To become a great herbalist, there are foundational principles and practices we have to understand and ultimately master. These posts focus on core holistic principles of herbalism, vitalism, and herbal traditions of the world.
Stepping into some of the warmest and longest days of the year here in the northern hemisphere, we’re arriving now at the Summer Solstice which
One of the biggest turning points in my plant path was the moment I came across the tradition of herbal alchemy, what is referred to
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?!)
In this video I elaborate on the essential oil distillation process in the spagyric method. This example here is a little different from standard, as we were doing both a hydrodistillation and steam distillation at the same time (we had a lot of plant material!).
Jupiter. The king of the Planets. Here I outline some of the general characteristics of Jupiter and a few botanical correspondences and how to think those through.
This class covers some of the critical components in regards to how incorporating western alchemy and medical astrology can radically enhance your practice of holistic herbalism.
The mineral salts are one of the most unique aspects of the spagyric process and the primary layer of the plant that are not included in most herbal products out there. We had some amazing salts crystallize recently in the Organic Unity lab of one of my favorite Ayurvedic plants Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica). Check out those crystals!!
Early this May I did a few classes at the Renaissance Medicine Conference in Portland Oregon that I thought I’d share with you. This is
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
Everyone experiences scrapes, cuts, and bruises at times. Therefore, everyone could benefit from an herbal first-aid kit at home. Simple and straightforward, herbal wound care
We had a great time at the 2016 Renaissance Medicine Conference a few weeks ago hanging out with medical astrologer Judith Hill, renowned herbalist Matthew Wood, and the spiritual botanist/herbalist Scott Kloos. Check out my presentation on the importance of the alkali minerals salts in herbal extracts.
I use the term “energetic architecture” a lot in my work- for it’s a phrase that to me truly encompasses the concept in alchemy of correspondences, or the philosophy that everything in life is interconnected, related, and the above and below are ultimately One. But what does that mean? And how do we use that philosophy practically? Energetic Architecture is a universal pattern of energetics that weaves together science, religion, and medical traditions from around the world. Essentially, it consists of three primary layers, or patterns, of energetics: the 7 planets, the 5 elements, and the 3 philosophical principles (Alchemy) or doshas (Ayurveda). When one looks at traditional models of the world, there is usually always some form of a 3 fold pattern, a 5 fold pattern, and a 7 fold pattern.