Sky House Herbs

Today, Adam Elenbaas of Nightlight Astrology and I will look at five powerful themes that tend to come up around full moons in Scorpio, especially lunar eclipses in Scorpio. We will also review a powerful plant teacher you could work with during this eclipse cycle. We explore many plant teachers and their connection to the planets in our Roots & Spheres Circle, and there is still time to join if y...

In this episode, herbalists Ashley Elenbaas and Holly Hildebrandt share their personal experiences working with nettles. From breakthroughs around boundaries to clearing eczema and allergies, you will learn many ways to utilize this powerful plant medicine.

I love weaving together spiritual themes and plant medicines. In this talk, we will explore the topic of living with intention, plants as allies, and three herbs that may benefit you this spring. These herbs support inflammation, allergies, vitality, and the heart.  Here are some of my favorite sources:  Organically Grown Dried Nettle Leaf: https://oshalafarm.com/shop/nettle-leaf/ Reishi Mushrooms...

This month we are showcasing the wonderful medicine of Nettles. This fascinating herb, with stinging needles, has a long history of use for inflammation, joint pain, allergies, and detoxification. I hope you enjoy this video and a little blast from the past as we feature a talk I recorded from my old home office on the power of Nettles.

Today I am sharing my personal reflections after taking Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis,  for one month as part of a plant dieta experience. I have used Lemon Balm for over 20 years. However, I learned so much more about this plant's nuances over this month and through the shared experiences of my students from the Roots and Spheres course. Some of the themes of Lemon Balm were a sense of calm ami...

Pickled red onions are a tasty and easy-to-make garnish. Made with simple ingredients, you can likely make this using things you have at home in your pantry. Pickled red onions are good for digestion, increase nutrient assimilation, and according to the Indian system of Ayurveda, they fulfill our body's need for the sour taste in each meal. Add them as a topping to eggs, sandwiches, salads, and mo...

Join herbal friends Ashley and Holly as they chat about growing herbs and plants from seed, their experience caring for tadpoles, and the beginning of a conversation about rewilding. Holly Hildebrandt has been growing seeds since childhood, maintains a thriving home garden, and works in a plant nursery each year, starting and maintaining native plants and flowers. In this episode, you can sit with...

Supporting our bodies through the transition from winter to spring can be gentle and, at the same time, effective. In this episode, we will explore detoxification, metabolism, stoking the inner fire, and herbs for increasing effective elimination and cleansing via the liver, lymph, and circulatory systems.  RESOURCES Herbalist and Alchemist Old World Bitters Blend: https://www.herbalist-alchemist....

A judgment-free exploration of alcohol, drinking, and addictive and compulsive behaviors with an herbal twist.  Resources: Acorus calamus (Sweet Flag) Old World Bitters - https://www.herbalist-alchemist.com/shop-products-btc-original-bitters The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. Vasant Lad and Dr. David Frawley: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-yoga-of-herbs-an-ayurvedic-guide-to-herbal-medicine-vasant-lad/109...

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, is an ancient and well-known herb commonly used for supporting mood, anxiety, and digestion. In this video, we will explore the rich history of Lemon Balm as it relates to the archetype of the High Priestess and beekeepers, alongside the alchemical way this herb works in the body to regulate our nervous systems. I think the buzzy and bright spirit of Lemon Balm rea...

I love finding small-scale, sustainable companies that make rare, beautiful shoes, accessories, and clothing. Here are some of my favorite brands and craftsmen/women that curate beautiful essentials for any wardrobe. French Chore Coats - I found some great ones in this Etsy shop- https://www.etsy.com/shop/InheritShopVintage/ Beaded Earrings - Dancing Willow Jewelry - https://www.shopdancingwillow....

Damiana, Turnera diffusa, is a shrubby plant native to Mexico known for its aphrodisiac properties. In this episode, clinical herbalist, Ashley Elenbaas, will share her experience dieting this plant for 28 days, or a full moon cycle. The theme that played out in her experience of Damiana was a reframing of pleasure. Ashley shares how her childhood understanding of pleasure informed her ability to...

What is the heart, and how do we arrive in this sacred temple? In this episode, Bhakti teacher Rukmini Walker of UrbanDevi, and herbalist and yoga teacher Ashley Elenbaas explore what it means to make a pilgrimage of the heart. Through the intersecting teachings of Christianity, Bhakti, and Nature-based spirituality, we come to discover where home lives and its spiritual purpose.  Resources   "The...

It's a cozy deep winter week, and I wanted to bring you along with me to far Northern Minnesota. In this video, I will share a bit about my recent trip to Lutsen, Minnesota, and some of the herbal and process-oriented takeaways that go along with the work of the winter. I hope you enjoy this more story-based episode, and would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

February’s Herb of the Month is Damiana or Turnera diffusa. This warming, aromatic herb is native to Mexico and the arid regions of central and South America. Damiana has a long history of use as an aphrodisiac and was used to increase endurance during long periods of travel. I chose damiana for the month of February as it is an herb that speaks to us about love. Not only our need for love and int...

As much as I love plants, I also love taking care of my skin and using natural beauty-enhancing products. Here are five of my go-to beauty products that use natural oils and pigments for an all-over natural glow. I have no affiliation with these companies, and the links go directly to their sites, with the exception of Crunchi, where I will be sending you through my sister-in-love's site. Revision...

Trees are part of a large, interconnected community interacting with their own and other species in deep and fascinating ways. In this talk, Rukmini Walker from Urban Devi and herbalist Ashley Elenbaas explore the hidden life of trees and how their interactions above and underground provide a rich array of symbols and teachings for achieving a more humble and community-minded way of life. Through...

Disordered eating affects people of every age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and background.  This video explores some of the possible roots of this disorder and ways to reimagine your relationship with your body and the world you live in. Herbal suggestions are offered to support and nourish your body while you find the inner voice that wants to speak. "We can do hard things" podcast...

Coffee, as a plant, has many magical powers and its own likes and dislikes. While coffee can be addictive, it can also be very healing. In this video, herbalist Ashley Elenbaas will share the indigenous creation story of the coffee plant as shared by the Ormomo people of the West Wallaga region of Ethiopia and how approaching coffee in a sacred way can change the way we relate to this everyday pla...

Many people have come to me over the year with concerns over their use of Cannabis. Here are my thoughts on this plant and ways you can use other herbs to help you wean off Cannabis and repair the damage done by regular use. Product Links: Valerian Root:  https://www.herbalist- alchemist.com/shop-products- vln-valerian-extract Milky Oat Tops Tincture:  https://www. herbalist-alchemist.com/shop- pr...

As we step across the threshold to the New Year, we must also acknowledge the things that have died and the things that must die for us to move ahead. We will explore how we let go of dreams, the medicine of mugwort in transitional times, and I will share my processing of a tragic loss of a friend. I hope this video supports your processing, and I would love to hear if you have used Mugwort to aid...

Winter is the darkest season of the year. While darkness is often seen as burdensome, it is rich with gifts necessary for those on a spiritual path. In this video, herbalist Ashley Elenbaas and director of UrbanDevi, Rukmini Walker, take a deep dive into the dark and fertile caves of winter and darkness and how we can get the most out of this season. Plants such as Angelica, Mugwort,  and Pine are...

Cacao is a sacred medicine that comes to us from the Mayans and Inca cultures of Mexico. It carries a rich history of use for the heart, speaking truth, and connecting to our inner voice. In this video, we will look at some therapeutic strategies from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to explore the issues of self-trust and trusting others and how Cacao as an herbal medicine can support this heart-he...

It’s grief season again when all the feels come up and the year's losses become more palpable and clear. As a clinical herbalist with over 15 years of experience, I have found Pine to be a very helpful herb in processing grief. Pine opens the lungs and airways as a bronchodilator thanks to alpha-pinene and other volatile oils. This can help us take a deep breath and begin to reach into the darker...

The weeks between Thanksgiving and the winter holidays can be exhausting and depleting. But they don't have to be.  Here are some easy things you can add to your daily routine to keep your body and mind healthy while navigating the holiday season. From increasing your water intake to moving your body a tiny bit more, many things are within reach to keep you feeling well this season.  Here are some...