Often called the godmother of modern herbalism, Rosemary Gladstar is the author of 12 books, founder of the International Herbal Symposium and United Plant Savers, creator of The Science and Art of Herbalism home study course, and cofounder of Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, in Vermont. Although she has stepped back from active stewardship of Sage Mountain, she remains a beloved and inspirational figure in the herbal world. In this phone interview, she shares reflections on her lifelong relationship with plants and the call back to nature.

When I was 4 or 5, growing up on a dairy farm in Kenwood, California, there was a willow tree that felt like it called to me. I’d crawl up into its big branches—it was like it grabbed me.

Children naturally connect with tree spirits and plant fairies. That communication is instinctual. Years later, when I was in the Pacific Northwest, I came upon a fig tree covered in dew, and I heard the fir trees whisper, “Come down and drink me.” That was long before I knew anything about flower essences.

Sometimes it’s instant. When I’m researching and studying—coming from the intellect—it takes longer. But some plants connect through the heart. There’s an immediate sense of recognition. I’ll lie down next to one and just know it. And the plant knows me. It’s mutual.

Not anger, but I’ve felt deep grief—and even rage.

In my mid-20s, I returned to the Cascades and came across a vast area of clearcutting on Forest Service land. I was shocked—I thought that land was protected. I felt my own grief and rage, but what hit me harder was a grief beyond mine, like collective sorrow. The devastation was immense—clearcutting leaves more destruction than fire. It was like walking through a war zone.

I think it’s true—we’re not as in control as we like to believe. Our belief that we’re made in the image of God has skewed our role into one of dominance, rather than caretaking.

This illusion has created enormous emotional loneliness, which in turn has led us to harm other beings. But we’re all interconnected. Plants use us just as we use them. There’s a greater intelligence at work. Plants are ancient and wise. They are our elders, and they live much richer, more extraordinary lives than we do.

It’s heartbreaking. We have a tremendous capacity for destruction—and an equally powerful ability to love, to create art, to show compassion.

When I look through the lens of timelessness, I feel hope. The Earth has endured far more than us. There were once glaciers five miles high covering New England. Mountains 24,000 feet tall were ground down to 3,000 feet by moving ice. That perspective brings reassurance. Maybe the Earth is still an embryo—maybe we haven’t even been born yet. It’s part of the Great Mystery, and we won’t solve it in our lifetime.

I would begin the indigenous way—with prayer and intention, to realign with the purpose of the land and connect with its heartbeat.

Then I’d restore the soil, naturally, following principles like those taught by Paul Stamets. And finally, I’d replant native species—just a few at first. You can find out what once grew there through local wildflower guides or county extension programs. When you plant what’s adapted over centuries, it supports the entire ecosystem. Native pollinators return. The whole community becomes healthier.

Yes, for me, plants are a way to the Divine. They carry an incredible essence. There’s a symbiosis in every breath—we exhale, they inhale. They exhale, we breathe. It’s a divine relationship. Plants are part of every celebration. We wear them, we decorate with them, we mark life’s moments with them.

Absolutely. Our green friends are in danger, and they’re calling us home. We were born for this time—and when you love something, you stand up for it.

Herbalism went underground for a long time. Now it’s rising again. Earth is in crisis, and all over the world, people are stepping up as protectors. It’s like a rainbow of energy—beautiful and powerful.

There’s so much insecurity now. People are acting out of fear. But we have the tools, the leaders and the teachings to steady ourselves and support the Earth. We can help stabilize her in these rocky times.