Daisy Explains it All
Those of you following closely will realize that we skipped Aida’s post yesterday. Fear not, gentle readers, Aida will be back next week with pictures and stories and fresh insight and inspiration. This week, however, she is apprenticing with Wise Woman Herbalist Corinna Wood. It’s one of those woman-centered, goddessy, outdoorsy experiences.
I did one of these in 2004 in upstate New York with Susun Weed. The Green Goddess Apprenticeship (I know, right?). Susun Weed lives in a small farm house on 300+ acres of mountain woods. For a week I camped on a hill in the woods, peed outside, herded goats, ate wild food outside, swam naked, hiked, chanted (yes I totally did), gathered wild mushrooms, and listened and asked questions of a truly wild woman. I came home lit up from the inside.
The herbalism that these women practice and teach is a bit different from mainstream herbalism in style, outlook, and execution. Most modern herbals list hundreds of plants both local and foreign. Liscensed naturopathic doctors usually prescribe herbs in pill form, using standardized extracts. Many herbs in combination are used together, and the formulas can be quite expensive. There are tables of correspondences that list which herbs are used for which ailments.
This just ain’t what the Herban Cowgirls do.
Women like Susan Weed and Corinna Wood (and Aida and I as well as thousands of others) practice a different kind of herbal craft. Susun calls it the Wise Woman Way and says it’s the oldest way of healing on the planet. Most of its practitioners are women, because most of the world’s heathcare is provided by women: mothers to sick children, daughters to aging parents, sisters and aunts and cousins taking care of their families.
The Wise Woman Way includes all remedies and therapies that work, from doing nothing to pills and surgery. There is nothing wrong with your sick body. You are already whole and perfect, even in your pain and illness. Problems that arise bring gifts of change. Replace habits that drain your energy with habits that nourish your health. Herbs are used as whole plants, grown locally and made into medicine with oil, alcohol, vinegar, or water. A Wise Woman herbalist doesn’t have a cursory knowledge of 879 plants, but has an intense and deep relationship with a dozen or so plants. She knows how they grow and where and when. She knows when to harvest what and how to make it into food and medicine.
It is a different perspective of human health. Knowing these plants personally and developing “relationships” with them over the years has been a fascinating journey that just snowballs bigger and bigger with every season. My plantain oil soothed Little Boy’s diaper rash when he was a baby, as well as cuts, scrapes, bites and stings. My elder tincture has brought down more than one high fever within an hour. My burdock tincture relieved my Aunt’s diverticulitis pain. Passionflower (that I gathered from a fence behind Lowe’s) helps me sleep when I need it. I use cleavers and chickweed for all kinds of infections. Yarrow tincture stings like hell but stops bleeding. And mimosa helps me chase away my blues.
This is folk medicine. People’s medicine. I am the primary health care provider for my family. We consult a doctor when we need to, but most of our problems and ailments are taken care of at home. There’s more to all of it, obviously. I’ve posted a few links for those who are interested in learning more.
I can’t wait to hear about Aida’s adventures when she comes home.
http://susunweed.com/greengoddess.htm
This is a great post and I’m grateful to a friend to have shown me this blog.
I just recently came across and interview with Susun Weed. I *LOVED* what she had to say about perimenopause and menopause. I bought her book and have been just pouring over it whenever I can. I wish I had known her during the pregnancy years for me (and earlier) but better late than never. I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of the wise woman ways of living/being. I’ve been on a journey to really tune into my body and it’s wisdom that it’s been trying to have me hear for years. For me, it’s about quieting down the chatter and then being still enough to HEAR what the body has to say. Same goes for my environment around me.
I’m looking forward to hearing what Aida comes back with on her journey as well!
Hi Linda! Thanks for joining us on our adventures. Drop in when you like and feel free to leave a story or two in the comments (we love stories).
Thank you for having adventures that I can join in on! 🙂
Where do you guys live, by the way? I’m looking around but don’t see in what state the herban cowgirls are residing. I’m in VT. I just opened a little raw food cafe. I’ve been on this raw journey for the last 9 years and doing so has enabled me to start a garden (although the cafe has redirected my time the past 1 1/2 years), find/use/eat wild edibles and plants for medicinal purposes, become my own green witch, become my own shaman, create my own rituals/ceremonies to bring deep purpose in my daily life, find my own group of wise women to support me on my journey, etc and so forth. I’m a mom of 2 (ages 9 and 11) and they are amazing beings and teachers to me (quite a lot.)
A lot more can be said, I s’pose. I’m happy to read up on older posts here when I have time in between a full full life.
Many blessings to you all,
Linda
Hi Linda! We’ve got a Cowgirl friend up in the Woodstock area of VT. We’re down in Southeast Georgia (Aida also spends as much time as she can in her native Haiti). It’s hard to find the Wise Women sometimes (they to stay busy, so “normal” friendships can be difficult to maintain). We’re so happy you can join us! 🙂
I want to apprentice with you, Daisy!!! Pick a weekend this fall to roam to pee in the woods and I’ll get that other wanna-be witch to come too!!
I want to do that!!!
Well if Woodstock cowgirl ever wants to meet Worcester cowgirl, please let’s make it happen! 🙂 And if you ever find yourself up north, please look me up.