"This lady isn't for burning." ~ T.J. Banks, Sketch People
Well, that should have gotten your attention, eh? But what is a heretical herbalist, anyway? Heresy, broadly, is not accepting the status quo (think the Reformation or Inquisition). In this sense, I will not simply accept a TV "expert" personality (medical doctor, psychologist, whatever) shouting the daily cure. Further, I separate solid science and spirituality at my little shop. If your chakras are clogged or your aura is cloudy, I can't help you, I'm sorry. But if you have a particular issue and want to know the best supplement for it, I can show you websites or the PDR for Herbs to research one herb or another. Heretical, indeed!
When I was growing up, my favorite hangout was the local herb shop, run by the local hippie commune as far as I could tell. On its tidy shelves I found vitamins, supplements, local crafts, cool books - total heaven for me. I suppose anything New Age or spiritual was back behind the tie-dye curtain (made on the commune, likely) along with the bongs and pot (also likely made on the commune) and whatever it was that prompted an "Adults Only" sign at the doorway. I can't say for certain, as I never did more than poke my nose back there once; nothing interesting, I decided, and headed for the books. Mystical? Meh. Where were the herbals?
Those years of researching the history and use of herbs finally culminated with my opening Ravenswood Natural Health in 2010. The shop reflects that same drive for solid answers I had way back when. Through the years I have watched the New Age really take off - and take over the local vitamin shops. Yes, I know medicine and religion have intertwined since both began. However, there was this little episode called the Enlightenment a few hundred years ago, when the two began to separate and the scientific community started questioning the spiritual aspects. Spectral evidence, doctrine of signatures, divine wrath illnesses - all by the wayside. However, all things old are new again, or at least New Age. Starting in the 1980's, many vitamin shops added new healing methods like crystals and channeling (remember Lazaris, Mafu, and Ramtha?). What was "in" - the best practices and modalities - have vanished just a few decades on. However, the spiritual additions continued, so that today, many vitamin and herb shops have a heavy spiritual side as well.
My shop has crafts that can have many meanings- a tree scupture may be a lovely gift for a gardener or Wiccan. A candled labelled Blessing as its scent smells good, blesses the owner, or both. Feng shui chimes might balance yourhome or just sound and look nice. The shop is a welcome haven for all- no matter your religion or lack. A calm spot of neutrality that embraces most anyone.
So. How do you do, I'm Sara Thornton, The Heretic Herbalist. Drop by my shop for the vitamins, stay for the gardens!
Shop info: Ravenswood Natural Health 1606 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury CT 06070 860-264-1587
Hours: Mon. closed; Tues. 11:00 - 5:30; Wed. & Fri. 9:30 - 5:30; Thurs. 10:00 - 6:00; Sat. & Sun. 9:30 - 5:00
