🌿 Listening to the Land

Hey friends,

One of the most important parts of my herbal practice has always been listening in stillness. When I find a plant in the wild, I sit with it, watching how it grows, who its neighbors are, what insects visit, and how the light touches its leaves. Over time, this practice becomes less about identifying herbs and more about understanding the relationship, how every part of the ecosystem speaks to and depends on one another.

And among all the voices of the land, the birds are often the first to speak.

Everywhere I go — from the high deserts of Colorado to the humid jungles of the Amazon — I find myself listening to the birds. On Matsés territory, I woke each morning to the song of orioles weaving their drooping nests from the canopy above, cutting into the cacophony of thousands of bird calls. As the sun set, their voices gave way to the chorus of frogs and insects, the forest trading one language of life for another, setting the pace of each day.

Back home in the Rockies, I love to take my binoculars out to our local parks and on trails as I set out to listen for birds. Light tapping noises might reveal the presence of a downy woodpecker or a black-capped chickadee. Perhaps a blue or Steller’s jay cries out to warn the woods of a golden eagle or American kestrel flying nearby. In the garden, I witness ruby-throated hummingbirds bouncing between agastache flowers, and golden finches plucking Japanese beetles off the leaves. It’s the magpies that call me back into presence. They’re curious, communal, and wildly intelligent, always reminding me that play and communication are medicines, too. Recently, a flash of blue and rust — a kingfisher darting across a stream — caught my eye and reminded me how to move confidently through murky waters, how to trust the dive.

These moments of attention, of listening in full presence, are what inspire my artwork. Each design begins with a relationship, a moment of connection with the living world. This flows through my mind as it contemplates numerology, sacred geometry, plants, color, and patterns to create graphic designs.

As we begin to transition from the Kambô Collection into a new chapter inspired by the flora and fauna of the Rocky Mountains, I’m reminded that the practice remains the same: listen, observe, and create from reverence.

We’re working on building up more designs to release as the Fall and Winter unfold, featuring an array of birds, animals, and plants of the Rocky Mountains. We’re working to have some new products available during Holiday Markets. Until then, I invite you to take a quiet moment outdoors, breathe deeply, and listen to the land where you are. There’s always something waiting to be heard.

Have you been inspired by any plants or animals you’ve witnessed recently? I’d love to hear about it! Just hit reply and tell me about what bird or plant caught your attention recently.

In presence,

Founder, Earth Medicine Apparel Co.

Holiday Vending Events

• Saturday, November 22nd - CSCH Annual Holiday Faire | 10-4:30 | Lafayette, CO

• Friday, November 28th - Black Friday Artisan Market | 10-3:00 | Denver, CO

• Saturday, December 13th - Highlands Bazaar | 10-4:30 | Denver, CO