HERBOLOGY
The department of Herbology includes courses that are primarily focused on the vegetable kingdom. It includes medicinal herbalism as well as courses in the magical uses of herbs and in the folk lore of herbs, trees, and flowers. Because herbs are used in healing, magic, and divination, as well as for sacred ritual, it was felt that they should have their own department rather than be scattered about.
HER 001 Herbs & Diet (1 cr) Liz Johnson.
Have you ever gone on a diet only to become frustrated at those times when the pounds just do not seem to be coming off? There are herbs that can help! In this four-week course you will learn about herbs used to create a full feeling, dealing with food cravings, and general weight loss.
HER 002 Herbs & The Brain (1 cr) Liz Johnson.
This four-week course focuses on ways herbs can help memory, mood, and well-being. We will look at how the brain ages and when various “brain tonics” become useful for studying and for delaying the effects of aging on the brain.
HER 003 Herbs and Stress (1 cr) Liz Johnson.
Have you ever had a day that just wouldn't end! Tired of being tired? In this four-week course you will learn about herbs that can take the edge off a rough day and herbs that can help you handle tomorrow! Join us for a cup of something soothing and the information that makes life seem calmer and easier to handle.
HER 004 Herbs & Beauty (1 cr) Liz Johnson.
Spend a couple of hours pampering yourself ! In Herbs and Beauty we will learn about wonderful ways to treat ourselves and those we love with masks, hand treatments, baths, and more. After learning the basics, we will try out a beautiful way to pamper and beautify ourselves! Before the influx of the holidays, come learn new ways to feel good.
HER 005 Herbs & Happiness (1 cr) Liz Johnson.
Come and learn all about herbs and aromatherapy for depression, anxiety, lack of confidence, lack of motivation, and recovering from depleted energy levels. The support and nourishment of both body and mind will be discussed. Learn about the traditional herbs that help people around the world feel great! A great class to help you enjoy life to the fullest!
HER 006 Health & Magick in the Kitchen (1 cr) Liz Johnson.
Herbs sit in a kitchen drawer, or on a rack, waiting for you to become inspired to cook! Come and learn what your favorite herbs say about you! Each herb in the kitchen can help both the body and the mind to be more balanced and healthy. Discover how pesto aids the body in fighting depression, how Cayenne can help fight off a cold, and more! Explore the age old magickal attributes of the herbs in your kitchen. Learn the magick that you can cook with every day!
HER 101. The Wisdom of the Trees (3 cr)
Treelore from the biological, ecological, and spiritual contexts. This course should be taken before DIV 302. Texts: Fred Hageneder, The Spirit of Trees and The Heritage of Trees, History, Culture and Symbolism.
This course introduces beginning and advanced students to the subject of medicinal herbology establishing a firm theoretical foundation for further study of materia medica and diagnosis techniques. Discussion of the elements in herbology and the theory of signatures.
HER 103 Diagnosis I (3 cr)Liz Johnson.
Prerequisite: HER 102. Complimentary and alternative healthcare practitioners use a wide variety of non-invasive techniques to evaluate a client's well-being. In this series each of those diagnostic techniques will be covered in one to two classes. Diagnostic methods involving the face, hands, tongue, and more will be covered in this series.
HER 104 Materia Medica (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Prerequisite: HER 102. This class runs as a three year cycle going through herbs, minerals, and resins A-Z. Each class will cover twelve to fifteen plants. We will be starting with Aconite and Agrimony and moving through the alphabet by common name. You can sign up for this course as many times as you like up to the entire nine quarter sequence (27 credits). The entire sequence is required for a specialization in Herbology in the Master of Ovate Studies program.
HER 105 Organ Systems and Herbs I (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Prerequisite: HER 102. Knowing about many herbs is a great way to help yourself and those around you to better health, but knowing a few herbs may not be enough. Understanding how herbs that do similar things differ in the body and why one herb may be great for one person, but useless to another is an important part of learning about herbs. This class will cover herbs organ system by organ system in the body. By grouping herbs in this way we can compare uses and make better choices.
HER 202 Making Herbal Remedies I (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Prerequisites: HER 102, 103, and 104. Get hands on with Herbs! Learn about and prepare remedies for common ailments.
HER 203 Diagnosis II (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Prerequisites: HER 103, 104, and 105. Complimentary and alternative healthcare practitioners use a wide variety of non-invasive techniques to evaluate a client's well-being. In this series each of those diagnostic techniques will be covered in one to two classes. Diagnostic methods involving iridology, pulse and more will be covered in this course.
HER 205 Organ Systems and Herbs II: Nervous System (3 cr)Liz Johnson.
Prerequisites: HER 103, 104, and 105. This class will cover herbs as they relate to the nervous system. By grouping herbs in this way we can compare uses and make better choices.
HER 302 Making Herbal Remedies II (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Prerequisite: HER 105 and HER 202. Get hands on with Herbs! In this course more difficult subjects, such as compounding, will be covered in depth.
HER 303 Diagnosis III (3 cr)Liz Johnson.
Prerequisites: HER 202, 203, 204, and 205. Continued advanced study of diagnostic techniques.
HER 305 Organ Systems and Herbs III: Endocrine System (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Prerequisites: HER 202, 203, 204, and 205. Knowing about many hers is a great way to help yourself and those around you to better health, but knowing a few herbs may not be enough. Understanding how herbs that do similar things differ in the body and why one herb may be great for one person, but useless to another is an important part of learning about herbs. This class will cover herbs as they relate to the endocrine system.
HER 401 Herbs in Women's Health (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Learn about herbs used by women over the centuries. The lore and legends of herbs used to help women will be explored. Then we’ll take a look at how modern research is adding to our understanding of how these herbs work their magick on issues like PMS, pregnancy, menopause, fertility, and more. Explore the yin side of herbalism!
HER 404 Herbs in Men's Health (3 cr) Liz Johnson.
Spend an in depth hour or two learning about herbs used by men over the centuries. The lore and legends of herbs used to help men will be explored. We’ll take a look at how modern research is adding to our understanding of how these herbs work their magick on issues like E.D., prostate enlargement, fertility, and more. Explore the yang side of herbalism!
HER 405. Ecology and Arboriculture (3 cr)
A Druidic application of ecological science and arboriculture. Discussion of watersheds, wetlands, preservation and conservation, and the philosophy of Deep Ecology. Students will conduct research in local ecological issues.
HER 406. Folk Lore of Flowers and Herbs (3 cr)
A look at some of the classic herbals and folklore of plants and flowers, as distinct from a more scientific approach to their medicinal uses. Students will work directly with flowers and herbs in meditation, making sketches, and communicating with plants. Possible texts: Hopman, A Druid's Herbal; Tompkins, Secret Life of Plants; Gurudas, The Spiritual Properties of Herbs.
HER 407. Herbs and Magical Practice (3 cr)
Consideration of the magical uses of herbs as distinct from their medicinal and healing uses. How the two ways of looking at herbs relate to each other. Students will engage in folklore research and write a major research paper for their final project.
HER 501. Plant Devas and Horticulture (3 cr)
A course devoted to the study of plant spirits and Faeries in the garden and farm as well as the forest. The course will be divided between readings in Faerie lore, study of the work of the Findhorn Community, and application in field work. Possible texts: Altman, The Deva Handbook; Maclean, To Hear the Angels Sing; Pogacnik, Nature Spirits & Elemental Beings.
HER 502. Herbal Field Work (3 cr)
Work on campus and locally to locate and identify wild herbs,
HER 503. Herb Gardening (3 cr)
How to grow and cultivate herbs in your own garden. Hands-on field work is included in this course.
HER 504. Special Topics in Herbology (3 cr)
Topics will vary according to student and faculty interests.
