Seeds of healing
During the lockdowns, Rich Mix reflected on how personal recovery could be aided by collaboration and creativity. They listened to their communities about the kind of activities they’d like to see once restrictions began to ease and from these conversations, Seeds of Healing was born.
What’s Seeds of Healing about?
In these tough times, Rich Mix wanted to create opportunities to reconnect, get inspired and feel optimistic. They think that together we can grow and become more confident and resilient, nurturing our curiosity and creativity through culture – which is where Seeds of Healing came in.
Funded by Garfield Weston, Seeds of Healing was a hybrid six-week course, in partnership with Herbal Blessings and Global Learning London. It took place in person at Rich Mix, offsite for a visit to Phytology Community Garden and online via Zoom sessions.
Life during and after the pandemic was at the front of the team’s minds when they curated the course. A taster session with Global Learning London helped to facilitate conversations around a number of themes and encouraged discussion and reflection on healing.
This was complemented by training in practical herbalism skills and knowledge with Herbal Blessings’ Rabiah Mali. Rabiah explained how words and activity have equal footing when coming together in a healing space and creating herbal products.
“I don’t think I’ve ever attended a course that achieved a sense of community and friendship as much as this one did. It was such a healing creative space, and this space created such a profound connection between us all.”
The programme in action
22 people of a diverse range of backgrounds and life experience came together to exchange stories as a group and get to know one another.
The series started with an open afternoon that aimed to reconnect each participant to their inner herbalist. Nurturing conversations and open listening brought everyone together, and a range of thoughtful activities helped provoke curiosity, including sensory scent and breathing exercises.
In further sessions the group made their own compostable plant pots in which to sew organic herb seeds of hyssop, thyme and borage, and a guided local herb walk, finding the plants and trees that can be used for medicine, was held at the Phytology Garden at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve.
To mark the end of the series, the ground made their own herbal tea bags and held a tea ceremony. The Rich Mix team said: ‘It was a privilege to see how the group, full of people from different walks of life, came together for this special ceremony. It was filled with laughter, tears, hugs and respect for each of their healing journeys so far’.
Rich Mix’s Community Creatives programme of activities, courses and clubs is aimed at bringing communities together to build friendship and understanding through collective creativity.
Seeds of Healing was supported by Garfield Weston.
The Herbal Blessings Clinic is a community run herbal clinic that runs clinic, workshops, walks and retreats to provide holistic herbal health and teaching for the community.
Global Learning London works with children, young people and their wider communities, to cultivate optimism and action for a more just and sustainable world. With the belief that a kinder, more equitable world is possible, one where people and planet thrive to their full potential and beyond.