The New Year marks the passage of time and can bring space to reflect on what worked and what didn’t the previous year. It’s also a time when messaging saying that we need to be “better,” and that if we’re not doing better we aren’t doing enough, is loudest. The New Year—like every other day that the sun rises—brings opportunity for change and growth. How do we access this without blaming ourselves for not feeling good in a fucked-up world? Let’s be real about the grief and tiredness that we carry from season to season because of all we’re holding.

Barriers to change do not move neatly, like linear time. We can’t escape the previous year in our efforts to start anew—what we can do is acknowledge our patterns with honesty and compassion.

During this 4-week course we will explore plant-based strategies to address what hinders our best intentions to treat our bodies and spirits well in the New Year.

Attendees will make an herbal medicine each week to take home. The course will run Wednesday evenings in January from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, beginning Wednesday January 9 until Wednesday, January 30. Discount for signing up for all four classes.

January 9: Anxiety

During week 1 will look at herbs that bring us into our bodies, into the moment and that help to rebuild a frayed nervous system. This week we’ll make a tea blend for peace of mind.

January 16: Sleep

During our second week we will delve into Circadian rhythms, herbs that quiet the mind, sleep hygiene and sedative herbs. This week we will make a sleep tincture.

January 23: Heartache and boundaries

During week 3 we will discuss herbal and energetic medicines that help us live with the wounds we carry and develop the strength that open-heartedness requires. We will make a heart-holding syrup.

 January 30: Food and digestion

In our final week we will explore herbs and healing foods that strengthen digestion, the foundation that enables physical and emotional well-being to flourish. We will make a vegetable ferment and digestive bitters.