You tell yourself 

you don't know enough, you're too old, you're too young

you don't have enough practice or experience

or time or energy or money

and still the weeds and the trees enchant you, the pines whisper to you

and you wake up hungry to know more even

when you are tired and too busy and too many things

are calling your name

But you know enough to begin

right now.  begin. You know enough and it is time to claim your way 

if you have begun to know 3 herbs

if you have drunk herb tea and tasted the earth in that cup of tea

if you have nibbled a leaf and listened

to someone repeat how much medicine it holds even though

you already know and so 

now is the moment when you can vow 

you can claim your connection to the leaves and twigs and flowers and seeds

and roots and you can know you will never be done with the knowing

because the trees are that tall and the roots run that deep

and then when someone asks you for help

some plant medicine for ease you can offer that cup of tea

that dropper of a bitter tincture or vinegar and honey syrup

so tell yourself that only by drinking the tea

by deciding to travel the unmarked brave path through the green

to learn to see the medicine and the magic and the strength

and it is not that you will be - as good as - any of us who have come before you

but you are exploring new paths - be even bolder 

you are braving the voices that say you need more school or more classes more money

more teachers and things

Remember that emptiness is the most powerful tool - the place to begin

filling your senses with the flavors and thorns and seeds

filling your empty teacup with water and herb

Make your vow and find your way through the woods in this sweet and rugged life

along sidewalks, dry creek beds, trails, interstates

this is not a time trial  this is not a contest  Not better than someone else

it is just growing every day into being your own way  sometimes that is lonesome

and people will come to you with their dis-enchantment,

and their sadness and longing and wistfulness and weariness and heartache

and you will recognize it

and you may not fix that but you can make a cup of tea

from leaves that you picked and those leaves might 

help their hurt heart and their bruised spirit

It is dangerous to work with the roots and branches

and with love 

but it is the work you are meant to do

and it is time now to make your oath to the plants

and to your own heart

and know that this world needs you right now

to begin

M Leslie Williams  3/19/2021

Ordinary Herbalism is the entire world of herbalism, with focus on your personal connection to herbalism, to trees and plants, to other creatures and to the cosmos.  The goal is for each individual to explore their best path for learning how to build a lifelong practice of herbalism. 

Allegheny Herbal - With Herbalist Leslie Alexander, RH(AHG), Phd. Roundtable forums online and in person focused on herbalist skills for working with others, growing and using herbs, formulating and creating protocols.