Crossing the Threshold
Graduating from my spiritual herbalism apprenticeship and launching my line of faery medicines
Happy solstice time all! Last weekend I graduated from my two plus year long spiritual herbalism apprenticeship with Sacred Vibes Apothecary under the mentorship of Empress Karen Rose. It’s still challenging to put into words the impact these last two years have had on me: growing closer to the Earth and plant kin, working with my ancestors, cultivating deeper trust in my intuition, a clearer sense of purpose and a lightness in my spirit that comes from living a life filled with gratitude, community, creativity and flexibility that little me is SO proud of. I feel closer than ever to the little girl who was obsessed with faeries, made mud pies, ran around greenhouses and could not stay out of folks’ toiletry cabinets — always concocting something with a sly smile.
These last few years have felt like many tiny and huge steps to return to the truest version of myself. To shed the fear, the confusion, the exhaustion, the negativity and the projections that kept me small. While it’s a lifelong journey, right now feels like a beautiful place to be and I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve received from mentors, family, friends, my co-hearts, the plants themselves, our Earth Mother, my ancestors and my guides as I find my way back to my power and to my heart.
In processing my graduation, I decided to look up the etymology of the word graduate, which comes from the Latin gradus, meaning “a step; a step climbed (on a ladder or stair).” It’s divine to know your steps are guided, even if you don’t know exactly where you’re going, but trusting that in putting one foot in front of the other, you’ll inevitably keep ending up in perfect place. While this graduation feels like a step climbed in some sense, it mostly feels like a quantum leap in all directions. From one phase, one realm and one dimension to another and back again. I feel scattered and whole.
In a circle with my teacher, co-hearts and Spirit, each of us crossed the threshold and received a blessing for the next chapter of our work: the encouragement from forces seen and unseen to bring our unique frequencies and medicines forward now in service of love, healing, wholeness, justice and connection. The call is massive and humbling, the work is ancient and tender.
It is in this spirit that I’m excited to share more about my line, Faery Good Herbals, and my intentions in formulating these remedies for these times, in communion with my powerful feminine ancestors, especially my grandmothers who made my childhood so magical and full of wonder, my benevolent fae guides and a host of goddesses (Isis, Oshun, Hecate and Damara) who have supported me for the last few years in bringing each remedy forward.
A question I get asked a lot is “Why faery?” Since I was a little girl I’ve always felt connected with them. They can be playful, they can be tricky and they have a sense of justice and reciprocity that are learned through respect. Many cultures have rich a rich fae heritage, from the Sidhe of Ireland to the Kontomble of West Africa. They are nature spirits, working closely with the Earth and humanity to maintain harmony with her endless cycles. Some of these beings are called the Elementals, because of their connection and melding with the elements. Imagine the forces that help you light a flame, or support flowers growing, or encourage winds and river currents to flow. In working with them, I’ve found that the mundane feels infinitely more magical and hopeful when you realize that we’re not alone and that benevolent forces are working all around us, in spite of narratives that tell us differently. And not only are they working around us, they want to work with us. If you feel this call or this knowing, I made these for you! And me. Because I am you and you are me. Remedies for people committed to embracing whimsy as a source of power and resilience, for those seeking to connect with the faeries inside or outside of them by tuning into their hearts, for those who want to walk more closely and consciously with the Earth in this time of climate crisis, for sensitive souls who know their softness is worth protecting.
My line includes seven different products to meet people where they are, whether you’re looking to work with herbs internally or externally depending on your comfort level, curiosity or health conditions. Every remedy is small-batch, handcrafted and formulated with at least one plant that’s beloved by the faeries — like hawthorn, thyme or dandelion, to activate different aspects of the heart-womb-voice connection and encourage more joyful, courageous, creative and heart-centered living while connecting you to the green and unseen realms of Mother Earth.
Now, it’s with the utmost pleasure that I share a bit about each product with you, starting with the first one that came through and set the tone for the rest of the line, the Faery Godmother Elixir.
If you think about when faery godmothers appear, it’s when things feel busted, you’re probably feeling lost and hopeless. That’s when she arrives with this warm, nurturing, maternal energy that picks you up off the floor, spins you around and makes you feel like everything will be ok. That’s what this elixir is like. Perfect for times of transition, or when you’re needing to boost your mood, cultivate a deeper sense of inner clarity and self-trust, or want to know what healthy mothering feels like in your body. This formula helps you tune into your heart’s deepest desires and begin to trust the dreams planted there. It also helps develop a stronger connection between your heart, womb/sacral center and voice for greater coherence between your convictions, words and actions.
Then there’s the Faery Gutsy Tincture, which is based on one of the first tinctures I experimented in making for myself several years ago while walking with dandelion and discovering a love for the punchy tang of apple cider vinegar. This zippy, tangy tincture invites the vital spark back into your life by helping foster courageous action and the confidence to speak and hold the truth with grace, you know, to be more gutsy and brave. When taken before meals, it also promotes healthy digestion and detoxification through supporting the liver and kidneys. This formula is one I work with most days and I always travel with! The flavor is delightfully bitter and brings me to the present when I feel too floaty.
Next up is the Faery Garden Oxymel, the first remedy I launched last fall and she remains a favorite for her versatility! You’re one step closer to an easy herbal spritz, a non-alc hot toddy and even a yummy vinaigrette with this gal. She’s sweet, floral and tangy and calms the nerves and supports better digestion. There’s a lot of flower energy in this formula, so it’s very supportive for grief and tender feelings where your heart might need some extra compassion and comfort. She’s like a friend who listens without judgement and happens to also give wonderful hugs. Inspired by last year’s Sacred Vibes conference theme, A Healer in Every Home, this remedy is also consider safe for and has been quite popular among children.
For the last ingestible remedy, there’s the Faery Inspired Loose Leaf Tea. This blend was crafted to help you tap into the frequency of creativity to co-create with the divine, because creativity is sacred and needs to be honored, not only stimulated. With support for the nervous system, this caffeine-free blend helps attune you to inspiration, offers protection for sacred creative practice and encourages inspired action so you’re not just sitting on all of the wonderful ideas and powerful downloads you’re receiving. If you’re feeling scattered creatively or you’ve got a chatty inner critic, this tea can help tune out the noise and let your creativity flow.
Moving to a different type of remedy, the Faery Vibes Aura & Aromatherapy Spray has already become a favorite with her sweet and uplifting bouquet of rose and chamomile that instantly shifts the vibe when you spray it. I also love sprays since you can’t always burn herbs depending on where you are, so this is a really supportive alternative. This is one I keep at home and in my bag now, to elevate the energy in my space and also protect my field throughout the day and while I’m bopping around outside. She attracts sweetness, positivity and good luck while anchoring the sacred feminine into your heart and space so you can honor your capacity and see the beauty all around.
Next there’s the Faery Tender Bath Soak, which I created to be a heart-tending, nourishing and energetic reset type of bath. Water is our Mother, so adding this soak to your bath creates this green, milky cocoon that feels peaceful, clearing and protective. It’s a blend of several salts, oat powder, clay and herbs, with a lot of green and pink energies to connect with the heart chakra. Think Himalayan Pink Salt, green clay, spirulina and green herbs. When you open the jar you get the beautiful and calming scent of thyme, which happens to be a favorite of the faeries as well as a plant that helps foster deeper connection to ancestors. This bath soak is an invitation to breathe deeply, release energetics blocks, to feel held, restored and connected.
Lastly, but certainly not least because this product has already sold out (!!!!) is the Faery Kisses Lip Oil. I told myself at the beginning of this process of my line coming together that I absolutely would not be making a lip gloss. LOL. But the idea would not go away, so I knew it had to be an important part of the line after all. As someone who got made fun of for my lips when I was much younger, then grew to really love them, it felt important to offer this formula as part of a sensuality and adornment practice. The base is a blend of castor, coconut and jojoba oils, infused with rose, calendula and plantain. No artificial colors, flavors or fragrances. The mouth and our words are portals — with the words we speak shaping our reality. This formula nourishes, softens and protects the delicate skin of the lips, is easy to apply and adds a sweet energy to your words. You can wear it alone or layer it over lipstick! I love that it’s a little sticky with a medium shine, but not sticky enough to where it’s getting all over your face. The 90s sticky, sexy lip? We are sooooo back.
There’s so much more I could share about these, but I hope this intro helps you understand the intentions and energetics around my line of faery medicines, and why this work is so important and dear to me. I’m grateful for all the support Faery Good has received since I launched nearly three years ago, and I’m thrilled for this next chapter with even more herbs, more offerings and more heart.
Which remedy is speaking to you? Do you have any questions about the fae or faery medicine? Let me know in the comments!
And as always, thank you for being here!
— Ericka
Ahhh this was an amazing read! Thanks for sharing! 🥰❤️✨