The Lightbringers: Herbs for Brightening Dark Winter Days
Looking up into the skies, this week we will witness darkness envelop the stars for the longest time of the year, for we’ve finally reached the shortest day here in the northern hemisphere, winter solstice. Solstice in Latin means sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”) which demonstrates how the sun is at its turning…
The Art of Distillation
Distillation is one of the primary alchemical processes used in the production of true spagyric extracts. The 2 primary methods of distillation used are for essential oils, which extracts the Sulfur (Soul) of the plant, as well as for alcohol, which extracts the Mercury (Spirit) of the plant. The process of distillation can be…
Aromatic Plants & Resins as Medicine
A little clay pot holding a single coal burns some homemade incense, wafting a rich scent of frankincense and myrrh into the dry air. I feel a sense of clearness as I take a deep breath in, feeling the herbs penetrate my lungs and pierce deep into my spirit. A sense of calm washes over me…
An Herbal Formula for an Embarrassing Condition
I always like to say that every client you see is a chapter in your experiential book of learning herbal medicine. And that is the very best book you can get to learn about how to use plants effectively. Recently, I was blessed with the opportunity to treat a condition I’d never treated before… hemorrhoids.…
Spagyrics: Ancient Medicine for the Modern World
The world needs healing right now more than ever. And not just patching up symptoms and definitely not suppressing them- we all need deep healing within our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. We need healing that will reconnect us with our true nature internally, as well as the natural world externally. This is desperately needed…
Fire: The Element of Transformation
Most people think the first step in creating a spagyric herbal extract is the separation of the volatile Sulfur of the plant. To translate that into something understandable, that means distillation of the essential oils. But I beg to differ!! To me, the first step in creating a spagyric isn’t distilling the essential oils, or…
Essential Oils vs. Infused Oils
The Difference Between Essential Oils and Infused Oils People commonly confuse the term essential oil with infused oils, not realizing they are in fact two different types of extraction. We also have the term herbal oils or aromatic oils, which also contributes to the confusion, as these terms have all been used interchangeable and applied…
The Holistic Properties of Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is one of those herbs that a lot of people are aware of, especially in regards to its usage as a remedy for sleep. But why does Valerian help us sleep? What are the underlying properties that lend to this popularized usage? And what else can Valerian be used for? In this…
The Magnetic Power of Plants as Teachers + Healers
I recently had the honor of being featured on the Feed Your Wild podcast, sharing about my perspective & story around working with plant medicine, healing and living as a human on this earth at this time. In this interview, I share stories around the personal process of my own healing and what walking the plant…
Herbs to Support the Heart in Times of Grief
“Grief expressed out loud, whether in or out of character, un-choreographed and honest, for someone we have lost, or a country or home we have lost, is in itself the greatest praise we could ever give them. Grief is praise, because it is the natural way love honors what it misses.” -Martine Prechtel Grief is…
One of the Most Important Ways to Learn Herbalism That Has Nothing To Do With Books
There’s one critical key to truly understanding healing & herbalism that has nothing to do with what you’ll read in a book. This foundational element will deepen your connection to herbs and your understanding of how they work, which overall will make you a better herbalist (which is what you want, right?!) But before I…
