Midsouth Women's Herbal
Conference & Collective

​Autumn Equinox Fire Ceremony

Lisa Bedner, RN, RH, Tihanama Medicine Woman

Description coming soon.

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Crone Wisdom & Plant Archetypes

Joanna Mann, Walden Farmacy

The crone is the expression of the feminine archetype at the peak of wisdom. The crone has lived long enough to know who she is. She unapologetically lives her truth. She knows what really matters. She is moving closer to the otherworld and is anchoring its wisdom into current time. As we approach the colder months of the year we are living in the season of the crone, and there is much for her to teach us. Come tune into the energy of the crone through story medicine, plant archetypes that embody crone wisdom, and a ritual in which we will call on the crone to teach us through the dark half of the wheel of the year.

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Fall Tree Medicine

Leslie Williams, MS, RH

 In this immersive class we will practice peeling tree bark, and discuss sustainable harvesting of tree roots, bark and fruit. There will be a detailed overview of the common medicinal trees that are easy to identify in our region - and how to best process and preserve them into medicine for winter and year-round, using alcohol, oil, vinegar, glycerin, honey, and dehydration. Some trees we will discuss will include pine, cherry, oak, elder, mulberry, pecan, and bay berry.

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Herbal Allies for Dream Incubation

Joanna Mann, Walden Farmacy

["Since the soul's arrival in the world, it is by means of dreams that it joyfully greets and gazes upon that which is most beautiful and most divine."-Plutarch, Amatorius] In many cultures the word Shaman means "one who dreams." Big dreams point to our core stories or life myths. They often preview a development of the deep self that is trying to happen. Many of us can see the structures around us on a societal level beginning to collapse. It is a liminal space for humanity- things can continue as they have been, but the path forward is not yet totally in focus. In times like these,  big dreams may both preview what is happening on the individual level and on the collective as well. Consciously working with our dreams allows us to heal unbound by the laws of third dimension density. We can fly, we can allow ourselves to vision, and we can step into new shoes at any moment. Let us dream together- the plants, the soil, the animals, the ancestors. Let us be held in the embrace of the mother's womb as our roots sink to the depths of the well to draw up a new vision of humanity. We will utilize plant medicine, story, and ritual to support us in our work.

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Pizza Medicine

Heather Holloway, The Cat & The Crow Botanicals

What if your favorite comfort food was actually a blueprint for a powerful home apothecary? In Pizza Medicine, we’re taking a bite into the science behind your favorite toppings as we peel back the cheese and sauce to reveal the ancient botanical healers hiding in plain sight. From the antibacterial punch of Oregano to the stress-relieving magic of Basil, this 90-minute workshop transforms standard kitchen ingredients into a functional medicinal garden. We’ll touch on the roots of traditional Italian herbalism, learn how to cultivate these Pizza Allies at home, and get hands-on with traditional remedies like respiratory steams, infused oils, and digestive tonics. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a sunny windowsill, you’ll leave with the skills to grow, harvest, and craft your own delicious medicine. Learn how to turn culinary herbs into home and clinical remedies. Digestion, immunity, and stress relief—it's all on the menu!​

 

Plantcestors: Reclaiming Herbal Lineage through Blood & Land

Danielle Galvin, Root & Wander

The plants remember, even when we don’t. This class is for anyone who feels disconnected from their herbal lineage, whether through colonization, silence, displacement, or time, and wants to reweave that connection through relationship with the land and the plants that find us. We’ll explore the idea of “Plantcestors”, herbs that become kin, teachers, and guides, especially when our human lineage is lost or painful. Through reflection, ritual, and plant story, you’ll be invited to remember where you come from, not only through blood, but through the green ones who have walked with you all along. This is not a class about having answers; it’s a class about listening, choosing, and rooting into belonging.

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Root & Flow by The Fire

Michelle Rigling, PhD

Join us around the fire each morning after breakfast for gentle movement, inspiring music and ecstatic dance. 

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Rooted Yoga

Teacher Coming Soon

Description Coming Soon​

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​Salves and Oils from the Root 

Leslie Williams, MS, RH

In this class we will learn how to make very potent salves, ointments, extracted oils and butters from local common plant roots.  With a lot of examples to try, we will each make an extracted oil based on your personal medicinal interests.  Some common roots we can grow or wildcraft are dandelion, burdock, chicory, sassafras, Solomon's seal, yellow root, elecampane, turmeric, valerian, ginger, yellow dock and more. We will consider best types of oils and types of waxes. 

 

The Herbal Sensorium

*Part of our Pre-Conference Program

Presenter: Heather Holloway

Stop reading about plants—start feeling them. Have you ever wondered why some plants feel warm and invigorating, or why others feel so refreshing on a hot day? Sometimes, herbal teachings focus on memorizing lists of names and species, but the ancient wisdom keepers had a secret: they listened to the plants through their five senses. In this experiential immersion we will strip away the textbooks and reclaim the art of Direct Perception.  You won't just learn about plant medicine and characteristics; you will taste, touch, and smell your way through the subtle energies of various herbs. Topics will include energetic temperatures, decoding plant profiles, the art of astringency, and formulations.

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The Leaves Know: The Art of Tea Leaf Reading

Danielle Galvin, Root & Wander

Long before oracle decks and pendulums, there were tea leaves, simple, sacred, and full of story. In this class, we’ll explore tasseomancy, the folk art of reading tea leaves as symbols and signs, a ritual passed down through grandmothers, witches, and women in quiet kitchens. You’ll learn how to prepare a cup, how to soften into intuitive seeing, and how to read what’s left behind once the tea is gone. This isn’t just about fortune-telling; it’s about listening: to yourself, to the plant, to the wisdom that rises in steam and silence. Whether you’re brand new to divination or already fluent in symbolism, this class is a warm, welcoming portal into an old-world practice that still speaks. 

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The Rooted Woman Plant Walk

Phyllis D. Light, MS, RH

Plant walks are a big part of the herbal conference experience, and we look forward to walks with Phyllis every year! We'll learn to identify plants and discuss their medicinal properties while also enjoying stories of tradition and herblore. Bring your notebook!

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The Psysterhood: Psychedelics & The Heroine's Journey

Michelle Rigling, PhD

Our conference comes to a close on International Psychedelic Mushrooms Day and we're going underground to explore a topic rarely discussed in modern psychedelic conversations: psysterhood. Michelle uses the word "psysterhood" to honor the lineage of priestesses, shamanesses, medicine women and female ceremonialists that have tended to these sacred medicine rites for thousands of years as well as the communities of women (psysters) who come together to engage with these mycelial wisdom-keepers. In this class, we will travel through herstory to discover the traditions, practices and sacred medicines that earth-centered cultures have trusted since ancient times. We will look to The Heroine's Journey as a map for understanding psychedelic experiences and we will discuss ways to support safe "travels" and a smooth return. Michelle will share tips and stories from her own experiences with sacred medicines as well as from her work as a Psychedelic Guide and Transpersonal Counselor.

 

MANY MORE COMING SOON!!!