A Very Curious Herbal: The Forest Path
This course is an opening into the world of Botanica Fabula, an invitation to come with me into a verdant world and explore some of the plants Elizabeth Blackwell illustrated. Take a wander with me into each section of the garden. Find aspects of plant lore and use, folklore, and social history, listen to stories, and contemplate the plants near you or in a place you love.
This is my invitation to you, to join me in the pages of “A Very Curious Herbal” and create your own LORIC MATERIA BOTANICA...a new type of personal archive, one of plant knowledge, social history, folklore and deep-rooted understanding.
Your Loric Materia Botanica will become a journal, a resource of plants, ideal for gardeners, cooks, herbalists, walkers, artists and spell casters and anyone drawn to accumulating an understanding of plants, listening and learning from the secrets they have subtly shared for thousands of years.
The extended archive of “A Very Curious Herbal” will be separated into four separate seasonal chapters that will be released over the course of one year. We begin with Autumn and Trees.
More trees and chapters will appear over the course of time…
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I want to now introduce you to my Very Curious Herbal.
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Resources
One of the things you may find useful if you're joining me for our labyrinthian wind into the world of The Very Curious Herbal is Elizabeth Blackwell's book…
One of the things you may find useful if you're joining me for our labyrinthian wind into the world of The Very Curious Herbal is Elizabeth Blackwell's book…
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Herbal Essences
Each chapter of “A Very Curious Herbal” will be accompanied by a personal real-life package, sent to you wherever you are in the world.
Each chapter of “A Very Curious Herbal” will be accompanied by a personal real-life package, sent to you wherever you are in the world.
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Elements to help you along your Very Curious Herbal path…
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A First Invitation...
I’d like to invite you to explore a little creative process, the first step maybe to a new forest.
I’d like to invite you to explore a little creative process, the first step maybe to a new forest.
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Birch
Birch is the tree of renewal and community, dancing with its fellow Birch, supported by intricate networks of Mycelia, cleansing not just the body with its tea, but also helping cleanse and restore scarred and damaged soil.
Birch is the tree of renewal and community, dancing with its fellow Birch, supported by intricate networks of Mycelia, cleansing not just the body with its tea, but also helping cleanse and restore scarred and damaged soil.
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Willow
As we step into our forest, the Birch at the very edges, reclaiming the soil, give way to graceful Willow as the land slopes towards the loch.
As we step into our forest, the Birch at the very edges, reclaiming the soil, give way to graceful Willow as the land slopes towards the loch.
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Oak
Oak, King of the Forest: renowned for its strength, tanner of skins, home to a hundred creatures.
Oak, King of the Forest: renowned for its strength, tanner of skins, home to a hundred creatures.
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Apple
One of the world’s most universal trees and most popular fruits, the blood-sugar-balancing Apple still holds secrets at it’s core!
One of the world’s most universal trees and most popular fruits, the blood-sugar-balancing Apple still holds secrets at it’s core!
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Rowan berries, Red thread tine the de’il in his stead
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Hazel
One of the most valued small trees in the ancient woods, fast growing, pliable Hazel, marker of boundaries and conduit across liminal places.
One of the most valued small trees in the ancient woods, fast growing, pliable Hazel, marker of boundaries and conduit across liminal places.
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Bonus Chapter: A gift for Yule
We cannot greet midwinter without mention of the Christmas tree, but there are all kinds of stories of its origin. Beliefs and legends often intertwine like Ivy through a tree, as the trees whisper and sing, it doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong as long as your heart is honest and true… a gift chapter for Yule
We cannot greet midwinter without mention of the Christmas tree, but there are all kinds of stories of its origin. Beliefs and legends often intertwine like Ivy through a tree, as the trees whisper and sing, it doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong as long as your heart is honest and true… a gift chapter for Yule
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The first of a four-part course sharing stories, social history, folklore, and plant use inspired by the work of 18th century pioneering Scotswoman, Elizabeth Blackwell.
