In this five-part lecture series, you will learn the fundamentals of holistic herbal medicine and deepen your connection to your body and the earth.
Course Description
Herbalist and environmental activist Vanessa Chacour introduces you to holistic herbology through the lens of the elements. In each session, you will learn about one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, or Ether – and the plants, practices, and principles associated with them. You will ground yourself with a short meditation, then explore our own relationship to these elements, situating them in the world around us and in our own bodies. You will learn how to identify when these elements may be in excess or deficiency in ourselves, and how to use herbs and practices towards a more harmonious balance. We hope that at the end of this course, you will have a greater knowledge of the natural world and healing practices.
Syllabus Overview
This purchase includes a total of five sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours, over five consecutive Tuesdays starting June 8th.
Session 1 (Tuesday, 6/8, 7-8:30pm ET): Earth: Stability, Survival, Balance
Session 2 (Tuesday, 6/15, 7-8:30pm ET): Water: Purification, Creativity, Emotions
Session 3 (Tuesday, June 22nd, 7-8:30pm ET): Tuesday: Passion, Creation, Destruction
Session 4 (Tuesday, 6/29, 7-8:30pm ET): Air: Connections and Circulation
Session 5 (Tuesday, 7/6, 7-8:30pm ET): Ether: Space, Inner Peace, Consciousness
Between sessions
Outside of class, participants are encouraged to take part in meditation and creative and reflective activities, many of which require outdoor spaces.
Pricing options
We currently offer tiered ticket pricing to make participation affordable for all students, regardless of financial situation. Our lecture series are offered at three ticket prices, with a limited number of free seats available for students who are unable to attend. This model is intended to support a wider range of students and instructors. For more information about our tiered sliding scale pricing model, please see our FAQ page.
Atlas Obscura Online Courses
Our online courses offer participants the opportunity to gain new skills, knowledge, connections, and perspectives through multi-session classes designed and taught by expert instructors. Courses are delivered in one of two formats: Seminars, intimate, interactive classes of 9-25 participants that explore topics and techniques through discussions, workshops, assignments, and in-class activities. We also offer lecture series, which you can join live or watch via recordings that are shared within 72 hours after each session is broadcast. Lecture series class recordings are available with a temporary password for up to two weeks after the final session of the course.
For more information on current course offerings, visit www.atlasobscura.com/online-courses.
For answers to common questions, check out our FAQ page here.
