Bio
Tony(a) Lemos works at the intersection of art and herbalism, and has worked as a community herbalist/educator for over 25 years helping people connect with plants as allies for healing (physical /emotional and spiritual). She currently teaches a weekly 10 month long herbal apprenticeship which is now in its 23nd year as well as a Botanical Art studio program at Blazing Star Herbal School.
She is inspired by all aspects of the natural world and the elements and works actively with the alchemical processes of Green World, be it eco-printing, alternative photography methods or foraging and medicine making. Her artwork and healing work is process based centering around relationship, well-being, creativity, connection and co-existence. She believes art and creativity to be an integral part of the healing process.
Find more about Tony(a) below.
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Tony(a) and her apprentices support accessible care via donations of medicine, time and expertise. She is particularly passionate about Self Care, the intersection of herbalism and art, Sensory Plant Medicine and the Plant/Person relationship.
Activism is integral to her practice. Tony(a) is a lifelong environmentalist and traveled to support and provide herbal medicines to the Water Protectors at Standing Rock.
Tony(a) is committed to expanding and growing community, and dedicated to raising the voices and opportunities of self identifying women artists. She is dedicated to lifelong learning which enables her to stay current and practice in an honorable, respectful and heartfelt way.
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Beyond the school, past lecture and teaching venues have included the Northeast/MidWest Women’s Herbal Conference, the Green Nations Gathering, the Flower Essence Conference, The Northeast Aromatherapy Conference, NOFA MASS, United Plant Savers and the CT Institute of Herbal Studies (1996-2006) and a multitude of local healing centers and yoga studios. She has taught Botanical Art workshops at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill and the Provincetown Art Museum.
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Presently her work includes eco-printing, relief printing and alternative photography methods, often combining mixed media and found objects. She also explores symbolism from her ancestry (Greek/Middle East) and her deep connection to her present sense of place on Pocumtuc/Nipmuc territory, also known as Western Massachusetts. Tony(a) was recently a Research Assistant at Zea Mays Printmaking, a green printmaking studio in Florence Ma where she used her plant knowledge to experiment with making inks for use with silkscreening. She has recently been awarded a United Plant Savers Art Residency at the Botanical Sanctuary in Athens Ohio.
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Tony(a) is co-author along with Lilian R Jackman of “Holistic Protocol for Nervous System Health” Wilder Hill Press 2012 and was a regular contributor to the NEHA journal in the early 2000’s. She is also a contributor to Hilltown Families Blog. She also publishes weekly articles and a podcast on her Dreaming in Green substack.
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Tony(a)'s professional credentials include a BS degree in Outdoor Education and a minor in Art Therapy from Springfield College, A diploma in Natural Therapy at Raworth College of Natural Therapies in England. She represents the Wise Woman Tradition of healing and apprenticed and interned with Susun Weed. Tony(a) has also studied Food Politics in India with Vandana Shiva. Other professional roles have included Vice President of NEHA (Northeast Herbal Association) and professional membership with NAHA (National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy), NofaMass and United Plant Savers.
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Tony(a) has trained several hundred apprentices who use their training for their own health and well- being and that of family and friends. In addition an unusual number of her apprentices have built or expanded practices based on the knowledge they gained at Blazing Star. Some of these herbal practitioners have returned to collaborate with Tony(a) and others have launched independent ventures. All past apprentices remain part of the Blazing Star landscape.
Past apprentices include:
Abby Ferla of Foxtrot Herb Farm, an organic herb farm offering high quality, organically grown herbs; clinician, blogger and teacher Jade Alicandro Mace of Milk and Honey Herbs; cookbook author, blogger and teacher Brittany Wood Nickerson of Thyme Herbal, as well as The People's Medicine Project, spearheaded by BSHS graduate Leslie Chaison.