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 drugs that’s place-based, plant-based, and non secular? Cures which are cultural and wealthy? That is the form of herbalism practiced by Star Feliz (they/them) of Botánica Cimarrón.
Star is a scientific herbalist, full-spectrum doula, non secular information, and Chestnut College of Natural Medication graduate. They follow Afro-Taino Caribbean and Western herbalism, drawing artistic 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 a neighborhood useful resource for natural courses and accessible healthcare.
Star just lately shared an interview with us for our Pupil Enterprise Highlight—a sequence that includes Chestnut College of Natural Medication graduates, their work, and the big variety of professions herbalists can select from. Star is a graduate of our On-line Natural Immersion Program—1,000 hours of our private mentorship in sustainable herbalism and natural profession constructing. In case you are enthusiastic about the big variety of natural careers you may pursue, see An Herbalist’s Wage and Profession Alternatives and Study How one can Change into an Herbalist.
Botánica Cimarrón’s elixir assortment.
Star, will you inform us slightly bit about your self and the way you had been first known as to work within the subject of natural drugs?
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. Once 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 artistic wellness firm targeted on therapeutic marginalized individuals’s relationship to the earth by means of revolutionary way of life merchandise and studying experiences that guarantee our thriving futures. All the things 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 best profession transfer for you?
The indicators had been in every single place. My soul feels probably the most alive after 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 drugs had by means of working as a community-based herbalist, doula, and organizer. I by no means imagined this could 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 applications, 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 notice how a lot I used to be actually craving a studying construction till I delved into the coursework. The affect was so measurable! It was useful to have new supplies for reference and confidently transfer by means of blocks in my follow.
Botánica Cimarrón’s Therapeutic Alcoholado and Rainbow Serpent Oil can be found in their on-line store.
What impressed you to check with us right here on the Chestnut College?
I used to be drawn to the self-paced curriculum. It meant that I had the flexibleness to lend my full vitality to the mutual assist challenge 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 data with individuals in new and revolutionary methods. It helps that I get to work with a number of the most superb individuals on the earth — individuals who work for the earth’s therapeutic are probably the most open-hearted. The difficult half is the quick tempo and sometimes overwhelming quantity of labor that must be achieved for a enterprise to maintain operating. Particularly while you’re beginning out as a group of 1.
Botánica Cimarrón’s Rainbow Serpent ritual oil is formulated with actual snake pores and skin, gem stones, herbs and flowers, important oils, and gold mud.
What are three herbs which are important to your natural follow/enterprise and why?
Hibiscus – Potent fireplace drugs.
Moringa – A tree of life. Deeply nourishing.
Licorice – An excellent activator inside any components.
Do you’ve gotten any phrases of knowledge for these simply beginning their natural schooling who’re enthusiastic about beginning a enterprise? What recommendation do you’ve gotten for budding natural entrepreneurs?
Neighborhood is essential (each private {and professional}). For those who 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 assume is subsequent for you in your natural journey?
I’m trying ahead to writing extra, plus instructing and finding out 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 to your personal natural enterprise. You’ll be able to join with Star on Instagram @botanicacimarron and by way of the Botánica Cimarrón web site.
To see what our different graduates are as much as, and the big variety of companies they run, try our Pupil Natural Enterprise Listing.
