How Herbalism Deepened My Connection with the Earth

For as long as I can remember, herbs have been part of my story. My mother, deeply knowledgeable about plants, kept my grandmother’s herb book on her shelf, and I devoured its pages, soaking up folklore, remedies, and the timeless ways humans have worked with plants. I grew up in a nature-loving family, spending much of my childhood outdoors, forming a quiet but profound relationship with the land.

But my journey with herbalism hasn’t been a straight path—it’s been one of deep learning, unexpected detours, and moments of profound connection.

The Pivotal Moments That Changed Everything

When I first had the opportunity to formally study herbs, working in a health food store that provided extensive training, I thought I had found my path. I experimented with every herb and supplement available—only to discover that I was severely allergic to most of them. At the time, I didn’t know I had mast cell activation disorder, and this realization forced me to step away from herbalism for a while.

But the herbal allies called me back.

Nettle became my guide—a herb I now consider one of my “council herbs,” those allies that feel like they were made just for you. Slowly, I learned to work with herbs in a way that honored both my body’s unique needs and the deeper intelligence within nature. I deepened my studies, immersing myself in eight years of herbal education, but even with all that knowledge, another pivotal moment arrived.

One day, after years of studying herbs, I stepped outside and realized—I couldn’t recognize a single plant around me. I knew the theories, the chemical constituents, the history, but I didn’t know the plants. This realization led me to wildcrafting, a practice of engaging directly with the plants in my environment, moving beyond books and theories into direct relationship. And that’s when everything changed.

Listening to the Language of Plants

The more I worked with herbs, the more I realized that they are not just passive remedies—we are in a relationship with them. One moment that solidified this for me was when I was out foraging for pine resin. I knew it was there—I was surrounded by pines and spruces—but I couldn’t find it. Frustrated, I wandered aimlessly, until I stopped, took a deep breath, and asked nature for guidance.

In that moment, I felt an intuitive nudge: walk around the tree. I listened—and there, on the hidden side of the trunk, was the resin.

This wasn’t an isolated experience. Time and time again, I’ve learned that herbalism isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about attunement, about learning the subtle language of herbs and surrendering to their wisdom.

The Lessons of Herbalism

Through my work with herbs, I’ve come to understand that nature isn’t something we use—it’s something we are in relationship with. And this relationship is built on trust, reciprocity, and a willingness to listen.

One of the most profound lessons herbalism has taught me is that not every remedy fits everyone. Not even the highly promoted ones like ashwagandha, ginger and even nettle. Plants have energetic profiles, just as humans do, and the most powerful healing happens when we find the right match. It’s not about taking this herb for that symptom; herbalism is far more nuanced, deeply individualized, and rooted in the intelligence of both the plants and our own bodies.

I’ve also learned the power of working gently. With my background in somatics and psychology, I see how strong remedies, or high doses of herbs, can overwhelm the nervous system. Sometimes, healing is found in the smallest dose—the one-drop tincture approach—reminding us that nature’s intelligence works subtly, yet powerfully.

Bridging Traditional Wisdom with Modern Science

I deeply value both traditional herbal wisdom and modern scientific understanding. Science offers valuable insights into the deeper workings of plants, but I also challenge the idea that traditional ways of knowing aren’t scientific in their own right. Indigenous knowledge, ancestral herbalism, and ecological wisdom are built on centuries of observation and relationship—this, too, is science.

For me, bridging these worlds means honoring both. I believe in having a solid foundation of knowledge—understanding herbal safety, interactions, and energetics—while also trusting our intuition, instincts and personal experiences with herbs.

And in my daily life, I integrate herbalism through nourishment—infusions, wildcrafted meals, and small rituals of reciprocity with the land. When an ecosystem is nourished, whether it’s the soil or our own bodies, it -often- has the capacity to regenerate itself.

How to Begin Your Own Herbal Journey

For those looking to deepen their connection with the earth through herbalism, my advice is this: Start with the question, “How can I honor the intelligence of nature more?”

This means honoring the wisdom within yourself and the wisdom within the herbs. Trust your instincts if a particular herb keeps calling to you. Explore herbal energetics (sometimes called tissue states), and the deeper layers of herbal medicine beyond symptom-matching. And, if you want a truly immersive experience, try wildcrafting—engage with the plants in your environment, observe how they grow, and develop a direct relationship with the land around you.

Above all, remember that herbalism is not just about learning facts—it’s about relationship. It’s about reciprocity. It’s about stepping into the quiet, listening, and allowing the plants to teach you in their own way.

And when you do, you might just find that nature has been speaking to you all along.

Want to go even deeper? Join me for Wild Medicine - a three month herbal immersive that will help you to build deep relationships, understand the science better and create your own herbal toolkit for yourself, your community and your clients.

Cover picture by the talented Sanne Romijn.