In the 2017 spring edition of Herbalista Happenings (at the start of the first *rump presidency), I wrote of a ‘redbud rising‘ and the way the redbud tree’s fuschia-coloured petals, erupting out of dark grey bark, help inspire me to action. I wrote about how natural it is to feel these vernal stirrings, and how we humans often ride the fierce energy of spring to power a revolution. We can see examples of it scattered across history, in events like the People’s Spring (also known as the Spring of Nations) that rolled across Europe in 1848. We can see it in the Paris Commune of 1871 or the Tibetan Uprising of 1959. From the Wounded Knee Occupation of 1973 to the Arab Spring which swept northern Africa and the Middle East in 2011, we, the people, oh how we do spring!

And so here we find ourselves again, in the first spring of another devastating *rump term. Now herbalism teaches us to live in accordance with the seasons, and so I’m here to say that I hope we can do just that. May we allow the spring energy to rise-up through us and help us move towards a more verdant, compassionate, and equitable world.

It is not an easy journey we are on, but one that we are well able for when we walk it together, working the streets AND the halls of government, agitating and advocating for a more collaborative society. And so as we join together on this mission, may we take care ourselves and of one another. Fittingly, this month’s free school modules are on Herbal Self-Care and how we, as community herbalists, can support herbal self-care in the community through HerbCare Stations and HerbCare Packs. You can find the link below and I do hope you will join us. 💚

Check out our March Happenings Newsletter here.

Herbally yours,
Lorna