…I’m on track to becoming a registered Herbalist…
Some exciting news to share, but first let’s catch up…
When I first started writing this blog, it was a way for family/friends to keep track of our travels, know that we were safe. It’s organically transitioned into a resource for so many to navigate their own process, self growth, and life enrichment. I’m so very grateful for everyone who follows along, shares their thoughts/stories with me, gives me feedback with how valuable reading this blog is to them. I know it’s helpful for me to share my vulnerability, process, and ultimately the life lessons learned (or not), and how I come out on the other side. All of these give meaning and purpose for me to keep writing/sharing…I went back to my first post and read all of them again, in order, up to this one. It was a powerful reflection of how far we’ve come, things we’ve done/seen, and a common thread of mindfulness that weaves it’s way throughout our journey.
As our journey continues, Bee and I had a tire blowout, on the camper, during our trip home from Michigan.
If it was bound to happen, we had the best scenario… We were driving along and all of a sudden we heard something. Looked around, “was that us?” I asked Bee. I could see a young couple driving a U-Haul truck in my side mirror. They turned on their hazard lights. That’s when I saw the bits of tire and tread flying off the side of our camper. I was able to pull over safely, no other motorists were impacted. I have AAA, thanks “Santa”, called them and within an hour we were back on the road. Arrived back to Base Camp safe/sound, and feeling so grateful.
Taught the Wilderness First Responder course with my dear friend, Tara. The class duration included my birthday, August 6th. It was a wonderful trip around the sun celebration. I’m enjoying teaching and learning from my dear friends. Helping others train to keep safe in the wilderness, know how to respond in case of an emergency, and prevention has fulfilled an intention within me to get people out, experience the nature around us.
My schooling track to becoming a Registered Herbalist is going GREAT. It’s intense, challenging; however, I’m learning so much! I’ve dabbled in the herbal world, in little spurts, throughout my years. I have previously rode the wave of inspiration, although brief, into projects/ideas that crashed leading me to other things. This time it feels different. I feel like this wave might last! Perhaps becoming an Herbalist, combined with my other intentions may just lead me to my life purpose. Truly, a well rounded, mindful HOLISTIC HEALER !
I’m so excited about this Herbalist path. I’m not quite sure where it will lead. My goal is to not set expectations, to follow along, riding the wave to wherever that leads. Right now, I want to do it all…Clinical Herbalist, post disaster first aid stations, pop up clinics to help underserved communities, medicine maker, create my own Apothecary, have a traveling Apothecary; wildcrafting from the different areas we travel to, grow my own medicine (a dream of living on a self sustainable farmette)… I have an open mind and will go where intuition leads.
I’ve made a sleep formula, that has proven to be very therapeutic for my perimenopausal insomnia. It’s a percolation, which is shown with the bottles and herbs presoaking in the bowl…it’s a process; however, so worth it in the end. I’ve also made cold/flu pastilles “pills” and cold/flu electuary using local raw honey from a dear friend, Amanda’s family farm. Making effective medicine and supporting friends. FOOD IS MEDICINE! Also I am making vinegar. The assignment is a building one. So I will use the vinegar to infuse with herbs we were sent. The school sends out boxes containing herb packets with all the herbs we’ll need to complete the projects. In the mycology intensive, one of the building projects is a fudge. The recipe contains lion’s mane and I’m hoping it turns out. I’m learning so much. As a RN, the Herbal Medicine for Professionals course teaches on the next level. Teaching pathophysiology of the herbs, the herbs different constituents, best way to extract the medicine, from which part of the plant, in order to get the medicine to the tissues in the body, promoting the results needed.
There is so much good medicine growing around us. Especially here in Pa. Nettles, and aster are the bottom 2 pics. I’ve been using “Picture This” and “Seek, i naturalist” apps to help me identify plants/herbs. I had a base knowledge of the good medicine growing around us. However, now my eyes are more open to acknowledging “seeing” other ones. Black walnut (Juglans nigra), Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) also learning the botanical names is helpful. Really enjoying wildcrafting. Bee and I go out and about, while on our hikes/walks we challenge ourselves to identify 3 new herbs/plants each time. Also learning stewardship, how/when/where and how/when/where NOT to harvest from wildcrafting. Once I become more skilled at wildcrafting, I’m looking forward to making mindful medicine from the resources growing all around us.
I’m working on our Winter plan. I’m reaching out to the school, as the brick/mortar is in Texas. The San Antonio area. There is an outdoor kitchen, composting toilets, campground. Although the campground is primitive, that’s no plug in or water hook up, my hope is that Bee and I can boondock at the school. Should be warm enough for us in that area of Texas. Getting my clinical hours in their school clinic, maybe working in the Apothecary for income. The current Apothecary manager/chief medicine maker is also an RN. The school also has a pop up clinic at the Navajo nation reservation, I’m extremely drawn to helping with THAT! My thought is… because right now I’m so excited I want to do everything, that if this all aligns, it might shine a light on the path if I get to DO IT! I learn best by doing, getting my hands dirty and just doing it. I might not be able to do EVERYTHING right now, but trying the different aspects will give me a place to start and also a place to grow.
I’m so very GRATEFUL for everyone’s support. The Universe is helping us. Really looking forward to what the future holds…Standby and follow along wontcha…