Greetings: Our Medicinal Herbalist Certification Program is now in session. The dates for the 2009 Program are May 1, afternoon and May 2 & 3, May 30/31, June 20/21, July 18/19, August 8/9, September 12/13, and September 19, Graduation Ceremony 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. with refreshments.
Below is an excerpt from the syllabus material we send out by post mail to prospective students and interested callers. We encourage those of you who are considering this program to call us and order it to be sent to you . Tel: 734-769-7794. We are also happy to answer your questions.
To those considering our 2009 program- you may register for a one day or 2 day "guest student" spot in the program in session this year. Each guest student day is $150.00, with advance registration and pre-payment necessary to participate.
Note that at each class gathering is a time for Mary Light to give teachings, commentary, and share her personal experience as a long term hands-on practitioner , with the group in a circle. This is an excellent time for questions to come up for the group to contemplate and learn from. This, as well as our direct experiences, and the community energy which forms, are not easy to contain within a written syllabus, yet the syllabus does help seekers with an outline and overview of the curriculum.
Required for the Program
Field Guide to Northeastern Wild flowers, by author Peterson.
Please purchase a wildflowers guide, and not a "medicinal herbs" guide, since the wildflowers guides are much more comprehensive, as well as fulfilling our needs for field identification training. An older edition is just fine, and it is the drawings we value, not so much the color photos .
The New Holistic Herbal, by David Hoffman. This book has consistently been available from amazon.com and related sites , as a used book , for reasonable prices for the past 6 years. Students have told us that bookstores tell them it is "out of print"; however, the book IS AVAILABLE, and the new version with a slightly different title has the exact same content down to the pagination.
Students will also be asked to research and find information from a list of recommended books, many of which we have in our library.
PLEASE PROCURE AND ALWAYS BRING: Field gloves, ideally lined in the palms and fingers with vinyl or some protective material. Shears or snips, field footwear. Be aware that it is often necessary for safety and comfort to have socks available to wear, and possibly water proof boots to change into for field walks. Have ready a blanket for outdoor use. School supplies. Prepare for personal needs: outdoor/indoor. We recommend you bring your things in a duffel bag, or pack, or something of that nature.
About Gaia Center and the land: We are situated on 800 private acres in Washtenaw county, in close proximity to Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea and Manchester. Beautiful marshland, meadows, prairie, & woodlands, with private trails, await the student. A wildlife and bird habitat, it is home to many dozens of medicinal and edible plants and trees, growing and blooming in the various ranges, year round. We are accessible to 1-94 , and for those needing lodging, there are nearby motels, hotels, b & b, and camping. Please avail yourself to the world wide web and “map quest” site for geographical questions, directions, lodging and other transportation issues. Those who will need lodging may enjoy staying in nearby Chelsea where other students have enjoyed staying in the past, or in one of Ann Arbor's eclectic B & B's , and placing you in the midst of "local culture" - shops, cafes, bookstores, cinema, concerts, plays and the farmers market and artisans market.
The Gaia Center environs offers several experimental herb sanctuaries, including a 33 foot Medicine Wheel garden with a peace pole and contemplation areas, surrounded by a prairie of native plants and pines. We actively cultivate medicinal herbs as a medicine farm operation. Our outdoor classroom includes many acres of private yard, as well as private trails and roads for field work. Our indoor classroom includes an herb lab, kitchen area, an herbal pharmacy and dispensary, library, and classroom. We enjoy outdoor classes as pleasurable weather provides.
About the Program : Multidimensional Learning
Gaia Center offers a Home Study Course for $650.00, available for purchase. See our Home Study page for more information. That course will raise in tuition in 2009.
The Home Study Certification course and portions of our two programs convey NCBTMB continuing education CE .
For those who wish to attend the core program gatherings which this syllabus describes, and learn experientially, without making the commitment to complete assignments , there is a Workshop Study option, for $1,600.00, for which a certificate of participation is issued . You are in the same class group, and the difference is, you may elect not to complete assignments or achieve needed attendance, and to waive instructor mentorship outside of class gatherings. Please call the school for more information on these additional and alternative options for herbal study at : 734 - 769 – 7794, or visit our web site.
Format of the one weekend per month
program class meetings
Class begins promptly at 8:45 a.m. in Saturdays, and promptly at 10 a.m. on Sundays. We are unable to wait for latecomers, have a lot to cover, and activities pre-planned. Many mornings we are promptly off into the outdoors to learn, harvest, and connect with plants. We recommend that students arrive 15 minutes early to settle in and relax before class sessions begin.
During the program gatherings, many topics are covered in an experiential, hands-on approach. In between the weekend gatherings, there are assignments and projects to complete. The program is suited to beginners and to those of various intermediate levels of exposure and experience to herbal studies. Successful completion, which includes attendance of all classes and completion of all assignments and projects, results in a Certificate of Achievement and Completion in Medicinal Herbal Arts and Sciences. If students falter in their attendance, and in completion of program work, they may receive a “certificate of participation” , or, they may resume studies the following year by re-entering the program anew for actual Certification. Only in extenuating circumstances, such as medical emergency, can the school extend partial credits for further study. Gaia School reserves the right to change and refine curriculums yearly, therefore we are not necessarily repeating each year's material over again.
Mary Light is the primary instructor, leading the weekend gatherings through the learning experience. We have recently welcomed new teachers and assistant teachers - see Our Teacher s page. Guest teachers are welcomed in their presentation of topics ranging from Wild Edible Foraging, Chinese Herbology supporting Oriental Medicine, Community Herbalist, Care for the Childbearing Year, and more. The focus of the curriculum is in support of the continuity of traditional herbal pathways - the way herbal art and science has been in place in human culture for thousands of years among various populations, as a holistic presence for health and healing.
During the program gatherings we offer natural foods snacks such as fruits, nuts, and cookies, as well as teas. We ask that students bring their own main meal- lunch- and , plan to stay on the premises for the entire days’ gathering. We are too far from restaurants and stores for personal errands to occur during the program days,and we discourage students from including such into the class gathering times. The weekend class gatherings are retreat style. You are invited to leave your active pace behind and relax. Please come to the school each time completely prepared for whatever you need here, and allow your time here to flow without trying to multitask and do errands during program weekends.
This is an apprentice style program. Students will complete all assignments, turning them into Mary Light periodically for review, and commentary or change, if needed.
PROGRAM MEETING TIMES : SAT 845 am- 5
SUN 10 am - 5
PROGRAM DATES:
May 23, ( Friday afternoon from 2 -6) 24, 25
JUNE 21, 22; JULY 19,20; AUG 23,24,
SEPTEMBER 20, 21; OCTOBER 11 & 12.
Monthly Outline of Program : Note: these are intended outlines . We reserve the choice to change our weekend class according to factors such as weather and group needs. The classes are essentially a format of activity, lecture, demonstration, and experiential /lab work, along with discussion of past assignments, questions, and receipt of new assignments. Any student wishing to prepare ahead for the program may read and study “The New Holistic Herbal , “ by David Hoffman.
May (note: each month a field identification skills lesson is planned)
Orientation and Overview of program proceedings, resources, grounds, assignments.Botanical field identification skills . Survey of native habitats with growing herbs and medicinal botanicals. Cultivation skills development in research gardens. Specimen gathering, spring harvesting , basic medicine making skills. Shamanic exercise.
June: Discussion and exploration of human physiology and it’s relation to herb activity and topical applications. Natural Therapeutics experiences. Harvesting and Formulation: Basic Skills: “brews”, infusions, decoctions, preserved infusions, poultices. Attunement exercise, Herb Cultivation. Herbal Therapeutics: Liver and Digestive System and Herbal Tissue Specificity. (Plus formulas)
Guest teacher TBA. Introduction to Materia Medica . Introduction Herb Science. Herb Lab Preparation and Set up. Harvesting and Medicinal Herb Plant Preservation. Herbal Therapeutics: Urinary System Formula recipes given and experienced for urinary health.
July: Flower Essences , Energetics, Plant Spirit Medicine. Preparation of Flower Essences from the Gaia Land. July Summer Botanical Field Identification and Gathering Lesson. Herbal Therapeutics: Nervous System and Nervine Herbs. Formula recipes given and experienced for nervous system health.
August: Formulary, Sustainable harvesting methods, Apothecary Skills, Physiology lecture, and more
September: Herbal Medicine Making and Apothecary Weekend. All weekend we will make various products and formulas for the home apothecary, learn about packaging, sources of herbs and supplies, and take these products home to stock our own family and personal herbal apothecary for the year. Guest teacher: Herb Use for the Childbirth Community, TBA Herbal Therapeutics: Immune System and Respiratory Health and Healing.
Formula recipes given and experienced for rejuvenation and health.
October: Formulary Skills. External Herbal Applications. Botanical First Aid. Essential Oils Role in Botanical Healing. Fall Harvesting of Roots and Barks. Winter Health : Formula Recipes For Student comments and Testimonials see our page on this site, Students Share
Advanced Studies and Additional Certification
Those who successfully complete this program, and wish to continue, may consider the Medicinal Herbalist Advanced Studies, a two year program. We offer a curriculum outline for the advanced studies programs, by request, should students wish to look ahead. Advanced studies are more self directed in nature than the initial core program described in this syllabus - requiring students to create and complete projects under supervision and guidance. They are an exciting way to deepen and practice medicinal herbal and health knowledge in a setting which provides resources and inspiration as well as expert teachings, guidance, and evaluation. We are happy to answer your questions about this program. If you have not completed our Medicinal Herbalist Certification program, yet do have equivalent training and background and wish to join us for the advanced program, we offer a pathway to test you in- call our office about that option.
Teacher Training
We also offer, and encourage among our students, opportunities for Teacher Training, should you wish to eventually explore teaching as a path, and adjunct to your life and career. This path begins in the training mode as assistant and observer in classroom settings, including preparation for class. The teacher training program requires a fee for participation and is open to graduates of either the Medicinal Herbalist Certification Program, or successful completion and certification of the Herbalist Home Study Program through Gaia School.
