Celebrate winter with us!


Winter begins on December 21, with the celebration of the Winter Solstice.  We bid adieu to the season of fall.  Here on the prairie, it has been mild and dry.  And windy – very windy.   The door of our shop opens, summoning our attention.  We look up again, and again, as the wind is a bit of a trickster.  It announces itself - “I’m here.  Slow down.  Pay attention to me.  Winter is coming.”

 

At Prairie Star, as herbalists, we move and dance with the seasons.  Winter signifies a time of rest and preparation.  For us, our compass points north.  It is a magical and reflective time, where we follow the direction of the prairie and its native plants and creatures.   They hunker down for the season, after spending a season of gathering and consumption, they settle back to their core – their roots, their nests, their caves – to sleep and nourish themselves for the journey that begins anew – where anything is possible.

 

Our Prairie Star staff sees the many challenges experienced by clients who walk through our door.  Knowing that there are many solutions for improving our health may seem to make the world more complicated, rather than less.  The truth is that much of what we need to be healthy and thrive is provided by the natural world around us.  We often lack confidence in our abilities to explore those things on our own.  Those who have taken this path often feel that they are on a solo journey.   We are fortunate to be blessed with a community of trained herbalists, herbal manufacturers, and educators, serving as resource for healthier lives and a healthy environment.

 

We invite you to take this time to honor the successes, the disappointments, and the teachings since our last winter celebration -  the hard-earned wisdom that we’ve been granted is part of a grand cycle that follows the seasons.    We also take this time to honor the elders of our community, particularly James Duke, PhD, an amazing ethnobotanist who generously shared his plant knowledge with those of us eager to learn.

 

Join us for the journey ahead.  We have much planned for you:

- On January 20, we hold our Winter Cleanse Class from 10am – 12pm.  Get your body, mind and spirit prepared for the unique gifts and challenges of the winter season.  If you’ve been curious, join us to explore cleansing from a holistic perspective.  We’ll also share the foods and cooking techniques appropriate for the season.

- On January 27, we host our annual grower’s workshop at Prairie Star, from 10am-12pm.  If you’re interested in growing plants for Prairie Star’s expanding herbal apothecary, you’ll learn what it takes to be a qualified grower.

- On Feb 3, join Molly for a free Tai Chi class that shows us the value of gentle movements and energy transformation

- And, as always, we celebrate Ladies Day Out on the first Thursday of the month with 10% off all eligible in-store products, shop from 10AM – 5PM and enjoy our favorite tea of the month.

 

Lastly,

- Prairie Star’s year-long Materia medica class will acquaint you with our beloved prairie plants.  Have you ever wanted to know more about plants? If so then join us for a wonderful journey to connect with nature.   Build your own herbal reference guide, and get to known the plants that grow all around you.  This year round series will train your eye to see and identify the healing plants in Nebraska.  You will be compiling detailed information about each herb, complete with drawings, which you can reference throughout your journey into herbal medicine.  The class will start March 12.  You may register for all 12 classes for $100, or drop-in for $10.  And, the Herbal Reference Guide Journal is available for $35.

 

We look forward to the season of winter and all it promises for us.  Even in winter, the prairie provides a profound beauty.  Take a quiet stroll and connect with nature.  Be open to the messages of healing that are carried on the wind.


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