The Path of Evolutionary Herbalism

A Synergy of Spagyric Alchemy,
Astrological Medicine & Clinical Herbalism

SAJAH POPHAM

Tuition

$375 per person—plus room/meals & tax

SAJAH POPHAM

Oct 23–26, 2025

at the Art of Living Retreat Center

The Path of Evolutionary Herbalism

A Synergy of Spagyric Alchemy,
Astrological Medicine & Clinical Herbalism
Revolutionize your understanding of herbal medicine and your role as a healer.
A Structured
4-Day/3-Night Retreat
Ayurveda
Health & Wellness
Get Healthy
Personal Development

Unearth the Path to Rejuvenative Health

Imagine a retreat that brings you into a rich tapestry of plant wisdom, where herbal medicine meets the cosmos. This rare opportunity with Sajah Popham blends clinical Western herbalism, spagyric alchemy, and astrological medicine in a dynamic, hands-on experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, you’ll learn to harness the healing potential of plants to transform physical well-being, awaken spiritual insight, and realign with nature’s rhythm. Join us on this evolutionary path and reconnect with the soul of herbalism.

Reserve Your Spot Now

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Retreat Benefits

connecting with nature

Integrated Practice

Learn an approach that unites herbalism, alchemy, and astrology for deeper healing.

Personal Balance

Understand your astrological constitution to create personalized herbal solutions that support your health.

Spagyric Skills

Gain hands-on experience preparing powerful alchemical herbal remedies.

Timeless Knowledge​

Apply universal herbal principles to your everyday practice and life.

Plants People Energy Awareness

Energy Awareness

Identify energetic patterns in plants and people to optimize healing.

Astrological Wisdom

Explore how cosmic influences shape the relationship between plants and people to support well-being.

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Are you ready to embark on a journey that will revolutionize your understanding of herbal medicine and your role as a healer?

WHAT TO EXPECT

Harness the Healing Power of Plants

As you immerse yourself in this retreat, you’ll experience profound shifts on multiple levels. The energetic resonance of the herbs will guide you toward a deeper alignment with body, mind, and spirit. Through alchemical preparation and astrological insight, you’ll uncover new layers of self-awareness, gain the confidence to work intuitively with plants, and feel renewed inspiration for your practice. Every moment—whether learning or reflecting—will offer the chance to reconnect with the wisdom of the natural world in a way that nurtures both healing and growth.

1. Plant Energetics Teachings

Dive into the unseen qualities of plants and how they influence the body’s energetic systems.

2. Herbal History Talks

Discover how ancient herbal traditions across the world connect through shared principles.

3. Astrological Constitution Insights

Explore how your personal astrological makeup influences your health and healing process.

4. Spagyric Alchemy Lab

 Connect with local plant allies in a meditative walk designed to enhance your sensory awareness

5. Guided Nature Walk

 Connect with local plant allies in a meditative walk designed to enhance your sensory awareness

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Transforming Lives

quotes
—Jo-Anne Byrnes
As a Registered Nurse of almost 10yrs, I can honestly say that I actually learned more about the human body from some of your lectures than I did while undertaking both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nursing!
—Katerina Kezemides
You’ve changed my life, Sajah. The path behind me is overgrown with the plants we’ve studied together. You’ve shown me how to kneel before nature with deep humility and respect.
—Kimberlie Catone
Thank you for presenting the material in such a fun, digestible way. It has boosted my confidence and renewed my passion to help others on their wellness journey!
—Mary Anne Leary
I now feel confident in precisely matching herbs to a client's condition. This course is valuable not only for aspiring clinical herbalists but also for those seeking to empower their own self-care and support their loved ones.
—Ann Torp
Sajah’s teachings are truly holistic, blending scientific knowledge with insights into the connections between herbal traditions, people, plants, and universal energies—all essential for balance and health.

Program FAQ

This workshop is totally open to brand new herbalists with little to no understanding of herbal concepts or traditions.

The Evolutionary Herbalism approach is highly unique in its synergistic and integrative approach, including astrological medicine and alchemy. It will offer new insights, perspectives, strategies, and practices for the advanced herbal practitioner, while still being accessible to newbies.

This is the first opportunity for a long-form live workshop with Sajah in over 6 years. This workshop is core Evolutionary Herbalism philosophy, which benefits all students at the school regardless of program enrollment and is highly recommended for any SEH student.

Sajah Popham has a BS in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University, has been practicing in the lab and clinic for over 15 years, and has learned from some of the top herbalists of the modern day, including Matthew Wood, David Winston, Margi Flint, Paul Bergner, Robert Bartlett, and Judith Hill. His unique synergy of practical clinical herbalism with spagyric alchemy and astrological medicine is highly specialized and not to be found anywhere else.

No, this is not a therapeutically designed formula and will not be a “use this herb for that symptom” type of workshop. It is rather focused on the big picture philosophical and practical approach to holistic herbal medicine.

Certainly! Anyone that has an interest in these subjects will find the workshop materials highly engaging and inspiring. Whether you want to start a clinical practice, use herbs for yourself and family, or are just philosophically interested in alchemy, astrology and herbalism, you will find great benefit in the materials.

Presenter

Sajah Popham

Sajah Popham, author of Evolutionary Herbalism and Natura Sophia Spagyrics, is the founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. He trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that integrates clinical Western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy.

His approach emphasizes balancing the science and spirituality of plant medicine to heal the body, clear the mind, open the heart, and nurture the soul’s growth. …

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

The Path of Evolutionary Herbalism

This experiential retreat offers a well-balanced schedule that combines structured educational sessions with flexible time blocks – ensuring you have ample opportunity to engage in learning while also allowing personal time to explore the retreat center, participate in activities, and enjoy moments of reflection and relaxation.

Check-in Begins
4:00 pm

Dinner
6:00–7:00 pm

Orientation
7:00–7:20 pm

Session 1
7:30–9:00 pm

Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am

Session 2
9:30 am–12:30 pm

Lunch
12:30–1:30 pm

Session 3
2:00–4:00 pm

Free Time
4:00–6:00 pm

Dinner
6:00–7:30 pm

Session 4
7:30–9:00 pm

day3

Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am

Session 5
9:30 am–12:30 pm

Lunch
12:30–1:30 pm

Session 6
2:00–4:00 pm

Free Time
4:00–6:00 pm

Dinner
6:00–7:30 pm

Session 7
7:30–9:00 pm

Day 4

Breakfast
7:30–9:30 am

Session 8
9:30–11:30 am

Room Checkout
11:00 am
Luggage may be held at Reception.

Lunch
12:00–1:30 pm

Breakfast  7:30–9:30 am • Lunch: 12:00–1:30 pm • Dinner: 6:00–7:30 pm

Optional activities include
Yoga • Meditation • Kirtan • Bonfire • Labyrinth • Nature Trails

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

UPGRADE OPTIONS
Nature Walk Women

Extend your Stay and Don't Miss a Thing

Add a day to enjoy R&R activities!

Free activities include
Interactive Nature Hikes
Cooking Demos
Meditation & Movement Classes
Wellness Workshops

Paid activities include
Pottery Classes
Ayurvedic Wellness & Healing Arts Treatments

Nourish Your Body

Take your rejuvenation to another level with a soothing Ayurvedic treatment. 

Call to check availability during Shankara business hours:

Wednesday 11:00 am–8:00 pm
Thursday–Saturday 9:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am–2:00 pm

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

THE ART OF LIVING RETREAT CENTER

Scenic. Serene. Inspiring.

The perfect place to begin your journey to holistic wellness.

Since 2012, the Art of Living Retreat Center has offered wellness retreats featuring meditation, yoga, and Ayurveda. The Center is high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, surrounded by 380 acres of pristine forest. Beauty, nature, and time-honored architecture create the perfect setting that is authentic, not extravagant.

“You drive up this mountain and it’s instant, total bliss. It’s beautiful. Everything about it is magical.”

—Chelsea H.

1000+ enthusiastic Google reviews

PRICING & ROOMS

All-Inclusive Accommodations

Prices include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of checkout. (Rates below are per person.)

Private Hotel Room

$436 per person/per night + tax

Shared Hotel Room (for 2)

$311 per person/per night + tax

Private Retreat Room

$295 per person/per night + tax

Shared Retreat Room (for 2)

$241 per person/per night + tax

Shared Retreat Room (for 3)

$210 per person/per night + tax
Private Hotel Room
$436 per person/per night + tax
Shared Hotel Room (for 2)
$311 per person/per night + tax
Private Retreat Room
$295 per person/per night + tax
Shared Retreat Room (for 2)
$241 per person/per night + tax
Shared Retreat Room (for 3)
$210 per person/per night + tax
TRAVEL INFO

We are remote—yet easy to get to.

The Art of Living Retreat Center offers the right balance between serenity and easy access.
  • Fly into Charlotte, NC—Two hours away by drive.
  • Check-in at 4:00 pm first day—eat dinner shortly after that.
  • Leave after lunch the last day—schedule your flight anytime
    after 5:00 pm.

Transportation Options Between Charlotte and the Center

Hickory Hop Shuttle Service
Book online

hickoryhop.com

High Country Black Car
828.387.1977

High Country Black Car

Oscar’s Car Service
704.965.5800

Edwardo’s Car Service
704.949.6775

Blue Bird Transportation
828.989.7286

Blue Bird of Boone

Uber or Lyft
Book in app on arrival

Service

Phone

Website

Hickory Hop Shuttle Service

Book online

High Country Limo

Oscar’s Car Service

Edwardo’s Car Service

Blue Bird Transportation

Uber or Lyft

Book in app on arrival

Are you ready for a transformational experience?

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Great experience, great people, great food, great place to unplug from the hustle & bustle of everyday life and relax.

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We are here to help.

For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:

  • Refunds are available (less a $50/per person processing fee) up to 15 days before your program or stay.
  • Nonrefundable credit toward a future AOLRC program or stay (less a $50/per person processing fee) is available if you give notice between 14 and one day(s) before your program or stay. Credit may be applied to any AOLRC program or stay for one year following date of issue.
  • No credit or refund is available if you cancel on the arrival day, if you do not show up, or if you leave an event early for any reason. No refund will be available if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or content.

AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.

Unless otherwise indicated, our programs are open to participants 18 years of age and older.

To encourage a healthy environment we ask that guests not consume alcohol or meat in our public spaces, however, guests may enjoy these items in their rooms.

Our property is always smoke-free.

Yes, we ask that guests with food allergies simply inform us so we can communicate those needs to our chef. Typically, we label potential allergens such as gluten, dairy, and nuts.

We do have lodging and event venues that are ADA-compliant. Due to the topography of our mountain campus, some are easier to access than others, so please speak to Guest Services (800.392.6870) prior to registering to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. We also have shuttles that run frequently throughout the campus.

We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff. Our mountaintop location and the surrounding areas are spacious, remote, safe, and secure.

  • It is safe to leave your windows open—and necessary for proper airflow!
  • Nature surrounds our campus, and it’s common to see rabbits, deer, gophers, wild turkeys, and other small animals. Please give them space, and they’ll do the same for you. We’ve never had a safety incident with animals on campus.

You can help!

  • If you come across an animal on campus or a trail, give it space, and please do not attempt to pet or feed it.
  • There’s no need to bring valuables to the retreat center; leaving them at home is best.

Location

639 Whispering Hills Road
Boone, NC 28607
800.392.6870

Discover deep rest and rejuvenation on our tranquil mountaintop campus set amidst 380 acres of pristine forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina.  

Photo Gallery

SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.

 

Private Hotel Room

$436 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

All options include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of checkout. (Rates below are per person.)

 

  • King bed or two full beds
  • Flat screen TV
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bath
  • Hair dryer
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Shared Hotel Room (2 People)​

$311 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Flat screen TV
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bath
  • Hair dryer
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Private Retreat Room​

$295 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Private Bath
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Shared Retreat Room (2 People)

$241 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Private Bath
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Shared Retreat Room (3 People)

$210 per person/per night + tax

per person + tax

  • Twin beds
  • Private Bath
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Daily delicious vegetarian meals
  • Complimentary tea/coffee & fresh fruit
  • Daily yoga & meditation classes
  • Access to fitness & steam rooms

Weekend of Creativity Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Plan your special day over a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Walk our beautiful labyrinth or hike one of our scenic nature trails and reconnect with your inner self.
  • Express your creativity and have some fun playing with and shaping clay in your pottery class.

AFTERNOON

  • Mingle with like-minded visitors over lunch in the Dining Hall.
  • Cook up something new together in our Ayurveda cooking class or get clever on the canvas in a painting class.
  • Unwind with a relaxing spa treatment. Choose from a warm oil massage, energizing facial, or rejuvenating Netra Tarpana treatment and let our professional therapists pamper you. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Recharge in the steam room.

EVENING

  • Browse our shop for crystals, jewelry, scarves, and more.
  • Nourish your body with a healthy dinner.
  • Take in the spectacular sunset or join the fireside concert.

Discover Ayurveda Solo Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Energize your mind, body, and spirit with morning yoga or meditation class.
  • Savor a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
  • Self-reflect as you leisurely walk our beautiful labyrinth.
  • Rest, replenish and rejuvenate with Abhyanga therapy—a detoxifying warm oil Ayurveda massage that incorporates warm, aromatic oils, rhythmically massaged into your body, cleansing, relaxing, and re-energizing the body and mind.

AFTERNOON

  • Grab some delicious chai and relax in our cafe or take in the majestic views on our deck.
  • Plan your afternoon over a nourishing lunch.
  • Connect with nature while hiking or walking one of our many breathtaking mountain trails.
  • Return to the spa for a Basti session to rejuvenate your joints! Stiff joints are bathed in warm medicated oil and massaged to deepen the therapeutic effects that increase lubrication and promote smooth flexibility and mobility.

EVENING

  • Get creative and have fun in our painting studio or kitchen.
  • Refuel your body with a tasty and healthy dinner.

Rejuvenating Bliss Solo Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Gaze at the sunrise while filling your lungs with fresh mountain air and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.
  • Sow a new level of calm and balance into your life with a Yoga or meditation class.
  • Enjoy a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Cleanse your soul with a leisurely walk on one of our beautiful nature trails.

AFTERNOON

  • Nourish your body with a healthy and nutritious lunch.
  • Make a new memory with a cooking, painting, or pottery* class (*additional cost).
  • Choose from the widest selection of Ayurvedic therapies in the US for whole-body nourishment and renewal and let our professional therapists do all the work while you relax and rejuvenate.
  • Unwind in the steam room.

EVENING

  • Stop by our bookstore and explore our collection of new and classic self-care and spiritual resources.
  • Grab a fresh, calming herbal tea and curl up with a good book in your cozy room.

Mother-Daughter Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Plan your special day over a delicious whole-foods breakfast.
  • Retreat into relaxation with a mother-daughter spa treatment. Choose from a warm oil massage, energizing facial, or rejuvenating Netra Tarpana treatment and let our professional therapists pamper you. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Recharge in the steam room.

AFTERNOON

  • Enjoy a decadent Mexican hot chocolate and reminisce in our cozy cafe.
  • Browse our shop for crystals, jewelry, scarves, and more.
  • Mingle with like-minded visitors over lunch in the Dining Hall.
  • Explore our captivating campus or head out on one of our guided mountain trail hikes.
  • Cook up something new together in our Ayurveda cooking class.
  • Self-reflect as you leisurely walk our beautiful labyrinth.

EVENING

  • Feed your body with a healthy dinner.
  • Take in the spectacular sunset or join the fireside concert.

Girlfriends Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING
  • Energize your mind, body, and spirit together with morning yoga or meditation class.
  • Catch up over a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
  • Connect with nature and reminisce while hiking one of our many mountain trails.
AFTERNOON
  • Plan your afternoon over a nourishing lunch.
  • De-stress with a girlfriends spa treatment, like our relaxing signature massage, hydrating facial, or energizing Marma session, and let our therapists work their magic. (Additional spa treatments available here.)
  • Get creative and have fun in our painting studio or Ayurveda food kitchen.
  • Grab some delicious chai and relax in our cafe or take in the majestic views on our deck.
EVENING
  • Plenty of time for bonding during a dinner.
  • Visit our shop and grab some souvenirs, rejuvenating herbal supplements, and restorative health products from Shankara’s all-natural beauty line.
  • Dance and sing at Kirtan.

Couples Wellness Escape

(Sample Schedule)

MORNING

  • Gaze at the sunrise while filling your lungs with fresh mountain air and reminisce on the moments that connected you.
  • Bring a new level of calm and balance to your relationship with a Yoga or Meditation class.
  • Enjoy a delicious whole-foods breakfast together.
  • Walk or hike one of our beautiful nature trails and reconnect with each other, nature, and oneself.

AFTERNOON

  • Share a healthy and nutritious lunch.
  • Make a new memory by taking a workshop or educational class, or create a new experience together with a pottery*, watercolor painting, or cooking class (*additional cost).
  • Reduce tension and stress with a couple’s or individual Ayurveda spa treatment. Choose from the widest selection of Ayurvedic therapies in the US for whole-body nourishment and renewal.
  • Unwind in the steam room together.

EVENING

  • Stop by our bookstore and explore our collection of self-care and spiritual resources or spend time reading in the cafe.