How The Lunar Apothecary Works

How The Lunar Apothecary Works

  • The Lunar Apothecary is structured as a thirteen-part learning program. Each part is called a Cycle and it has about one month's worth of work within it. You can move through the course cycle-by-cycle as a thirteen month program or complete it at a slower or faster pace. It's up to you and your needs.
  • Every month you will be sent a study reminder full of lunar inspiration.
  • In addition to your study reminders, you will receive a once-a-month edition of Moonlight: The Lunar Apothecary Newsletter which discusses everything from current moon phases, herbal allies, and other activities happening in our community. For 2023 we are focusing on the Lunar Mansions and you can expect to receive Moonlight nearer to the end of the month.
  • The thirteen Cycles build upon each other. So you can skip around if you like, but I recommend that you follow the Cycles in sequential order for the greatest clarity and flow of course work.
  • There is a variety of PDFs, audio recordings, rituals, recipes, and more in each Cycle for you to explore. As with anything in life, the more you put into The Lunar Apothecary the more you will get out of it. I suggest setting aside time each week to work through the course material.
  • All new course material and important community news is posted in the Bonus section.
  • To make sure you are receiving all of The Lunar Apothecary emails, please follow the guidelines listed in the full FAQ.

Study Tips + Recommendations

In addition to a curious and an open heart, I suggest having a dedicated notebook for your studies that can be used for your journal prompts, formulation experiments, ritual notes, case studies, and general note taking. I also suggest having a large three inch binder to contain your print-outs for the course. You can use this notebook for your journal prompts too or use a separate dedicated journal - do what works for you!

Use the astrological charts as visual guides. These are scattered throughout the course and can also be found in the Illustrations section of our classroom. If you can print them out or copy them into your study notebook so that you can refer to them easily and frequently.

Print or copy your birth chart. If you have a physical study notebook print out or draw your birth chart in its pages. If you're using a digital notetaking system copy the image of your birth chart into your notes. Keep a copy of your birth chart handy not only so that you can use it throughout the course but so that you can become familiar with what is essentially a deeply personal and magickal sigil or talisman representing you. I have copies of my birth chart in my study notebook, tucked into my desk drawer, and saved on my computer and phone so that I can always pull it up and look at it when I need to. I highly recommend that you start to collect birth charts of your family and friends - this way you have lots of charts to study and practice with and learn from. If you start a free account with AstroDienst (more on that in Getting to Know Your Birth Chart) you can store up to 100 charts for easy reference. Having a chart collection will benefit your practice if you want to pursue more astroherbalism in your work, so it can be helpful to start collecting them now.

As for herbs, besides sustainably wildcrafting or growing your own, I suggest checking out local herb farms, farmers markets, and apothecaries. Having a variety of glass jars with air tight lids will serve you well for storing your herbs and subsequent remedies that you'll be making in the course. Create space in a dark and cool cupboard to store them and you'll be all set.

Not much more is needed. Perhaps a cutting board and knife for processing fresh herbs. A large bowl for mixing. A mortar and pestle or coffee bean grinder for grinding them. Spoons for stirring and measuring. A scale for weighing (if you want to do a weight-and-measure version of medicine-making). I've found as someone who has run an herbal remedy making business that I've always needed less supplies than I originally thought. Get creative with what you have, value tools that have multiple uses, and make purchases conscientiously.

Most importantly, have fun, be open to new ways of thinking, value the knowledge you're already bringing with you, and may you fall deeply in love with all that you find when you gaze into the Moon-shaped mirror of your self.

Complete and Continue