Star Feliz, proprietor of Botánica Cimarrón small batch apothecary and inventive wellness firm.
An Interview with Star Feliz of Botánica Cimarrón
Do ancestral natural traditions encourage you? Are you intrigued by medication that’s place-based, plant-based, and non secular? Treatments which are cultural and wealthy? That is the type of herbalism practiced by Star Feliz (they/them) of Botánica Cimarrón.
Star is a medical herbalist, full-spectrum doula, non secular information, and Chestnut College of Natural Medication graduate. They apply Afro-Taino Caribbean and Western herbalism, drawing inventive inspiration from their ancestral lineage and a giant creativeness for an earth-healing future.
The world wants extra earth- and community-centered herbalists.
Botánica Cimarrón is the neighborhood vessel for Star’s imaginative and prescient: a small-batch apothecary and ritual arts container that sells expertly formulated bespoke medicines and non secular instruments. It’s additionally an area useful resource for natural courses and accessible healthcare.
Star lately shared an interview with us for our Scholar Enterprise Highlight—a collection that includes Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine graduates, their work, and the big variety of professions herbalists can select from. Star is a graduate of our Online Herbal Immersion Program—1,000 hours of our private mentorship in sustainable herbalism and natural profession constructing. In case you are curious about the big variety of natural careers you may pursue, see An Herbalist’s Salary and Career Opportunities and Learn How to Become an Herbalist.
Botánica Cimarrón’s elixir assortment.
Star, will you inform us a bit of bit about your self and the way you had been first referred to as to work within the area of natural medication?
I’m a Dominican-American artist, herbalist, and non secular information. The start of my path in herbalism began with my mom and grandmother and the natural infusions we made collectively. After I was 19, I lived and labored on a permaculture farm, and that’s the place I really started to take heed to the plant spirits, deepen my self-study, and honor my ancestral presents for therapeutic.
Please share with us about your natural enterprise, Botánica Cimarrón. What does it supply your neighborhood?
Rooted in historic Afro-Taino knowledge, Botánica Cimarrón is a inventive wellness firm centered on therapeutic marginalized folks’s relationship to the earth by revolutionary way of life merchandise and studying experiences that guarantee our thriving futures. All the pieces is formulated and handmade in ceremony with the earth & stars. Botánica Cimarrón is predicated in Los Angeles, the unceded territory of Tovaangar.
Star Feliz creates highly effective, ethically sourced, and lovingly handcrafted non secular instruments.
How do you know this was the precise profession transfer for you?
The indicators had been all over the place. My soul feels probably the most alive once I’m creating and near nature. For a few years earlier than beginning my very own model, I skilled firsthand the highly effective therapeutic results my medication had by working as a community-based herbalist, doula, and organizer. I by no means imagined this might be a profession, however step-by-step, I’ve constructed a path for myself based mostly on a sacred calling.
How has your natural schooling, particularly the enterprise coaching inside our packages, supported your corporation?
Earlier than I began on the Chestnut College of Natural Medication, I used to be already a practising neighborhood medicine-maker, however I didn’t understand how a lot I used to be actually craving a studying construction till I delved into the coursework. The impression was so measurable! It was useful to have new supplies for reference and confidently transfer by blocks in my apply.
Botánica Cimarrón’s Therapeutic Alcoholado and Rainbow Serpent Oil can be found in their online shop.
What impressed you to review with us right here on the Chestnut College?
I used to be interested in the self-paced curriculum. It meant that I had the pliability to lend my full vitality to the mutual help mission I used to be concerned with on the time, the Lenapehoking Freedom Fighters Natural Care Kits, with out having to decide on one or the opposite.
What do you like most about operating an natural enterprise? What are a few of your challenges?
I like sharing this historic information with folks in new and revolutionary methods. It helps that I get to work with among the most superb folks on the planet — individuals who work for the earth’s therapeutic are probably the most open-hearted. The difficult half is the quick tempo and infrequently overwhelming quantity of labor that must be performed for a enterprise to maintain operating. Particularly whenever you’re beginning out as a staff of 1.
Botánica Cimarrón’s Rainbow Serpent ritual oil is formulated with actual snake pores and skin, gems, herbs and flowers, important oils, and gold mud.
What are three herbs which are important to your natural apply/enterprise and why?
Hibiscus – Potent fireplace medication.
Moringa – A tree of life. Deeply nourishing.
Licorice – A superb activator inside any components.
Do you might have any phrases of knowledge for these simply beginning their natural schooling who’re curious about beginning a enterprise? What recommendation do you might have for budding natural entrepreneurs?
Group is essential (each private {and professional}). If you happen to don’t have already got a neighborhood, concentrate on constructing one. And don’t skip over the boring authorized, structural, backend, and different organizational constructing blocks!
What do you suppose is subsequent for you in your natural journey?
I’m wanting ahead to writing extra, plus instructing and learning within the tropics for durations of time. I’m engaged on an prolonged version of my publication Inexperienced Gold: An Ancestral Plant Spirit Oracle Deck, so look out for that!
We’re so happy with our college students!
We hope this interview evokes you to take a look at Star’s on-line store and assist a small, earth-centered natural enterprise. Maybe you’ll discover some inspiration on your personal natural enterprise. You possibly can join with Star on Instagram @botanicacimarron and by way of the Botánica Cimarrón website.
To see what our different graduates are as much as, and the big variety of companies they run, take a look at our Student Herbal Business Directory.
