Comments on: Herbal Conformism and the Illusion of Normalcy by Jesse Wolf Hardin

By: Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:17:07 +0000

Morgaine, please note that Charles was offering an opinion and so is Jesse. Mr. Kane put it out there on facebook and his website and said it was “bound to be divisive” so I reckon he expected some sort of opinion in response.

We’re all entitled to our opinions, and obviously that’s exactly why Jesse’s essay was written. No one here is pretending to be the thought police, and we’re exercising our own right to have and express an opinion. Besides no one here has the ability to “take away from him the right to have” anything at all…. how could we?

Thanks for reading and have a nice day.

By: morgaine of the mirror

morgaine of the mirror — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Yes, I’m one of those people who have adapted a “name” other than the one my folks gave me. And I’ve not ready Mr. Kane’s article in its totality. From what I’m seeing of his excerpts, he’s running into something that bother’s him, and he’s expressing it. No doubt, he’s run into far too many folks who have adopted “names” to make themselves something they are not. This happens in a lot of fields; Native American Spirituality is another. But its also not new – as a child who came of age during the “hippie” era (PS, its DENNIS Hopper, not David), we were full of ourselves, and took the appropriate names to reflect that.

That being said, while well worded, I think you took your comments of his OPINION beyond what is necessary! Mr. Kane is entitled to his opinion, and to express that opinion – as you are yours. But you should not criticize him for expressing his thoughts and feelings! You can disagree, certainly. Do not take away from him the right to have feelings, ideas, and opinions.

The community where I live is full of SunFlower, Light Ray, Bright Feather, Eagle, Hawk, Wolf, Bear, named folks who are just wandering through their lives looking for their paths. Those that take names to express what they would like to be should be nurtured. Those who take names to be more than they are, should be nipped in the bud! Have seen some real damage done by them. Then again, Buyer beware. Know your healer!

By: ChristineMM

ChristineMM — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:46:53 +0000

I read the original piece. Near the end Kane says “Evaluate what you are doing – if it’s more about the “look” and less about the content, you’re missing the point.”

and “At the end of the day it’s about knowing your trade with a mature mind and helping people with these underappreciated, truly amazing tools.”

Honestly I didn’t find his post offensive when one focuses on those MAIN POINTS.

I wonder if some people who read the original piece are worked up over the details and missing the main point?

Here I speak in general terms not reacting to the post of “The Village Herbalist”—-

What I find interesting is this same battle of sorts goes on in pro-breastfeeding cirlces “All La Leche Leaders breastfeed until age 6 and I don’t want that so I’ll not bother to breastfeed and go right to formula” and homeschooling circles “all are religious right-wingers who wear denim jumpers” or the flip side “they’re all hippie wanna be left wingers wearing tie dye and their sons have long hair”. Even admission into Christian circles has a whole other set of rules “read only those books, wear that type of clothes, avoid that music and those movies and those TV shows, they are of pop culture — if you don’t avoid it you are not being a good Christian”.

This is about being radical and being pushed by others in the group to do this and that, to think this and that, to vote for this candidate not that, or else you are ‘out’ and ‘bad’ and ‘unworthy’ of being in ‘the club’.

With homeschooling we need to focus on what we do with our kids, how we teach them, and not focus our time and energy on talking about what we think everyone else should be doing (this is a common thing that happens, we give advice on what is best but we don’t always follow our own advice and neglect things in our own family). I don’t think this is different from what Kane is saying about herb-lovers or herbalists.

I’m weary of the pigeon-holing and labeling and the cliques in the circles I’m in (I’m a newbie at learning about herbs and I’m focusing on me and what I am interested in knowing not jumping on a bandwagon of everything else to look like I belong).

I agree with Kane and feel judged by some herb-loving people I know that I’m inferior to them, as I don’t subscribe to all they do: white man guilt, wishing they were from some ancient culture, wanting to live off grid, talking shallowly about living green and having been worked up in a frenzy over the last Presidential election and so forth. They talk to me as if I share all their same beliefs and ideas, why they assume I do or why I should puzzles me.

I find in multiple circles that those who preach tolerance and ask not to be judged are often intolerant of people different than they are and they can be the ones judging others for lack of conformity to their chosen way of doing things. An example is when a person preaches non-violence then uses violent language on the Internet to react to blog posts written with dissenting opinions, that’s why I avoid political blogs. That behavior is bizarre to me, and it’s hypocritical.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:37:00 +0000

When anyone becomes excited about learning a particular path, field, etc. they start on a learning journey that can truly mirror healthy human development — complete with an early adolescent stage that can include trying on the clothes, gear, and apparent style of those who are there already. So, yes, Kane’s observations of the stereotype is accurate in some budding herbalists or even in many — though it’s not necessarily a *bad* stage. They are just expressions of someone who is excited about the path and wants to fully belong to it. He notes that often that many people fall away from herbalism after a time, and this is healthy too. Many people need a “wandering period” (in fact, I’d say it’s essential for any mature development to occur) where they in some way toss everything out that they learned, and then come into relationship with their passion in a new way, one rooted in their soul rather than dependent on looking to others for “how to do it right”. These folks may come back to herbs later … or discover that their path leads elsewhere — but they will carry that journey with herbs within them wherever they go.

When one comes to his or her own unique relationship with herbs (or with anything) — into a soul-relationship (I might say) — then that is when one’s unique style shines. Who’s to say what the outer appearance will be (and does it matter?) — a person will adorn themselves in a style that both reflects themselves *and* offers connection with who they serve (whether it’s to offer a style the clients are comfortable with and radiates “professional” in the usual sense, or a style that shakes the idea of “usual” up — or anything else).

Approaching the natural world or anything in a child-like way — with a spirit of exuberance, curiosity, focused intent and wonder — to me is a sign of vital health and connection with the present moment, surely something I’d like to experience of more and more people!

Kane and others may scorn folks on the herbal path for their apparent “shallowness” and thoughtlessness, for a stereotype they may consciously or unconsciously reinforce
that may not always be desired, but I’d like us to take a larger picture of who we are on our journeys. Hopefully we are all progressing and deepening in our relationships, knowledge, and felt knowings, as we move along with the plants (and our other passions) and connect on myriad levels and follow, follow … The result of our continuing journey is and will be great diversity in how we practice with the herbs, how we present ourselves, or just *are* ourselves.

Thank you, Wolf, for your post and thoughtful comments! As always they provide me with food for thought.

By: traci

traci — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:46:23 +0000

well, it isn’t an either/or kinda thing here-you’re both right. there is room for true freaks and there is room for dorky-lookin old guys and everything in between.the amazing thing about the plant world is, plants don’t care about your outfit.
his statement “evaluate what you are doing-if it’s more about the “look” and less about the content you’re missing the point” is excellent advice!
if we are confident in our own abilities and selves, who gives a crap what other people think…

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:44:21 +0000

This thing about herbs. It goes back to the earth from which we came. The idea is that the universe gives us what we need. I find this to be true both physically and spiritually. I do not contrast the two, physical and spiritual, as if they were different from each other as convention does. I see them as a whole.

By: Danu Gray Wolf

Danu Gray Wolf — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:43:15 +0000

From one Wolf to another, I give you a *standing ovation*.

I have to say, I doubt I would have been able to respond to his essay with such grace and eloquence; he shows a great lack of acceptance for diversity, and I personally adore diversity. My lack of tolerance for his views would have been very obvious. LOL You did a great job, Wolf.

And, I have to mention, while I may appear “Caucasian”, I am a blend of 8 very different cultures, and I love and honor each of them. I daresay he my have some freaky indigenous people in his ancestry. LOL

All my love,
Dana

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:36:06 +0000

Well said, good sir…you put into words what I didn’t have the patience to, and did a damn sight better than I likely would have!

I’m one of those folks who’s too weird to be normal, but not weird enough to be completely freaky. In fact, one of my dreams last night had me wandering around a communal living art center and having the folks look down their pierced noses at me for being so square. *laughs*

It takes all kinds to make this world go round, and I got to give my props to them all, but like Michael Franti sings, “All the freaky people make the beauty of the world” and by that, I mean the truly freaky, the individuals, the folks who are what they are and don’t rely on the stereotypes!

By: Susan Marynowski

Susan Marynowski — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:52:48 +0000

Wonderful and heartfelt response! I just hope I can live up to your “childlike herbalist” standard, because that’s what I want to be when I grow up!

By: Renée A.D.

Renée A.D. — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:04:31 +0000

Oh my goodness. I did not read Kane’s original article, but I am glad you did and wrote just an eloquent response to it. I’m stunned at the generalizations and judgement Kane makes. I sense some angst on his part! I’m glad you deconstructed it.
And in a small way, I can kind of understand that there tends to be an image of an herbalist in the minds of the masses. People who talk gently, wear full brown skirts and eat grass, right? From my end I can see young people try to conform to what they perceive a healer or herbalist looks and acts like. It drives me nuts, it really undermines the creativity and diversity we can have. So I guess by some slight standard that I sort of maybe agree with Kane, but I have the opposite response.
More freaks. They’re essential for health in many ways. I’m not kidding.

By: kristine brown

kristine brown — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:03:16 +0000

Excellent rebuttal Jesse!

By: Cindy Baugh

Cindy Baugh — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:08:34 +0000

Great article! Loved your responses.