Bethnal Green Nature Reserve

Herbal Uprising Part 1: Plant Medicine As a Guide to Deep Rest

In collaboration with Herbal Blessing Clinic’s Rabiah Mali & Healing Justice LDN, ‘Herbal Uprising’ is a series of 3 sessions that will explore the potential of plant medicine to deepen our connection to land and nurture a sense of belonging.

Participants are invited to Phytology medicine garden in Bethnal Green to explore the liberating potential of herbalism and plant medicine.

Plant medicine can allow us to return to seeing the land as a place of medicine, healing and connection. It is a restorative practice and is a holistic act of liberation where we respond to the needs of healing, rest, forgiveness, deep listening, expression, grief and being the healers that our communities need in a post pandemic world.

This is the first session of the series, and will explore plants that support us to sleep, dream and relax more deeply.

We will be collectively making a herbal preparation to support rest and then practice a simple relaxation exercise, inspired by the work of the nap ministry and embodying rest as resistance.

This session is free to attend and open to all however registration is essential.

Bookings - www.eventbrite.com

Materials will be provided unless specific information is given. Refreshments will be provided.

Herbal Uprising is part of We Speak In Tongues About The Thing(s) We Love project curated by Adelaide Bannerman. Supported by Arts Council England & the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve Trust.

Safety

We will make people aware of risks and safe conduct required, also participants will need to ensure they conduct themselves safely. Due to venue and safety requirements, unfortunately we cannot accommodate children at the in-person session. Please confirm you are over 18 in order to attend.

Please wear suitable clothing and footwear; and be mindful/appropriately prepared for insect bites/stings/plants, should you have allergic responses. Hair to be tied back and loose clothing tucked away safely.

Accessibility

The session will be held in-person at Phytology. Attendees should note that woodchip surface may be difficult for a self-aided wheelchair, but is fine with aided or electric wheelchair. Ramp available. Toilets are accessible with use of ramp.

About the Location

Phytology is a cultural institute based at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve in Tower Hamlets, East London. The Nature Reserve has a delicate and complex ecosystem of plants, bats, birds, trees, soil, fungi, amphibians, insects, invertebrates and mammals (including people). The Phytology medicine garden has been sown with over thirty-two varieties of plants common to the streets of London and urban ecosystems across the country.

About the Facilitator

Rabiah Mali is a qualified Medical Herbalist, Creative and Community Healer. She set up The Herbal Blessing clinic in 2015, a sliding scale community clinic with the intention of 'reconnecting' the community with their inner herbalist. Offering consultations, workshops, retreats and walks and holistic therapy that is rooted in traditional and spiritual plant-based healing. Her work involves the use of nature and local plant-based knowledge to nourish a feeling of home in communities where poverty, poor health access and gentrification has fractured the sense of belonging. Rabiah is the co-founder of the Green Deen Tribe, which she founded as a response to the need to heal the wounds of separation and lack of access to nature by Muslim Women, which is all too often rooted in colonisation, racism, other socioeconomic factors and radicalised Islamophobia.

In collaboration with Herbal Blessing Clinic’s Rabiah Mali & Healing Justice LDN, ‘Herbal Uprising’ is a series of 3 sessions that will explore the potential of plant medicine to deepen our connection to land and nurture a sense of belonging.

Participants are invited to Phytology medicine garden in Bethnal Green to explore the liberating potential of herbalism and plant medicine. Plant medicine can allow us to return to seeing the land as a place of medicine, healing and connection. It is a restorative practice and is a holistic act of liberation where we respond to the needs of healing, rest, forgiveness, deep listening, expression, grief and being the healers that our communities need in a post pandemic world. This is the first session of the series, and will explore plants that support us to sleep, dream and relax more deeply. We will be collectively making a herbal preparation to support rest and then practice a simple relaxation exercise, inspired by the work of the nap ministry and embodying rest as resistance. This session is free to attend and open to all however registration is essential. Bookings - www.eventbrite.com Materials will be provided unless specific information is given. Refreshments will be provided. Herbal Uprising is part of We Speak In Tongues About The Thing(s) We Love project curated by Adelaide Bannerman. Supported by Arts Council England & the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve Trust.

Safety

We will make people aware of risks and safe conduct required, also participants will need to ensure they conduct themselves safely. Due to venue and safety requirements, unfortunately we cannot accommodate children at the in-person session. Please confirm you are over 18 in order to attend. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear; and be mindful/appropriately prepared for insect bites/stings/plants, should you have allergic responses. Hair to be tied back and loose clothing tucked away safely.

Accessibility

The session will be held in-person at Phytology. Attendees should note that woodchip surface may be difficult for a self-aided wheelchair, but is fine with aided or electric wheelchair. Ramp available. Toilets are accessible with use of ramp.

About the Location

Phytology is a cultural institute based at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve in Tower Hamlets, East London. The Nature Reserve has a delicate and complex ecosystem of plants, bats, birds, trees, soil, fungi, amphibians, insects, invertebrates and mammals (including people). The Phytology medicine garden has been sown with over thirty-two varieties of plants common to the streets of London and urban ecosystems across the country.

About the Facilitator

Rabiah Mali is a qualified Medical Herbalist, Creative and Community Healer. She set up The Herbal Blessing clinic in 2015, a sliding scale community clinic with the intention of 'reconnecting' the community with their inner herbalist. Offering consultations, workshops, retreats and walks and holistic therapy that is rooted in traditional and spiritual plant-based healing. Her work involves the use of nature and local plant-based knowledge to nourish a feeling of home in communities where poverty, poor health access and gentrification has fractured the sense of belonging. Rabiah is the co-founder of the Green Deen Tribe, which she founded as a response to the need to heal the wounds of separation and lack of access to nature by Muslim Women, which is all too often rooted in colonisation, racism, other socioeconomic factors and radicalised Islamophobia.