Back to School Newsletter
Most mornings I’m up to see the sun, and that rising of the light moves me very much, and I’m used to thinking and feeling in words, so it sort of just happens. I think one thing is that prayer has become more useful, interesting, fruitful, and … almost involuntary in my life,” she says. “And when I talk about prayer, I mean really … what Rumi says in that wonderful line, ‘there are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
— Mary Oliver
“ONE WAY TO OPEN YOUR EYES IS TO ASK YOURSELF,
WHAT IF I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE?
WHAT IF I KNEW I WOULD NEVER SEE IT AGAIN?”
RACHEL CARSON
These days I am having difficulty finding words to express what is happening in the world around me, but as a highly visual and sensory person, being immersed in nature and creating art has helped me stay in the present and really engage with the pockets of joy. I have found that my practice which I will loosely call Botanical Art has strengthened my sense of place and deepen my connection with the flora which surrounds me.
Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world," says Christianne Strang, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Alabama Birmingham and the former president of the American Art Therapy Association."Anything that engages your creative mind — the ability to make connections between unrelated things and imagine new ways to communicate — is good for you," says Girija Kaimal. She is a professor at Drexel University and a researcher in art therapy, leading art sessions with members of the military suffering from traumatic brain injury and caregivers of cancer patients.In 2010, the American Journal of Public Health published a review titled, The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health The creative process relieves stress, encourages creative thinking, boosts self-esteem, and provides a sense of accomplishment.
I am excited to be introducing the first cycle of the Botanical Art Studio program next week. There are a few spaces left, I hope you will consider joining.
There are still a few openings in our brand new
BOTANICAL ART STUDIO PROGRAM
beginning on Friday Sept 24th 2021
Course covers:
Basics of eco-printing (paper and fabric)
Botanical Dyeing
Botanical Paper Making
The language of plants
Creating herbariums
Cyanotypes
Anthotypes
Hydrosols
Seed Art
Getting creative and finding your style
Finding inspiration from the world around you
Learn "new" ways to connect with the magic and medicine of plants. Our ancestors drew health, strength, nourishment, and meaning from their relationship to the natural world, and yet today most of us have lost that vital connection leaving us ungrounded and lacking a deep sense of place. There is such healing when we connect materials to place, I use found materials from a particular place to help establish a relationship with it. The result has me feeling more grounded, content and spiritually freer. We will explore a series of ideas working with nature—in its widest sense—to nurture our creativity, inspire us, make us more sustainable as artists, and breathe back energy and flow when our artistic streams run dry. The study of nature through art allows the “student-artist” to experience, observe, value, analyze, synthesize and express their understanding of, and relationship to, nature, the environment and elements.
This is a journey to find new creativity through our connection with the natural world and is suitable everyone who is curious about the world around. No prior herbal experience necessary.
Studio Class Dates: Fridays Sept 24th , Oct 8th, Oct 22, Nov 5th Nov 19th Dec 3rd, Dec 17th
Class times: 10am-4pm
Final Circle/Show and Tell: Jan 7th 2022
Location: Conway MA
For more info
Yesterday I took the apprentices to meet Eleutherococcus senticosus I plant which I have only seen in person once before. We were all blown away by the size of this 30 year old plant, originally planted here by herbalist Hart Brent! Once you see them in all their glory and wisdom its not hard to understand where their common names "touch me not" and "devils root" and "wild pepper" stem from I am presently experimenting and making a syrup of her tasty berries, the mild flavor reminds me of Aralia racemosa (Spikenard) Excited to be trying something new!
Registration is now open for the 2022 season Join us as we celebrate 22 years!
Become part of the 22nd apprentice group!
Immerse your heart & soul in the exhilarating world of herbs! Beginner/Intermediate Apprenticeship 2021
Topics covered:
Traditions of Healing:
Shamanism, Indigenous Healing, Traditional Medicine, Wise Woman Tradition, Science, The Witch
Herbal Allies:
How we communicate with plants, Plant Meditation, Doctrine of Signatures
Nourishment:
Food and Nutrition, Self Nourishment and Understanding, Seasonal Medicine
Herbal Energetics:
Tastes, Vitalism, Energetics of Disease, Chakras
Tools of the Trade:
Books, Tools, Organizations, Resources, Understanding Herbal Actions,
Medicine Making:
Water Based, Oil Based, Spirit Based, Honey Based, Vinegar Based
Materia Medica:
Profiles of 64 Western Herbs, 10 Chinese Herbs, 10 Ayuervedic Herbs Sea Weeds, Mushrooms
Herb Gardening:
Growing from Seeds, Propegating, Seeds Saving, Optimal Harvest Times, Design, Gardening by the Moon
Botanical Art:
Photography, Drawing, Watercolor, Pressing
Herbs for Common Ailments:
Chronic Vs Acute Conditions, Family Health, First Aid
The Art and Ethics of Wildcrafting:
United Plant Savers, Global Survey, Gratitude, Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms, Field Identification, Sustainability
Creating powerful and effective Healing Ceremonies:
Ceremonial Uses of herbs, Medicine Wheels, Earth Awareness, The Four Directions, Animal Allies
Herbal Body Care: Facial, Skin, Hair, Body Care and Pampering!
Global History of important Food, Trade and Medicine Plants
Understanding and Connecting the Bodies Systems:
Nourishment and Support for the nervous, digestive, immune, respiratory, reproductive, cardiovascular, urinary and muscular systems
A study of Water: water ceremony and energetics
Now accepting applications for 2022!
Begins April 2022 Ends Feb 2023
(This program meets in person outdoors weekly on Tuesdays in Conway MA)
We are looking for a fun and creative videographer who is interested in bartering their skills in return for a comprehensive herbal education.
Please inquire for more info.
Being a Virgo and being that it is Virgo season and I love Lists....so here are
7 Things which are (presently) Inspiring me!
(Please do share your lists with me)
1) Dahlias and Hydrangeas!
Really all flowers but I have been stopped in my tracks several times this seism by the beauty of Dahlias and Hydrangeas. Years ago I made a Dahlia Flower essence and added it to my SAD formula : Goldenrod, St Joans Wort and Tulsi Tinctures with Dahlia Flower Essence. The essence really helps us to reconnect with happiness from a place of resiliency, placing aside the expectations of how we and others think we should be and stepping into a more optimistic and confident expression of our self. To see many of the flower photos I take you can follow me on Instagram @herbalt
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.”– Buddha
2) Getting to know NYC on foot, With these two books as my guide.
🌇New York in Stride: An Insider's Walking Guide Weiner, Jessie Kanelos
🌇Art Hiding in New York: An Illustrated Guide to the City's Secret Masterpieces
Zimmer, Lori
Having grown up in London, I have always loved exploring citys. I spent my birthday's eve, 100 stories up on a perfect evening, enjoying the view.
3) Learning about new Artists and Art Styles, ....Yasoi Kusama, Higuchi Yuko, Ana Atkins, Nathalie Lété are a small number of some of my current favorites. I have begun again the practice of taking myself on weekly artist dates. I begun this many years ago when I first encountered Julia Camerons "The Artist Way" but since the pandemic had stopped.
(at the Bronx Botanical Garden)
4) Continuing my practice of my daily walk in Nature and studying the flora which immediately surrounds me. I have written much on several of my courses about the numerous health benefits of walking (physical, spiritual and mental health benefits). I consider it the #1 practice to increase health. As we walk, may we imprint our gratitude and our love on the earth
(last year on my 50th birthday I committed to Hiking the Breakwater in Provincetown once a year until I am 75! This years hike was on Sept 2nd)
5) Catching Sunsets and Sunrises and the moon as often as I can!
6) Exploring new creative techniques to combine my love of plants and my love of art!
(Making this decorative herbal paper fun!)
(cyanotype)
7) Books on Tape! Some of my recent favs.
- Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo , Jamie Chang - translator
- Crying in H Mart a memoir by Michelle Zauner
- The Barbizon: The Hotel that Set Women Free By: Paulina Bren
- Broken Horses a memoir by Brandi Carlile
- The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
- Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
- Wanderlust a history of walking by Rebecca Solnit
and a beach read! Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner
Thanks for reading!
See you all next time
xoxo Tony(a)