Alison Ritchie

Women's Health & Wellness

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December 3, 2013 ilse

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CTV news

Alison Ritchie talks about Sacred Pregnancy classes live, on CTV news, August 10th, watch it here!

Categories

Categories

Awakenings

Awakening Fertility is a holistic approach to entering the childbearing year. Ali was interviewed for this book and pictures were taken at her home.

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“As all births begin, within the dark of the wom

“As all births begin, within the dark of the womb or in the moist dark of the earth. The start of the dark half of the year was a period of chaos and dissolution, breaking ground for the new cycle of growth to come.” - Ellen Evert Hopman
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#birth #death #herbs #herbalmedicine #apothecary #doula #birthkeeper #postpartum #darkness #samhain

In my 14 years of birth keeping and traditional po

In my 14 years of birth keeping and traditional postpartum care work, I have walked intimately alongside both birth and death. It really all comes from the same place. It’s impossible not to be aware of the cycles that affect individuals and the greater collective when you do this work.

On my journey I have learned to extract minerals from bones, energy from roots, and life force from dried plants with the goal to create vehicles for that energy to get into a mother’s body.

And I know when it has landed because it’ll show up as the light behind her eyes, or the spark driving her laugh, or the colour in her field.

It’s not something that can be measured per se, but it’s something that can be felt and seen. It affects the way she moves through and experiences the world.

Traditional Foods and Herbal Medicine are deeply rooted in the truth. Not my truth, or your truth, but THE truth. It works with the blueprint of our bodies, and as a result, Mother’s build strong spiritual bridges to cross over in their rite-of-passage. But it also creates physically strong and resilient bodies and bridges for babies to cross into this world on.

In the northern hemisphere, we are in the season of death, decay and transformation. The pendulum has swung from light to dark where it rests, and heals, and lays the ground work for something new to be born. We have to understand this place on the wheel of life. It cannot be perpetual endless summers and forever 21. We have to get off the train, and walk around, and really try to understand death in order to serve here.

Energy never dies, it transforms. Death is really just birth if you look at it from a different angle.

My upcoming course for Birth and Postpartum workers will be on a presale soon! I want to deep dive with women who desire to add new holistic services to their practices, and create a wave of practitioners fluent is the language of life, death, roots and bones, so they can be on the front lines helping mothers build those bridges.

More soon….

Photo by @elliana_allon

#birth #birthkeeper #doula #postpartum #postpartumdoula #death #traditionalfoods #herbalmedicine #herbs #mother #baby

It’s all relative and a big red flag that we hav

It’s all relative and a big red flag that we have strayed down the wrong path for too long. 🚩

Depletion, exhaustion, and erosion are all signs that we are not replacing what we are giving out.
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In my upcoming course for Birth and Postpartum workers, we are going to deep dive into Traditional Foods + Herbal Medicine, and how we can apply these tried and true methods, recipes, and skills not only to the Mothers we are working with, but to ourselves as Birth workers.

We need to understand the micro and macro of what’s happening right now, while serving from overflow and abundance, helping to create solid foundations for families moving forward.

Strong families are foundational for strong communities. 💪🏽💓

Presale you this course is happening in just a few weeks! Get your free copy of my Ebook through the link in my bio and stay up to date on all the latest as it unfolds.

Please share with the all the Birth + Postpartum workers in your life! 🙏🏼😘
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#birth #birthworker #birthkeeper #postpartum #postpartumdoula #traditionalfoods #herbs #herbalmedicine #woman #mother #baby #soilhealth #permaculture #depletion #postpartumdepression #foundations

After a couple of hard frosts, the energy of plant

After a couple of hard frosts, the energy of plants retreat into the roots, making it a powerful time to harvest them. They are like little store houses of energy and many of them help assist in the body’s autumnal internal housekeeping.

Shift with the seasons…follow nature’s lead.

All the leaves on the trees have fallen leaving them with their bare bones exposed too. I refer to this time of year as *Roots and Bones* season… and it’s a personal favourite.

The energy within us retreats inward as well. A potent time to stoke your internal fire 🔥 and dive deep into some creative projects.

An old picture from 2019, but the message is evergreen.
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#herbs #herbalallies #plants #garden #permaculture #roots #bones #firecider #shift #seasonalshifts #plantspiritmedicine #cycles

I’m currently developing a course for birth + po

I’m currently developing a course for birth + postpartum workers that magnifies the importance of traditional foods and herbal medicine within the childbearing year.
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As women who walk alongside the mothers bringing new life into this world, it seems to me that we should all be fluent in the language of deep nourishment and how we can support life in this way.
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Creating meals RICH in the elements that support mothers and babes is a foundational pillar that could use far more attention.
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Stay up to date on course details and the latest by signing up for my newsletter! Click the link in my bio and get your FREE Ebook, and please share with any birth worker in your life. ❤️
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#traditionalfoods #healthyfats #mothers #healthypregnancy #feedyourdna #ancestralwisdom #cooking #wholefoods #realfood #pregnancy #breastmilk #doula #holisticdoula #ritesofpassage #birth #birthkeeper #postpartum #postpartumdoula

Hawthorn + Rosehips Harvest ❤️ Both from the

Hawthorn + Rosehips Harvest ❤️

Both from the rose family 🌹 and are:
• incredible heart medicine in their own way
• a storehouse of vitamins + medicinal properties
• rich in Celtic Folklore
• really just an absolute joy to work with (harvesting can be a challenge though with all those thorns and spikes!)
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It was a beautiful weekend soaking up all the golds, oranges and deep reds of Autumn. I feel like it’s important to be amongst all these colours, and just breathing and taking them all in before we are enveloped by white for the foreseeable future.

The first day I harvested berries with my daughter on a hike, and the second day my mom came out and the two of us harvested piles more. Great way to pass time with my two favourite ladies.

I’m going to dry some berries for my home apothecary to make teas and decoctions in the winter, infuse some Rosehips for a serum, make a Hawthorn tincture, and my dear Mum is going to make jam for us. ❤️
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What do you make with these beauties?
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If you’re looking to start your own home apothecary and medicine garden, click the link in my bio and get your free copy of my ebook 🪴7 Powerful Herbs for your Medicine Garden.
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It’s always a great time to get acquainted with nature and her gifts.
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#herbs #herbalmedicine #herbalist #permaculture #growyourown #apothecary #homeapothecary #wildcrafting #heartmedicine #energetics

My hands are raw after stripping mugwort and other

My hands are raw after stripping mugwort and other dried herbs off the stalk for most the afternoon.
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It is so fulfilling restocking my jars with fresh herbs for the cold months ahead. Getting your hands on the plants is the best way to learn about their properties and gifts. Tasting, smelling and touching their leaves is so much better than reading about them in books.
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Full of folklore and myth, my crush on mugwort is stronger than ever.
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#herbs #herbalist #folklore #celticfolklore #mugwort #artemisia #permaculture #garden #prairiegarden #harvest #apothecary #homeapothecary #pachamama #plantspiritmedicine

So many herbs to harvest these days! 🌿🌝 I lo

So many herbs to harvest these days! 🌿🌝 I love this time of year so much with the days getting shorter and the hot days and cool evenings.
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Trying to spend as much time as I possibly can with my feet on the earth, hands in the dirt, and soaking up the sun! Praying that autumn stretches well into November! (I know that’s a long shot, but we hardly had a spring here!)
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I have copious amounts of catnip, mugwort and marshmallow this year. I’ll be listing them as loose herbs in my shop in a few weeks if you’re interested in getting your hands on some.
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Also the final batch of St. John’s Wort oil is listed in the shop! Once it’s gone that’s it until next year! ❤️
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Have a beautiful weekend! 🌝🌿
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#herbs #herbalist #plantmedicine #pachamama #plantspiritmedicine #stjohnswort #medicinalherbs #permaculture #livingsoil #nongmo #garden #prairiegarden

Photo dump from this past week. 🌿 There is jus

Photo dump from this past week. 🌿

There is just so much colour and beauty all around this time of year!

I’ve been harvesting beautiful plant allies, spending time recalibrating in nature, and preparing for a class I’ll be hosting online soon on shifting your body to align with the changing season and instructions on making a classic herbal remedy!
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Stay tuned! 💕🌿
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#wildcrafting #herbs #plantmedicine #herbalist #permaculture #homeapothecary #shift #radicalresponsibility #prepping #firecider #harvesting #tcm

Drizzly day vibes… It’s a real multitasking k

Drizzly day vibes…

It’s a real multitasking kind of day! I’m getting caught up on putting dried herbs away, bottling potions and updating my website, and putting the finishing touches on my free ebook!

Feeling my fire coming back!

Hope you’re all having a beautiful day. ❤️
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#herbs #herbalist #permaculture #garden #greenhousegardening #entrepreneur

I watched the most magical sunrise this morning wi

I watched the most magical sunrise this morning with my dog. The sky changed and transformed from golds and pinks and lavenders to cool blues. Fog danced on the water, eventually disappearing as the sun broke though.

Such a holy hour of the day.

I put my arm around my dog and pulled her in close and kissed her face. She looked up into my eyes and we shared a sweet moment; both of us knowing we were witnessing a spectacular show, and it seemed just for us.

I put my other hand over my swelling heart in awe and wonder and gratitude for my life.

Just a human, and her dog, being.

#sunrise #humanexperience #golden #gratitude

I have never slowed down as much as I have this su

I have never slowed down as much as I have this summer, and yet somehow all the plans and projects and dreams are all unfolding perfectly.
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I’ve slept in every day this summer. Sometimes rest is the best medicine.
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Who knew you could do such a thing and still be so on track? 🤷🏽‍♀️ Also leaning in to this whole “projector” thing with Human Design. 🤯
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Being as present in the moment as I possibly can, sitting in the green and watching the light dance, receiving the downloads, saying the prayers and releasing the distractions.
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I hope you’re all having an amazing summer. 💓
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#garden #prairiegarden #permaculture #herbalist #herbgarden

I have a small batch of this oil ready… more com

I have a small batch of this oil ready… more coming soon! I’ll be in the city tomorrow if you want to waive shipping use the code LOCAL and you can pick your order up! Bottles come with a pump top now. 🙌🏽
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This beautiful, vivid oil is an absolute powerhouse in all the realms! If you look at the leaves they form a perfect cross, which the doctrine of signatures would suggest makes it a protective plant! ⚔️
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When used as an oil and absorbed through the skin, it does not act on the liver but focuses its action on mending skin conditions, nerve pain and damage, acne, psoriasis, arthritis, varicose veins, sciatica, sprains, growing pains, shingles, burns and minor wounds.
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You can tell just by looking at this plant that it hold a lot of power! Historically SJW was woven into wreaths, talismans, amulets and hung over doorways and mantles to dispel evil. 🛡📿🧿
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It blooms right around the summer solstice and gained much of its fame when it was discovered as an alternative to pharmaceuticals to help with depression. SJW is said to capture the suns energy and can help dispel melancholy, SAD, and the winter blues. It’s sunshine in a bottle! I have found it to be such a powerful plant ally for the long and cold northern climate where we lack sunshine on our skin for at least a half a year!
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SJW is in the top ten herbs used in Western Herbal Medicine! This is only touching the surface of the benefits and gifts of this plant. It only comes around once a year so when its gone, its gone! (Until next year ;)) Link is in my bio to order yours!
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As always, this product is organic, home grown, hand made, high vibrational, plant alchemy for your very own Grand Voyage.
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#grandvoyageherbals #SJW #stjohnswort #stjohnswortoil #herbs #handmade #artisinal #herbalist #apothecary #homeapothecary #garden #prairiegarden #nerve #nervepain #sunshineinabottle #depression #SAD #wintercare #selfcare #skinconditions

The wild rose harvest continues… 🌸 . Lilac, L

The wild rose harvest continues… 🌸
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Lilac, Lavender and Wild Rose body oil now back in stock for the season!
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This oil has a beautiful feminine, light hearted spirit to it. Great for adding to a daily practice, grounding the nervous system and connecting in with yourself.
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There’s a link in my bio under Grand Voyage Herbals for you to get yours. 🌸
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#wildrose #plantspiritmedicine #lilac #lavender #bodyoil #plantarmour #nervoussystemcare #rewild #wildharvest #wildfeminine #wildcrafting #smallbatch #handmade #diyapothecary #apothecary

Actual dream made manifest. 🙌🏽 Took years of

Actual dream made manifest. 🙌🏽 Took years of work to make it happen and now I’m just sitting here looking around amazed, proud and bubbling with ideas.
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Growing food and medicine is no joke over here. 😅
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Let’s see how much food we can produce with this growing season extender!
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#greenhouse #greenhousegardening #permaculture #foodforest #foodsovereignty #growyourown #growyourownveggies #foodasmedicine #manifest #hardwork #fulfillment #garden

Lots of rain means lots of weeds and mosquitoes, b

Lots of rain means lots of weeds and mosquitoes, but I’m not complaining. The trees, perennials and plants need a deep watering and it’s all paying off. I haven’t seen my raspberries so lush in years! Plus it gives frees up so much time! The last 4 years I put in so much time just trying to keep the trees and plants from drying out!

New moon in Cancer! Tending to the homestead seems fitting. 🌚 ♋️

Thank you so much for all the help today, Corey!! ❤️
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#foodforest #garden #growyourown #growyourownveggies #foodsecurity #permaculture #foodsovereignty #beungovernable #greenhouse #greenhousegardening #seedsaving #backyardchickens #wildfood #herbs #herbalist #medicinalherbs

While we may be in for a year of mosquitoes, the p

While we may be in for a year of mosquitoes, the plants are such rejoicing with all the rain! My garden seemed to have doubled in size since I was in there last. 😅
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The medicinal & culinary herbs are exploding. Strawberries, raspberries, hops, comfrey, and cherries too! 🍒
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I love how nothing goes to waste. I love the living ecosystem. I love how life feeds life.
Happy Monday!
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#growyourown #growyourownveggies #greenhouse #greenhousegardening #foodsovereignty #prepper #supplychain #zone3 #zone3gardening #wildedibles #foraging #wildcrafting #prairiegarden #garden #permaculture

Morning harvests in June. Possibly my favourite. 💚💜
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Lilacs, chamomile and dill. Nature rejoices and I love to be here to witness it.
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Have a beautiful weekend!
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#harvest #lilacs #dill #chamomile #herbs #herbgarden #herbalist #growyourown #permaculture #prepper #growyourownfood

Completely obsessed with the beauty of all the blo

Completely obsessed with the beauty of all the blossoming trees. 🌸 I just stood in front of this work of art for an hour taking in all the different angles the sun reflects in it, the way it glows and flows in the breeze, and just stuck my head right in the middle and let myself be surrounded by the most uplifting aromas wafting off.
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Bees buzzing all throughout… talk about high vibes. 🐝
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Takes me back to when I lived in Japan and witnessing all the cherry blossoms open and spring festivities begin. #sakura
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Making a hydrosol with these petals to capture the magic 💕
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#plantspiritmedicine #hydrosol #herbalist #blossoms #plumblossoms #herbs #herbalmedicine #highvibe #higherfrequency

Been busy being a human *being*. 💆🏽‍♀️

Been busy being a human *being*. 💆🏽‍♀️
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Shifted gears ways down and living each day moment by moment.
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Sitting under the blossoming trees, watching life burst forth from the earth and being 100% present with my family & friends seems like the most important things to be doing these days.
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Have a beautiful day, everyone!

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