Brown Bear Herbs Herbalism & Tactics for Thriving Together

Free Plant Meditation Club--A Cup of Tea with HWB

Free Plant Meditation Club--A Cup of Tea with HWB

By Lily Michaud Apr 1, 2026 0 Comments

Curious about plant meditation club OR Herbalists Without Borders? Join me for a free event (provide your own chamomile tea, make sure there are no other herbs mixed in!), meet...

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Catnip, Plant Meditation Club, 3/23/26

Catnip, Plant Meditation Club, 3/23/26

By Lily Michaud Mar 27, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with catnip on 3/23/26.  The leaves themselves have a strong smell and are a bit furry compared to the other members of the mint family. Meditation...

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Badger, Animal Meditation Club, 3/16/26

Badger, Animal Meditation Club, 3/16/26

By Lily Michaud Mar 16, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with badger energy on 3/16/26.  Meditation •My eyes feel very sharp and I see white stripes going down my forehead. This feels like strong liver/gallbladder energy....

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Violet, Plant Meditation Club, 3/9/26

Violet, Plant Meditation Club, 3/9/26

By Lily Michaud Mar 13, 2026 0 Comments

The Plant Meditation Club meditated with violet this week. Initial Impressions Taste: Grassy, herbal, soapy, a little like nettles (mineral rich), but mild, (old-1) zucchini (2). A mild taste compared...

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Ant, Animal Meditation Club, 3/2/26

Ant, Animal Meditation Club, 3/2/26

By Lily Michaud Mar 2, 2026 0 Comments

This week, we meditated with ant energy. Meditation Transmissions •"Working together is a strong ethos." I asked how this was done and the response was about scent trails. I started...

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Bee Balm (Monarda Fistulosa), Plant Meditation Club, 2/23/26

Bee Balm (Monarda Fistulosa), Plant Meditation Club, 2/23/26

By Lily Michaud Feb 27, 2026 0 Comments

This week, February 23, 2026, we meditated with Monarda fistulosa. This herb is native to North America (it grows in zones 4-9). It's history and modern use is comes primarily...

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Eagle, Animal Meditation Club, 2/16/26

Eagle, Animal Meditation Club, 2/16/26

By Lily Michaud Feb 16, 2026 0 Comments

We mediated with Eagle Energy on 2/16/26.  From the Meditation I kill in an instant. I have been thirsty for so long. I quench my thirst with blood. The sky...

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Corn Silk, Plant Meditation Club, 2/9/26

Corn Silk, Plant Meditation Club, 2/9/26

By Lily Michaud Feb 12, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with corn silk an herb used in Native American, European/Western and Chinese herbalism (玉米须 (pronounced: yù mǐ xū).  Initial Experiences Flavor notes include “good” :) as well as...

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Octopus, Animal Meditation Club, 2/2/26

Octopus, Animal Meditation Club, 2/2/26

By Lily Michaud Feb 3, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with Octopus!  Meditation -Showing me slight of hand, like a magician moving around coconuts with something underneath. I can’t see what is underneath. -Artifice, strategy, writing your...

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Tulsi, or Holy Basil, Plant Meditation Club, 1/26/26

Tulsi, or Holy Basil, Plant Meditation Club, 1/26/26

By Lily Michaud Jan 26, 2026 0 Comments

This week, we meditated with tulsi, aka holy basil.  Initial Experience While steeping, some oils were visible in the water. The smell is pleasantly spicy. The tea felt very mildly...

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River Otter, Animal Meditation Club 1/19/2026

River Otter, Animal Meditation Club 1/19/2026

By Lily Michaud Jan 16, 2026 0 Comments

This week, we meditated with giant river otter energy, on 1/19/26.  Meditation "We have hands! Look at what I have! Hands. You say you will miss hands when you join...

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California Poppy, Plant Meditation Club, 1/12/26

California Poppy, Plant Meditation Club, 1/12/26

By Lily Michaud Jan 14, 2026 0 Comments

This week we meditated with California Poppy.   Initial Experience We had some varying impressions on the smell: hay, fishy hay, and sunshine. The taste seemed to be similar to...

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Wild Horses, Animal Meditation Club 1/5/26

Wild Horses, Animal Meditation Club 1/5/26

By Lily Michaud Jan 8, 2026 0 Comments

This week, we meditated with Wild Horse energy on 1/5/26. As usual participants did not know the identity of the animal until after the meditation. Lead-Up Experiences With essences and...

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Bear, Animal Meditation Club 12/15/25

Bear, Animal Meditation Club 12/15/25

By Lily Michaud Dec 15, 2025 0 Comments

On 12/15/25 we meditated with bear!  Meditation Experiences Mama Bear Experience: Standing and looking very slowly, side to side. She is watching out for threats to her young. I feel...

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Fox, Animal Meditation Club, 12/1/25

Fox, Animal Meditation Club, 12/1/25

By Lily Michaud Dec 1, 2025 0 Comments

This week we meditated with fox energy. The animal energy is unknown to the participants until after meditation (but not to me).    MEDITATION Body Experience I feel a warmth...

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Bat: Animal Meditation Club 11/17

Bat: Animal Meditation Club 11/17

By Lily Michaud Nov 17, 2025 0 Comments

This week, 11/17/25 we meditated with bat essence. As usual the animal is unknown to the participants (but not to me).  Meditation First Impressions:  •I see white wings on my...

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Crow: Animal Meditation Club

Crow: Animal Meditation Club

By Lily Michaud Nov 3, 2025 0 Comments

  This week, 11/3/25, we meditated with crow energy (link below, if you would like to experiment with it yourself). Experiences -Crow tells me to take two drops of crow...

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Introducing the Animal Meditation Club

Introducing the Animal Meditation Club

By Lily Michaud Oct 15, 2025 0 Comments

Learn about animal medicine through meditating with essences and learning from the ethology and folklore I share. In the video I talk about how the process works, my experiences with...

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Snake Meditation from Mysteries of the Serpent Essence

Snake Meditation from Mysteries of the Serpent Essence

By Lily Michaud Sep 9, 2025 0 Comments

Some of you know I am working on a book about nature medicine for thriving under oppression. I have some personal experience with this! As the political climate become more...

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Community Building: Herbalism, Networking, & Sustainable Projects

Community Building: Herbalism, Networking, & Sustainable Projects

By Lily Michaud Jul 9, 2025 0 Comments

This is an uplifting conversation with Herbalists Without Borders members Carolyn Jones, Amy Fabrikant, and Lily Michaud. We share strategies for working on herbal projects in the community. Not sure...

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PMC: Coast Redwood "Portland's Favorite Tree"

PMC: Coast Redwood "Portland's Favorite Tree"

By Lily Michaud May 12, 2025 0 Comments

This week, for Plant Meditation Club, we meditated on "Portland's Favorite Tree"! It is rumored to be Portland's largest tree and it is my neighbors (one of four clustered nearby)....

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Seed Grants from Herbalists Without Borders

Seed Grants from Herbalists Without Borders

By Lily Michaud May 5, 2025 0 Comments

I wanted to announce this exciting annual opportunity to get a seed grant (see video here) from Herbalists Without Borders. All members of HWB can apply (become a member here)....

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PMC: Cinquefoil

PMC: Cinquefoil

By Lily Michaud Mar 21, 2025 0 Comments

For our last plant meditation of this session we meditated with a very special plant, Cinquefoil. You may have heard it called any number of other names, including: Potentilla, five finger...

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PMC: Fúzǐ (zhi), 附子(製), Aconite as Medicine

PMC: Fúzǐ (zhi), 附子(製), Aconite as Medicine

By Lily Michaud Mar 10, 2025 0 Comments

WARNING: In its unprocessed form, Fúzǐ (zhi), 附子(製), Aconite is a deadly poison, even though skin contact! Known as “King of 100 herbs,” Aconite was a highly valued herb in classical...

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