The herbal Journey ConTinues: th
15 International Herb Symposium BY SUSAN LEOPOLD The International Herb Symposium is an iconic herbal gathering “I brought Juliette to, I believe, the second IHS. It’s quite that has taken place in New England for 30 years. Founded by the story. Juliette was living on the Greek isle of Kythera at herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, the Symposium is where the seed of the time, in a small stone cottage just a stone’s throw from United Plant Savers was sprouted in 1994 after Rosemary posed the the Aegean Sea. She hadn’t been to the US since 1958, and I question to the herbalists, seed collectors, growers, harvesters, forreally wanted to bring her so people could meet this amazing mulators, herbal educators and entrepreneurs gathered: Should we woman, and so she could see the profound influence she had start raising awareness and protecting wild populations of native on generations of herbalists. She really had no idea at the medicinal plants? The answer was a resounding yes. And so, United time of how her work had touched so many lives. Plant Savers was formed as a non-profit organization dedicated to I had flown over to visit her a couple of times and asked native medicinal plant conservation, with the International Herb her if she would come to the next IHS. She was quite happy Symposium held bi-annually as a to be invited, so I returned fundraiser. home and began advertising The Symposium holds a special in earnest. Everyone was so place among conferences, bringing excited she was coming — this people together from so many woman, whose books they had diverse backgrounds and ways been reading and who had so of working with the plants. While inspired their herbal journey! for many years the gathering has We had the biggest turnout ever enjoyed the spacious grounds of that year (over 900 people — you Wheaton College in Norton, MA for have to remember this was the outdoor medicine plant walks, classearly 1990s). Juliette had told es, fire circles and joyous outdoor me she would prefer to arrange celebrations, this year, due to COVID her own ticket, but as the weeks social distancing, the Symposium drew close for the IHS and there will be making the leap to holding an was still no news from Juliette I online conference for June 13-15, 2021. began to worry. There was no InThis year’s virtual forum makes it so ternet or emailing back then, and much easier for everyone to attend if there were, Juliette wouldn’t either all or part of the weekend have had it anyway. She didn’t including virtual international mediceven have a phone. I had to call inal walks, keynotes focused on the a person in the nearest town to connection between human health drive out to get Juliette and bring and the health of the planet, an herbher to the nearest phone to call al veterinarian track, and inspiring me. When I finally reached her, and innovative ways to connect and she calmly informed me she had collectively support the networking decided not to come, but that I The late English herbalist Juliette de Baïracli Levy of a global herbal village. wasn't to worry because she had Learning from elders is at the heart of the herbal tradition and made tapes that I could play! the heart of the Symposium as well. I recently watched “Juliette “Juliette,” I said, “pack your bags. I’m coming to get you!” of the Herbs” (1998), a documentary about Juliette de Bairacli And that’s exactly what I did. I caught a plane that night, Levy, an herbalist specializing in holistic veterinary medicine, and flew to Greece and the adventure began! As it turned out her one of the original IHS elders. In the opening of the documenpassport and papers weren't in order; we found this out as tary, Juliette talks about the two plants she would always have we were ready to board the plane to the US. I had to spend growing outside her home in each one of her gardens. Rosemary, a few days in Athens getting an expedited passport for her her favorite herb — she talks about how she cures practically and we finally made it back to the US just two days before the everything by bathing with rosemary. The name itself comes from conference began! But it was all worth it. People got to meet the Latin ros, meaning “dew,” and marinus, meaning “sea,” which an extraordinary woman. And even more importantly, Juliette translates to “dew of the sea.” The second herb is southernwood, was able to see how deeply and profoundly her work had an artemisia, named after the great herbalist and the protector of touched others.” women and the newborn infant. Since I knew Juliette was her mentor and inspiration, I emailed Susan Leopold is the Executive Director of United Plant Savers. Join Rosemary Gladstar to share the story about Juliette’s journey to the their email list to stay informed about plant conservation news and IHS. This is what she shared: the International Herb Symposium. www.unitedplantsavers.org
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