Plant Study Retreat
If you have felt like something essential is missing in how you’re taught to know plants - that there must be a way to truly meet them beyond memorising what they’re good for - you're not alone. This is your invitation to learn a practice that attunes your senses and changes how you perceive the plant world.
There is a deeper nature to plants
We’ve come to a point in history where plants are seen as a commodity, with nutrients, chemical constituents that have actions in the body. Behind this lens, across the span of cultures, including older western cultures, there was and is an understanding plants have a living essence. A deeper character or spirit. If you didn’t grow up with a cultural story that explains this or shows you how to meet it, how do you get to know a plant’s character, or deeper essence in a way that relates?
Plants speak through their form, the shape of their leaves, the expression of their flower, the patterns of their growth, their preferences for soil, light, water, temperature. They also speak through their medicinal plant parts, like their seeds, roots, fruit or flowers. Plants are honest. They can’t help but reveal their deeper nature in their gestures, we just need to fine tune our perception to hear their language. By being with them, observing their features, studying their growth, and tuning into your impressions you can begin to nurture this living perception, and meet the deeper nature of a plant.
What you will walk away with
These three modules will shift how you perceive plants. You'll learn to see beyond the physical, to sense the living forces, character, and presence of the plants around you. You'll practice an observation method that honours both wonder and knowledge.
Most importantly, you'll carry this practice forward. It's not just knowledge you're gaining, but a capacity, a way of being with plants that allows real exchange and relationship. Once this doorway opens, the way you see the plant world changes. The aliveness you've always sensed becomes something you can perceive.
What people are saying
Inside the Plant Study Retreat
Three modules guide you through the philosophy, history, and practice of plant observation.
Module One
We dive into the history and philosophy behind plant observation - how our relationship with plants has evolved, where we are now, and how people through time have developed ways of perceiving their living essence. You'll be introduced to the fourfold nature of the plant, a framework for seeing and understanding plants more deeply.
Explore a lineage of plant observation and the concept of "living thinking"
Learn about the fourfold nature of the plant
Understand the context of where we are now and what's possible
Module Two
Working with your plant! We dive into the four fold nature of the plant, and begin our hands-on practice with plant observation, working with the first two aspects of the fourfold nature. Through writing and drawing exercises, you'll begin to develop your perception and learn to see your plant in a completely new way. The plant has the answers; we're learning to listen.
Perceive your plant through the first aspect of observation
Explore the second aspect through drawing (no artistic experience necessary)
Cultivate new capacities for seeing and understanding
Module Three
You’ll come back to your plant, and work with the final two aspects of the four fold nature and observation. Through a guided exercise, you'll begin to see how plants reveal themselves beyond their physical form - their character, their expression, their qualities. This is where everything comes together.
Explore the third and fourth aspects of the fourfold nature of your plant
Bring together all four aspects to meet the whole plant
Learn how to differentiate between plants and understand their unique expressions
See how this practice applies beyond plants (to children, life, yourself)
Discover how plants reveal their specific healing qualities through observation
What you will need
A notebook and pen for the observation practice
Lead pencil, coloured pencils or paints for drawing exercises (no artistic skill required)
A plant to work with - either in your garden, in nature nearby, or a potted plant you can sit with regularly
Kind words…
"The history ❤️ looking at the context of how we got to this point with plants, felt lost before"
"I'm a herbal medicine student and have been feeling so disconnected from the actual plants and their aliveness. I've learnt (and unlearnt!) so much in this retreat. Thank you!"
"This was such a calming, meditative space to be in. Amazed at the detail that kept revealing itself to me, the more I tuned in"
"The fourfold nature of the plant was epic Sarah!!! Best part, changed everything"
"Can't believe I'd never heard of this before. There were so many synchronicities leading up to the retreat and it feels magic to have arrived at the beginning of something amazing. Feels like a turning point"
“To truly know the world, look deeply within your own being; to truly know yourself, take real interest in the world.”
— Rudolf Steiner
This online retreat is for you if...
You spend time with plants and long to truly know them, not just what they're good for
You sense there's a deeper conversation possible with nature but haven't found the language or way yet
You're studying herbal medicine and feel something essential is missing from the current approach alone
You've been searching for a way to connect with plants that feels authentic to you
You're ready to slow down, listen, and let the plants teach you
"I'm hooked. I was buzzing and totally resonate with so much that you shared. This is so what I've been searching for. Thank you!"
"Thank you so much for this beautiful practice! It was so incredible"
"I loved this retreat, so inspirational and moving"
Frequently Asked Questions
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Perfect - this is designed for you. You don't need any background in herbalism, botany, or plant study. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to slow down and observe. The retreat guides you step by step, and the community is made of people at all levels of experience learning together.
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The three retreat modules are self-paced, so you can move through them in your own time. Many people work through one module per week, spending an hour or so with the content plus time outside observing their plant. The monthly live herb classes are 45 minutes. This is a practice meant to be taken slowly - there's no rush.
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All live sessions are recorded and available in the community while your subscription is active, so you can watch them whenever suits you. The beauty of the ongoing membership is that you can engage with the content and community in the rhythm that works for your life.
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Yes, absolutely. You can cancel your membership at any time with no questions asked. The 7-day free trial gives you a full week to explore the retreat and community to see if it's the right fit for you.
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No, this practice is for anyone who feels drawn to deepen their relationship with plants - gardeners, plant lovers, students, practitioners, or simply people who sense there's more to plants than what they've been taught. It has particularly resonated with herbal medicine students who've been feeling disconnected from the actual plants and their aliveness amid their studies. If you're curious, you belong here.
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You can practice with a potted plant or even a single plant in your garden, or even a plant coming up in a crack on a side walk. The practice works with whatever plant is available to you. Many people in cities or apartments find that working with one potted plant becomes an incredibly rich experience.