By the time I was 18yrs old, playing with herbs was lost on me. What I mean is that I had no clue how do Be an Herbalist; I did not know what that even meant, or more specifically how to earn a living at this. Because let’s be honest, following your passion is key, but not knowing how to provide for yourself and then latera family is sometimes a door without a key, or so it can seem.

I was born in the 70’s in the Mid-West region of the United States and while, obviously, herbalism and herbal studies existed, I had no connection to this information. Today we would laugh at the books available in my little library, and internet searching was not really a thing. By the time I was off to college and proficient in scholarly searches online, herbalism was a distant dream. From what I naturally awakened to as a young girl, did not re-emerge in my life until my mid-twenties.  

Now in my mid-forties I reflect on this at times and wish my path had remained true to my passion. There are so many things I would want to tell my younger self. If I could yell loud enough through the portal of the past to inform my 10 yr or 11 yr old self, then I would say “keep listening to the plants” “ignore the people!” I am laughing a little, because I am being silly, but I do mean it – a little. I was given a natural gift to listen to the plants, to hear and feel the vibrations, and that gift clouded over time. “Hold on to that passion, girl! We will find the right door and the right key!”

I read many biographies that seem so linear, and that is great. However, I am the voice for those of you who had lived, lost, and re-discovered your way. It has become quite clear to me that if there is deep meaning to your passion, you will pick up the key and find the doors that will open. I am here on my path of Traditional Herbalism through hard work and focus. My craft is my life, we are not separate. So, young child, keep listening and searching. There are teachers everywhere. Some are in the classroom, among books and groups, while others are in the roots themselves.  

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