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.
Herbal medicine is and has always been, the people’s medicine. Just as there’s significant variation in the people and cultures that fill our world, there’s
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
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
When we talk about herbalism and alchemy, it can often seem like we talk only about the past. We know herbalism and alchemy have been
I had the pleasure of teaching a few workshops at the 2015 NW Herb Symposium on Whidbey Island, Washington. I decided to do a 2
One of the most powerful things about alchemy is that it allows us to draw on energetics. We can look at the planets and plants
Learn how to use the Elements as a lens for classifying and using herbal remedies. The Alchemical herbal perspective involves looking at the planetary rulerships of different herbs, their organ and tissue affinities, as well as providing a sophisticated and refined way of preparing herbal medicines according to astrological influences. In this video, I reveal how the common herb Cleavers (Gallium aparine) relates to the water element, as well as Venus and the lymphatic system.
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!!
In part 2 of The Elements in People and Plants, we explore some the Elemental patterns as they exist within the botanical kingdom.
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
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.
There’s something that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. I’ve been looking at the state of the world and everything that’s been going on politically and culturally. With the fires that we’ve been having out here on the West Coast, it feels like things are heating up—literally—on planet earth right now.