Sacred Plant Medicine Advanced Course
Year Two Online
2025
COURSE BEGINS APRIL 1ST
12 Month Apprenticeship in Traditional Herbalism, Sacred Plant Medicine, Spiritual Ecology, Holistic Healing, & Journeying with Plants.
The Sacred Plant Medicine Year 2 Apprenticeship continues building on the training from our Year 1 course, deepening relationships with the plants and continuing your herbalism education. This course can be taken to prepare herbalists to work in their communities or to build your knowledge of restorative herbal medicine in order to care for yourself and your loved ones. Students will strengthen their understanding of healing plants, explore more advanced medicine making, and learning how to safely recommend herbs to support others.
Sage will share her 20+ years of experience working with others, continually learning through her partnerships with people and plants. Students will journey further with their plant guides and build on what they've learned from the first year training. Whether you are wanting to work with others in the future or not, this journey will continue building your relationship with our plant teachers.
The year two course gives budding herbalists a more in depth understanding of the systems of the body and physiology from a holistic perspective addressing patterns of illness. We begin with traveling around the sacred wheel through the elements, journeying deeper with the plant spirits. We then dive deeply into each system of the body from a treatment perspective, focusing on specific illnesses, strengthening organs and systems, as well as the emotional/spiritual energy centers of the body. Students will create herbal formulas, and build on their knowledge from Year One through continued practice and study.
The year two course can be purchased anytime, but monthly live lectures for year two will only be offered every other year (odd numbered years). Students can continue to join monthly tea meditations and plant journeys yearly. Those who sign up for the 12 monthly live lectures (3 hours each) will have the option of a Certificate Track, which is available in the course members area. Classes will be given over monthly audio, video, and written modules. Students will receive unlimited course access including future updates, recordings of zoom classes, and continuing invitations to monthly tea meditations in upcoming years.
Classes focus on weaving in sacred plant medicine, folk herbalism, and ancestral traditions into healing sessions with clients. Our advanced course also focuses on deepening knowledge of plant medicine through more advanced medicine making, materia medica, harvesting & growing, holistic anatomy & physiology, and continued journeys with the spirits of the medicine plants. In our second year course students take the personal relationships they have developed with plants in Year 1 into supporting others in their healing.
Live Zoom Classes
Monthly Guided Plant Journeys & Course Lecture Series
This course includes monthly live guided plant journey & tea meditations via zoom. Students can also register for 12 monthly class lectures (3 hours each) in our course member’s area. Anyone registered for the live lecture classes can also sign up for the Certificate Track option for Year Two. Monthly lectures can be purchased at a discounted rate after registering for the course. Alumni are invited to attend ongoing monthly plant meditations free of charge.
FIRST PLANT MEDITATION SESSIONS
Included in Course. Wednesdays 1-3pm
APRIL 23RD
MAY 14TH
JUNE 18TH
YEAR TWO COURSE LECTURE SERIES
12 Zoom Lectures (3 hours each) for $300 Total ~ Available for purchase in course members area. Students attending the lecture series can also sign up for the Certificate Track. All zoom classes are recorded for future viewing.
LECTURE DATES
Wednesdays 1-4pm
APRIL 9TH
MAY 7TH
JUNE 4TH
This apprenticeship is both a course in Western herbalism and in plant spirit medicine. In each class spirit is blended with science, through meditation, lecture, plant walks, and hands-on learning at home. We seek to unite Western modes of learning with ancient traditions of learning directly from the earth and from spirit. Focus is placed on healing from the heart, supporting continual wholeness, transformation, and nourishment of the self.
Year Two Course Includes ~
Folk & Traditional Herbal Healing
Personal Ancestral Lineages
Materia Medica
Ethnobotanical research
Holistic Anatomy & Physiology
Plant Spirit Medicine in Healing Sessions
Herbal Consultations
Holistic Healing Strategies
Energy Healing & Bodywork
Restorative Herbal Medicine
Advanced Herbal Energetics
Formula & Medicine Making for Systems of the Body
Chakra Healing & Therapies in Sessions
Plant Medicine Walks & Harvesting
Creating Social Change & Sustainability
Herbalism in Social & Environmental Activism
Plant Communication
The advanced course is designed to guide students in holding space for others on their healing journey, utilizing restorative medicine and herbal therapies. We focus not on curing illness, but on supporting individuals with a team of other practitioners and doctors. The advanced course continues to focus on the foundations of nourishment and restorative healing through plants and holistic therapies. We understand that years of practice and experience are needed as we learn plant medicine, so students are encouraged to go at their own pace, learning through personal experience, research, and deepening their relationships with personal plant allies/guides month by month.
Course taught by Sage L. Maurer ~ Director of The Gaia School of Healing.
In 2001, Sage founded The Gaia School of Healing in New England and has trained over 50 rounds of apprentices over the past 24 years. She practices a blend of traditional folk herbalism and plant spirit medicine, partnering with the plant kingdoms as her main teachers. In Southern Vermont Sage teaches in partnership with ten acres of land covered in abundant healing plants. Sheoffers courses in sacred plant medicine, ethnobotany, ancestral herbalism, deep ecology, and eco-spirituality year round. To learn more about Sage visit our About Us page.
Optional Home Practice for Year Two Course
Part of our Certificate Track
Blending Herbal Formulas
Apothecary Stock of Simples started in Year One
Intake Forms & Practice Consultations
Materia Medica
Readings & Research
Monthly Tea Meditations
Purchase Course for 2025
Full Year Two Sacred Plant Apprenticeship course.
Payment Plan Option
For low income students who need tuition assistance.
Course will be released monthly.
12 Modules
SACRED WHEEL JOURNEYS ~ NORTH
* Opening sacred space & circle. Journey in the North – Earth
* Honoring our lineages & ancestors – Re-discovering our roots
* Social Justice in Herbalism & Holistic healing
* Nourishing and Restorative therapies vs. acute treatment
* Wild food, Healing foods, and Nourishing herbs
* Wheel of the Year – Winter – Rooting & Restoring
SACRED WHEEL JOURNEY - EAST
* Opening sacred space & circle. Journey in the East – Air/Wind
* Offerings to the Air/Wind spirits
* Therapies - Purification, cleansing, and clearing in healing work
* Healing sessions - breath work, sacred smokes, and blessing herbs
* Plant Medicines of the East & Air element
* Wheel of the Year - Beltane/Springtime – Spring Clearing
SACRED WHEEL JOURNEYS - SOUTH
* Opening sacred space & circle. Journey in the South – Fire
* Fire Ceremony. Offerings to the South/Fire spirit.
* Plant Medicines of the South/Fire & Fire/Yang Therapies
* Plants for transformation, protection, and banishing.
* Wheel of the Year – Summer Solstice – Lammas
SACRED WHEEL JOURNEY - WEST
* Opening sacred space & circle. Journey in the West – Water
* Plant Medicines of the West & Water Element
* Exercises in intuitive healing, perception and understanding of illness
* Healing with water, ritual bathing, steams, sweats, and washes
* West Journeys – Emotions, mysteries, dreaming, healing
* Wheel of the Year – Fall & Samhain - Releasing, entering dreamtime
JOURNEY TO THE ABOVE & BELOW REALMS
* Opening Sacred Space -
Blessing herbs, offerings, meditation, and tea ceremony.
* Plants of the Above & Below realms.
* Inviting guides & allies - Loving spirits & Ancestral guides.
* Creating Sacred Space in Sessions
ROOT CHAKRA & IMMUNE SYSTEM
HERBAL THERAPIES
* Opening meditation, tea ceremony, and drum circle.
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of the Immune System
* Herbal therapies for Immune System disorders – spirit/body/mind
* Formulas, medicine making, and recs for immune support.
* Plant allies for the immune system & Cancer treatment.
* Chronic ailments & acute ailments.
THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
* Root Chakra - Soul & Body Healing
* Plant Medicines & Holistic Therapies for the root chakra
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of the Musculoskeletal System
* Herbal therapies for Musculoskeletal System disorders.
* Formulas, medicine making, and recs for musculoskeletal support
* Plant allies for the musculoskeletal system
SACRAL CHAKRA THERAPIES & REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
* Plant Medicines & Holistic Therapies for the Sacral chakra
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of the Reproductive System
* Holistic therapies for Reproductive System disorders
* Formulas, medicine making, and recs for reproductive health
* Plant allies for the reproductive/generative system
SOLAR PLEXUS & DIGESTIVE SYSTEM THERAPIES
* Solar Plexus - Therapies for creating wholeness and healing
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of the Digestive System & Organs
* Herbal therapies for Digestive System disorders – spirit/body/mind
* Formulas, medicine making, and recs for digestive support
* Plant allies for the digestive system
* Chronic ailments & acute ailments
HEART CHAKRA & CIRCULATORY SYSTEM THERAPIES
* Heart Chakra - Therapies for creating wholeness and healing
* Plant allies supporting emotional healing, compassion, love
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of Heart & Circulatory System
* Herbal therapies for Heart & Circulatory System disorders
* Formulas, medicine making, and recs for heart support
* Plant allies for the heart & circulatory system
* Chronic ailments & acute ailments
THROAT CHAKRA & RESPIRATORY HERBAL THERAPIES
* Plant Medicines & Holistic Therapies for the throat chakra.
* Plant allies supporting communication, breath, listening, inspiration.
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of the Respiratory System
* Treating Throat & Respiratory System disorders
* Formulas and medicine making for respiratory health
* Plant allies for the lungs, upper and lower respiratory system
THIRD EYE & NERVOUS SYSTEM HERBAL THERAPIES
* Opening sacred space - blessing herbs, meditation, and tea ceremony.
* Third Eye & Crown Chakra - Therapies for wholeness and healing.
* Plant Medicines & Holistic Therapies for 3rd eye & crown chakra.
* Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of Nervous & Endocrine System
* Formulas, medicine making, and recs for nervous system health
* Plant allies for the nervous system & brain.
HERBAL CONSULTATIONS – INTAKES & STRUCTURE
* Herbal Consultations & Intake Sessions
* Outlines for intakes, consultations & healing sessions
* Initial recommendations & forms for the client
* Guidelines for recommendations, dosages, routines for herbal medicines
* Weaving plant spirit medicine, intuitive diagnostics, and energy healing into sessions
NOURISHING WHOLENESS - CENTER/SELF/SPIRIT
* Opening sacred space & circle. Journey ~ Center of the Wheel
* First Steps of Healing - Nourishing, building, and restoring
* Teaching self-care, self-dosing, and co-creation btw. practitioner and client
* Partner exercise on care plan. Self-care Worksheet & Calendar
3 Bonus Zoom Classes ~
Herbal Consultations - Dosing Safely & Legally
Building an Apothecary & Creating an Herbal Business
Journeying with Plants & Guides
