Exactly a decade ago, I started an herbalist course that I was so excited for. The little kid in me that felt so at peace in nature, was finally going to realize a dream of hers. Unfortunately, that turned out to be my first lesson in falling for what the snake oil salesman was selling. The course ended as quickly as it began, no knowledge gained, only money lost. It was, an epic disappointment.

That disappointment planted a seed within me. A deep distrust of any herbalism course. So I spent the last decade gathering knowledge from books and google. But still, a place within me sat empty. A place that once knew such knowledge from lifetimes past. I was too hurt and too weary to try to open that door again, however.

So I’ve spent that time, remembering the little girl that felt magic in the wind and healing in the mud. Sitting with plants. Gathering the “weeds.” Concocting medicine with plants for my family and friends. But it’s not enough. And I’m finally ready to open that door again and use that knowledge to carve out a space within the community, you know, beyond my off beat humor and adorable awkwardness I bring to the table.

The journey to this path starts with earning the funds for the course. And that begins with art.