Liminal Wild

Some of the most powerful plant allies don’t grow in neat garden rows, they rise from the places between. Riverbanks, hedgerows and fencelines, abandoned lots and woodland edges… these liminal spaces have always been home to herbs sought by witches, healers, cunning folk, and wanderers of the in-between.

Join folklorist, herbalist, and storyteller Rissa Miller for an enchanted exploration of the plants that thrive where worlds meet. We’ll step into the folklore of boundary-dwelling herbs: the protectors that guarded doorways, the shapeshifters’ plants gathered at crossroads, the dream herbs plucked at twilight, and the weeds that refused domestication—choosing wild freedom over cultivation.

Guests will discover why threshold plants were considered magically potent, how they slipped into spells, charms, and seasonal rites, and why healers across cultures turned to edge-grown herbs for protection, divination, and transformation. We’ll look at old stories, cunning-folk practices, and witchcraft traditions that kept these plants alive in memory—even when dismissed as weeds.

Along the way, we’ll explore how liminality itself becomes a teacher: what it means to work with herbs that root in uncertainty, stretch between worlds, and invite us to see the sacred in overlooked corners. Whether you’re an herbalist, witch, forager, or simply curious about the magic of the wild edges, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of this hidden green world and the power held in every threshold.

Please note, this is an indoor lecture held at The 9 Collective. While we will discuss many wild-growing plants and their folklore, there is no outdoor or hands-on harvesting component. This program is open to all drawn to witchcraft, plant magic, folklore, or herbalism. The 9 Collective is ADA accessible and offers free parking. There are no refunds on tickets once purchased, as per the policy of The 9 Collective.