What We Can Learn from Nature & Herbal Medicine
with
Matthew Wood, MSc
Saturday, August 31st - 10a-5p ET
& Sunday, September 1st - 10a-4p ET
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SunThis course is open to non-AV students.
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Held in Germantown, NY
About This Class
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As the human world descends into chaos, we can still look to Mother Nature for continuity, health, and even spiritual lessons and truths. Every plant and animal is representative of a spiritual lesson operating on the physical, emotional, mental, and intuitive/creative level. This has been my inspiration for over fifty years but I can now see how necessary and fitting these lessons are for our times--as well as the healing knowledge through which the spirit of Nature shines forth. When I was young, doctors treated the symptom not the whole person, but now they treat the markers in the blood and don’ great even relate to the symptomatic person. We are forced out into the field of Nature to heal ourselves. It is so much easier to be damaged by medicine today than in the past.
For a full day Matthew Wood will share his forty plus years of experience as an herbalist and interpreter of the Wisdom of Nature, teaching in accordance with his recently published book, A Shamanic Herbal (July 2, 2024). Bring your books for book-signing, get this most recent book, if you haven't, bring your best questions and your own stories.
Purchase Matt's new book HERE.
Saturday
Basic Home Apothecary
My Top 24 herbs, after 45 years of practice
After a lifetime of herbal practice, what would I want in my herb cupboard? Yarrow, Plantain, St. John's Wort, Calendula, Gotu Kola, for cuts and wounds; Yarrow, Angelica, Elder, Solomon's Seal, bruises; Yarrow, Elder, Angelica, Boneset, Blue Vervain, Wild Cherry, Yerba Mansa for fevers, flus, colds; Cleavers, Red Root, Calendula, Violet, Vervain to clear lymphatics, throat; Elder, Angelica, Mullein, Marshmallow Root, Violet, Plantain, Elecampane for the lungs; Boneset, Mullein, Solomon's Seal, Dandelion Root, bones and tendons; Ashwagandha, Dandelion Root, muscles; Chickweed, Solomon's Seal, Ashwagandha, Gotu Kola, connective tissue. Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, Chickweed--liver, "blood cleansers"; Yellow Dock Root, Marshmallow Root, Yarrow, intestines; Yarrow, St. John's Wort, Mullein, Plantain, Wood Betony, Gotu Kola, nerves; Schizandra, general astringent; Yarrow, Wild Cherry,Wood Betony, peripheral circulation; Chickweed, gentle penetration in external applications.
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Sunday
What is Shamanic Herbalism?
Shamanism is the name I prefer for the "Nature-based" spiritual path which was innate to Earth and humanity long before there was writing, when teachings were passed on by stories--"shaman stories"--and personified in the Alphabet of Nature (plants and animals). It is a timeless spiritual path not in conflict with any religion (unless the religionists pick the fight), because it is based on timeless themes and lessons. In the preparatory, or "outer court," we learn disciplines, practices, and laws of life that ready us for the inner life of the shaman: spiritual discipline or warriorship, the worthy opponent (Snake Medicine), reliving of experience (Alligator Medicine), learning from experience and the Wisdom of Nature or Secrets of the Earth (Turtle Medicine). But the inner life of the shaman is experienced in dreamtime or vision (or even hallucination). The crucial moment is when we dream of our animal self. Shamanism is based on accepting and making peace between our human self and our animal self--our warm-blooded animal self that gives us a loving heart, love for the young, the partner, the community. All these are characteristic of the mammalian lifewave. Human nature only added an ego, self-consciousness, alienation from God and Nature, by combining our human frontal cortex with the reptilian backbrain. In this class we will study some favorite herbs: angelica, burdock, elder (Bear Medicine), agrimony, cinquefoil (Wolf), Monarda, elder, dogwood, sumach (Elk, Deer), St. John's wort and yarrow (Warrior Medicine).
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Attendees should bring:
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Chair, blanket, or cushion to sit on
Early Bird Registration
Register by August 20th and save 10%!
*Early Bird pricing will automatically be applied at checkout
Pricing
​Click on the price to Register
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Full Weekend: $270 (Registration closes at 10am EST Friday, 8/30)
Saturday and Sunday learning from Matthew Wood.
One Day Only: $150 (Registration closes at 10am EST Friday, 8/30)
Option to choose either Saturday or Sunday to attend.
Full Weekend + On-Site Camping: $280 (Overnight registration closes at 10am EST Thursday, 8/29)
Guests will be given space to pitch their own tent and have use of the bathroom and kitchen in the barn.
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Full Weekend + On-Site Barn Accommodations: $290 (Overnight registration closes at 10am EST Thursday, 8/29)
Guests will stay on-site in the air-conditioned dormitory style accommodations.
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Full Weekend + On-Site Barn Accommodations & Bedding: $297 (Overnight registration closes at 10am EST Thursday, 8/29)
Same as above but bedding (sheets/blankets/pillows) will be provided,
Your Instructor
Matthew Wood
Cancellation & Refund Policies
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Cancellation Policy
Should we need to cancel class, you will be notified via email with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice. You will receive a full refund for the cost of the class.
Refund Policy
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If the situation arises that you need to cancel your registration for a class, please notify ArborVitae immediately by emailing admin@arborvitaeny.com.
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Anyone canceling their registration at least 7 full calendar days prior to the start of the class will be given a full refund minus any admin and/or payment processing fees that were incurred.
Late Notice
Due to our classes having limited enrollment, cancellations made less than 7 full calendar days prior to the start of the class are nonrefundable. If we are able to fill your spot with someone from the waitlist a full refund will be given minus any admin and/or payment processing fees that were incurred.
Substitutions
Registrations can be transferred to another participant at any time up until the start of class. In this case, the initial registrant should notify ArborVitae with the new participant's name, email address, and phone number as soon as possible. New participants will be required to complete any required registration paperwork.
No Show
Registrations for those that do not attend class without prior notice are nonrefundable.