An Herbalist and Healer’s Short Tale

An Herbalist’s Story

As a Reiki master and herbalist, I am constantly connecting my energy to the earth. When outdoors I align with love and gratitude for all of its medicine. I spend half of my time as an energy worker, assisting others on their healing journey and the other half out in the great wide open- connecting with our beautiful and precious Mother Earth. It is a path I am now unified with- for better or for worse. However, one must reflect on how they became who they are. As fall continues and the days grow colder, I connect with the energy of the plant kingdom. My allies are dying off and returning back into the soil. They will once again sprout up and out from the energy of the warm sun, but for now they are sinking down deeper into the layers of the earth. I, too am going back and reflecting on my own journey to the light.

I was born in a large city and spent my formative years in the suburbs. As children my siblings and I were often encouraged to be outside where we would run around, play sports and climb trees in the small, wooded area behind our home. There lied a running brook that would be one of the very few places I could slow down, experience silence in nature and find refuge from the chaotic home environment I grew up in. It was the one place I went to be alone with my little human thoughts and dreams. The older I became, the harder life lessons formed- abuse, shock, loss, grief, addiction- pulling me down to become somewhat distracted from the peace I once found there by the water and trees. Instead I became a victim to my pain and searched for healing by investing my time and energy into alcohol, drugs, binge eating and people who tried to stunt my growth. Although I always admired the beauty of the outdoors, I consciously lost track of the universal wisdom it brought me. Still, something inside me longed for change and to once again connect with my inner child who was so desperately trying to find peace.

I booked myself and my best friend a spiritual retreat in the mountains and my life took a strong and much needed shift. Something in me changed. Being among the mountains and hills reconnected my energy with the land, my intuition, my empathy for humankind, my spirit guides and myself. I started to open my eyes and see all the beauty and healing nature so lovingly gives. I spent the next few years diving deeper into spiritual research, classes and practices. I up and moved to the Pacific Northwest to be immersed in nature 24/7 and continued to heal my past through long nature walks and curiosity of the plant life surrounding me. I kept feeling them draw me closer to them- emanating a soft and gentle healing love I had never known before. I studied at an amazing school for herbal and holistic health, received an education that was both hands on working with plants and outdoors in the field for the best experience. I gravitated toward the right people, learned so much from my mentors and started diving into making herbal remedies for my friends and family. To my surprise it came natural to me- like I’ve been doing this work for lifetimes. Then I remembered I had been doing this for lifetimes. We all have.

Humans used to use plants for everything and know exactly how to work with them. Herbal remedies were taught, passed down from generation to generation and incorporated in every home. Herbal knowledge is innate wisdom that has been passed down over time but somehow got lost with the overemphasis on money, corruption, materialistic goods, war, destruction, media, separation, hate and greed. Time changed our evolution and we forgot.

I made a vow to remember. I made a vow to do what I love and share my knowledge and gifts with others. Two years ago I started my own energy healing practice, White River Healings, which has been an incredible journey of love, healing (for myself as well) and gratitude for human connection, Reiki and community. I now am being called to grow as a healer and incorporate my herbal knowledge and skills into White River Healings with Soul Sister (Earth Medicine). With Soul Sister I am able to carry the tradition of herbal wild crafting and be a part of the new evolution of humans. The return to the plants. There is no place I am more alive then when I am out foraging, harvesting, and connecting with the healing forces of mother nature. My work is my passion and my goal is to nourish my body, mind and spirit with the spirit of the plant kingdom and extend that energy to those who need it most.

If you are reading and are interested in experiencing some of the plant magic for yourself, click the link below and browse my shop for some plant magic. In Plants We Trust!