Academy of Scottish Herbalism

Traditional Scottish Herbalism
 & Ancient Spirituality
In Aberdeenshire Scotland
With
HEATHER NIC AN FHLEISDEIR

Explore Scottish culture, Herbalism and spirituality in the beautiful North East of Scotland
June 26 through June 30, 2006

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Seminar hours: 11 am-5 pm Monday through Friday including lunch.
Mornings and evenings are free for personal explorations.
 

Sacred Healing

 Heather guides you through meditative body needs accessment, extra- sensory experiences of plant and human interaction, through and to creating health and healing. The history of reading omens and the importance of recognizing  them in everyday health will be discussed, as well as the traditions of the reciting of charms and the utilizing of stones for healing.

Botanical and Folk Pharmacy

Explore the taste, feeling, sights and scents of health. Learn practical techniques and skill - far from ‘quaint’ in nature - in the making of herbal vinegars and herbal extracts, the formulation of medicinal and mystical use teas, oils, ointments, steams, and incense. Be prepared to come away feeling and smelling wonderful.

Botany and Wild Plant Walks

We will be focusing on indigenous wild plants of North East Scotland, learning botanical, local folk, Pictish, Broad Scots and Scottish Gaelic plant names. Natural habitats, plant constituents,  therapeutic actions and properties will be covered.  Historic, scientific and folk knowledge of the plants, with specific medicinal and mystical uses and recipes, are all part of the educational journey you will enjoy.

Ceremony and The Sacred

Visit this 5000 year old recumbent stone circle known as ‘field of prayer’. Based on archeo-astromomy, archeo-technology and folk memory, learn how this circle was utilized, and return to it later to experience these ancient ways in sacredness and ceremony.

Scottish History

Tour the regional prehistory - living history museum, and reconstructed Mesolithic - age homestead. Hear the stories associated with the ancient standing stones of the Aberdeenshire area including ways that they were used for healing and to calculate time.

Explore the underground remains of this ancient home in a hollow hill, travel over historic stone bridges and visit the enigmatic Inverurie mare stone carving and sidhe (faery) mounds.

Optional evenings out to the local  pubs for traditional  music and contemporary Scottish culture will be available for those who choose. 

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The Location

We will be in the extreme northern hemisphere while the days are at their longest. Sometimes it will be light untill 11pm!
The Aberdeenshire area is filled with history and prehistory sites from ancient standing stones to the Royal Balmoral Castle, plenty of local cultural events, nature attractions and quality shops to visit.

Travel

You will be picked up at Scotland’s Aberdeen airport, bus or train station. Comfortable group transportation will be provided for this, field trips and pub excursions. You must purchase and arrange for your own plane/train/bus fares to Aberdeen separately.

Food    

Meals are included in the costs. A former chef; Heather will be creating them all, working her ‘good medicine’ into each bite! They will be wholesome and created from organically grown local food and herbs common to Scotland.
For breakfast: hot grain cereal with nuts, seeds and fresh fruit topping.   Lunch will include: soups and salads. Supper will be: stews, vegetables, and custom baked goods. Tea with heather honey and cream will always be provided. A festive final banquet with a special dessert will conclude our trip on Friday evening.

Accommodations      

Accommodations are included in the cost, and sleeping will be dormitory-lodge style, sharing a comfortable room with others and a common room for lounging, reading and letter writing. Your towels and bedding will be provided and will include sheets, blankets, duvet and  pillow.

Clothing

Please dress casual, natural, comfortable and neat. Nothing torn or stained. Layered clothing is best, since the weather can and does change frequently. Bring one good outfit. Be sure to bring rain gear, good walking shoes or boots, warm pajamas, robe and slippers.

Practicalities

Bring a 5” x 8” journal for notes and pressing plants and plenty of writing tools. Also have a small flashlight, and camera with film if you wish.

Personal Expenses

You will want to budget for your own personal travel to and from the North-East of Scotland, spending money to cover any extra travel, food, alcohol, entertainment, postage, cards and crafts that you wish to purchase. Student are expected to carry their own travelers insurance.

Seminar Itinerary

Sunday :
Students arrive in Aberdeen-shire for a light get acquainted supper.

Monday thru Thursday:
Daily indoor and outdoor seminar instruction, exploration and field trips.

Friday:
Final seminar day and a evening festive banquet to conclude our journey together.

Costs and Deposits

Costs include tuition, six nights of accommodation, 17 meals, 
field trip - travel all herbal supplies and admission fee to the museum. Spaces in this seminar are limited to 10 people and are available on a first come-first served basis This requires a 50% nonrefundable deposit to hold your place.

Full payment for seminar is due by May 15th

$750.  deposit to reserve space

$750.  balance due by May 15th

$1500. total costs for seminar due by May 15th

You must purchase your own plane/train/bus fares separately.

Call, email or mail your request to reserve a space. You may charge the deposit on your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover Card or make a check payable in U.S. dollars to “Mrs. Thompson’s”.