i am a graduate of sacred vibes spiritual herbalism apprenticeship, spring 2023
the making of my first line of herbal medicine was deeply connected to my plant walk with rose; thus every medicine in this line includes rose in some capacity as a reminder of my commitment to being heart-centered in my approach, not only to life in general but very specifically towards each concern i prayed for these medicines to address.
a plant walk is a spiritual study of any given plant, research that isn’t rooted in reading; a course of study led by feeling through what the plant wants to teach you intrinsically. as level 2 apprentices, our cohort was already deep in reading—learning latin names, planetary influences, spiritual uses, actions & properties along with indications & contraindications etcetera, of a range of herbs. but then we were instructed by our teacher to let a plant come to each of us as our personal ally for the remainder of our journey. when we felt sure, the final step was to ask said plant to be our guide…
i was crying in a rose garden where we spread my maternal grandmother’s ashes years ago when i realized i had been chosen by a flower i misunderstood, a flower who had been by my side before i entered level 1 of the apprenticeship. after my plant walk and subsequent invitation into level 3 i was locked into spiritual herbalism in a way that i did not see coming, and alas that’s how i knew i was going in the right direction–one that was leading me further inward towards a healing of grief that preceded all of my known major losses. my 1st line of medicine was inspired by my personal needs and thus tested on myself before shared as an offering to those in my community.
during our panel discussion at the first mother mercy open studio in 2019, i remember sharing several angles of my answer to our guiding question that year: what’s not working? my medium of choice was language; spelling—exploring the distance between what was said and what was meant. i talked about cultivating my mind as a safe and sound space for myself to be. i shared briefly about taking ownership of some of my experiences with imposter syndrome—reckoning with the feelings outside of my knowledge…outside of the impact colonization has on all our minds. in our efforts to overcome we often evade what must be faced in the name of philosophy—we end up torturing ourselves by skipping steps to get ahead, avoiding our own presences instead of being present to what is and then moving toward what could be. i work on this daily still…
process is the project, forever and all ways—
when i made these medicines i didn’t imagine them in an apothecary but rather in your basement, your attic, between your cleavage perhaps, or under the seat of your car, dear reader.
rose is ruled by venus and represented by the likes of yemaya, the heart chakra and also connected to the image of the virgin mary.
suited for grief and restoring vitality to the heart, rose is known to be sensual but also very protective. in ayurveda, rose is used to reduce pitta (fire)—it’s an antidepressant, an aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antiviral–cooling, moistening and so, so much more.
i cannot take credit for what roses do on their own, but these medicines were crafted with the intention of getting each job done with a loving supportive comrade on the case, not by brute force but with pure compassion, love…mercy.
i believe hard things can be done softly; and rose furthered my education on how to do so. the relationship between the thorn and the petal has been illuminated by this special flower.
when i made these medicines i didn’t imagine them in an apothecary but rather in your basement, your attic, between your cleavage perhaps, or under the seat of your car, dear reader. each label was created by me and serves as medicine in its own right. i imagine working with simples & formulary and growing a better understanding of our plant family for a lifetime—i’ve only just begun. if my medicine is meant for you it will reach you i’m sure—in the meantime please enjoy them visually and meditate on their intentions.
mother mercy medicine
inner critic tincture
this medicine helps to raise our vibration, thus silencing the critic interfering with us facing what lies ahead. with softness and a heart centered approach this tincture protects us from ourselves, reducing the rigidness we often reach for out of anxiety and fear.
ingredients: rose with alcohol
duele salve
this medicine is for what hurts. rather than focusing on the word pain, this salve borrows its intention from the spanish language. that which hurts can make us bitter and hopeless but also more patient and intentional with how we move. this salve soothes physically based ailments as well as the emotional hurt that gets stored in our bodies.
ingredients: ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, rose with castor, almond, and jojoba oil
sleep with me tea
this medicine supports a deep sleep and helps us reconnect to the dreamworld, which is crucial to our spiritual health, all while aiding our libido and sexual health through the mighty actions and properties of the herbs included.
ingredients: passion flower, milk oat tops, marshmallow leaf, chamomile, and rose
seven seas headwash
this medicine is proactive protection as well as a cleansing agent for our heads & hair. headwashes can aid in the health of our hair while also providing spiritual support before or after a trying time.
ingredients: rosemary, peppermint, lavender, thyme, sage, rose, and bay leaf
ova oil
this medicine works for play—a testament to staying in love with oneself with or without a lover. all ova is Black english, if you will, but also an acronym for oral, vaginal, and anal, because no one should be left out. a personal lubricant and moisturizer suitable for all over your body.
ingredients: lavender & rose with coconut oil
wholly water
this medicine is inspired by florida water and intended to seal our aura as a cologne, helping to prevent the theft of our energy. it can also be used as a cleansing agent for surfaces and objects that need a cleansing or blessing of protection.
ingredients: clove, lavender, thyme, rose, cinnamon, bergamot with alcohol