Join Erika Galentin of Sovereignty Herbs and Ash Sierra of Ritual Botanica at United Plants Savers Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary for a two-day hands-on deep-dive into the ancient alchemical art of aromatic distillation. Participants will learn the nuts and bolts of aromatic distillation of essential oils and hydrosols using a traditional copper alembic still as well as experience aromatic distillation as a ritual journey of self-reflection and an empowering platform for the development of sacred plant-human relationships.
What you will learn about Aromatic Distillation…
You will leave this intensive with all of the knowledge you need to get started on your own aromatic distillation journey including:
How to distill aromatic plants for essential oils and hyrdosols from start until finish using a copper alembic still.
How to set up the still and how to dismantle, clean, and care for it
How to load the still for best distillate quality and yield
How to decipher and monitor hydrosol yields & separate out essential oils during the distillation process
Maintaining cleanliness and sanitation to ensure high quality product with longevity
What considerations should be made when purchasing your first still
What you need to know about burners and fuels, pumps and plumbing
Troubleshooting issues
Hands-on harvesting with focus on ethical and sustainable techniques.
How to ascertain the volume of plant material needed for your distillation
The many ways to process harvested plants for the best aromatic outcome
Plant study methods to enhance your relationship with the plants you distill
Ways to incorporate hydrosols into herbal medicine-making & self-care practices.
Learn the difference between hydrosols and essentials including use and safety
How to implement aromatic medicine into your personal and professional practice
How aromatics from plants can positively impact both body and psyche
How aromatic distillation can be used to develop deeper, more respectful relationships with plants, ecosystems, and ourselves.
The tradition of Aromatic Distillation you will experience…
Aromatic distillation is a traditional method of extracting and capturing the aromas from plants. It is alchemical in nature - a process that relies on the four elements of earth, air, fire, & water in the transmutation of one form into another.
The Alchemists of old believed their work to be a spiritual discipline. Modern alchemical scholars have interpreted this spiritual work metaphorically; Alchemy could be considered a collection of psychic processes shared within the totality of human experiences, or what Carl Jung termed the 'collective unconscious'. In this interpretation, the 'lead into gold' of the Alchemists becomes an inspirational allegory of the work required for the refinement of Self and emanation of the Soul.
The process and tradition of Aromatic Distillation that Erika and Ash teach is most certainly a spiritual one, involving both ceremony and celebration; the aroma of a plant is likened to the ‘Soul’ of the plant and aromatic distillation a ritual that beckons the soul of the plant to reveal itself.
In this workshop you will learn the Aromatic Distillation process as both an attempt to foster a deeper relationship with the plant kingdom, a relationship full of metaphor, story, and personal myth, but also deeper relationships with ourselves and our unconscious. In this regard, you will experience aromatic distillation as a platform for self-discovery and exploration of the natural world.
What to expect during this Aromatic Distillation intensive…
This Aromatic Distillation intensive begins Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 10:00am EST and ends Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 2:00pm EST.
Day one will include the harvesting of the plant material and a discussion on sourcing and sustainable harvesting. As we load the still together, the group will learn about the ‘anatomy & physiology’ of aromatic distillation including putting the still together, sealing the seams, what type of burner to use, options for hooking up the condenser pump, and the different types of vessels you can use to capture your hydrosol and essential oil.
As the distillation is taking place, Ash and Erika will take participants through a journey of ‘embodied’ aroma as we explore how distilling aromatic plants provides us with a ceremonial journey of self-reflection. Participants will be guided through the alchemical process of aromatic distillation as both a physical and metaphorical platform for journeying with our psyches, our hearts, and our spirits.
Day two of this workshop will focus on bringing together all that we have learned through a group discussion of both the plant study and distillation experiences in addition to completing lessons in dismantling and cleaning the still in preparation for storage.
Tentative Schedule:
Saturday, October 16
10:00am - 1:00pm - Class
1:00pm - 2:30pm - Lunch Break
2:30pm - 7:30pm - Class
Sunday, October 17
9:00am - 1:00pm - Class
1:00pm - 2:00pm - Closing Circle
Benefits of attending this Aromatic Distillation intensive…
Sacred space of the 370-acre Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary in Appalachian Ohio
An intimate group setting to deep dive into aromatic distillation with lots of opportunities to ask questions
Workshop discount for folks also signing up for UpS membership (see registration details below)
Access to UpS Sanctuary facilities including the Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation, Jim Duke’s Library, over 8 miles of hikeable trails, and swimming in Heart Pond for those who like a cool dip in autumn weather
Handouts - including sourcing a still for yourself and troubleshooting guide
Everyone gets to take a bottle of the distillation home
Experiential hands-on distilling with the collective 15+ year experience of your knowledgeable teachers
11+ hours of instruction and experiential learning
About your Instructors…
Ash Sierra is driven by a desire to bridge gaps between the human and plant worlds. Her background as a clinical herbalist, farmer, distiller and astrologer are wrapped up in a practice focused on mental wellness and empowerment through an eclectic range of modalities including medical astrology, hermeticism, eco-psychology and vitalism. You can find her tending land and apothecary in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC or community organizing with the Hawthorn Community Herb Collective. For medicine and magic visit www.ritualbotanica.com or follow her on Instagram @ritual_botanica.
Erika Galentin is a Clinical Herbalist, aromatherapist, distiller, grower, and medicine-maker, consulting from Sovereignty Herbs in Athens & Columbus, OH. She holds a degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow, UK. She is a professional member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) and the American Herbalists Guild (USA). Over a decade of clinical practice has provided a platform for witnessing the efficacy of medicinal plants and aromatics within a clinical environment. It is through this clinical practice that Erika seeks to encourage positive, learned relationships between plants and people and people and their bodies. She is a firm believer in celebrating the role that emotions and the psyche play in the ecology of our physical terrain. In addition to clinical practice, Erika is both a student and teacher of horticulture, native medicinal plant conservation and ecology, and the phenomenological and Goethean study of plants and their medicinal virtues. Erika participates as a member of the Education Committee of the American Herbalists Guild as well as the Stewardship Committee of Appalachia Ohio Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of land and water in Southeast Ohio. Follow @themedicinegardener, @sovereigntyherbs
Ash and Erika share strong backgrounds in Jungian psychoanalytic theory, Alchemy, and AromaGnosis techniques. Combined, Ash and Erika bring over 15 years of aromatic distillation experience.
About United Plant Savers Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary…
United Plant Savers’ mission is to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come. The work of United Plant Savers involves research, education, and conservation of native medicinal plants and their habitats. You can learn more about their important work here.
The United Plant Savers 370-acre Botanical Sanctuary sits in the Appalachian Foothills of Southeastern Ohio. Thanks to optimal soil conditions and unique topography, the Sanctuary is a refuge for wild medicinal plants which occur in abundance throughout the property. Historically known as “Paynes Woods”, what is today the Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary has had the reputation for being the best place to collect medicinal plants since the 1900’s. The Sanctuary also offers several acres of restored prairie, reclaimed strip-mine land, ponds and fields to provide visitors the opportunity to see several ecosystems and a wide-ranging variety of herbs and trees. Over 5 miles of foot trails allow visitors access to learn about and see firsthand these herbs and trees flourishing in their natural environment. To date over 500 species of plants, over 120 species of trees and over 200 species of fungi have been identified. Half of the UpS “At Risk” native medicinal plants are thriving in abundance on this land. Large communities of goldenseal, American ginseng, black and blue cohosh, and grand old medicinal tree species such as white oak and slippery elm flourish in abundance.
COVID Safety Considerations
We will be following recommendations from the CDC and the State of Ohio regarding COVID safety precautions for in-person gatherings and ask that all participants do the same. This intensive will be taking place outdoors if weather permits with the option of moving to a large, airy barn if needed. However, there may be times during the hands-on portions of this workshop (harvesting, loading the still, collecting water) where we may not be 6 feet apart. You will have the option to maintain social distancing during these hands-on activities, but we ask that all participants bring and be willing to wear masks for everyone’s safety and comfort.
Lodging and Travel…
The United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary (UpS) is located at 35703 Loop Rd, Rutland, OH 45775.
Lodging options are listed below by location. Please note that we are not endorsing or promoting any of these properties but rather offering options in the area.
Camping at UpS Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary
Camping will be available at the United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary from Friday evening (October 15th) through Monday morning (October 18th) by reservation only. A camping pass is available with your registration for an additional fee of $30.00 USD. Please be sure to select the Camping Pass option during your registration. Campers are welcome to arrive any time on Friday, October 15th and stay through Monday morning, October 18th. All campers will be asked to vacate the sanctuary unless additional reservations are made through United Plant Savers. Camping amenities on the Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary include:
Camper Kitchen
Compost Toilets
Hot showers and laundry
Outdoor grill
Outdoor access to potable water
Lodging options near Rutland (the same town as the UpS Sanctuary)
Lodging options in Athens (about a 30-minute drive to the UpS Sanctuary)
Lodging options in Gallipolis (about a 30-minute drive to the UpS Sanctuary)
What is provided and what to bring with you…
Participants will be asked to bring the following:
Food and snacks. Please note that participants are responsible for bringing their own nourishment as no meals will be provided during this intensive. The closest place to buy snacks is a gas station (5 miles away from venue) and the village of Pomeroy (7 miles away from venue). There are several grocery, restaurant, and take-out options available within a 30 mile drive, but planning ahead is advised:
in Pomeroy (7 miles away)
in Athens (30 miles away)
in Gallipolis (30 miles away)
Footwear that can be worn on dirty, uneven surfaces (we will be on foot for harvesting).
Anything you need to make sitting and standing for long periods of time most comfortable
Warm clothing and rain protection (just in case)
A journal for workshop exercises and self-reflection during the distillation and something to write and draw with
An object of significance that represents something within yourself that you would like to honor during the distillation (this will be placed on the distillation alter and returned to you after the workshop)
Cash for purchasing products from Sovereignty Herbs, Ritual Botanica, and United Plant Savers
Kindness and an open mind
Please leave the following at home:
Pets - For the sake of the wildlife and fury friends living at the sanctuary, we ask that you please leave your pets at home
Drugs and alcohol - Please note that the use of drugs and alcohol is strictly prohibited on the sanctuary property and during the intensive. Individuals under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol will be asked to leave the intensive without refund.
Bigotry and hatred can also stay at home.
What will be provided:
Chairs
Water and hot herbal tea
Handouts about aromatic distillation
Glass sprayer bottles to take a sample of the distillation home
Thank you! This event is currently sold out…
We are no longer accepting registrations for this event. Please stay tuned for our future events. Please click here for Service Cancellations & Refunds Policy.
Contact Us:
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