Blazing Star Herbal School
Blazing Star Herbal School offers unique and exciting programs in herbal studies to give both the student and professional an opportunity to delve deeper into the art and science of herbalism.
Blazing Star Herbal School courses have been highly acclaimed for inspiring students to find their unique healing path through personal relationship with the plant world. We are surrounded by wooded acres of pine trees, rushing brooks, wildflower meadows and gardens in Western Massachusetts. It is in this peaceful environment that we invite you to share and learn.
Presently running Blazing Star Herbal School since 2000 is Tony(a) Lemos.
She studied Natural Therapy at Raworth College of Natural Therapies in England (where she spent most her childhood) and in the early 1990's she apprenticed in the Wise Woman Tradition of healing with Susun Weed. As well as teaching at Blazing Star Herbal School and beyond, she maintains a clinical herbal practice in Western MA, specializing in Pediatric Herbalism and Self Care. Tony(a) has served as Vice President of NEHA (Northeast Herbal Association) as well as a professional member of NAHA (National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy) and a member of MassNofa and UpS. A lover of real food, she organized the first the local chapter of the Weston A. Price Organization in Western MA, bringing community together through local food activism. She has taught at the Northeast Womens Herbal Conference, The Green Nations Gathering, The Flower Essence Conference, The Northeast Aromatherapy Conference, NOFA, UPS and several other conferences. When she is not teaching apprentices or participating in herbal events you may find her frequenting local coffee houses with friends new and old discussing dreamy ideas, feminist causes, or simply wondering in the woods looking for wild mushrooms to cook up for dinner for whoever dares show up.
Learn more about Tony(a) here.
Mission Statement
Blazing Star Herbal School is dedicated to teaching traditional herbal medicine in a way that supports a more sustainable future for all living beings and shows respect for the integrity of nature. We offer a unique perspective on herbalism, weaving social, ecological and political aspects of health and healing through the study of medicinal herbs, ceremony and food practices. We inspire students to find their own healing path by creating a personal relationship with the natural world.
Blazing Star Herbal Classes take place on occupied Pocumtuc/Nipmuc territory, also known as Western Massachusetts specifically in Ashfield/Conway MA- We honor and give gratitude for the people who came before us.
Blazing Star Herbal School honors diversity, and we do not discriminate based on race, sex, gender expression, religion, disability, sexual orientation, immigration status, or anything else that divides us as people. We believe that all people deserves access to health care and education, and we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment to all students.
In the same vain we honor and promote biodiversity.
"We're losing biodiversity globally at an alarming rate, and we need a cornucopia of different plants and animals, for the planet's health and our own." Diane Ackerman
Some important words on BioDiversity by one of Tony(a)'s mentors Vandana Shiva
Statement on Diversity
Gail Ulrich was the Founder and Director of Blazing Star Herbal School from 1984-2000 and founder of New England Botanicals herbal products. An herbalist of more than 20 years and a certified Flower Essence Practitioner and Instructor, Gail's vision also brought us the New England Women's Herbal Conference presently in its 17th year . She was also an organizer of the Healing With Flowers Conference as well as many other herbal events. Gail authored one book, Herbs to Boost Immunity published by Keats Publishing now unfortunately out of print.
