If you read my recent post on nurturing the senses, you’ll know about the release of the updated version of Herb Energetics, the multi-media course I created with John Gallagher of learningherbs.com teaching my take on the essential elements of sense-based herbalism. The course details have now been released and signup is open over at the Herb Energetics site.

In case you missed that post but are interested in the course, here’s a quick definition of energetics from my perspective:

Herbal energetics are generally defined as a framework of understandings of how to best match herbs to the individual and/or situation. Spectrums (such as cool/warm) and properties (such as astringent) are associated with herbs based on our observation of their effect on the body. For example, when we choose the moistening, mucilaginous root of Althaea to treat a dry, hacking cough where there is a burning pain in the chest, we’re using basic herbal energetics.

I consider this topic fundamental to the skillful and effective practice of herbalism, whether we’re just trying our immediate family and friends or working in a full time clinical practice. Learning the subtle (and not so subtle) nuances of how a plant can tend to work in the human body can greatly enhance our existing studies or understandings of herbalism.

Systems of herbalism such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani tibb, and Ayurveda can offer an existing and well-developed approach to herbal energetics but for some of us, the concepts may seem out of context or difficult to understand if we weren’t raised in those traditions. Herb Energetics is my attempt to pare energetics down to an easily understood system with familiar terms and concepts that give us the ability to deepen our intimacy with the plants as well as giving us tools to better understand human constitutions and patterns of pathology.

To me, herbal energetics are all about recognizing the the wisdom of our bodies and our ancient relationship with plants as medicines as well as food, poison and beyond, in a way that allows us to have a greater understanding of how to help each other through hands on experience – through tasting the plant, understanding what it does organoleptically, with our sensorial bodies – and then directly applying that knowledge. This isn’t just head knowledge, it’s whole body knowledge that results in an ever more whole and effective approach to healing and herbalism.

Herb Energetics 2.0

“The simple act of nurturing the senses might well do far more for healing of the world than all our programs and inventions.” ~ Cheryl Sanders

Being an herbalist is a constant exercise in balance – with so much being given out in the work of helping others we also need the pleasure of finding and settling into our own nourishment. Because after all, if we can’t take care of ourselves, how can we possibly take care of others? Part of the joy of my work is in the sensory intimacy I have with the plants, the close-up looks at buds and rhizomes via sight, scent, touch and taste. On one hand, this is an absolutely essential way of understanding the nature of the plant, and on the other hand, it’s pure fun for me and my seeking senses.

When I find myself burned out from too many hours of website design, clinical case notes and pharmaceutical research, I unconsciously move toward more sensory centered activities involving the plants. I climb Juniper trees in the snow to get closer to the translucent ivory globes of Mistletoe fruits and rub Cypress resin between my fingers and revel in the spiced wood scent of it. I’m grateful that this sensual immersion in all things Plantae are an integral part of my work. I cannot imagine practicing herbalism without being grounded in the energetic tendencies of the plants communicated through the senses.

Herbal energetics are inherently sense-based and common sense  while being clearly tied into the scientific perspective of plants that tells us that when plants have certain constituents as part of their overall makeup, they’re more likely to act in certain ways on the physiology of the human body. I’ve talked about this in more detail in my previous post on herbal energetics that you can read right here: Defining Herbal Energetics.

In this vein, I’ve created a curriculum that helps students to understand the tendencies and actions of the herbs directly through their senses. I primarily teach this in person, because hands-on workshops are much more effective at facilitating sensory immersion than words on a screen. However, so many people asked for a more accessible way of learning this curriculum that last year John Gallagher and I put together a multimedia online course for those can’t attend such a workshop. And now, thanks to the many requests, we’ve decided to relaunch Herb Energetics for a second round. I’ve also taken into consideration the feedback I received with the first round and created a whole new module based around constitutional theory to help bring the entire course more into focus and make it more applicable in the real world.

Below is more information on the original inception of Herb Energetics, or, you can head right over to the Herb Energetics site to check out the first module for free to see if it’s something that might fit into your practice. If you like what you see, please share with your networks and friends!

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The Sensory Language of Life

One of the most fascinating aspect of working with plants is the how and why of what they do in the human body. I’m the sort of person who is endlessly (and perhaps annoyingly) curious, like an eternal four year old asking everyone –why– about even the most obvious aspects of the world around me.

For this reason, I spend a significant amount of time reading medical and botanical research. It’s the same reason I spend even more time up close and personal with plants and people. All the research in the world can’t begin to replace personal experience and the knowledge that stems from it. Herbalism is, by it’s very definition, a healing art comprised of many overlapping and complimentary fields. From the essential knowledge of how to identify each plant to knowing how and when to harvest to how to prepare medicines to client assessment and diagnostics, herbalists tend to be flexible and broadly knowledgeable folks.

When I first began studying herbalism, I was particularly fascinated by Traditional Chinese Medicine and the way TCM practitioners could match plant to person in such specific and accurate way. Which led me to an extensive look at the energetic systems of many traditional forms of herbal medicine around the world. Which brought me right back here, to my senses and the plants around me. Looking at the underlying principles of all forms of herbal energetics, we can easily see that it is our senses that inform of us of the basic nature of each plant. Feeling and understanding what the plant communicates to us through our bodies (energetics, herbal actions etc.) is a foundational element for the practicing herbalist, just as a working knowledge of botany, diagnostics, harvesting and medicine making (among other things) are also essential.

The way I understand, practice and teach herbalism is simple, common sense and experience-based. I don’t know any other way of doing it. Human physiology and the plants themselves are so incredibly complex and intricate, that it makes sense to me to approach both elements in as practical terms as possible. This means learning what works and passing it on while adapting to the current context and needs. No extraneous fluff or hubris, no bullshit, just what really works for herbalists, the plants they ally with and the folks they help.

The more I’ve written about herbs and their energetics the more emails I’ve received asking for ever more detailed articles about how to understand and use herbal energetics. For many people, reading is a less than ideal format for comprehending and integrating such experiential lessons. I’ve found that teaching energetics/actions tends to be much more effective in person and yet, living in such a remote location I have limited chances to work with people face to face.

So when John Gallagher of Learningherbs.com proposed that we put together an online course focused on sense-based herbal energetics I jumped at the opportunity. John, with his genius for bringing together many elements into an integrated and interactive whole, has made it possible to make a truly multi-media and multi-faceted way of learning widely available. The format he’s created is amazing and really fits into my emphasis on simple and straight-forward, making the information that much easier to learn and utilize.

John traveled all the way to southwestern New Mexico from Washington state to film and record the course so it could be based right here in the Canyon, on the land that has inspired and fueled so much of my teaching and work. In fact, nearly all of it was recorded right on our cabin’s back porch. We even had a little help from Rhiannon in showing us exactly how energetics work and how easy they are to understand and learn.

After many months of work creating and producing the course, I’m very excited to finally announce the release of the new Herb Energetics course, offered by Learningherbs.com. Everything you need to know about it is right here: http://HerbEnergetics.com and we’re even offering the first module, “The Sensory Language of Life” as a free gift.

I hope that if you’re interested in learning more about sense-based herbal energetics you’ll take the time to check this out and PLEASE pass on the information through your blog, facebook, twitter etc., to anyone else you think might benefit from the course! Many thanks in advance for your assistance in getting the word out!

~Kiva

November 11th, 1911 - May 28th, 2009

Juliette de Bairacli Levy’s contribution to modern herbalism has been enormous and her work has inspired and informed countless herbalists, not least Rosemary Gladstar and Susun Weed. In a  time period when herbalism was being shunned as old fashioned and ineffective in the United States, Juliette was reviving and introducing important healing knowledge from all over the world, including Turkey, North Africa, Israel, Germany and Greece. Her time learning from and living with the Romani (Gypsy) is especially notable. I so wish I’d been able to meet Juliette in person before she passed away to personally thank her for sharing her experiences, knowledge and wisdom.

Juliette's daughter Luz with an Owl friend.

Often called the grandmother of American herbalism, Juliette’s contribution to our current herbal community is invaluable, the knowledge and inspiration she continues to provide to generations of herbalists is remarkable and certainly worthy of celebration. Her books were some of the very first I read about herbal medicine and the rambling stories, wise insights and straight common sense have stuck with me throughout my practice and I appreciate them more and more over the passing years. The generous and unpretentious approach she took to healing inspires me every day, as does her alliance with common, weedy plants that she found around here wherever she traveled during her often nomadic life.

Not only a fascinating example of a multi-cultural, place-based approach to folk herbalism, her persistent love for animals, children and plants is as valuable as it is endearing and resulted in a body of work oftentimes specific to animals and children in a way not often found in modern writing. Her tales of simple, joyful meals and wild adventures blended with her knowledge of herbs and healing are a joy to read. My ten year old daughter Rhiannon becomes completely absorbed in the narratives and I’ve found the books a great way to give her a different perspective on place, history and herbalism.

I especially admire her willingness to jump into difficult situations where she was often unable to speak more than a few words of the language in order to learn or understand more. Stubborn, independent and able to navigate complex cultural situations while still tending her young children and caring for those around her, Juliette’s legacy is ever more relevant to herbalists, homesteaders and travelers today. I’m pretty certain that most of my readers will love her books if you haven’t read them already. They’re perfect not only for learning from but for staying focused and immersed in earthy, simple ways and for introducing friends and family, especially children, to the stories of our the art we each practice as herbalists.

Susun Weed is doing us all the great service of keeping these books in print so that we can continue to enjoy and learn from them. Not only that, but she’s also offering a number of discounts or gifts to anyone who buys any of the three re-released books. The series started off with Summer in Galilee, A Gypsy in New York is the newest installment and coming up August 15th is Spanish Mountain Life

To learn more about Juliette’e writing and work, take a look right here.

For those of you interested in gaining real life experience and intensive training in herbal medicine in a clinical setting that is overseen/taught by several great practitioners and teachers, this is truly an amazing opportunity.

The faculty includes Paul Bergner and Tania Neubauer of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism. The training will take place on the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua this coming July. And amazingly enough, no clinical experience or previous knowledge of Spanish is necessary!

Here’s a few highlights from the site:

“Participants in this course will work in a primary care setting under the supervision of licensed naturopathic physicians and will observe all phases of the clinical visit – interview, physical exam, differential diagnosis, and preparation and administration of integrative treatments, which may include herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage and bodywork, flower essence therapy, counseling, and pharmaceutical medicine. You can expect to see a vast range of conditions during the clinic time. Many ask, ‘Is this course relevant to my practice in the Global North?’ The answer: a resounding YES!  A recent clinical course included attention to colds/flu, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, COPD, parasites and infectious diarrhea, malnutrition, diabetes, hypertension, bladder and kidney infections, kidney stones, cancer, scabies, eczema, psoriasis, allergies, wounds, depression, anxiety, all manner of musculo-skeletal concerns, STIs, Pap smears, acute abdomen, and many more. See a link to some case summaries here.  You will collaborate with NDI physicians, NAIMH herbalists and Nicaraguan holistic medical practitioners to interview patients and form treatment plans for any number of conditions common wherever you may practice. You will practice thinking on your feet. This course will help you develop flexibility in your treatment approach, as we work with an extensive but largely donation-based natural product pharmacy, where medications available may change daily.  We provide translators, either the physician herself or an NDI staff translator will translate everything that happens in the visit. Beginning students or practitioners will find this course gives you an enormous head start in your learning and your practice. Practitioners with many years’ experience will find the opportunity to flex your clinical muscles, seeing a wide range of health concerns far more diverse than often encountered in most holistic medicine practices. “

Go to the site to learn more!

Spring in the Country of Lichen & Spines: Fragments of Home

by Kiva Rose

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Warm temperatures have arrived early in my corner of the Gila, with the Golden Smoke blooming sooner this year than I’ve ever previously seen. This follows a cold (-35F is plenty cold for me, thank you) and dry Winter. Now our seasonal winds blow the sand up in spiraling circles until it dances like the shifting forms of whirling dervishes against New Mexico’s lapis colored sky. The skeletal limbs of shattered Russian Thistles caught up in these little whirlwinds give sharp edges to the dancers.

Golden Smoke (Corydalis aurea)

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The Canyon trees bend in the same wild winds and yet last year’s withered purple Juniper berries cling to their branches as they’re tossed about in the breeze. They retain their pungent yet sweet flavor as well, a little drier perhaps, but still strong with the distinct magic that comes only with being the fruit of a Red Cedar tree.

One Seeded Juniper (Juniperus monosperma)

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Even in drought these mountains remain a country fraught with magic. If anything, the enchantment is turned up enough in these extreme conditions. Walking among the apricot and lavender colored volcanic rock I often find myself with a sense of the surreal, or more accurately, the hyperreal. The contrast of the barbed tips of white and black cactus spines draped in swaths of green Usnea fallen from the limbs of tall Pines is in itself strange enough to be disorienting at times. The sharp wrapped up in the soft, the colors blending and emerging as something altogether new.

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Mountain Candytuft is our first showy flower each and every year since I’ve come to the Canyon. It’s purplish leaves and violet to white flowers dot the mountainsides and draw the first butterflies. A member of the Brassicaceae, the spicy-sweet taste of its flowerheads is reminiscent of a more flavorful broccoli and I’m always so excited to add it to my Spring soups and salads.

Mountain Candytuft (Noccaea fendleri subsp. glauca)

Mountain Candytuft (Noccaea fendleri subsp. glauca)

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The Cane Cholla is blushed a vivid pink from the cold temperatures but will return to its usual green color before producing flowers in a month or so. Clambering up and down the arroyos and dry creekbed, I peek under likely boulders looking for a few fronds of green and rust colored ferns and run my fingers along the ragged margins of the many-colored lichens that grow from almost every stone surface here.

Cane Cholla (Cylindropuntia spinosior)

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The New Mexico Olive has just begun blooming and it’s golden spray of flowers will eventually give way to the bittersweet blue-purple fruits that Loba and I will harvest and brine and use as tiny but flavorful olives in our meals. When I stopped on my way home to photograph the flowers a spring-mad hare leapt from the brush and went galloping off in typical jackrabbit fashion, too quick for me to even snap a picture.

New Mexico Olive (Forestiera pubescens) in flower.

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Moonwort emerges from dust and sand, its silvery leaves streaking the landscape with a tenacious grace and filling the air with the warm sagey fragrance so peculiar to the West. The sweet butterscotch scent of Ponderosa resin mingles with the Moonwort and makes the canyon air at once heady and sensual. Crouching down in the leaf litter as I gather the Moonwort leaves and chunks of pine resin to infuse into warm oil, I press my face against the puzzle piece bark of a Ponderosa and breathe in the medicine of place. I sit back on my heels to absorb the whiplash power of something so simple, so fragile as awareness of this unbroken moment where I remember that this is what I’ve always wanted – all my stories and songs unraveling in the face of amber-skinned trees and downy bitter leaves. Sometimes the beauty of life just can’t be comprehended as anything rational, my body (including my brain) just have to experience it as this tactile, skin-shivering beast that it is. Fuck analysis for a moment, just drink it up.

Moonwort (Artemisia carruthii)

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Arizona Sycamores raise their tangle of bone-white branches to the sun and drink in the cold water that curls down the mountains to pool around their roots. The first hummingbirds beat the air with a breakneck rhythm that well suits their warrior ways yet also belies the expectations sometimes created by their seemingly delicate beauty. Like the land itself, what appears fragile at first glance may be reinforced with a deeper strength.

On the Catwalk, near Glenwood, NM

Femail Broad-Tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)

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My home is a fierce place, fragrant with the scent of aromatic plants well adapted to aridity, populated with the varied songs of the myriad birds that take refuge in the trees and long grasses and sparkling with the glint of the Southwest sun on a thousand volcanic rocks forming these cliffs and arroyos. The Canyon is wild with the tracks of mountain lions and coatimundi, the soundless rush of opening flowers and the singing winds that circle and play among the emerging leaves.

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In the river, blue mica glimmers among the sand as the fish gather and part, gather and part with the tidal impulse of all things that love water. Spring in the country of lichen and spines feels warm under my bare feet this evening, and I dance to its strange, liquid music.

Bluestem Willow (Salix irrorata) staminate catkins

All Photos ©2011 Kiva Rose

Yes, it is January here in the mountains of New Mexico.

Yes, it does get to less than -10F out there some nights.

And why yes, that is a lovely new vivid green leaf from a picture I took just yesterday.

Specifically, it is the leaf of a Wax Currant (Ribes cereum) growing down by the river among the Canyon Walnuts and Grape vines. While it will still be quite some time before they flower and fruit, they are well known for their persistence in leafing out even during some of our coldest weather. I greatly appreciate this tenacity, especially as we get to the part of Winter where I feel an increasing longing for green growing plants.

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Another persistent plant that manages to grow throughout the Winter, and sometimes even flower, is one of our native vervains. Dakota Vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida) is a sprawling, colorful plant that grows in gravel, creeps from rock crevices and sometimes flowers in great cheerful clumps by the river. There’s no telling where it will pop up from year to year, but it is consistently abundant and beautiful. This particular plant is growing from a pile of rocks where the arroyo runs into the San Francisco River. I find its vibrantly pink and purple tinted leaves especially uplifting and frequently go sit near it during my recent afternoon walks. This Vervain is also one of my favorite medicinal plant and has relaxant nervine properties similar to other Verbena species. However, Glandularia bipinnatifida lacks the bitterness typical of most Vervain and seems to specifically excel as a nervous system tonic or trophorestorative.

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Pointleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) is a common evergreen shrub at middle elevations in the Gila bioregion. It reddish stems and brilliant green leaves are always a welcome haven even in our snowiest, coldest months. And of course, it’s another favorite medicine. For those of you less familiar with Southwestern herbs, Manzanita has very similar properties to a more widely known medicinal plant usually known as Uva Ursi or Bearberry (Arctstaphylos uva ursi) and is particularly useful where there is atony of the uterus and urinary tract. It’s often just known as a plant for UTIs but this is a vast oversimplification of the far wider usefulness of this herb. I am especially inclined to work with Manzanita (or Uva Ursi) when there are chronic reproductive or urinary tract infection, often accompanied by discharge, a dragging sensation in the pelvic region and overall tissue atonicity.

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The Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) leaves tend to be mostly died back this time of year, but some of the yellow and green leaves still persist, usually in great floppy masses that make for rather cuddly looking Mullein piles. Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for a while and have read my previous ode (otherwise known as a monograph) to Mullein, know how fond I am of this common and valuable medicine, whether roots, leaves or flowers.

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American Speedwell (Veronica americana) thrives in our river, usually on sandbars, where the bank meets the water or in this case, in rock crevices where small boulders jut from the river surface. The petiolate leaves are especially sweet and juicy tasting this time of year, perfect for adding the zest of wild greens to any meal. They combine well with Watercress and Dandelion greens, both of which are sometimes found this time of year but seem to be in short supply this particular time around. Speedwell is also a traditional medicine, although not much used in US herbalism as far as I can tell except by those either well versed in traditional European herbalism or indigenous medicine. It’s a favorite alterative of mine for where there is lymphatic stagnation, “bad skin” (including eczema in many cases) and frontal, nauseating headaches. It combines well (once again) with Watercress for all sorts of hepatitis (meaning any kind of liver inflammation), especially where the urine is dark and scant.

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And of course, we mustn’t forget the Nettles! Our local species, the annual Mountain Nettle (Urtica gracilenta) is a common and vibrant presence throughout our Canyon winters. No matter how many times it freezes back, it reemerges in brilliant shades of green as soon as we have a few warm days in a row. I have worked with (and written about) Nettles at length, but continue to be yet more amazed by them as each year goes by. My favorite medicine are almost always also foods, and this goes triple for Nettles, which end up in so many teas, infusions, soups, dips, tincture formulas and other recipes that it’s hard to keep track of. Whether root, fruit or leaf, this plant is a medicine powerhouse and one recognize the world over for its healing and nutritive powers. And in the middle of Winter, with snow and dead leaves all around, its glittering greeness is a medicine all its own. One that never fails to put a smile on my face, even on the chilliest, darkest days.

As the light grows longer and stronger, and humans grow restless in their cozy dens, the plants begin to reemerge, to spring in small but decisive bursts from sun-warmed and snow-wet ground. I know that for most of us, there are still several long months to wait before the season begins to truly shift. In the meantime, there is still time to rest and to watch the quiet persistence of green medicine through evergreens, seedlings and the tenacious leaves that grow back, time after time, from the roots.

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Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) leaves in the riverbank sand.

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All photos ©2011 Kiva Rose

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged us to take a break, after nonstop deadlines around the 2011 TWH Conference organizing and the production of the first ever Plant Healer Magazine.  There are still lots of tasks to be done this month on both projects, as well as tons of emails needing answering… but that said, we’ve still been treating the last few days as a bit of a break, and are feeling more relaxed and rewarded right now.  7Song, our valued herbalist ally and friend has been visiting and checking out what he can see of Anima Sanctuary’s plant life in Winter.  And for the past week we’ve had almost Summer-like weather, the “Indian Summer” Wolf had predicted.  While the nights have been getting down below freezing, the afternoons are brilliantly sunny are warm.

We take to heart the rewards of the work we do, the people we affect and community we so our part to help grow, the getting to work here in such a wild and special place, and the blessings of the plants.  And we’ve taken to heart the meaningful gifts we’ve received from folks since the conference, most recently one pulled last night from the volumes of careful padding that encased and protected it.  Sandwiched between clear glass is our poster memorializing the first annual Traditions In Western Herbalism Conference many of you attended last September, its peach toned canyon cliffs exaggerated by the complimentary hued and agate textured frame that surrounds it, each piece bound to the other by glimmering strips of beaded copper leading.  Herbalists and fellow wildland residents Denise and Pepper have blown us over with the beauty of this gift, the hours that went into its creation along with the suggestion of folks thinking about us so sweetly, and caring this much.

-Wolf & Kiva

“Deep roots are not reached by frost” – J. R. R. Tolkien

Cebadilla/Green Gentian - Frasera speciosa

As the dark months roll in and the seasons change, I find myself spending a great deal of time digging, washing and chopping freshly gathered roots. The sharp fragrance of Elecampane, the earthy bite of Cebadilla, the anise intensity of Sweet Root, the unmistakable aroma of Oshá and perhaps especially the sweet spice of American Spikenard all permeate the cabin kitchen, the medicine lodge and even my skin. I have often been known to take bites right out of the freshly washed Aralia or Ligusticum roots, chewing them thoughtfully as I continue my processing. I find that this direct sensory interaction with the plants greatly aids my understanding of how the herbs work and the particular properties of the specific batch.

A great many of my roots, once cleaned and cut into small pieces find themselves immersed in honey in some fashion, often with a bit of whiskey or brandy for good measure. A regular ol’ tincture or even well-stored dried root would of course suffice but I love having these root honeys and elixir on hand during the winter. In some cases, as with Spikenard, the honey simply amplifies the already exquisite taste of the plant. In other cases, a good example being Elecampane, the honey help to moderate the very strong “medicinal” (this is a polite way of saying “tastes like shit” in most cases) flavor of the root. It’s certainly a great way to get most any child or persnickety adult (you know who you are!) to ingest their medicine.

Oshá (Ligusticum porteri) elixir and roots

Even my daily nourishing infusions this time of year are often actually decoctions, made up of spicy, warming roots and barks that act as warming, cheering allies as the green pulls back and the nights grow longer. The stews that simmer on the woodstove usually include Astragalus and mushrooms such as Maitake and Morels, not to mention the root vegetables like Parsnips, Carrots and Turnips that provide so much nourishment and flavor all Autumn and Winter long.

It’s a yearly ritual for my family to make up a good-sized batch of Gila Harvest Cider, complete with Horseradish root, Turmeric, Garlic and Ginger in addition to hot Peppers and the season’s last fresh Basil. Lately I’ve been adding Lovage as well, which has become a favorite plant ally in the last few years.

Cebadilla/Green Gentian (Frasera speciosa) roots

A particular pleasure of mine while the snow falls on the Canyon is to gaze at the many quart and gallon jars filled to the brim with Autumn harvested roots and berries as they macerate in their various brews. I especially love to unscrew the lid of the Oshá Elixir and deeply breathe that spicy sweet scent that so evokes the wild Aspen-clad verdancy of my beloved home here in the American Southwest. For a long moment, it brings me right back to being on my hands and knees in mountain meadows with my hands full of black, rich soil and the heft of fresh-dug roots. There’s a magic in this medicine, fraught with the spirit of wild land. Warm with the last days of Summer. Earth-deep and heavy with much-needed nourishment.

—————–

In other news, all of the details on my Herb Energetics course with Learningherbs.com have been released and signup is almost here. You can sign up for a limited time only, so head over to http://herbenergetics.com if you’re interested and read all about it before enrollment is over. John Gallagher has done an amazing job making this course interactive and easily accessible for a wide range of people. While my own homestudy courses do contain an herbal energetics component, it is quite different in format than the Herb Energetics course and doesn’t include any of the video or audio files at all. The window for sign-up is very small due to limited enrollment space so consider doing it right now!

One of the most fascinating aspect of working with plants is the how and why of what they do in the human body. I’m the sort of person who is endlessly (and perhaps annoyingly) curious, like an eternal four year old asking everyone –why– about even the most obvious aspects of the world around me.

For this reason, I spend a significant amount of time reading medical and botanical research. It’s the same reason I spend even more time up close and personal with plants and people. All the research in the world can’t begin to replace personal experience and the knowledge that stems from it. Herbalism is, by it’s very definition, a healing art comprised of many overlapping and complimentary fields. From the essential knowledge of how to identify each plant to knowing how and when to harvest to how to prepare medicines to client assessment and diagnostics, herbalists tend to be flexible and broadly knowledgeable folks.

When I first began studying herbalism, I was particularly fascinated by Traditional Chinese Medicine and the way TCM practitioners could match plant to person in such specific and accurate way. Which led me to an extensive look at the energetic systems of many traditional forms of herbal medicine around the world. Which brought me right back here, to my senses and the plants around me. Looking at the underlying principles of all forms of herbal energetics, we can easily see that it is our senses that inform of us of the basic nature of each plant. Feeling and understanding what the plant communicates to us through our bodies (energetics, herbal actions etc.) is a foundational element for the practicing herbalist, just as a working knowledge of botany, diagnostics, harvesting and medicine making (among other things) are also essential.

The way I understand, practice and teach herbalism is simple, common sense and experience-based. I don’t know any other way of doing it. Human physiology and the plants themselves are so incredibly complex and intricate, that it makes sense to me to approach both elements in as practical terms as possible. This means learning what works and passing it on while adapting to the current context and needs. No extraneous fluff or hubris, no bullshit, just what really works for herbalists, the plants they ally with and the folks they help.

The more I’ve written about herbs and their energetics the more emails I’ve received asking for ever more detailed articles about how to understand and use herbal energetics. For many people, reading is a less than ideal format for comprehending and integrating such experiential lessons. I’ve found that teaching energetics/actions tends to be much more effective in person and yet, living in such a remote location I have limited chances to work with people face to face.

So when John Gallagher of Learningherbs.com proposed that we put together an online course focused on sense-based herbal energetics I jumped at the opportunity. John, with his genius for bringing together many elements into an integrated and interactive whole, has made it possible to make a truly multi-media and multi-faceted way of learning widely available. The format he’s created is amazing and really fits into my emphasis on simple and straight-forward, making the information that much easier to learn and utilize.

John traveled all the way to southwestern New Mexico from Washington state to film and record the course so it could be based right here in the Canyon, on the land that has inspired and fueled so much of my teaching and work. In fact, nearly all of it was recorded right on our cabin’s back porch. We even had a little help from Rhiannon in showing us exactly how energetics work and how easy they are to understand and learn.

After many months of work creating and producing the course, I’m very excited to finally announce the release of the new Herb Energetics course, offered by Learningherbs.com. Everything you need to know about it is right here: http://HerbEnergetics.com and we’re even offering the first module, “The Sensory Language of Life” as a completely free gift.

I hope that if you’re interested in learning more about sense-based herbal energetics you’ll take the time to check this out and PLEASE pass on the information through your blog, facebook, twitter etc., to anyone else you think might benefit from the course! Many thanks in advance for your assistance in getting the word out!

~Kiva

P.S. If you’re interested in hands-on herbal energetics, you’ll also be wanting to check out herbalist and teacher Rosalee de la Foret’s totally free The Taste of Herbs webinar, which you can sign up for right here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/223964474

The September 2010 issue of Herbal Roots is all about Wild Rose!

Herbal Roots is a beautiful monthly online zine created, written, illustrated and published by community herbalist Kristine Brown. Published on the last Monday of every month, this periodical is a wonderful ongoing inspiration and resource for anyone interested in medicinal plants.

Much more than a zine, Herbal Roots is really an ongoing herbal course for children and beyond. She features one herb per issue, highlighting medicinal potential, herbal lore, recipes, craft uses and beautiful hand drawn illustrations as well as lots of creative interaction focusing on the plant that’s fun for both parents and children. There’s even an ongoing herbal journal project to keep kids interacting and learning between issues! Kristine describes the zine in her own words:

If you are looking for a herbal course that is easy to understand and has the ability to teach children about herbs, look no further! Herbal Roots Zine is designed to raise the interest level of children and adults through hands-on learning and repetition. Homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike have found Herbal Roots Zine a valuable learning resource for a subject that does not have many opportunities available for children: herbal healing.

Every issue is dedicated to a single herb, and illustrated by Kristine's beautiful artwork.

The information included on each herb is simple and experiential enough to entertain even very young children and in-depth and insightful enough to engage teens and yes, even us old timers. Personally, I find Herbal Roots to be an invaluable treasure in the homeschooling of our 10 year old daughter, Rhiannon. Which gives me a great excuse to read it myself. Even beyond parents, Herbal Roots Zine provides a great resource to any educator or caregiver hoping to find effective and easy ways to facilitate connection between children, the earth and the healing herbs.

Herbalist Rosalee de la Foret of Methow Valley Herbs has this to say about Herbal Roots Zine:

If you haven’t checked out the Herbal Roots Zine then I highly recommend it. I use this monthly zine a lot with my young herbal apprentice Tova Rose. She loves the stories, songs and activities. I love being able to quickly create meaningful content for our weekly meetings.

Kristine’s mission is clearly one fueled by passion and love for working with both herbs and children. The work she puts into each and every issue is exceptional, especially considering that she’s also a mother (caring for 6 children), homesteader, business owner (with a full line of herbal products), student and practicing herbalist! She’s a busy and talented woman, investing herself fully in what she most cares about with a result that benefits us all.

Herbal Roots is only $6 per issue or $60 for a year long subscription, which means you get two issues for free. You can subscribe right here! You can also find information on her current issues, examples of past issues and her plans for future issues on her easily navigated Herbal Roots site.

Kristine Brown - Creator, Author, Illustrator & Publisher of the Herbal Roots Zine.

Kristine is also a Wild Rose level sponsor of the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference, and a student in my advanced herbal program here at Anima Lifeways and Herbal School.

You can sign up for the Herbal Roots Newsletter AND subscribe to Herbal Roots Zine here: http://www.herbalrootszine.com

Learn more about Kristine’s herbal business, Luna Herb Co. here: http://lunaherbco.com/

And read her blog, Dancing in a Field of Tansy, right here: http://fieldoftansy.blogspot.com/

Hello folks, here in the Canyon, the Wild Roses (Rosa woodsii) are just beginning to bloom, the Blisswort (Scutellaria potosina) is flowering beautifully (more on those very soon) and the land is green and lush with such an abundantly rainy Spring! I’ve been on a bit of a writing hiatus, and my time’s been consumed by working on many big projects, not least the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference but also on several other exciting things I can’t really talk about just yet. What I can tell you is that I’ll be back to writing on a more regular basis very shortly, and that I’m putting together even more herbal, healing and related online goodness for ya’ll. To help make up for the lack of Kiva words lately, I want to announce a great new opportunity to get a big earful of my herbal ramblings in one concentrated dose.

Many of you know that I’m a big fan of the work of John Gallagher over at Learningherbs.com, who provides an amazing amount of free herbal information and opportunities as well as through his ongoing and interactive homestudy site/course over at Herbmentor.com.  John recently invited me to do a special FREE teleseminar for anyone who wanted to join in. Now, living out the sticks as I and my family do, seven river crossings from the nearest road on an 80 acre botanical sanctuary set within the Gila National Forest, you have to understand that I have no phone and only limited satellite internet running on a small system of solar panels. So it’s generally difficult for me to manage any sort of audio interviews of any kind. But I was so very excited about the particular subject matter that John proposed to me and the wonderful audience of this teleseminar that I really wanted to make the extra effort to do a live teleseminar.

This has all come together to become The Wild Remedy: Grassroots Herbalism from our Backyards & Beyond, a 60-90 minute free teleseminar. We’ll be talking about hands-on, down-home herbalism for everyone, including tips for beginners and for working with the wild and weedy plants all around you, including those in your own backyard! Additionally, we’ll be discussing working with common kitchen remedies, and even a bit about the energetics of foods and how you can create healing for your family through your meals every single day. I’ll also be sharing some details about the upcoming (and oh so exciting) Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference. Overall, we’ll be digging into the marrow of traditional herbalism, herbwifery, community-based healing and the many accessible ways we can each work with plants for greater health. You can find out all about the teleseminar right here, and also sign up (completely free) to participate next week.

And if that wasn’t enough, we’re also giving away some really great prizes during the teleseminar, including a free one year subscription to HerbMentor.com, one free ticket to the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference and multiple copies of the Wildcraft boardgame.

Sign up now at http://WildRemedy.com to join John Gallagher and I on Wednesday evening, June 9th, at 6:30 Mountain Time for a great conversation about hands-on herbalism from the grassroots!

~~~

All Photos ©2010 Kiva Rose & Jesse Wolf Hardin

At long last! –– the release of the greatly anticipated

COURSE 1

of a 5 course program for the village herbalist:

From the Ground Up: Grassroots Training in Traditional Western Herbalism

FOUNDATIONS IN TRADITIONAL WESTERN HERBALISM

Written & Taught by Kiva Rose Hardin

After years of preparation, the essential first course in Kiva Rose’s comprehensive 5 course program has just been released, with openings for a select number of committed students.  Foundations in Traditional Western Herbalism provides information and tools that are important for understanding and getting the most from the 4 other courses in this groundbreaking series.  Kiva’s attention to the basics makes the practice of herbalism comprehensible for a beginner, while her unconventional perspective and innovative approach ensure that even experienced herbalists will find themselves learning new concepts, in lessons that not only inform but stretch and challenge, inspire and delight.

Lessons arrive as PDF files, with beautiful, illustrative color photos scattered throughout.

To register, go to the bottom of this post and click on the Application link.

The Course Work

Each lesson consists of a core topic, accompanying definitions and terms, a section on Materia Medica with an in-depth profile of a single herbal ally, and another featuring a description and complete directions for foundational medicine making techniques, with questions and assignments for every section. Course 1 includes 4 lessons:

• Lesson 1: The Roots of Traditional Western Herbalism
  Materia Medica: Nettles (Urtica spp.)
  Medicine Making: Tisanes, Infusions & Nourishing Infusions
• Lesson 2: Healing as Wholeness & The Tonic Approach
  Materia Medica: Mullein (Verbascum spp.)
  Medicine Making: Infused Oil
• Lesson 3: Vitalist Herbalism & The Anima
  Materia Medica: Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp)
  Medicine Making: Decoctions
• Lesson 4: The Matrix – Healing & the Material World
  Materia Medica: Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
  Medicine Making: Herbal Baths & Hydrotherapy

Students can take as long as needed to complete work, which includes studies and readings, the answering of questions and the fulfillment of assignments.  It is these assignments that are in some ways the most crucial of all, placing the focus on the immediate, practical utilization of each idea and skill that we learn here.  “This is not so much about memorizing information,” she explains, “but about experiencing the plants and their effects, and learning to understand and integrate those effects in a practical and effective way.”  Once the coursework is completed and emailed back, Kiva reviews it and then writes a single detailed, personal response providing any helpful clarification or correction, further suggested assignments and advice where needed.

Once your Foundations in Traditional Western Herbalism questions and assignments are complete, you may then want to enroll in each of the following, soon to available courses:

• Course 2: Elements in Energetic Herbalism
• Course 3: Human Ecology: Physiology & Organ System Energetics for the
  Traditional Herbalist
• Course 4: Reading the Terrain: Practical Diagnostics for the Traditional Herbalist
• Course 5: Restoration: Pathophysiology & Diagnostics for the Traditional Herbalist

Course 1 will provide the groundwork for beginning or furthering herbal healing practice, and anyone taking all 5 courses can be confidant of having been given the essential information, means and tools needed to be a highly effective herbalist… whether treating one’s self and family, or giving one’s life to helping heal others.

About Your Instructor

Kiva is the cofounder of the distinctive sense and common sense based Anima Tradition of Herbalism, author of the acclaimed Anima Healing Arts Blog (formerly the Medicine Woman’s Roots), and the village herbalist of the rural community near her lush botanical sanctuary in the wilderness of Southwest New Mexico.  She’s become known for her intuitive understanding of plants and their properties, leading her to discover – or in some cases rediscover – novel uses and treatments, as well as for her evocative, easily understood explanations of energetics, and she and her school’s bioregional emphasis.

Kiva writes: “My focus is firmly on accessible, grassroots herbalism that educates the individual and serves the community, both the human component as well as the larger earthen community. I strongly believe in restoring health at all levels and approach healing from the understanding that the body is a diverse and intelligent ecology, integrally connected to the planet as a whole.”

As her partner in this life and work, I couldn’t be more proud of her efforts, or more impressed with this life-empowering and life-enhancing course.

Donations

All courses are offered on a donations basis, with a $350 to $700 suggested sliding scale depending on your ability to contribute and how much you value what is offered.  Those unable to donate the complete amount at once, are invited to contribute over time as able.

Apply Now

To apply, click on the link below, then download, fill out and return the:

Foundations in Traditional Western Herbalism Home Study Course Application

Spread the Word

And please make the time to spread the word about this exciting series of courses, by pasting and forwarding this message to your mailing list, or reposting this announcement on your blog or in  appropriate forums you frequent.  Thank you for your patience in waiting for this course to be released, and for your commitment to healing, the plant world and this School.
-Jesse Wolf Hardin

Anima Lifeways and Herbal School
www.AnimaCenter.org and www.AnimaHealingArts.org

Spring has come a little late to the Gila but is now emerging full force, right in step with the tumultuous pace of the San Francisco River flooding its muddy banks. Thanks to snowmelt and significant rains, southwest New Mexico is remarkably well watered at the moment which most likely means a wildflower rich Spring! While there are already many flowers blooming at lower elevations in the Gila, here at about 6,000 feet we’re still at the beginning of our season.

Every year, this diminutive but beautiful little flower commonly known as Mountain Candytuft (Noccaea fendleri subsp. glauca) is one of the very first noticeable wildflowers to bloom in the Canyon.

It’s colors range from bright white to lavender to purple, depending on exactly where it’s growing. It prefers middle mountain coniferous forest and is mostly found in this area growing at the feet of towering Ponderosa Pines among the leaf litter, pine needles and fallen tufts of Usnea lichen.

Candytuft is a Brassicaceae, a member of the ubiquitous Mustard Family. And like many other mustards, it is both edible and quite tasty. Sweet and spicy, somewhat reminiscent of a cross between Mustard greens and Broccoli, these abundant flowers make excellent additions to all sorts of salads and are also wonderful and beautiful garnishes for many soups and similar dishes.

~~~

Another tiny but gorgeous wildflower is the above Lomatium nevadense, sometimes called Desert Biscuitroot. The flowers are incredibly complex and lovely in a way that my camera is unable to capture without a stronger macro lens, but you can get a hint of its delicacy from the two pictures I’ve included here.

This small plant usually grows in lower elevations, primarily in rocky areas. It is uncommon in the Canyon and as of yet, I’ve only seen this single plant growing up here on the mesa along a rocky trail. It returns each year, tenaciously persisting in flowering among the rocks and sand.

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Snow comes and goes in the Canyon and mountains just above us, feeding the already flooded river and adding to the drama and beauty of the flowers and green things as they emerge from the ground.

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The Piñon Pines (Pinus edulis) are vibrant with new growth and their enticing, resiny scent is easily smelled each time I brush against their branches while climbing or hiking.

This slowly passing cold season has been one rich with hot tea brewed from the leaves and barks of evergreen trees, including the Piñon Pine, Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var glauca), White Fir (Abies concolor) as well as the nutty goodness of our local Acorns.

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Even on stormy days, Rhiannon and I venture out to discover new lichens, watch the rambunctious javelina playing by the river and enjoy the wild land we live on.

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Last year’s Penstemon flower stalks retains its beauty and grace, especially with the vivid colors unfurling all around them.

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These are the leaves of some freshly gathered Oregon Grape Root (Mahonia repens), tucked in a basket also containing an abundance of White Fir (Abies concolor) branch tips.

Mahonia is a favorite medicinal of mine, and one that I use frequently in my practice. I’ve written about this plant previously, and you can read my monograph on it right here.

~~~~

With the arrival of Spring, many exciting shifts are still happening here, and the newest offerings and opportunities here from the Anima Lifeways & Herbal School will soon be unveiled, especially my extensive 5 course distance program entitled From the Ground Up: Grassroots Training in Traditional Western Herbalism. Thanks so much to all of you who have written with your enthusiastic support and interest! It will be ready soon and I will announce it here and on the Anima School blog the moment it’s available.

~Kiva

Many deeply rooted changes have been taking place here in the quiet of the Canyon during the cold months. As Spring slowly unfurls her foliate face, we’re increasingly  incorporating these transformational shifts into our existing framework of education and healing work. Regular blog readers will first notice that my herbal blog has a new title, and is now called Animá Healing Arts rather than The Medicine Woman’s Roots. Those who visit the herbal blog via the web rather than subscribing through email will also have noticed the structure and content change of the non-blog pages as well as a new front page. Even if you do subscribe via email, I encourage you to take a look at the new, expanded site and additional offerings.

The new Animá Healing Arts name reflects my increasingly strong desire to provide accessible healthcare and healing opportunities for those who most need it. While this has long been an overriding interest of mine, the current shift is evidence of my deepening commitment to the well-being of my local community, the larger human community and the earthen community as a whole.

Here’s an excerpt and description of Animá Healing Arts and what we offer:

“The Anima Healing Arts Health & Herbal Clinic provides online and on-site care on a per donation basis, with no one ever turned away for lack of funds. Integrating multiple healing modalities in order to provide optimal wellness, we offer lifeways counseling, herbal consultations, nutritional healing & other holistic therapies. We deeply desire to foster a life-affirming, grassroots and common sense approach to healing based around the unique needs of each individual and informed by the wisdom of the natural world.

The Mission of Anima Healing Arts:

• To provide accessible healing services to those who need it.
• To gift the local and larger community with tools for caring for themselves and each other.
• To empower individuals to take charge of their own health and healing.
• To restore a vital connection and integration between the person, their body and the living earth.
• To support the emotional, physical and mental well-being of human beings in order to contribute to the health of the planet.”

Please note that all old links to The Medicine Woman’s Roots blog and bearmedicineherbals.com will still work just fine. Also, if you are a feed subscriber (via email, feedreader, browser etc), your feed will remain intact and no action is needed. Also,  you can access the Animá Healing Arts blog directly at: http://animahealingarts.org/blog

The Animá Lifways & Herbal School is also placing a stronger emphasis on skill-based learning, which can be seen in our subtitle on the School blog (and soon the website as well), “Nature Awareness, Healing & ReWilding Skills”. We have always taught a blend of understanding and action, and this recent shift is simply a way of further driving home the importance of ~living~ our dreams, passions and callings in the most real and earthen ways. Wolf, Loba and I feel strongly that it is vital to pass on traditional knowledge, especially in this time where self-sufficiency is so critical to not only surviving during hard times, but thriving. A full update to the School site is also underway, and should be up within the week, with many additions and changes that will, more succinctly than ever, communicate the mission and purpose of our work.

Also be on the lookout for announcements and descriptions of this Spring’s Foundations in Western Herbalism Intensive. This will take place May 6-9 on the School grounds here on our 80 acre Animá Botanical Sanctuary, surrounding on all sides by the Gila National Forest. This intensive will be three days of exploration of the principles and practice of the traditional and vitalist herbalism, including herbal energetics, constitutional medicine, wildcrafting and much more!

Additionally, in the Spring of 2011 we will be introducing a new on-site botanical medicine program for those of you interested in pursuing in-depth herbal study at the Animá Lifeways & Herbal School in person.

Thank you all for your invaluable support and enthusiasm as my practice, school and other projects grow and blossom, I appreciate each of you so much!

~Kiva

~~~

Photograph (c) 2010 Jesse Wolf Hardin, Stinging Nettle Watercolor (c) 2010 Loba