Sourcing Statement
It is not just trash…
I the Herbal Alchemist promise to create with intention and reverence for our land. Before this creation started to take shape, my number one objective was to make from a place of understanding. When we dispose of things or throw them away, it does not just cease to exist. It sits in landfills for years and years to come, creating stagnant energy and becoming a man-made disease to Mother Nature. I am a devotee of Pachamama wanting to bring healing in the ways that I can, by the gifts that were given to me by her wisdom. I have an immense amount of respect and honor for all that live outside of me and acknowledge that my actions have an effect on the world as a whole. I choose to find ways to live alongside all beings in a synergistic relationship. “Together we have the power to create soul healing miracles to transform all life of Humanity, Mother Earth and all Universes”, “Ren Fa Di”, Join as One.
This being said, I wanted to share how you can find easy ways to reuse or recycle any of my offerings and the packaging;
- Any of the glass bottles can be returned to me through a bottle drop location, markets that I will be attending or you can personally message me for pick up. This is for the folks that live in the town of or nearby Portland Oregon. Once returned I will sanitize and reuse. You can also reuse them yourself and invoke your inner creatrix.
Bottle Return Location: Wildish Botanicals, 3327 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland Oregon 97214
- Any of the clear and what looks like plastic packaging is actually biodegradable and can be composted.
- Any of the frosted Ziplock's are really great for reuse and can be cleaned easily. I love saving bags like these to use for really anything, like keeping loose herbs in.
- The Sachets are made from 100% cotton and can be hand washed or machine washed and reused.
- If any of the items are being shipped, I make use of packaging I have received in the past and upcycled.
Transparency when it comes to sourcing…
Alongside creating packaging that can be reused and upcycled, finding sourcing was one of the biggest and continues to be the biggest decisions behind my creations. Finding sustainable sourcing from a Whol(istic) view point. Meaning what I put into my creations has to come from the highest vibration, love. It took a long time to choose the companies that I want to create with. I wanted to make sure it upheld that frequency. When making this choice, I really tuned into how sustainable the company is; how they treat the land, how they treat their fellow creators (employees), how they cultivate the medicine, what their mission is and what they believe in. I also had to look internally. I had to recognize that when I am in the making process what kind of energy am I putting into this medicine.
Here are my sources….
- Rise up Remedies, Herbs
- Oshala, Herbs
- Wildish Botanicals, Herbs
- Peoples Coop, Bases, Herbs & Oils
- Local farmers in my area, Depending on Season
- Mountain Rose, Herbs, if I cannot find sources locally
- Plant Therapy, Essential Oils
- Makesy, all packaging
Thank you…
For being committed to your journey and investing in some “you” time. I think it is important to find awareness within our own being so that we can open up to shed light on how we are an entire being. Our actions are truly a reaction of the unseen shadow. Meaning if we stay ignorant to how we are living in connection with nature we don't have the ability to live in communion with nature. It is our responsibility to hold respect for ourselves and the world so that we can show up for Pachamama with reciprocity for how she shows up for us. Thank you so much and I cannot wait for you to tune into this offering to feel my infinite love and devotion to healing.
-Nylah the Herbal Alchemist
Meet the Alchemists
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Barefood&Barefoot
Michaela's StoryMichaela Kascak
Barefood&Barefoot
Is a Certified Culinary Nutritionist, Hatha/Vinyasa/Ecstatic Yoga Teacher, Spiritual Mentor with a focus on mental health and heart centered living. She is a student of Herbalism.
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Herbal Consultations
We will listen, honor and hold space for whatever energy you are trying to curate. Our mission is to find the right plants to guide your special event to its most vibrant and aligned state. We will work hand in hand with you making sure your visions of herbal refreshments becomes a reality. From here, we will combine our knowledge of herbalism with our passion for exquisite taste to create a menu unique to you.
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Nylah the Herbal Alchemist
Nylah's StoryI am an Holistic Health Coach formally trained in Culinary Arts and Nutrition at the Culinary Institute of America. This then introduced me to the world of holistic healing in which I began to focus more on becoming a studying herbalist with mentorship and hands on knowledge. Becoming a vessel for the divine and working to integrate radical deep self acceptance for all.
What is an Elixir?
An Elixir can be defined in many ways. Often they are said to be used to treat or cure an illness. Although this is true, Elixirs can also be used intentionally to simply support our over all well-being.
Here is our definition of ‘Elixir'
A liquid potion, ritually crafted with herbs and other powerful ingredients, to help support a specific intention or to create a magickal experience for those that receive it. Our refreshments serve as an alchemical vehicle for delivering remedies in an approachable way. We seek to create an enjoyable experience with our knowledge of our plant allies and how they can guide us to physical, mental, energetic and emotional balance.
You may also think of them as a sort of mocktail with powerful properties, or if you’re like us, you may even choose to see them as Magickal Potions!
Summer 2022 Elixir Menu
Please note that we work alongside the seasons. The following menu is a sample.
Energetics of Elixirs
"Tsuga" Mother of Trees ~ Just as a mother nourishes and supports during times of shifts and big emotion. This elixir is reminsecent of a mothers touch and acts as an soothing shoulder to lean on and find support through deep intiations. A creation birthed from grief, then mended with herbal medicine to bring clarity, higher perseptive and deeper understanding.
Muldahara ~ Earthing in during times of change. As this fall time shift starts to occur in our external world it is also present in our internal world. Being we are creatures of pachamama, living in cyclical patterns such as she does. Our bodies require deep rest and rooting inward during these times, this elixir was curated to secure an inner root.
Muladahara is the Sankrit name for the first of the seven main Chakras. It is located at the base of the spine and is refelctive of our sense of stability and grounding. An unbalanced Muladahara can cause us to feel uprooted, insecure, unstable, etc.
Apple Mockscow Mule ~ What would Autumn be without Apples? This elixir is a fall twist on the classic Moscow mule. With fresh-hand squeezed apple juice as the base, we receive the sweetness of one of this season’s most delicious gifts. Ginger and Ceylon Cinnamon help to add some warmth to support digestion, blood circulation and immune support as we move into colder days and prepare the body for denser foods and the long winter. Sweet, spicy and refreshing!
Cozy Chamomile ~ Autumn is correlated with the Ayurvedic constitution of Vata. This energy (Vata) tends to have upward and outward movement, bringing us into our minds. This season is also correlated with Air, which is also a reflection of this upward and outward movement. These energies can create feelings of overwhelm and overthinking. The herbs and other ingredients in this elixir are supportive of relaxing our mind, body and spirit as we use this season as a traditional period from fast-paced, external, Yang Summer, to the slower, internal Yin Winter. Skullcap and Passionflower help to calm our mind and our nervous system, while Wood Betony helps to pull out vital life force energy down to our Root Chakra so we can feel rooted and grounded. In this way this elixir reminds us that just like the plants send their energy back into their roots at this time, we too should do the same.