"The information Sean shares is clear and simply understood by all levels of minds, from advanced herbalist to beginner. His ability to pull together facts from many sources, books, lectures, and being with the plants themselves is astounding."
-- Margi Flint, Herbalist -- EarthSong Herbals, author -- The Practicing Herbalist
"[Sean's]
Magic and Medicine Of Plants- 12 Month Online Course
with Sean Donahue
November 1, 2011 – October 31, 2012
Plants are our ancestors and teachers.
Throughout history, people have looked to them for healing, guidance, and transformation.
In this year long course, herbalist, poet, and witch, Sean Donahue will help you connect with the wisdom, magic, and living medicine of the plants growing around you.
November 1, 2011 – October 31, 2012
Plants are our ancestors and teachers.
Throughout history, people have looked to them for healing, guidance, and transformation.
In this year long course, herbalist, poet, and witch, Sean Donahue will help you connect with the wisdom, magic, and living medicine of the plants growing around you.
Through online lectures and discussions, readings, meditations, ceremony, and direct experience, you will learn about:
* Listening to and learning directly from the plants themselves
* The art and ethics of wildcrafting
* Understanding the energetics of herbal medicine and of the human body
* Nourishing the body, mind, and spirit
* Therapies for chronic and acute injury and disease
* Working with plants in ceremony and magic
Students will receive twelve monthly lessons; eight mini-lessons exploring how the Equinoxes, Solstices, and Cross-Quarter Days provide us with opportunities to connect with the life cycle of the plants; and individual support from Sean.
Tuition will be $80 a month (or $800 if you pay for the entire year in advance. No refunds beyond December 31.) Students will also be expected to purchase herbs and books for the course throughout the year.
To apply e-mail- seandonahuepoet@gmail.com
* Listening to and learning directly from the plants themselves
* The art and ethics of wildcrafting
* Understanding the energetics of herbal medicine and of the human body
* Nourishing the body, mind, and spirit
* Therapies for chronic and acute injury and disease
* Working with plants in ceremony and magic
Students will receive twelve monthly lessons; eight mini-lessons exploring how the Equinoxes, Solstices, and Cross-Quarter Days provide us with opportunities to connect with the life cycle of the plants; and individual support from Sean.
Tuition will be $80 a month (or $800 if you pay for the entire year in advance. No refunds beyond December 31.) Students will also be expected to purchase herbs and books for the course throughout the year.
To apply e-mail- seandonahuepoet@gmail.com
Syllabus (subject to change)
November
Origins: The Shamanic Roots of Herbalism
Plants as ancestors and teachers
How the plants speak to us
Shamanic journeying
Vitalism and the vital force: the world is alive
Finding a plant ally
Research project: Trace your ally through history and folklore
Origins: The Shamanic Roots of Herbalism
Plants as ancestors and teachers
How the plants speak to us
Shamanic journeying
Vitalism and the vital force: the world is alive
Finding a plant ally
Research project: Trace your ally through history and folklore
Samhain
The third harvest
Death and the healer
The underworld
The third harvest
Death and the healer
The underworld
December
Awakening the heart
Anatomy of the spirit — Chinese, Ayurvedic, Celtic, Huna
Three centers of consciousness
Heart-centered consciousness
Plants from a heart-centered perspective
People from a heart-centered perspective
Treating the person, not the condition
Finding your plant ally’s unique personality
Awakening the heart
Anatomy of the spirit — Chinese, Ayurvedic, Celtic, Huna
Three centers of consciousness
Heart-centered consciousness
Plants from a heart-centered perspective
People from a heart-centered perspective
Treating the person, not the condition
Finding your plant ally’s unique personality
Yule
Stories of descent and return
Bringing messages back from the dreamtime
Evergreens
JANUARY
Energetics
Constitutions — Ayurvedic perspective
The body as ecosystem
Samuel Thomson and the Physiomedicalists
Energetics of herbs — hot and cold, wet and dry, stimulating and relaxing
Energetics of conditions — six tissue states
Herbal actions
Energetics of your ally and how your ally effects different constitutions and tissue states
Direction of cure: Moving from center to circumference
FEBRUARY
Nourishment
Primal nutrition
Insulin resistance and metabolism
Food allergies
Sleep
Exercise
Spiritual practice/meditation
Gut ecology
Nutritional deficiencies and supplementation
Conditions of the digestive system: tissue states and the herbs that match them
Imbolc
Brighid of the three fires
Nourishing the three fires
MARCH
Supporting the Immune System
Understanding the immune system
Nourishing the immune system
Immune modulation vs. immune stimulation
Herbs for infection
Fevers
Grounding and protection
Ostara
Rejuvenation
Rising sap, blood types, and Southern folk medicine
Seeds
April
The myth of the “herbal detox”
Understanding “spring tonics”
The liver: functions, dysfunctions, and therapeutics
The kidneys: functions, dysfunctions, and therapeutics
Lymph and lymphatic herbs
Spiritual cleansing
The art and ethics of wildcrafting
May
Reproductive and Sexual Health
Nourishing the reproductive system
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Contraception and fertility
Reproductive health for male bodied people
Menopause and Andropause
Sexual trauma and reproductive health
Nourishing the reproductive system
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Contraception and fertility
Reproductive health for male bodied people
Menopause and Andropause
Sexual trauma and reproductive health
Beltane
Ecstasy vs.Fertility
Aphrodesiacs
Plants and sacred sexuality
Ecstasy vs.Fertility
Aphrodesiacs
Plants and sacred sexuality
Flowers
June
The biology of stress
Nourishing the nervous and endocrine systems
Regulating the nervous and endocrine systems
Understanding and easing anxiety
Understanding and easing depression
Heartsickness and soul sickness
Sleep and insomnia
August
Circulation
The heart revisited
Hemoglobin and Chlorophyl
Nourishing the heart and blood vessels
Blood pressure
Stress and the heart
Peripheral circulation
Connecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual hearts
Nourishing the nervous and endocrine systems
Regulating the nervous and endocrine systems
Understanding and easing anxiety
Understanding and easing depression
Heartsickness and soul sickness
Sleep and insomnia
Midsummer
Elder, Hawthorn, and the Faery Realm
Leaves
Elder, Hawthorn, and the Faery Realm
Leaves
July
Muscles and Bones
Nourishing the muscles, bones, and connective tissues
Herbs, nutrition, and muscular development
Acute injuries to muscles, bones, and connective tissues
Chronic problems of muscles, bones, and connective tissues
Nourishing the muscles, bones, and connective tissues
Herbs, nutrition, and muscular development
Acute injuries to muscles, bones, and connective tissues
Chronic problems of muscles, bones, and connective tissues
August
Circulation
The heart revisited
Hemoglobin and Chlorophyl
Nourishing the heart and blood vessels
Blood pressure
Stress and the heart
Peripheral circulation
Connecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual hearts
Lughnasadh
Honoring the sun
Wild nourishment
Fruits and seeds
September
Respiration
Breath
Nourishing and strengthening the respiratory system
Asthma
Acute respiratory infections
Chronic respiratory infections
Mabon
Harvest
Fall planting
Honoring and restoring our medicine places
Honoring the sun
Wild nourishment
Fruits and seeds
September
Respiration
Breath
Nourishing and strengthening the respiratory system
Asthma
Acute respiratory infections
Chronic respiratory infections
Mabon
Harvest
Fall planting
Honoring and restoring our medicine places
Roots
October
What kind of herbalist are you?
Ethics for healers
Boundaries and clearing
Personal consultations on next steps on your path
What kind of herbalist are you?
Ethics for healers
Boundaries and clearing
Personal consultations on next steps on your path
Sharing our allies' lessons
Samhain
The underworld journey revisited
Journeying for healing
Entheogens
The underworld journey revisited
Journeying for healing
Entheogens