"We all wake up with the same Sun, and fall asleep under the same Moon. We feel the weather changes as the seasons shift. The cold hard breeze of a winter afternoon, the crunch of the leaves under the soles of our feet, and the refreshing waves of the ocean on a hot summers day. Earth is always reminding us of her presence, and immersing myself with her medicine opened a door I never even knew existed. 
 
This herbal apprenticeship brought Earth to life. When I’m outside, the world around me becomes more vivid. The songs of leaves dancing in the wind, the sun kissing the trees as it sets, the bees blissfully bathing in the pollen of flowers, and the plant allies that once were just “weeds” still mesmerize me. Every time I leave my home, I see and deeply feel the life radiating through the plants that encompass our surroundings. I can feel the Earth shift through the seasons, as this winter called for rest. When I make medicine for myself and loved ones, I feel our energies dance with each other as we work together to heal and support. My plant allies have taught me lessons that I never knew I needed, invoking a new level of awareness and balance. Plant medicine has expanded my capacity to experience life. I’ve learned that everything can take place at once. The euphoric, the suffering and the overcoming. Instead of running away, I now welcome the spiral of life. 
 
So thank you for opening this door. Not only teaching me the ways of plant medicine, but gifting me the opportunity to create this enchanting relationship with Earth herself. I recommend this path to you all, and I leave you with this:
 
“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants"

- Genesis, Second Year Student