Small-Scale Plant Distillation & the Esoteric Stages

Step into the living tradition of alchemy in this immersive class, where small-scale plant distillation using glass stills becomes both a precise craft for making aromatic medicines and a mirror for inner transformation. Together, we will work through the alchemical stages and touch on the nine operations, exploring how each unfolds in the still and within our own psyches.

This will be a journey into the esoteric side of alchemy, where the elements of fire, water, air, and earth guide the process of both distilling plants and refining the self. We will explore how aromatic medicines work not only on the body, but as psyche medicine, engaging memory, emotion, imagination, and the subtle layers of the soul. Scent becomes a messenger between conscious and unconscious, a bridge between the material and imaginal worlds.

What We’ll Cover:

• Why Glass? Pros & cons for small-batch distillation

• The Nine Alchemical Operations – Practical and symbolic stages in the still and in the self

• The Alchemical Perspective – Esoteric teachings and the spiritual lineage of plant work

• Full Set-Up – From start to finish

• Selecting & Preparing Plants – Picking, processing, and packing for optimal results

• Reading the Medicine – Deciphering the hydrosol’s character and messages

• Essential Oil & Hydrosol Applications – Physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual uses for your apothecary

• Aromatic Medicine as Psyche Medicine – How scent works on the unconscious, evokes image, and restores connection

• Troubleshooting – Tips & tricks for common challenges

• Live Demonstration – Complete glass distillation in real time

• 1oz hydrosol & Q&A

Details:
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2026
Time: 11-6 ET (please allow for some wiggle room) This is a full day experience so that we include depth and embodied meaning making
Where: Ritual Botanica, 10 old leicester hwy, asheville, NC28804.

More info sent upon registration welcome letter, sent a week prior 

Whether you join to expand your herbal skills, deepen your spiritual practice, or understand the psyche-shaping power of aromatic medicine, this class offers an embodied, esoteric approach to distillation—where every drop is both plant essence and a reflection of the soul’s own refinement.

Deposits to hold your space are non-refundable. Class must be paid in full by Nov, 23