Workshops
The following workshops will be offered during the Conference
weekend: |
Aromatherapy (Elizabeth
Bloomquist)
This hands-on class dives into the deep realm of essential oils.
You will learn how to safely add aromatherapy to your daily life.
We will discuss quality control and sourcing, therapeutic properties,
blending techniques and methods of application. |
Ask the Herbalist (Kathleen
Maier)
A unique opportunity to bring your questions and help direct this
discussion about health and herbs. The beauty of Kathleen’s
offerings is her ability to pull from sources scientific and esoteric,
practical and spiritual. Enjoy an intimate format with this experienced
and gifted clinician. |
Astrology for Health (Phyllis
D. Light)
The signs in the heavens can serve as traditional guideposts
for health and prosperity. Each Zodiac sign and heavenly planet
have correclations to different parts of the body. Likewise diseases
come under the influence of planetary changes as do herbs. |
Birth Practices through the Ages (Rowan
Farrell Trombetta)
Empowering visual journey through the Birth Art of many
cultures. We will dismantle the essential distortions inherent
in technology based Birth practices, track evidence of the
Sacred Feminine throughout the world and Remember our own primordial
knowing. |
Diet Myths (Susan Rubin)
Most diets are fairy tales. Causing your weight to
yo-yo down and back up again. That's no happy ending! We’ll
cover dieting myths that keep us sick, fat and unhappy and discuss
ways to create better health and weight without dieting. |
Flower Essence Therapy
(Elizabeth Bloomquist)
This workshop is to introduce you to the basic fundamentals of
flower essences. You will learn what they are, how they work and
the history of their use. This healing modality can be a helpful
remedy for adults, children, animals, and plants. |
Healing from the Hive (Ceara
Foley)
Hive products such as honey, propolis, royal jelly,
and bee pollen are valuable medicines. Learn how peoples have
used these gifts for centuries as well as recent scientific validation
of their efficacy. Discover the synergistic healing capacities
of combining honey with herbs. |
Herb Walk (Corinna Wood)
Want to learn more common wild plants and garden “weeds”
that are food and medicine? Become more self-reliant and
more deeply nourished as you learn how to identify, harvest, and
prepare these plants in your daily life. |
Herb Walk (Suki Roth)
Join Suki for a walk of discovery and wonder as we meet the plants
of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn how to incorporate our indigenous
elder plant teachers into your lives for healing and nourishment
on multiple levels. |
Herb Walk (Ceara Foley)
Explore nature’s healing allies that fervently
throw themselves at your feet. A cornucopia of medicine abounds
amongst common, abundant, and renewable, naturalized botanicals.
Empower yourself to reconnect with the free food and healing all
around us. |
Herb Walk-Historical Mountain Uses (Phyllis
D. Light)
Join Phyllis on this unique plant walk which includes the familiar
and the unfamiliar. Historical mountain uses of the plants and
stories from old-time herbalists and traditional healers such
as Granny Light and Tommie Bass will intrigue as well as enlighten. |
Herb Walk-Plant Spirit Journey
(Suki Roth)
We can access information directly from the plants themselves
by using our six senses to go into deep meditation. We will use
this technique to open the doors of plant perception and communicate
directly with their heart centered messages. |
Herb Walk-Southern Appalachian Medicinal
Plants (Patricia Kyritsi Howell)
You’ll experience using your senses to identify
over 20 native and introduced plants traditionally harvested as
winter approaches. Learn about ethical harvesting methods, simple
recipes for a variety of herbal remedies, and specific dosage
strategies for each herb. |
Herbal Toolkit for Moms-Keeping our Kids
Healthy and Safe (Jessica Godino)
Fevers, strep, pinworms, ADD? We’ll cover the basics of
herbal childcare, including how to create a home first aid kit.
Learn about some ancient chinese home treatments for common ailments,
including gua sha (spoon scrapping), cupping, and tui na (chinese
medicial massage). |
Herbal Preparations (Jessica
Godino)
Tinctures? Fluid extract? Glycerites? We will cover the basics
of medicine making, the merits of various preparations, and how
to determine which to use. Learn the basics of herbal pharmacology
and explore the nature of herbal constituents like alkaloids and
polysacharides. |
Herbs and the Immune System-Evidence Drawing
from Tradition (Bevin Clare)
Take a tour of the immune system and find out about current reasearch
in herbal medicines and immunity and how these discoveries support
traditional appilcations of medicinal plants in home and healthcare.
Discussion of bird flu to Staph to autoimmune conditions. |
Herbs for Ceremony (Ceara
Foley)
Incorporate herbs into daily self healing rituals and into ceremony
for moon phases and seasonal celebrations. Use herbal allies to
focus your intentions and manifest your desires. Learn to prepare
incenses, oils, floor washes, spiritual bath blends, and personalized
perfumes. |
Importance of Healthy Fats
(Susan Rubin)
The story behind Omega 3, 6 and 9 and more. Which fats are beneficial,
useful, useless or down right hazardous. We'll also talk about
how how fat in your food can help decrease the fat you don't want
on your body. |
Introduction to Energy Medicine
(Kathleen Maier)
Energy medicine is the healing of the future. Through
entrainment, our heart-minds can rapidly download information
neurally which we can learn to interpret for deeper understanding.
Learn the basics of Depth Diagnosis as taught by herbalist Stephen
Buhner and author Joseph Chilton Pearce. |
The Joy of Tonics (Jessica
Godino)
Every herbal tradition uses special herbs to increase
energy, immunity, emotional well-being, and sexual potency.
These herbs are known to counteract cancer and degenerative diseases.
We’ll discuss tonic herbs from the East and West, as well
as ways to prepare these herbs |
Longevity (Amanda McQuade
Crawford)
As we age we are exposed to increased challenges to our health.
What makes one 60 year old ancient and another 80 year old vibrant?
We’ll outline the issues with aging and review a some herbs,
foods, and lifestyle choices to prepare for this time in our lives.
|
Nourishing Foods (Susan
Rubin)
What to eat for optimal health, energy, and pleasure.
Find out about how to choose and prepare foods that will nourish
your body mind and spirit even in a time crunched busy life. It’s
easier than you think! |
Planet Healing with Plants
- Keynote Address (Amanda McQuade Crawford)
Plant medicine provides a time-tested, nature-tested model for
the concept of "complexity," the explanation of all
that is. Can our study of this deep wisdom evolving from the plants
help us to change humanity’s current destructive direction
into something creative and healing? |
The Power of Simples (Phyllis
D. Light)
Once upon a time, Simples (single herbs) were used for
all our physical and emotional health needs. Our elders knew the
power and wonder of knowing an herb intimately and using it in-depth.
Learn the history and rediscover the power of Simples. |
Recognizing Sexual Abuse
(Lady Spirit Moon)
Ten questions may determine if you or someone you know
is an abuse victim. Discover the four traits abusers look for
when they search for a victim. Learn how behavior disorders are
created and what they may look like in adulthood. |
Red Temple Movement Belongs to All of Us
(ALisa Starkweather)
Enter the gateway of womanhood. The Red Tent Temple is
an emerging grassroots movement changing our culture worldwide.
This co-collaborative sacred space offers us an authentic opportunity
to care for each other through healing, song, dance, quiet rest,
herbs and council. |
Sacred Puja and Movement (Anyaa
McAndrew)
A puja, used in tantric circles, is a ceremonial heart to heart
connection with our sisters to acknowledge and bless the Divine
Feminine within us. Music and dance will follow to allows
us to express our own unique blessed feminine sensuality. |
Setting up a Clinic (Kathleen
Maier)
This class is for practitioners. Learn the in’s and out’s
of running an herbal clinic with this long-time practicing herbalist.
Topics include keeping charts, SOAP notes, apothecary practices,
ethical & legal considerations, and self care while providing
for your community. |
Sexual Healing and the Wounded Feminine
(Anyaa McAndrew)
Sexual abuse is an important issue. We have benefitted greatly
from uncovering the secrets in our families and institutions.
Often we are left with scars and an old model of healing. Let’s
explore positive and powerful healing with integrity, safety and
joy! |
Shadow Work: Bringing All Parts of Ourselves
Home (ALisa Starkweather)
Healing happens when we can hold compassion and embrace that which
we’ve judged in ourselves as difficult to love. Whatever
we disown, whether it is our ugliness or brilliance, remains in
shadow. Shadow Work is the brave journey towards wholeness where
no part of the self is left behind. |
Sharing Our Birth Stories
(Rowan Farrell Trombetta)
Here is an opportunity to listen deeply and to be deeply heard.
Please journal about your stories and experiences of birth prior
to attending. This experience will be most insightful following
participation in the Birth Practices through the Ages.
|
Talking Stick (Ada-Belinda
DancingLion)
Learn the sacred art of the Native American talking stick
as this circle gathers with the intention for women to share deeply
and uninterrupted. Talking stick assures that every voice is heard
and honored. |
Three Herbs: Lobelia, Passionflower, Skullcap
(Patricia Kyritsi Howell)
Expand your understanding of three native Southeastern
herbs used to treat symptoms as diverse as insomnia, lack of inspiration,
mental fatigue, allergies and more. You’ll learn practical
ways to use them safely and effectively to create energetic and
medicinal remedies. |
Travelling Medicine: A Wandering Herbal
First Aid Kit (Bevin Clare)
Through her travels in more than 50 developing countries, Bevin
shares her tips and stories of herbal first aid in the bush. Learn
what to bring for long and short trips, and how to use local medicines
wherever you go. |
Understanding PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder) (Lady Spirit Moon)
Do you suffer from PTSD? Learn about symptoms, why this is not
just about war veterans, how another common mental disorder
has similar symptoms that may get you misdiagnosed, and what
we can be done to help deal with this disorder. |
Wise Women Herb Garden
(Suki Roth)
Dream your own medicinal herb garden and get tips for
southeastern regions from this long-time wise woman gardener.
She’ll cover choosing the plants, intimacy with your plants,
plant care, processing, storage and more in an intimate question
and answer format. |
Wise Woman Tradition (Ada-Belinda
DancingLion)
Lines, Circles, and Spirals are the physical symbols representing
the Scientific, Heroic, and Wise Woman traditions of healing.
Learn the differences between the three and how the Wise Woman
Way teaches us through simplicity, inclusiveness, acceptance,
and nourishment. |
Women's Apothecary (Bevin
Clare)
Beyond our beloved raspberry and chamomile teas, we have holy
basil, rooibos, honeybush, and our every expanding apothecary!
Learn about using elixirs, miels, powders, preserves, and other
creative preparations for health and wellness. Taste, experience,
and take home recipes. |
