Becoming A Bioregional Herbalist - White Mountains

Exploring the Terrain (Tír Raon)

with bioregional herbalist, John Slattery

near Alpine, AZ

August 10-13, 2023

Workshop fee - $575

Early Bird Discount - $515

*Limited Space Available

Where should one go to learn about plants for healing, but to the plants themselves!

Learning to heal with wild plants and the landscape itself is part of an ancient pathway - and our collective ancestral heritage. Rediscovering this path is akin to rediscovering our inner selves.

To fully engage with the landscape, and the plants within the landscape, is something that each of us are fully capable of… if we simply allow ourselves to be present with what is right before us.

Becoming present with the plants and all they have to offer may provide profound insights and knowledge of self, leading one towards enhanced well-being, vitality, and wholeness.

People, Place, & Plants

I call it Bioregional Herbalism. It’s not just about learning the facts of the natural world around you - it’s about relationship. Taking time to observe, listen, and contemplate, our learning grows from a natural fountain of inspiration which is connected to all living things. Learning to embrace this practice is a way of coming home. 

If you are called to develop relationship with the plants around you for healing, but unsure how to begin, then this workshop is just for you.

Also, if you have been gathering knowledge about the plants around you, but would like to go deeper, this workshop is also for you.

In this multi-day field study we will explore the foundational aspects of becoming a bioregional herbalist: developing relationship with place and the plants within it.

This endeavor leads us to explore and experience many subjects including…

-field botany

-landscape observation

-intimate relationship with plants & landscape

-respectful wildcrafting and participation with our environment

-plant energetics

-discussion and practice of creating herbal therapeutics

-applying these therapeutics for well-being and healing utilizing our knowledge of our homeland. 

We’ll touch on several key areas of bioregional herbalism in this workshop as we learn to follow the lessons set before us. I, as your guide and facilitator, seek to embark on a path of integrity that is challenging, enlightening, and revitalizing for all who participate.

In an uncertain world, the embrace of Mother Nature can remind us of who we truly are and who we are meant to be. The deeper healing potential of plants can be realized through direct relationship and interaction with these vital beings. To feel ourselves resonate with the living energy of the plants is where healing truly flourishes.

Deep connection through continued observation is the foundation for a bioregional herbalist. Knowledge is derived from experience, and wisdom through continued practice and observation of Nature (people, place, and plants).

Learning about the plants found naturally occurring around us, in their natural habitat, begins to deepen our relationship to place. Little by little, patterns begin to emerge which inform us as to how we can utilize plants for medicine or best practices for engaging with these plants.

In this workshop we’ll also explore the core concepts of plant energetics while experiencing them directly through the plants we study. Experiencing the plants in their natural setting, while rooted in these fundamental concepts, and consuming small amounts of plant medicine in context, allows one to acquire this knowledge readily.

This is true experiential learning - a rare phenomenon in today’s world.

The exercises in this workshop will introduce the participant to a method of learning which is empowering, distinctly individualized, unusually contextual, and highly experiential.

Participants come away from these experiences appreciating plants in a whole new way, even when they already had a deep appreciation for plants.

Following are select comments from a previous participant:

John is breathing new life into an ancient way of engaging with plants. What seemingly begins as an outward exploration of the local bioregion, quickly becomes a profound study of the internal landscape, of one’s own capacity to be in dialogue with the intelligent, living medicines of the green world. John reawakens in each of us, our own ability to receive wisdom directly from the source- from the plants themselves- through his invitation into stillness, an open heart, the body’s felt sense, and other subtle impressions.

Bringing together concepts which are deeply familiar, yet widely applicable serves to lift the participant up into a new level of growth and learning.

Take advantage of this opportunity to explore the landscape amidst the transition from summer to autumn. The moist Earth and verdancy of the mountain is sure to rejuvenate our spirits and our imagination!

Join me for this intensive workshop to begin to transform your approach to working with plants. Starting in your own backyard you can begin to master healing with wild plants through your own experience. Then you can use the basic principles and practices learned in this workshop to continually learn more about your local plants and landscape in a healing way. Amongst all the other exercises in this workshop, gathering experience with a hands-on approach to field botany can open up many opportunities for gaining unique knowledge about the plants you work with.

Although we will explore the area around our base camp, on foot, we will also be making trips away from our base camp, by vehicle, ranging from 15-45 minutes, one-way.

This trip involves driving on dirt roads maintained with accessibility for low clearance vehicles as well as trailers.

Specific location details and logistics will be sent upon registration. 

Overnight camping is not mandatory, but will make it much easier to remain with the group and participate in all activities. The nearest accommodations are about 30-45 minutes away.

There is room for large vehicles or trailers at this primitive campground.

Please indicate upon receipt of meeting details if you don’t intend to camp and will be procuring other accommodations.

A list of what to bring will be sent upon registration.

John J Slattery LLC

Bioregional Herbalist

Tucson, AZ

© 2016-2023

www.johnjslattery.com