Kepler's Blooms: 'erbs of the earth

Abstract

The inspiration of the project, “Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch” is a novel written about the trial of Katharina Kepler, set in the 17th century. When she is accused of being a witch, she must defend herself through her son, a mathematician and scientist, and her neighbor Simon. The story follows themes such as truth vs lies, and natural vs supernatural. Katharina as a character strives to be rooted in the real world, going against the tales of supernatural deeds, and believes strongly in the power of the natural world which can be seen in her many herbal remedies.

The product is a collection of herbal information cards with recipes included, intended to educate the reader on the many uses of everyday herbs. It is a modern take on the herbs that Katharina uses in many of her remedies, aiming to show the importance and benefits of learning about the natural world around you. They show Katharina’s need to be grounded in reality, her desire to help people as best she can, and how much she treasures this knowledge. Throughout the story, she uses herbs to treat physical ailments, but in such a way that feels as though she is also battling the vile nature of the lies surrounding her trial by finding respite in the truths of nature.

Faculty Mentor: Constanza Pacher