As a herbalist, who is deeply connected to the earth, the elements and the natural world, I realize that in order to heal, we must remember that we as humans are an intricate part of the web of life and not separate from it. The earth is truly our home and our primary source of deep nourishment and connection to the divine. It is through this connection that we find healing, meaning and direction on our life path. I understand that we cannot be healthy if our environment is not, as we are in our essence, one and the same. I am truly honored and blessed to have the opportunity to assist and guide my clients on this journey of healing and reconnecting.

MY JOURNEY

I began my deep immersive study of healing over 40 years ago when I was in my mid-20s, driven by my own confusing, difficult and persistent health challenges. Like so many who end up in the alternative healing fields, I could not find answers in the Western medical model so I began what was to become a life long and circuitous journey through the seemingly endless maze of alternative healing methods and modalities. While this provided me with the great gift of a very broad and inclusive education in nutrition and the field of alternative medicine, it did not give me the answers I sought or relief from my own suffering.

Ultimately in 1994, I discovered my deep love of herbs and plant medicine through apprenticing with my first and most beloved herbal teacher, Rosemary Gladstar. Along with the magic and medicine of the plant world, I was also introduced to the concept that the emotional and spiritual state of a person can profoundly affect their mental health and physical body. For me, this was the missing piece and it opened up and expanded healing into the world of the soul and spirit, metaphysics, the quantum field and beyond. This cultivated deep within me an even more profound passion for understanding and embracing all aspects of the healing process.

I am a mom of two wonderful spirited humans and a grandma of a most delightful and soulful little one. I live in central Vermont on a small herb farm with my partner in life where we grow and lovingly tend the plants and aminals we share space with here. We make all the medicines and herbal products right here on the farm with love, intention and deep reverence and gratitude. I feel honored and blessed to be walking this earth life at this time of great change and possibility.

CREDENTIALS

HERBAL & AROMATHERAPY

Susan has been a practicing community herbalist and teacher for 30 years. She apprenticed with Rosemary Gladstar in 1994 and completed her advanced herbal training in 2005. She has continued her studies ever since with many of the leading herbal experts and teachers of our time, including: David Winston, Tieraona Low Dog, Stephen Buhner, David Hoffmann, Christopher Hobbs, Deb Soule, Mindy Green, Kathi Keville, and many others. She is a graduate of the Ayurvedic Integration Program from the Ayurvedic Center of Vermont, and has informal training in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Homeopathy. Susan is a certified Aromatherapist through the school of Herbs and Aromatics.

STONE MEDICINE

Susan is a certified Daoist stone medicine practitioner. She continues her study of stone medicine with Sarah Thomas and the Upper Clarity School of Stone Medicine.

SHAMANISM & EARTH BASED PRACTICES

Susan has studied and mentored for 20+years with Dr Rocío Alarcón, an ethno-botanist with ancestral roots in the lineages of the curanderas of the Ecuadorian Andes. She studied ancestral healing with Dr Alberto Villoldo, Christina Pratt and Linda Fitch. She was initiated into the Rites of the Munay Ki in 2020 with Dr Alberto Villoldo and Marcella Lobos.

MEDICAL INTUITION & HANDS-ON HEALING

Susan is a certified Medical Intuitive through Dr. Mona Lisa Schultz. She holds certifications in several hands-on healing modalities including Reiki, Healing and Therapuetic Touch, and has studied several others.

TRAUMA WORK

Since 2015, Susan has worked at SafeArt, a non-profit organization for traumatized adults and children. She facilitates the Healing Arts for adults groups. This approach utilizes creative modalities such as: art, movement, meditation, mindfulness, breathing and vagus nerve exercises to teach tools and coping strategies for dealing with and healing trauma and the stress of daily life.

BUSINESS OWNER

Susan is the founder/owner and formulator of Wild Hill Soap and Herbals of Vermont, a small herbal product business serving vermont and beyond since 1995.