About Us

Study and practice Herbal Medicine Medicine and Aromatherapy with us!

Helping students and community members to connect with plants and Nature is at the heart of our work. We have dedicated our lives to teaching others how to connect with plants in sensory and experiential as well as scholarly and spiritually transformative ways. 

We offer comprehensive live trainings, both in-person and online, designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to make a success of your career as an Herbalist and/or Aromatherapist.

Gabriel Mojay offers deeply-rooted way of understanding medicinal plants from both scientific and energetic perspectives, grounded in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with 40 years of clinical practice and teaching experience. 

AC's Hill's (she/her) classes are often hands-on and experiential — focused on making botanical medicines including tinctures, salves and oxymels, and how to grow, harvest, process, dry and preserve herbs, as well as some fundamental business skills she's picked up running her own small herbal product lines.

Download full DIPLOMA PROGRAM as a PDF

About Actaea's Live Learning Programs

Our flagship learning program is the Actaea Integrated Diploma Course, a comprehensive, 200-hour in person and live-online training course in Herbal Medicine & Aromatherapy.

Our online 'Sunday School' series of thirty-five, 3-hour Zoom webinars, starting in October 2025 to June 2026, combined with our in-person 'Summer School' a 7 day intensive at the gorgeous Bark Eater Inn & Retreat Center in the Adirondack Mountains of NY, held in July of 2026. 

If you can't attend the Summer School, you can start the Diploma program by joining the webinar series, starting Sept 7th 2025.

Enrollment comes with one-to-one mentorship to help guide you in achieving your vision and goals as an Herbalist and/or Aromatherapist. Gabriel and AC will support you on your journey as a practicing herbalist, aromatherapist, and community care giver. 

Actaea Herbal Medicine & Aromatherapy Diploma Course

Download full DIPLOMA PROGRAM as a PDF

Actaea Integrated Diploma Course

Our main program is a 200-hour in-person and on-line Diploma Course in the professional practice and business of Herbal Medicine and Clinical Aromatherapy. It's the combination of the hands-on learning experience of our 7-day Summer School next Aug 2026 and our on-line 'Sunday School' series of 35 three-hour Zoom webinars, starting in Sept 2025. Enrollment comes with one-to-one mentorship to help guide you in achieving your vision and goals as an Herbalist and/or Aromatherapist.

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Actaea 'Summer School' Experience

Our main in-person learning experience is an exciting 9-day retreat at the gorgeous Bark Eater Inn, nestled in the Adirondack Mts of New York State. The live intensive covers the essentials of Herbalism and Aromatherapy — especially those topics best covered in person... working directly with medicinal plants, identifying, cultivating and processing herbs as well as learning hands-on techniques such as Herbal & Aromatic First Aid, and tongue & pulse diagnosis.

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'Sunday School' webinar series

Our main online offering is a series of 35 three-hour live and lively webinars from Sept 2025 to June 2026. Our Sunday School webinar series is an advanced program of study in the practical, scientific and energetic dimensions of Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy, including the cultivation, medicine-making, and clinical application of 200 medicinal and aromatic herbs, together with an overview of the body systems, TCM energetic diagnosis, and living in reciprocity with the land.

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Our Core Herb Retreat & Summer School Team 

Isaac Hill

Advisor & Teacher

Musician

Isaac is an occultist, astrologer, musician, and gardener who lives with his partner AC Stauble-Hill. From these lands he honors the Old Gods, and offers professional consultations in the classical Vedic Astrology of Jyotish, in which he has undertaken initiation and training in India.

Together with his co-host AC, Isaac has interviewed many of the most important herbalists, occultists, astrologers and permaculturists from around the world as part of their popular Plant Cunning Podcast.

In 2024 Isaac released his book, The Heathen Golden Dawn: A Complete Course in Ceremonial Magic, published by Aeon Books.

Meghan Kirkpatrick

Co-Host & Teacher

Meghan is proprietor of the Bark Eater Inn & Gardens, where she hosts guests, workshops, retreats and weddings, and where she serves local farm-to-table breakfasts.

Meghan is a naturalist, gardener, herbalist and breathwork facilitator as well as crafter, hostess, and nurturer of people and plants.

Her professional background is in herb farming, landscaping, and non-profit land protection as well as hospitality and recreation.

Meghan’s healing journey over the last decade has led her to explore transformational modalities that encompass women’s circle work, ceremony, breathwork, and yoga. She is a certified Breathwork Facilitator and Yoga Teacher.

Debbie Stauble

Chef & Student Coordinator

 Debbie serves as our Student Experience Coordinator as well as our Summer School chef at the Bark Eater Inn.

 

In 2017, Debbie's culinary prowess came to the fore when she was recruited to cook for the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, as part of their field work in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains. Since that time, she has returned to cook for the school on four more occasions.

Debbie has cooking for groups ‘down to a science’. She makes sure to identify any food allergies, and prepares flexible menu plans in advance. Her prime focus is to ensure that everyone able to enjoy the Summer School to the full.

Our Friday Forum Guest Teachers 

Join our once monthly guest speaker series for compelling lectures from each person in their area of expertise. 

7Song

Special Guest Clinical Teacher

7Song has been studying plants, people, and herbal medicine for over 40 years. I began studying herbal medicine’s many aspects in my twenties, including botany (an abiding love), plants as medicine (Materia Medica), physiology, medicine-making, wildcrafting, clinical work, and the like.

To elucidate my herbal education, I attended the California School of Herbal Studies with Rosemary Gladstar in 1983, and later, the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine with Michael Moore, in 1994 and 1995.

I currently teach at many schools and conferences throughout the United States, which gives me the opportunity to see the varied ways that herbal knowledge is passed on. I am honored to be a part of passing this information along.

Dr Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis

Special Guest Teacher

Omileye is an international author, artist, Fifth Generation Vision Keeper, trauma-focused licensed psychotherapist, Reiki Master, and doctor of Daoist Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

As a teacher who tells stories that connect cultures, Omileye seeks to awaken the Self and heal the ravages of planetary trauma.

As a trauma-focused psychotherapist, children’s yoga, and diversity trainer, she loves shifting old stories into ones of power.

Her book, My Heart Flies Open, published by North Atlantic Books, distributed by Penguin Random House and awarded a Kirkus Starred Review, has inspired many to embrace their authentic selves.

 

Rebecca Beyer

Special Guest Teacher

Rebecca lives in the mountains of western North Carolina where she teaches people how to integrate the Old Ways back into a cyclical life, write books and articles, and work as a tattooer.

In 2018 I completed a Masters degree (MS) in Appalachian Studies and Sustainability, concentrating on Appalachian Ethnobotany at Appalachian State University. Despite my rough and tumble exterior, I love presenting in an academic setting.

I practice, research and write about folk herbalism, Appalachian ethnobotany and folk magic, traditional English witchcraft, primitive skills, gardening, and foraging.

Dr Raquel Costa PhD

Special Guest Clinical Teacher

Dr Raquel Costa specializes in Clinical Aromatherapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Phytotherapy and Homeopathy.

Raquel has been in continuous professional practice since 2003, the year she opened her first clinic in Vila Verde, Portugal.

She is President of Associação Portuguesa de Aromaterapia (APA), and founder of the social project Hospital do Sorriso.

In terms of Aaromatherapy, Raquel studied under Dr Fabienne Milet of Florame, France; completed postgraduate studies in aromatic plants and essential oils at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra; and a training course in Aromadermatology with the Tisserand Institute.

Raquel is the co-author of several published scientific articles, including ‘Essential oils as a good weapon against drug-resistant Candida auris’ (Antibiotics, 2022).

Olatokunboh Obasi
MSc,RH(AHG),CNS

Special Guest Teacher

Olatokunboh is owner of the Well of Indigenous Wisdom School, an online and in-person international program in herbalism and the healing arts.

She is a board-certified Nutritionist, Clinical Herbalist, and birth Doula. She has been working in the wellness field for almost 20 years.

Olatokunboh shares her leadership skills in health advocacy as a guest educator at several schools across the USA and the world.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Herbalist Guild and chair the ARAC committee (Admissions Review Advisory Committee). 

Olatokunboh received her Master of Science (MSc) from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, and is a Clinical Nutrition PhD candidate there.

Rita Van Parys

Special Guest Teacher

Rita Van Parys qualified as a pharmacist with the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Ghent in Belgium in 1993, and was employed as a pharmacist in Belgium and the UK.

In 2009 Rita undertook training with the College International Aromatherapie Dominique Baudoux, and later joined its associated company, Pranarôm, a world leader in Scientific Aromatherapy.

It was here she instructed healthcare professionals in Scientific Aromatherapy.

Rita also worked as a pharmacist for HerbalGem, which specializes in gemmotherapy.

Rita completed further training in clinical aromatherapy with the Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy in London, in 2013, and in organic skin care formulation with Formula Botanica, in 2017.

Rita continues to share her knowledge of scientific aromatherapy through providing workshops and training..

Read more about our Co-Directors & Guest Teachers!...

Click the button below to download the full Integrated Diploma Course Program

Download Diploma Course PDF

Book a 30-min chat with us

Use the Calendly Calendar below to book a brief call with us to chat for up to a half hour.We love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. 

You can also send us an email at [email protected]

Actaea Short Courses

In addition to our main Herbal Medicine & Aromatherapy Diploma Course, we offer several shorter courses, including two each consisting of ten 2.5-hour webinars - one with Gabriel Mojay on an Astrological Herbalism & Aromatherapy, and one with Milissa Castanza-Seymour on Numerology as a tool for soul growth - togther with a live weekend on Aromatic Acupressure, Meridian Massage & Essential Oils with Gabriel in California, and a live Frankincense Distillation & Celebration Day in New Jersey...

Download full SHORT COURSES PROGRAM as a PDF
Astrological-Metaphysical Herbalism & Aromatherapy

The Inner Healing Virtues of 50 Aromatic Herbs & Oils with Gabriel Mojay 

 In this live and recorded series of ten 2.5-hr webinars, learn how to read an Astrological Birth Chart in a way that reveals the core dynamics of the Chart’s key components, together with the Astrological symbolism and metaphysical Virtues of 50 aromatic plants used in both Herbalism & Aromatherapy.

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Numerology: Blueprint for Soul Growth

 Number Symbolism & Essential Oils with Milissa Castanza-Seymour

In this live and recorded series of ten 2.5-hr webinars, learn how to interpret the information gleaned from an individual’s name and date of birth according to the classical metaphysical wisdom of Numerology — an esoteric tool for self-understanding and a reflection of the soul’s purpose and potential; a ‘blueprint’.

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Aromatic Acupressure, Meridian Massage & Essential Oils

In-person workshop in Sebastopol, California with Gabriel Mojay

Meridian Massage is the manual stimulation of the body’s Jing Luo network of channels of vital energy, or Qi. In this 2-day hands-on workshop, Gabriel instructs participants in the treatment of pain and psychological disharmonies through the Meridian Massage and Aromatic Acupressure application of essential oils.

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Frankincense Distillation & Celebration Day

In-person Workshop in Monroe Township, New Jersey with Robin & Dennis Kessler & Gabriel Mojay

Join Robin, Dennis and Gabriel for a day of distillation, as we watch the magical transformation of the golden resin of Boswellia carteri turn into the exquisite essential oil of Frankincense! Home alchemist Dennis Kessler, and ‘the queen of Frankincense’, Robin Kessler, demonstrate the art of low cost DIY kitchen distillation of its pure resin. This year, Gabriel joins Robin & Dennis for a day held in the garden of the Kessler home in Monroe Township, New Jersey.

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Join the Actaea Institute for only $100 and receive 2 issues of Aromatic Herbal Medicine & Medical Aromatherapy Journal AND free attenadance at our forthcoming lecture series, the Friday Forum!

JOIN THE ACTAEA INSTITUTE TODAY! and be part of our Learning, Inspiration, Fun, & Engagement (LIFE)...

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