New Year Resolutions for Herbalists

Follow me this month while I try to clear out my own chaos and get a few tips on how to get your herb cabinet and/or business back in order! January is a perfect time for reflection and planning, but also, we have time for getting things done since the rush of garden season is still a few months away, the snow keeps us at home a bit more....as does the promise of a warm house and hot cup of tea. Each day, I am going to tackle something that needs constant care or attention, but that is often left to become dysfunctional as the year goes on. Will this be the year, I actually keep on top of things? Who knows...but if not, I will repost next year!  

January 24 ~ 

What's Your Niche?

Learning about herbs is exhilarating...life affirming...and we want to share it! We read, take classes, go to conferences and are exposed to all sorts of herbal endeavors...we want to be like our mentors. But, slow down.....to be an herbalist, we don't need to be an expert in all areas.

Most disciplines have specialties, which practitioners choose after exposure to the whole gamut...and then pick the area  for which they feel the greatest affinity. Some, know in their gut, what they "need" to do. The key is to know/understand and be able to practice a lot of different herbal traditions/activities, but not feel as though we must be equally talented in all areas. As stated in a previous blog post, after all these years, there are very few herb related things I haven't done....most of which I love and am competent in doing. But, I have always known my strength was in teaching and in problem solving by means of being able to see right to the root issues--which is why my original degree was in Social Work. I make great formulas, am a pretty good crafter and a decent gardener and cook. What I am not,  is a good business person.

My preference...my niche, is to teach and inspire. There are great herbal healers, who are horrible teachers; great formulators who are poor gardeners; great herbal writers who are not good healers......... to each their own. Embrace your niche and don't feel the need to apologize for honing in on your herbal gifts. That way, whatever you share will be full of your heart and soul.