Native Oregon Plant Immersion - exploring our local medicinal plants

During our time together we will be focusing on deepening our connection to some of our native Oregonian plant life. We will be focusing on creating our own relationship with the plants, finding which ones resonate with you along noticing which you have resistance to. Forming a relationship with these plants is like finding new friends. Some will be super easy to be around and communicate with others while others will be much more difficult. Everyone has their own unique way of life and it definitely is the same here.

Most traditional healers work with only a select few plants that they have deeply connected with, they use these for all different issues. When Ryan Drum asked Ellen White, a Nootka elder and traditional healer, for what ailments the Nootka use Devils Club, she replied "for everything” I have heard this same sentiment from other traditional healers, they have formed a relationship with the plants that go far beyond the scientific actions that we learn about in western herbalism.

We will be working with 6 different native medicinal plants over 7 weeks. The first class we will set our intentions, discuss what the program will touch on and explore, learn how to use and make different herbal concoctions, and finish with a plant meditation.

During this time I encourage you all to experiment with different ways of connecting. Make medicine, drink tea, create an altar, meditate every day, etc. If you are able to get away for a few days and escape the external stimulation and eat simply while working with these plants you will see, even in that little time, how profound it can be. That is the beauty of this program we each can chose our own way of connecting. Then when we come back together we all have a unique perspective to share.

That being said if you are unable to get away, the plants know when you set an intention and respect the bond you are asking. You will all find your own way to work with each plant and that is the beauty of this work.

The thing I love most about doing this with a group is we all have our individual experiences and through those, we all learn so much about the plants and ourselves, and by sharing with each other we all get different perspectives on these beautiful plants. I will be sharing with you more of the classic information ranging from traditional uses, western herbalism, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese medicine, where and how to find them, the best way to harvest, and medicine-making tips.

Inspired by my time studying sacred plants in the Amazon, along with many years of Herbalism, Ayurveda, and Plant Spirit Medicine.

Plants we work with-

Western Osha, Yarrow, Parrots Beak, Hawthorn, Western Aralia, Oregon Grape

These may change if another plant presents itself and is a better fit for us.

October 19-December 07 (no class on the 23rd) 3-5pm

Location: Mountain Rose Mercantile

152 W. 5th ave OR 97401

Cost: $250-350 sliding scale - Please contact me if you need to pay less than $350

Includes Herbal extracts and digital Materia Medica “Uses, Identification, Harvesting, Medicine making, etc” of all the plants

Bio:

James, an Ayurvedic & Western Herbalist began his formal herbal studies in 1999 at the California School of Herbal Studies under the tutelage of the renowned herbalist James Greene, in 2006 he continued on to the California College of Ayurveda, and today studies under his Maestro Basillio, an elder medicine man for the Secoya, a small indigenous group in the northwestern region of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

James has called Eugene, Oregon home since 2007 and first moved here in 1995. Drawn to the area by the abundance of fresh food, potent medicine, and wild people; James can often be found walking in the old-growth forests and alpine areas of the Cascades respectfully wildcrafting plants and mushrooms, playing in his garden or checking out the local music scene. Or in Ecuador where he occasionally takes small immersion groups for ancestral healing and education.

Host or Publisher James Keskimaki from Ojas Naturals