Presenters

Ada-Belinda DancingLion, ND is a Naturopathic Doctor, Hypnotherapist, Certified Massage & Reflexology Professional, Aromatherapist, Certified Doula/Child Birth Assistant, traditional African/Native American Medicine Woman. Ada-Belinda is a Peace Warrior, Sun Dancer, Pipe Carrier, and Lodge Pourer in the Anishinabe' Nation, carrier of Eagle Medicine and 10 year member of the Iroquois Star Sisterhood of the Dancing Shields. Ada-Belinda's herbal training began at age 8 to her Lakota Sioux/Blackfoot great-grandmother.

ALisa Starkweather is a women's transformational leader, well-known for her inspirational message of empowerment, healing, community, and ritual. She is founder of the women’s mystery school, Priestess Path, the Women’s Belly and Womb Conferences, Daughters of the Earth Gatherings and the co-founder of the international women’s initiation, Women in Power; Initiating Ourselves to the Predator Within. She has three recordings of her chants and has recently launched the Red Tent Temple Movement which has grown to 17 states.

Amanda McQuade Crawford is a clinical herbalist, teacher, and the author of two popular books on women’s health, The Herbal Menopause Book and Herbal Remedies for Women. She was appointed the Senior Clinical Tutor at Canterbury College in New Zealand in 2005 and has appeared on What A Relief, a holistic cable television show. Amanda learns from plants, curanderas, and physicians around the world and she teaches in hospitals, medical schools, and open meadows. Her degree is from Britain’s College of Phytotherapy.

Anyaa McAndrew is a psychotherapist, ordained high-priestess, and teacher with 31 years experience in the sacred work of emotional, sexual, and spiritual healing. She’s facilitated The Shamanic Priestess Process ™, the Sexual Priestess Process™ and the Shamanic Magdalene Mysteries™ around the US and in Costa Rica, integrating a lifetime of therapeutic work with women. Anyaa is also a Master Shamanic Astrologer, Shamanic Breathwork Practitioner, Sacred Sexuality Educator, and Imago Couples Therapist.

Bevin Clare is a clincial herbalist, nutritionist, teacher, and Chair of the Herbal Division of the Master of Science in Herbal Medicine program at Tai Sophia Institute. She is also adjunct faculty at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and a guest researcher at the National Institutes of Health. She holds an MS in Infectious Disease from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Bevin serves on the board of directors of the United Plant Savers and the American Herbalists Guild.

Corinna Wood has opened the hearts of thousands to the wisdom of the plants and their own bodies. She is director of Red Moon Herbs, making herbal medicines from fresh, local plants, with a focus on women's health. Corinna's background includes an extensive apprenticeship with Susun Weed in 1993 as well as a B.S. in Biology. Corinna is certified as an herbalist, a fertility awareness teacher, and also in permaculture design. Corinna lives with her family at Earthaven Ecovillage, an intentional community in Black Mountain, NC.

Elizabeth Bloomquist, is a registered aromatherapist, herbalist, flower essence practitioner, and farmer. Her passion for living with nature has developed into Green Jade Herbal, an Asheville-based business and farm where she lives and teaches about the land and its resources for food and medicine. She focuses on subtle and nutritional healing modalities and has created a line of herbal and aromatherapy products, working natural remedies into everyday products and routines.

Jessica Godino, co-founder of Red Moon Herbs and graduate of the wise woman herbal training with Susun Weed, is a Asheville-based licensed acupuncturist and herbal teacher at the Appalachian School of Herbal Medicine. She aspires to bring the perspective and wisdom of eastern herbalism to deepen an understanding of western herbs.

Kathleen Maier, PA was introduced to herbal medicines while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Chile in 1978. She has studied with indigenous cultures in Belize, Mexico and Costa Rica and spent time researching botanicals in Ireland. Kathleen graduated from Hahnemann Medical School's Physician Assistant program and teaches physicians, nurses and other allied health professionals. She has had a private practice for 20 years, is a Reiki III teacher, and lectures nationally at symposia and conferences.

Lady Spirit Moon is a counselor, educator, and author of My Journey to Peace with PTSD which is based on her recovery from childhood incest and a violent rape that had been suppressed since 1963. Drawing on her 40 years of spiritual counseling and her Cherokee/Lakota heritage, she educates on sexual assault and PTSD and helps women work through their anger from abuse and trauma. Lady is also a fiber artist, certified herbalist, and an ordained minister.

Patricia Kyritsi Howell, RH (AHG), is the author of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians and director of BotanoLogos, an herb school in northeast Georgia that emphasizes the edible and medicinal plants of the Southern Appalachians. She is co-owner of Wild Crete, a travel company that offers travel seminars on native herbs, wildflowers and traditional cuisines on the Greek island of Crete.

Phyllis D. Light is a fourth generation herbalist, consultant, and author with over 25 years of healing experience. Her early teachings came from her grandmother, whose herbal knowledge had its roots in her Creek/Cherokee lineage. Phyllis is the Director of Herbal Studies at Clayton College of Natural Health and an American Herbalist Guild professional member. She is the author of The Practices and Principles of Appalachian Medicine.

Rowan Farrell Trombetta is a midwife, massage therapist, teacher, health practitioner, and Directress of Mamatoto Holistic Doula Immersion program in Asheville, NC. She was trained in Holistic Midwifery through an extensive Apprenticeship in the Wise Woman Tradition and assisted in establishing The Matrona Midwifery School. Rowan practices Cranial Sacral Therapy, offers CEU programs in Pregnancy Massage, is a faculty member at Asheville Massage & Yoga School, is an artist, and mother of three.

Sierra Hollister is a certified yoga teacher in both Kundalini and Ashtanga yoga and has been teaching in Asheville for fourteen years. It is her deepest hope to uplift and empower others to return to the vitality, health, and happiness that is their birthright. Sierra is an environmental and political activist and co-owns Sundance Power Systems, a local renewable energy business. She lives with her family on a beautiful moutnain farm in Western North Carolina.

Suki Roth is a Community Herbalist and Educator in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Years ago she co-founded the Piedmont School of Herbal Studies which has transformed into a sought after Wise Woman Apprenticeship Program. Her greatest teachers are the plants themselves, communicating to her their unique gifts during plant meditation. Her line of teas and tinctures, Suki's Blends, are a natural extension of the plant knowledge received. Growing, exploring, and communicating her love for plants is her life's passion.

Susan Rubin, DDS is a dentist, holistic nutritionist, educator, consultant, public health activist, and a mother of three. She lectures nationally and offers effective drug-free solutions for a wide range of health concerns largely through food and lifestyle changes. She is the founder of Better School Food and one of the Two Angry Moms, now a documentary film, based on the movement to improve school food.