Brigid’s Path
A course in bioregional herbalism and seasonal magic
Brigid’s Path is for those who want to reweave the Wild Self and remember their connection to the animate earth.
It is meant to guide you along the path of the bean feasa, the wise woman, and the bean leighis, the healer woman. It is about reclaiming your power and confidence, cultivating joy, and fostering a sense of belonging in the relationships we build with our plant kin, with the land, and with each other.
We will walk together through the harvesting seasons of the Wheel of the Year and observe the life cycles of the landscape, the plants, and the trees while learning how to gather and make medicine with the earthly gifts we find.
You will learn to understand the language of the land, get to know our local plants on a deep level, become a confident herbalist and medicine maker, learn how to work with the elements and seasonal magic, and become a restorer and guardian of our beautiful living earth.
This Course Covers
How herbs work
We will dive into the science and energetics of how herbs work in the body and learn to understand herbal actions through a Vitalist lens. You’ll come away with the knowledge and confidence to know which herbs to turn to when and exactly how to prepare them.
Plant ID and Botany
We will cover the basics of plant identification and field botany and learn to observe and recognize the patterns present in different plant families.
Plant Ecology and Stewardship
Each plant has its own niche within our ecosystem: we will learn to observe the ecology of each habitat we find ourselves in, understand where each plant fits into the web of life, and learn about which plants like to grow together. We will also cover how to practice herbalism in a way that creates reciprocity and helps our plant communities thrive.
Building a Bioregional Apothecary
By the end of this course, you will be a confident, self-sufficient bioregional herbalist with the skills to stock your apothecary using wild or locally grown plants.
Medicine making
We will be turning wild and garden-grown plants into infusions, decoctions, tinctures, vinegars, honeys, glycerites, syrups, steams, oils, salves, creams, sugars, herbal salts, and more. We will learn both the folk method of making medicine as well as more advanced techniques. You’ll end up with an apothecary stocked with the beautiful medicine you’ve made.
Ethical and sustainable foraging
We will spend lots of time in the field discussing how to harvest and process each plant we meet in a respectful, sustainable, ethical, and safe way.
Growing and Caring for Herbs
Learning about the lifecycle of each plant and how to cultivate and grow it is part of understanding it fully as an individual. We will discuss how to grow herbs in your own garden using permaculture principles, as well as how to grow plants from cuttings and gather and save local ecotype seeds for cultivation.
Getting to know plants as individuals
You will get to know each plant we meet as a friend. Rather than “this herb is good for that” we will learn to see each herb as an individual being with specific talents and characteristics. When you know a plant on this deep level, it expands the way you are able to work with it.
magic and the Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of the Year and its solstices, cross-quarter days, and equinoxes hold power and help us to mark the cycles of the seasons and the earthly gifts they give us. Learning to honor these sacred points in the year creates a deeper awareness of our connection to nature and helps us tap into the rhythm of the animate earth. We’ll celebrate the turning of the Wheel together and learn simple, joyful rituals and magic for connecting with the green world and honoring these sacred days.
Brigid’s Path is for you if:
You are a beginner or intermediate herbalist
You want to learn how to identify, harvest, and work with the plants growing around you
You don’t mind getting your hands in the dirt
You want to develop the skills and confidence to make herbal medicine for yourself and your community
You want to understand the science behind how plant medicine works
You want to be in deeper relationship with the land, understand its ecology, and learn how to take care of it
You want to practice herbalism in tune with the seasons and learn about the power, earth magic, and ritual of the solstices, cross-quarter days, and equinoxes of the Wheel of the Year
You want to be in community and have fun with a nice group of people who love the same things you do
course Meetups
Plant Walks
Plant walk days will take place about once a month, April-October, and will be spent meeting the plants where they live. We will focus on plant identification, observing plant communities, learning about ecology and how to read the landscape, ethical and sustainable foraging, sitting with and listening to the plants, and learning to use taste, scent, and touch to understand the energetics and medicine of each herb we meet.
This is where we will get our hands in the dirt, tune in to the green world, reconnect to our wildness, and witness how the landscape changes through the seasons.
Locations will vary each month depending on which plants are in season, but will be in the greater Warwick, NY and Vernon, NJ area.
Plant Walks 2026:
April 25th
May 23rd
June 13th
July 11th
September 12th
October 10th
Medicine and Ritual Days
These meetups will take place in my home and garden in Vernon, NJ, from April-October, and will fall on or near a sacred point in the Wheel of the Year. The day will be spent learning hands-on, practical medicine making skills.
We will gather together, light the woodstove if it’s chilly, sip tea, and dive deeper into the medicine of each seasonally abundant plant we are working with.
We’ll be making tinctures, glycerites, syrups, vinegars, oils, salves, creams, steams, saining bundles, electuaries, and much more. We’ll focus on different methods of medicine making, from the folk method to more advanced ways of extracting constituents from the plants. At the end of our time together you’ll have an apothecary full of beautiful and sacred medicine.
At the closing of the day we’ll hold a celebration and ritual to honor the magic of the season and the gifts it brings us.
Medicine and Ritual Days 2026:
Beltane - May 9th
Midsummer - June 27th
Lughnasadh - August 1st
Autumn Equinox - September 19th
Samhain - October 24th
I want this course to leave you feeling empowered, confident, inspired, and deeply connected to the plants. I believe we all have a birthright to be in relationship with the land, and I want to support you as you reignite that kinship.
I was born in Warwick, NY, and grew up in this area. I loved it here and knew the land well, but I always felt that something was missing. I was always looking for magic, searching for a deeper sense of belonging and meaning.
I found both of those things when I learned to see the world through the lens of herbalism, ecology, and the practice of druidry; the plants became friends, the valleys and hills felt more like home. I saw the living, animate earth and all its magic and felt like I was truly a part of the land.
The reason I started teaching herbalism, founded Brigid Rising, and created this course is because I want to be a bridge, to help others find their way back to the green world, back to the path of the herbalist, back to the path of magic and belonging and wildness.
My goal for you by the end of our seasons together is that you will have the confidence and the skills to practice bioregional plant medicine; to know our local plants on a deep level and understand how to work with them throughout the seasons to make medicine for yourself and your community. I want you to tap into the joy and magic of being a part of this lush and beautiful place we call home.
If you feel the pull to work with the plants, to sink into the green world and reclaim your sovereignty, I invite you to walk with me on Brigid’s Path.
Details and FAQ
Tuition: The cost of this 7-month course is $1,200. This can be paid in full or in 8 monthly installments of $150, starting in March and ending in October. Zelle, Venmo, or check are all acceptable payment methods. If you feel called to study with me but finances are an issue, please reach out to me so we can figure something out. Payments are non refundable, so please be sure you’d like to commit. However, if truly extenuating circumstances arise and you genuinely aren’t able to finish the course and are on a payment plan, you will not be charged for the remainder of our time together; if you paid in full, I will reimburse you for the remainder of the unfinished course.
Application process: After you’ve applied, I’ll get in touch with you and we can schedule a chat, during which time I’ll ask you a few questions - nothing serious, this is really just to make sure we’re on the same page and it’s a good fit for everyone!
Class size: I want to be able to give each participant my full attention and ensure everyone has a really good experience and sense of community, and so this course is limited to just a handful of people.
What else is included in this course? I will provide each student with a plant identification field guide as well as handouts for most meetups, including materia medica monographs, herbal medicine making instructions and recipes, sustainable foraging guides, information on growing herbs from seed and cuttings, and more. I will also provide each student with a beautifully bound journal to document our adventures and start their own materia medica.
What if there is inclement weather or a date change? If we have to change a date due to severe weather or unforeseen circumstances, this will be communicated as early as possible and I will do everything in my power to select a new date that works for everyone. This is another advantage of keeping the class small!
Do I need to purchase or bring anything to class? Nope! All materials for medicine making days are included. I’ll have light bites and herbal tea on hand, but feel free to bring your own lunch or snacks! All that’s needed for plant walk days are weather appropriate clothes and shoes, a packed lunch and snacks, (binoculars are recommended, as we will inevitably do a little incidental bird identification), and any outdoor gear you might need for a day out on the land (I’m here to help you figure this out if needed - I want you to feel comfortable and prepared!).
How long are classes? Plan on being out for 2-4 hours on plant walk days, not including driving time. Medicine making days will last 3-4 hours depending on what we are making. Please plan to dedicate a full day to each class!
How far will we be walking on the plant walks? This will vary based on the location of the plants we are visiting, but we will generally not be walking more than 4 miles, and will be on mostly groomed trails. The terrain in most places is easy, but may be uneven or muddy in spots, so be prepared! We will be walking at a slow, easy pace, as we will likely be stopping frequently to meet various plants and observe different habitats. During these days we will be immersed in nature, so please prepare to spend a few hours in the forests and fields. If you are new to this sort of thing, don’t worry: I’m here to help you feel confident and empowered to be in wild spaces.
What if I miss a day (or more)? Missing one or two meetups is ok - life happens, and as long as you are truly committed to the course it’s no big deal. I am keeping this course very limited in size, so if you aren’t completely sure you can commit, please be mindful of taking up a spot you might not be able to fill.
Do I get a certificate? There is no official certification for herbalists in the US, but, if you have not missed more than two meetups (barring truly extenuating circumstances), I will give you a beautiful certificate to mark and acknowledge the time we’ve spent together and all the knowledge you’ve accumulated. I will also give each participant a special gift, which shall remain a secret.
An important note: Brigid’s Path is an inclusive, safe space, and unkindness will not be tolerated.
Any other questions? Drop me a line here!
Are you Ready to walk Brigid’s Path?
I am currently accepting applications, and will continue to do so until either the course is filled or the end of March 2026. I’m keeping the numbers for this course extremely small, so please apply soon if you’d like to join us!