Medicind Buddha’s Garden:
Doctrine of Signatures
A Practical Weekend Workshop in Herbalism and Plant Journeying
With Dr. ED COUGHLIN
June 20th - June 22nd 2025
Due to the practical nature of this course, it will NOT be livestreamed.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY JUNE 20TH
3 - 6pm: Arrival and Check In for Residential Guests
6:30pm: Welcome Dinner and Orientation
SATURDAY JUNE 21ST
8am Breakfast
9am - 12pm: Teaching Session One
12pm: Lunch and Rest
3 - 6pm: Teaching Session Three
6:30pm: Dinner
SUNDAY JUNE 22ND
9am - 12pm: Teaching Session Three
12pm: Lunch and Check out
Residential or non-residential options
Sowa Rigpa Institute students who have completed (or are currently enrolled in) Foundations of Sowa Rigpa may stay on for the following week to participate in our medicine making practicum June 23 - 27. More information and registration HERE
DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURES:
The Doctrine of Signatures is an ancient concept in herbalism and traditional medicine that suggests nature provides signs, symbols, and patterns to indicate the medicinal properties of plants. This philosophy proposes that the physical characteristics of a plant—such as its shape, color, texture, and even its environment—offer clues about its potential healing properties. Healers across different cultures have long used these natural signs as guidance in herbal medicine. The idea is that nature "signs" plants with visual hints to assist in understanding their use. For instance, a plant with heart-shaped leaves might be beneficial for heart health. A yellow flower could be used to treat conditions like jaundice. Walnuts, resembling a human brain, are believed to support cognitive function. This concept appears in various healing traditions around the world including Western Herbalism, Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan Medicine), Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Ayurveda.
In this weekend outdoor workshop, participants will be taken on a profound and experiential tour of Tanaduk Garden at Pure Land Farms, modeled after the Pure Land of the Medicine Buddha. Intercultural herbalist, Ed Coughlin will teach us about the particular plants that thrive in this environment and their medicinal properties following the Doctrine of Signatures. In order deepen our connection to these healing plants, he will then guide us in an intuitive practice to help us connect with plants on a deeper level, beyond just their physical form through meditation, observation, and direct engagement with the plant’s environment.
STEPS OF PLANT JOURNEYING
1. Find a Plant: Choose a plant that calls to you, whether in the wild or your garden.
2. Observe with Awareness: Notice its shape, color, texture, scent, and where it grows.
3. Engage with the Plant: Touch it gently, smell it, or sit near it in quiet contemplation.
4. Ask for Guidance: Open yourself to insights—what does the plant communicate through its presence?
5. Research & Confirm: Cross-reference your intuitive insights with traditional herbal knowledge.
6. Express Gratitude: Thank the plant for its wisdom and the connection shared.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
By combining the Doctrine of Signatures with plant journeying, herbalists and nature enthusiasts can develop a more profound relationship with plant medicine. This approach blends scientific understanding with intuitive wisdom, enhancing both practical and spiritual herbal practices. By embracing this ancient wisdom, we gain not only medicinal knowledge but also a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of life and nature’s guiding intelligence.
This workshop is open to herbalists of all traditions, as well as lovers of plants and nature with no formal training in herbalism. Bring your walking shoes and inquisitive mind!
Edward J. Coughlin AP, DOM
Edward Coughlin is a licensed acupuncturist, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and certified Sowa Rigpa practitioner with nearly three decades of experience in Florida, where he runs his private practice, Jade Lotus. He is a Diplomate in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and herbal medicine through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. As one of the first acupuncturists in Florida to earn hospital staff privileges, he has performed over 50,000 treatments, bringing deep expertise to his clinical work.
In addition to his clinical practice, Edward is a dedicated educator, teaching herbalism and materia medica for the Sowa Rigpa Institute’s certification programs. He has also trained in Eclectic Western Herbal Medicine with the Matthew Wood Institute and Alchemy, para-chemistry and spagyrics with Robert A. Bartlett at the Spagyricus Institute, blending Eastern and Western healing traditions.
Beyond his work in medicine, Edward is a senior student of Master Kao San Lun and a 35th- generation disciple of the Little Nine Heaven system of martial arts. With over 30 years of training in this rare lineage, he embodies the integration of traditional healing arts and martial discipline.
