depth the herbs and foods long associated with the Divine Feminine, Mary and the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Week 1 – In the Beginning – The past is our heritage. It is our roots and our sustenance. Knowing the true story of our past brings us nourishment through the ages. This knowledge opens up doors to us, presents us with a myriad of new possibilities. It connects us to our ancestors. This nourishing connection gives us the courage and strength we need to act in the present. It brings us clarity of purpose. Our prehistoric ancestors of the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras.
"I LOVE your class so far! You are amazing and have such a warm voice too! Thank you for creating this - it is an important source of wisdom for me at this time."
Week 2 –The Land of Milk and Honey – From Fruitful Mother of the Clan to the destruction of Divine Ancestress and the end of the matrilineal clan system. The Goddess Religions – the theological structures and universal features spread over large geographical areas – female kinship, rites and customs and the subsequent social restructuring. She Who Holds the Reigns of Kings, ritual drama, the dying god or consort and the grieving priestess/mother.
Week 3 – Symbols of Sacred & Prophetic Powers – Serpent/wise counsel, Sacred trees/communion. From Adam & Eve to the Prince of Peace. The Cumaen Sybil. The Feminine Face of God is shining from our faces.
Week 4 – Finding Mary – The continuing evolution of the Goddess. “Mary has a lineage; it is more than the lineage of the House of David. All Neolithic Goddess roads lead to Mary.” Great Mother - Queen of Heaven – The Triple Goddess – Mother of God. The Protestant Reformation and subsequent “de-throning of Mary.”
"Thank you, Gail! That was such an exhilarating talk. I was not raised Catholic, but I have been drawn to Mary in recent years, and I have a lovely little alabaster statue of Mary. I've always felt that she is a representation of not just the mother of Jesus, but of Kwan Yin and all of the other goddesses through time, just with another name. Thank you for your wonderful insight and wisdom." T.Schultz
Week 5 – Reclamation – Reclaiming a most important party of our Judeo-Christian heritage. The secret stories of plants, perceiving the wild heart of nature, gathering information directly from the Wild Heart of the Earth. Reading from the Book of Life. From the Songs of Solomon to the new physics. The transfer of ancient knowledge through association with plants. Acquiring true knowledge.
Week 6 – The Burning Times – Revisiting marea, strigae, lamiae and night spirits – witches and women shamanism. The Inquisition, Heinrich Kramer and The Malleus Maleficarium. The role of the local, secular tribunals, intellectuals, printed manuals and peasant participation. St. Joan of Arc.
Week 7 – The Mary Garden – The great body of wisdom accumulated through the ages regarding the wondrous earth goes underground. Gardens as devotional practice. Early Christian’s shamanic practices, the transference of ancient seasonal celebrations and local geographical goddesses into the evolving liturgical calendar. Queen of the May and the flowers/trees/shrubs long associated with the Feminine Divine. Planning and planting a Mary Garden.
"I just listened to the Mary Garden class again ... each time I listen, I get something new!"
Week 8 – The Angelic Psalter – The rosary is a string of beads used as an implement of prayer and meditation – it is a powerful tool for peace. Early history of prayer beads. Two simple and ancient prayers form the heart and soul of the rosary and their recitation leads us into the timeless sacred dance of our ancestors. How to Pray the Rosary – stepping into the mysteries of the Rosary as mythic ritual performance unfolding before our eyes. These mysteries contain the stories of our primeval theological truths, they are Medicine Stories. Prayer is a living tradition, praying for the earth community.
"What a lovely class! I love the rosary, but until now I have said "alternative" prayers. I have read books about the rosary but they all drown in "religious" terms and ideas. I really love how you present it Gail. Still traditional but in a new way. Thank you!"
Week 9 – The Sacred Mystery Stories – Examining each of the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries and naming the traditional herbs, foods and medicines associated with each of them – The Sacred Wheel of Life.
Week 10 –Our Lady of the Green - Our Lady’s Florilegia – Teachings of the Herbs, Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 1 – The Joyful Mysteries – The Eastern quadrant of the wheel – Liliaceae and Lamiaceae plant families, Figs, poppies, chamomile – Hathor, Persephone, Demeter, Hera, St. Ann, Cybele, Ceres, Flora, Mary and the Assumption, the Eleusian Mysteries.
Week 11 – Teachings of the Herbs, Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 2 – The southern quadrant of the wheel – The Luminous Mysteries – Grains, grapes, fermented foods and beverages, Brassica family plants.
Week 12 – Teachings of the Herbs, Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 3 – The western quadrant of the wheel – The Sorrowful Mysteries – Olive, St. John’s wort, Aloe vera, Passionflower.
Week 13 – Teachings of the Herbs Flowers and Trees of the Mysteries, Part 4 – The northern quadrant of the wheel – The Rosaceae family of plants – Mary’s Emblem - Roses, hawthorn, apple, pear plum, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, seaweeds.
This 13 week webinar course will begin Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 PM. A downloadable recording of each 1 hour class will be made available to students within minutes after the class. Those unable to attend the live webcast can listen at their convenience. An extensive reading list will be provided and suggested reading for individual classes will be offered but not required. Students will also receive links to YouTube videos and a weekly image album that relate to the course work and will enhance their experience.
A copy of Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them and a hand-made, natural olive wood rosary will be provided to each participant. This course will be life altering and soul nourishing. I welcome you to join us!
Course fee $250. There is a link at the bottom of this page where you can register.
gailea88@gmail.com
257 Chapman Ridge Road
Athens, Maine 04912
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Wondering what it takes to become an herbalist? Read Gail's thoughts on the subject here. |
If you have a question or concern about growing or using medicinal herbs, please feel free to ask. We're here to help, and a response is guaranteed. |
Thank you for visiting ~ blessings on your day!
- Community Supported Medicine Plan
- Way of the Wild Heart Webcast
- Study Herbal Medicines with Gail Faith Edwards
- Spring 2012 in Italy
- Through the Wild Heart of Mary; Teachings of the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary and the Herbs and Foods Associated with Them.
- Organic Herbs - Certified Organic Herbal Extracts
- Organic Herbs - Certified Organic Herb Teas & Bulk Herbs
- Organic Herbs - Certified Organic Compound Formulas
- Organic Herbs - Certified Organic Herbs for Menopause
- Organic Herbs - Syrups, made with Certified Organic herbs
- Organic Herbs - Goddess Body Organics - Oils, Salves, Creams and more, all made with Certified Organic herbs
- Organic Herbs for Sacred Use - Smudge Sticks, Incense, Smoking Blend, Dream Pillows
- Healing Baltic Amber - Necklaces, Tincture, Oil, Cream
- Afghanistan Women's Pashmina Shawls
- New! Floral Note Cards
- More books by Gail - Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs
- Traversing the Wild Terrain of Menopause
- ARTICLES BY GAIL - Herbs for the Immune System
- - Caring for the Skin
- - Herbs for Women's Health
- ADAPTOGENS - Herbs for Radiant Health, Stress Relief and Longevity
- Herbs for Mind and Spirit
- Healthy Heart & Bones
- Herbs for Chronic Pain Relief
- The Way of the Wild Heart
- Organic Herb Gardening,Gathering and Medicine Making Calendar
- Herbal Consultations
- Links to Our Friends
- Interview with Gail
