our philosophy
Humans are meant to live cyclically, in rhythm with the earth. There’s a special kind of magic that happens when you learn to notice, and be in tune with seasonal cycles. The norms of our modern society don’t encourage this, instead leading us into a monotone life, where every day is the same—our schedules, our routines, our foods—static.
But the earth is always changing—in dynamic equilibrium with the universe. It’s difficult to wrap your mind around the complex planetary acrobatics that we take part in as we cruise around the solar system—twirling in our dance with the moon, our lilting jaunt around our star, the spiraling traverse of the entire galaxy through space. Feeling the manifestations of the seasons, the cycling of the moon and the stars, is the connection through which we can understand the universal patterns that exist within and all around us.
Plants are our neighbors, oldest friends, and most importantly, our teachers for how to live in balance with the earth. The plants that we use as medicinal herbs, embody energetic patterns that can be internalized to bring balance within the body as we ride through the seasons. There are, of course, bioactive plant compounds which we can identify and study their mechanisms of action in order to apply them to particular conditions, but the folklore and ritual and intentionality of an herbal practice is just as important to consider.
For me, my route of connection with the earth and the seasons came through my herbal tea ritual, and that’s what I’m sharing with you all now. I went looking for answers on how to fix the imbalances I felt in my body. Interfacing with the modern world is no small feat—it demands a lot of us, and often left me feeling depleted, burnt out, and out of balance. My herbal tea ritual became a daily opportunity for me to take a moment to check in with myself and ask: where am I in the cycle of life right now? what do I need in this moment to feel more grounded and balanced? It is an act of mindfulness and self-care that I want to share. As I began learning more about traditional herbalism and seasonal energetics, I began to formulate blends to help bring balance to my body through the dynamics of life experience.
