herbal healing
exploring my introduction to herbalism + a reading list
earlier this year, i was immersed in a weekly introductory healing course that came courtesy of Hood Herbalism — “an autonomous and community-based herbal project” (quote pulled directly from their site as it sums up the mission perfectly). though it was a virtual experience, i really resonated with the instructors and their intuitive ways of making medicine. throughout the six weeks, we honored ancestral knowledge in terms of creating medicine and understanding the energetics of plants.
for this class, i made a couple flower essences from plants around my home and i’m excited to incorporate more of what i learned from this experience in the future. i have long been interested in becoming an herbalist — making homemade rosewater is a recurring ritual for me — and i’m ready to branch out. what i appreciated most about the Hood Herbalism course was that it broke down some of the mental blocks i had regarding the prevailing whitewashed, institutionalized approach to herbalism. the class was also gender-inclusive and provided ways to adjust some of the binary-centric language that flounders in a lot of wellness spaces (and the world at-large).
i look forward to taking more classes and observing personal medicine making in this intuitive way, but in the meantime, i’ve compiled a list of some books in my collection regarding herbs and medicine.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb
Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health
Sweet Mary Jane: 75 Delicious Cannabis-Infused High-End Desserts by Karin Lazarus
Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar
Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women by Cheri Sicard
also, here are a couple of culture articles i recently had published:
a piece on mirrors and home decor
a podcast roundup (centered around fashion, beauty, and music)
for the weekend, i highly recommend Brockhampton’s newest album Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine. it’s a beautiful full-length project with solid features and a great reflection of everything i enjoy about Brockhampton and Kevin Abstract in general — the fluidity of genre, the visceral storytelling (many of the narratives resound/find resolution amongst individual works), the cinematic production (both visually and sonically), the thematic buildups, etc. safe to say i will be listening on repeat.
in other music related news, RIP Earl “DMX” Simmons. may his transition be peaceful.