As political tensions escalate and the healthcare system continues to fail Black and Brown communities, the need for self-reliance in health has never been more apparent. Master Herbalist Karen Rose, with over 15 years of experience at Sacred Vibes Apothecary in Brooklyn, is intensifying her mission: to empower Black, Indigenous, and people of colour to reclaim their health through ancestral healing traditions.
When Rose established Sacred Vibes Apothecary, her objective was clear: to teach her community how to heal themselves using ancient practices. Growing up in Guyana, she was surrounded by healers who used bones, plants, family, and scripture to aid those in need. She understood that different ailments required different types of healers, ensuring there was always someone to turn to for support.
Today, Rose’s holistic approach, deeply rooted in the synergy of African, Caribbean, Asian, and Latin American healing traditions, is not just necessary; it is vital in a world where mainstream healthcare often neglects Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. By empowering her community to take control of their health through ancestral healing practices, Rose offers an alternative to the failing healthcare system and promotes a deeper understanding of health and wellness.
Rose believes herbalism is not just about the physical properties of herbs. It’s about understanding them on an energetic and ancestral level. This perspective drives her mission to train new healers and equip them to serve their communities, especially in these uncertain times.
Through her apothecary, botánica, and spice shop, Rose provides Brooklyn with bulk herbs, herbal remedies, and various healing tools. As more people lose access to health insurance, Rose emphasises that caring for one’s health is possible and affordable. She reminds her students and Instagram followers (@EmpressKarenRose) that our ancestors knew how to care for their bodies even without modern medical resources.
With health insurance costs rising and healthcare becoming increasingly inaccessible, focusing on self-care and prevention is more important than ever. “We uplift our ancestors’ teachings, honour and revere their work, and align ourselves with their traditional practices to heal our generations forward and backwards,” Rose asserts.
This year’s conference theme, A Healer in Every Home, is not just timely but essential. Sacred Vibes Apothecary’s annual Herbalism Conference is now in its seventh year – designed to educate and empower Black healers and our brothers and sisters in other communities interested in learning. This event focuses on Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples and anyone who shares our mission of promoting ancestral healing traditions and reclaiming health.
The three-day event begins with the Black Herbalist Convergence on 4th October 2024 – the first event of its kind specifically for Black Herbalists to gather, elevate, celebrate, and educate one another, followed by two powerful, nourishing, and informative conference days on 5th-6th October 2024, focusing on bringing healing into every home.
A Healer in Every Home is more than a theme; it’s a call to action. The conference offers tools for anyone ready to step up as a holistic healer in their home and community. Knowing essential herbal remedies can reduce time in waiting rooms, save on medical costs, and restore the body’s balance naturally without relying on pharmaceuticals.
Rose comments, “Reconnecting with ancestral herbal remedies is a form of sovereignty and communal power, particularly for Black and Indigenous communities often neglected by an overwhelmed healthcare system. We honour our ancestors and reclaim control over our health by embracing these traditions.”