WOO EPISODE 5 of Freak Flag is here, my babes!
It is my deep pleasure to bring y’all the magical herbalist flower fairy woman Elliott Brinkley, of Dancing Willow Herbs in Durango, CO.
Elliott Brinkley is the owner of an herbal apothecary in Durango, CO called Dancing Willow Herbs. She is passionate about bridging plants and people through writing, herbal cooking, teaching and providing herbal support for others. As a vitalist herbal practitioner, Elliott focuses on therapeutics that work with the body’s natural processes and support its innate gravitation toward healing. Elliott loves to convey the emotional and spiritual wisdom of plants through leading plant meditations, and classes that allow others to develop their own relationships with the botanical beings.
Among the vast and ranging garden of our meandering conversation, here are some of the topics we covered:
Elliott’s journey from being a baby herbalist and plant lover, to herbalism school and now being the proud owner of Dancing Willow Herbs
the way the spirit of this business (Dancing Willow Herbs) was working on and with Elliott almost since the beginning of her time in Durango, CO
her knowing of what she wanted, and how she fuckin’ WENT AFTER IT in that special Capricornian way of hers ;-)
how sometimes Life moves faster than our timelines have planned for, and how in Elliott’s case, she figured it must be because she was ready earlier than she thought, so she used it as an opportunity to practice even deeper trust
herbal allies she has called on and been in relationship with for years
the herbal infusion she drinks daily (marshmallow!), and some of its magical & scientific qualities
immuno-modulating polysaccharides—starches that are basically like a weight room for your immune system
beginning steps you can take if you want to come into deeper relationship with herbs, and the caution and respect necessary (ie don’t just start trying stuff b/c herbs are POWERFUL, and some of them are contra-indicated if you are on certain meds, etc.)
herbs for the season we’re in now (we recorded this at the end of January, so it’s slightly different now that we’re in March, but still applicable!)
elderberry, and all of Her magical deep qualities, which are like a blend of star and cosmic and deep deep earthy magic, and the way elderberry medicine connects us to who we *really* are—who we really are in relationship to the Cosmos
when Elderberry blooms—Beltane to Summer Solstice
responsible, ecologically sound ways to engage with elderberry
the essential function of the immune system as distinguishing between SELF and NOT-SELF
upcoming classes and workshops at Dancing Willow Herbs that people can take from anywhere, because, DUH, we are living in “modern times,” and there is this thing called the INTERNET
GET IN ELLIOTT’S WORLD! I CAN’T recommend enough!
She has a couple of SUPER MAGICAL workshops (online) coming up very soon, so, seriously—check it out!
Dancing Willow Herbs: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
upcoming classes in March & April—check out the website for details.
who you are at your core with elliott brinkley | freak flag episode 5