“In the beginning I was so young and such a stranger to myself I hardly existed. I had to go out into the world and see it and hear it and react to it, before I knew at all who I was, what I was, what I wanted to be.”
~ Upstream, by Mary Oliver
My Nanny was instrumental in instilling a passion for herbs within my young heart; then she gave me her old books on herbalism and said, “Here. Read these. One day I’ll be learning from you.” My step dad shared with me a love for organic gardening and plants of all kinds. My mom gave me the gift of a safe childhood in the midst of tragedy, and the example of deep love.
I grew up drinking Nanny’s herbal teas and creating my own little herbal garden, but I have been actively studying herbal medicine since 1996. When I began my study, my only teachers were books and a few friends who knew a little more than I did. Newly married and financially insecure, I couldn’t afford to go to the doctor if something was wrong with me. Sometimes I couldn’t even afford laundry detergent, so herbal medicine and soap making were two things I explored fully. In the past 20 years, I have been fortunate to develop an intimate relationship with herbalism instead of only seeing herbal medicine as a part of survival.
Shamanic work came later in my life. I began exploring shamanic healing in 2007, and then in 2010 I experienced what Brené Brown calls a “breakdown”. Her therapist calls it a “spiritual awakening”. This excruciating experience (and journey back to myself) became the foundation upon which I learned to exclusively depend on my personal spiritual support for direct revelation and guidance. Since then, I have worked with some amazing indigenous souls, spirit walkers and medicine carriers; I have been gratefully adopted by precious Elders, and I have learned from them all. The common thread among all of my teachers is a deep reliance on their personal guides and guardians for direction and support.
This is the distilled essence of my work: to offer you support as you experience the empowering process of learning to trust your ally support and your own inner guidance.
~Thank you for carrying the medicine~
♡
Dana
Honoring my Teachers
These dear souls have either taught me in person or via distance, through online classes, books, blogs, videos, or authentic conversations.
Deep thanks goes to: Christina Pratt, Langston Kahn, Sandra Ingerman, don Oscar Miro Quesada, Hank Wesselman, Lisa Marie Carroll, and a wide variety of herbal teachers.
I also give thanks to my Medicine Brother, Allen; my Mama Bear (Sue Redd Nesbitt, Apache/Cherokee); and Frances Gay, for encouraging me to sharpen my skills when I was timid and unsure of myself. The level of belief you had and still have in me is humbling. Aho.
Life Rhythm with Dana Tate Bailey 