The Animá Medicine Woman Tradition: A Modern Path with Ancient Roots

The Animá Medicine Woman Tradition was developed by Kiva Rose with the help of Jesse Wolf Hardin – to answer the need for a female-centric study and practice, devoted to emotional, spiritual, bodily and planetary healing. Throughout human history there have been certain women who felt called to the demanding role, as truth-sayers, healers, agents of nature and the great mystery, intermediaries between the visible and invisible or spirit worlds, and repositories of wisdom and story. Such women have been suppressed or even persecuted over the course of the past 500 or so years, and been increasingly sidelined in the modern age by invasive allopathic practices, the synthetic drug industry, and a hegemony of institutionally indoctrinated male doctors. While holistic herbalism and naturopathy are on the rise again, they often follow the same errant Heroic model of intervention and cure that besets the larger industry. Likewise, models of alternative medicine often suffer from superficiality, commercialism, well meaning nonsense and New Age superficiality. The Medicine Woman Tradition is a return to earlier iconic practices, reviving the role of the wise woman healer who points out the lessons and benefits of trauma as well as the miraculous natural means for wellness. And like never before, this is a tradition dedicated not only to the wholeness of the self, but also to the whole of life…

From the wild New Mexico mountains to the sheltered Appalachian hollers, to the bustling seaport marketplaces to the troubled ghettos of Midwestern cities, the Medicine Woman walks the same winding path of growth and challenge. Whether dressed in personal costume or cultural camouflage, she remains true to herself and her calling. In the woven wool warmth of New England farms, the simple black silk of the Capitol city, the cowboy hats of the still wild Rockies or the faded denim of Kansas City factories she is always present and comfortable in her own skin. From every conceivable walk of life, culture and heritage, the Medicine Woman has no uniform, single locality or specific language. Yet she can be recognized by her honor, her service and her wisdom. By her propensity to gather weedy greens for her dinner, by her love of the living earth, and perhaps by her bag bulging with pungent roots, skin soothing salves, sweet smelling oils and colorfully labeled tincture bottles.

In the Medicine Woman’s everyday life, whether she works as a secretary, waitress, farmer or attorney, she employs her compassion, knowledge and wisdom throughout the day. Though she may never actually vocalize any direct reference to herbs, healing or the Medicine Woman Tradition, her coworkers, friends and companions will know her as a healer, as a nurturer and as fiercely honest warrior woman who walks with integrity, intention and focus. The Medicine Woman, even if she earns her living as an herbalist or massage therapist, knows that her special calling is not just a vocation or hobby. Rather, it is a lifelong commitment to a role and way of life that she lives in each motion, word and choice. What may have begun as curiosity, entertainment or job, becomes the driving motivation behind her every action.

She understands her life as one of service to herself, others and the greater whole. Each decision, no matter how simple or small, must reflect that understanding. Sensitive, empathic and sometimes painfully aware of her need to contribute in a significant way to the world, she strives to feel deeply and respond fully according to her own unique abilities and propensities. Anima teaches that every moment is the decisive moment, every choice pivotal, and every action of great consequence. She is response-able, able to respond to the shifting balance of her self, relationships, surroundings and world. The Medicine Woman rallies when there are things to be done and accepts credit for her accomplishments, every day consciously co-creating her world and her life.

-from The Medicine Woman’s Herbal by Kiva Rose