Herb & Myth Tarot - Virtual Class
This Program is Not Currently Running.
Course Description:
In Herb & Myth, tarotist Naomi Westwater and herbalist Kinsey Rosene will introduce students to the distinct but complementary practices of tarot reading and herbalism. Each class will focus on one Major Arcana tarot card and one thematically linked herb, allowing students to build their understanding of the complex mythology and mysticism underlying these practices at a manageable pace. Naomi and Kinsey will lecture on the theme, energetic property, and history of the chosen tarot-herb pair and guide students in a ritual for the herb and a custom tarot reading. With time for meditation and small group discussion built in, each meeting should be a fun, sensory, and calming experience– a way to connect with the group and yourself.
The class is intended to serve students of all levels– beginners will receive the guidance they need to ground themselves in these traditions and folks with more experience will be able to deepen their knowledge of them. All students should leave with a rich understanding of herbs and tarot and how they can be used as tools for self-reflection, decision making, communicating with our subconsciousness, and more.
Faculty bios:
Naomi Westwater - Instructor - she/they
Naomi Westwater is a queer, Black-multiracial singer-songwriter and producer from Massachusetts. They weave in and out of Folk music, flirting with rock and jazz. Naomi holds a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance and Production from Berklee College of Music. She was nominated for a 2021 Boston Music Award for best singer-songwriter. Naomi is Not Sorry’s returning tarot instructor for Herb & Myth.
Naomi’s 2021 EP Feelings was featured in Under The Radar, WBUR, Vanyaland, WGBH, Allston Pudding, and The Bluegrass Situation. More Info: Link to EPK | Website | Instagram
Kinsey Rosene - Instructor - she/her
Kinsey Rosene is a community herbalist, entrepreneur, and founder of Crose Nest Apothecary in Hudson, MA. After studying with top herbal academies in the Northeast, she opened her shop as a small community apothecary. Crose Nest features handmade small batch goods from artists around the US with a focus on sustainability, function, and design. In addition to her experience teaching the Herb & Myth series with Naomi, Kinsey hosts community events/classes and offers an herbal tea blend bar through her shop.
More Info: crosenest.com | Instagram
The overview:
Tuition: Sliding scale, $250-$450
Dates: Tuesdays from 8-10pm EST for eight consecutive weeks, beginning January 31 and ending March 21.
Recording: Classes will be recorded for later viewing, but the course is best experienced if you attend each session live.
Cost: Full price is $350 (not including kit and deck). If you cannot quite afford the course, we have a price option of $250. If you would like to pay $450, all donations above $350 will go toward scholarships that we offer and help subsidize.
Apply for a scholarship here. If you apply for a scholarship, please keep an eye out for a scholarship status email from courtney@notsorryproductions.com.
Prep work or pre-reqs: Please be sure to acquire the proper materials as listed below in “course materials.” You can purchase a kit from Kinsey's shop here (or use the description to assemble an equivalent with your local apothecary).
Email Naomi at info@naomiwestwater.com or Kinsey at events@crosenest.com with any questions! Please note that these email addresses could become lost in your spam folder, so it would be helpful if you add them to your address book.
Course materials:
Herb & Myth is a course that incorporates an assortment of physical components. Participants should acquire the following for class:
The Not Sorry Herb & Myth kit for $40 via Crose Nest
A Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck (widely available for $20-25)
A teacup or mug for herbal engagement
FAQs:
What is tarot?
Tarot is an oracle deck of 78 cards made up of pictures and symbols dating back to the 15th century. Originally, tarot was used as a card game, then as a tool for divination, and in the last decade it has resurfaced and boomed in popularity and is used in all kinds of personal, creative, and spiritual practices.
What is herbalism?
The study and practice of the medicinal and therapeutic uses for plants. Herbalism is used as traditional medicine, as well as in spiritual, magical, and folk practices.
How will tarot be used in this class?
Tarot is a tool and you are encouraged to use it however you feel best suits you. In this class, we will focus on using tarot for self-reflection, decision making, communicating with your subconsciousness, story telling, active mediation, and more.
How will herbalism be used in class?
In this class, we will focus on the medicinal and magical properties of the herbs as well as learning herb folklore. We will specifically use the herbs in class as a tea, and you will be encouraged to use all of your senses to engage with the plant.
What traditions and cultures will this class be drawing upon in its approach to herbalism?
Herb + Myth will not focus on any one culture's traditions. Instead, we hope to illuminate each plant's complex history, from its standing in the folklore of its native bioregion to its modern uses around the world, and trace how each plant has now infused many cultures with its benefits. The ceremonial uses of plants, when discussed, will be tied firmly to the cultural context from which they originated and not presented as a practice for students to adopt. Through this multifaceted presentation, we hope our students form a personal relationship with the plants we discuss as well as plants from their own cultures.
I took Tarot As A Sacred Practice with Naomi last winter, will Herb & Myth be redundant?
No, it will not be redundant. Although we will spend the first class reviewing the basics of tarot and herbalism, we will be diving into new tarot material, so if you took Tarot As A Sacred Practice, you can also take Herb & Myth.
If I already have a tarot deck, do I need to buy another?
Yes, unless you already own a Rider-Waite-Smith deck. As the class will be focused on the specific imagery in the traditional RWS deck, we feel it’s important for everyone to have one so we can be certain that we’re all on the same page and seeing the same image.