Lori Wilkins - Natural Wellness Guide, Clinical Herbalist
Sharing the magnificence of the natural world with others brings me great joy and purpose. Since early childhood I love wandering and playing in the creeks, fields, and forests of the Appalachian Mountains. Exploring through infinite curiosity and innocent experimentation helped me understand how the world functions and how my actions can affect everything, directly and vicariously. Because of the profound encounters nature has offered throughout my life, I enjoy guiding others into wild places and sharing ways to physically and spiritually connect with the natural world, as well as teaching about edible and medicinal plants.
Many formative experiences during my childhood led to my lifelong work in the out of doors. Once when I was perhaps 6 years old, my father took a break from mowing the grass to have some water. A small butterfly landed on his head and stayed for a long time. As a *slightly* impatient child I couldn’t believe that he wasn’t making it go away and his response was, “It’s not bothering me.” He treated many creatures with this relaxed attitude and simple interactions such as this helped shape how I strive to view other beings, with warmth and affection rather than annoyance, fear, or indifference.
Since my teens, I have approached life and study with a holistic viewpoint. In 2006 I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University with a focus on clinical and biological psychology. My research project was based on the discipline of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive.
While investigating the depths of the psyche at the meeting place in the physical body, I began building my perspective that we are all on our own personal life journeys. It is imperative to understand that each individual is living from their own perspective based on how they were raised and the beliefs and values they hold dear. This means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness and I continually aim to meet people where they are in their own lives.
In the fall of 2007 I attended an Outdoor Educator Semester at the National Outdoor Leadership School and obtained an Outdoor Leadership Certificate and Leave No Trace Master Certification. Since that time I have kept current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certifications from the Wilderness Medicine Institute. For over a decade I have been an Environmental and Adventure Educator, with experience and knowledge of the forests and deserts of Oregon, Utah, the Rocky Mountains, and Southern Appalachia. Through NOLS I learned nuances of a myriad of technical outdoor skills and how to go with the flow when all around me might seem like it’s in disarray. Offering some of this immense spectrum of skills to others is an important part of the work I bring to the world.
Learning to move through the natural world with ease has been an important part of my life, along with studying the pieces and parts of the places I visit. Starting in 2012, I began nearly 2000 hours in formal training in medicinal and edible plants, 400 of which were in apprenticeship from the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine. I also attended the Appalachian School of Holistic Herbalism, as well as various conferences, classes, and workshops. As a Clinical Herbalist, a crucial aspect of my wilderness work is conveying the significance of the plants humans have used for eons.
In 2004 I began studying Yang Style Tai Chi 37 postures and various styles of Qi Gong and meditation. These practices taught me to ground my self and live from a place of compassion, joy, and self-awareness. In 2012 my teacher, Wilson Pitts, endorsed me to offer these skills to others. In my experience, natural settings are one of the best places to cultivate one’s Chi.
I go outside because I am compelled to. I long to feel the sun and breeze on my skin, to smell fresh rain or delicious flowers, to rest among stately trees or along river banks. In January 2008 I moved to the awe-inspiring Appalachian mountains near Asheville, NC so that I may regularly experience these sensations. Join me for a wild excursion and I will be excited to share my passions for plants, movement, medicine, and outdoor adventure with you!
Sharing the magnificence of the natural world with others brings me great joy and purpose. Since early childhood I love wandering and playing in the creeks, fields, and forests of the Appalachian Mountains. Exploring through infinite curiosity and innocent experimentation helped me understand how the world functions and how my actions can affect everything, directly and vicariously. Because of the profound encounters nature has offered throughout my life, I enjoy guiding others into wild places and sharing ways to physically and spiritually connect with the natural world, as well as teaching about edible and medicinal plants.
Many formative experiences during my childhood led to my lifelong work in the out of doors. Once when I was perhaps 6 years old, my father took a break from mowing the grass to have some water. A small butterfly landed on his head and stayed for a long time. As a *slightly* impatient child I couldn’t believe that he wasn’t making it go away and his response was, “It’s not bothering me.” He treated many creatures with this relaxed attitude and simple interactions such as this helped shape how I strive to view other beings, with warmth and affection rather than annoyance, fear, or indifference.
Since my teens, I have approached life and study with a holistic viewpoint. In 2006 I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University with a focus on clinical and biological psychology. My research project was based on the discipline of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive.
While investigating the depths of the psyche at the meeting place in the physical body, I began building my perspective that we are all on our own personal life journeys. It is imperative to understand that each individual is living from their own perspective based on how they were raised and the beliefs and values they hold dear. This means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness and I continually aim to meet people where they are in their own lives.
In the fall of 2007 I attended an Outdoor Educator Semester at the National Outdoor Leadership School and obtained an Outdoor Leadership Certificate and Leave No Trace Master Certification. Since that time I have kept current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certifications from the Wilderness Medicine Institute. For over a decade I have been an Environmental and Adventure Educator, with experience and knowledge of the forests and deserts of Oregon, Utah, the Rocky Mountains, and Southern Appalachia. Through NOLS I learned nuances of a myriad of technical outdoor skills and how to go with the flow when all around me might seem like it’s in disarray. Offering some of this immense spectrum of skills to others is an important part of the work I bring to the world.
Learning to move through the natural world with ease has been an important part of my life, along with studying the pieces and parts of the places I visit. Starting in 2012, I began nearly 2000 hours in formal training in medicinal and edible plants, 400 of which were in apprenticeship from the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine. I also attended the Appalachian School of Holistic Herbalism, as well as various conferences, classes, and workshops. As a Clinical Herbalist, a crucial aspect of my wilderness work is conveying the significance of the plants humans have used for eons.
In 2004 I began studying Yang Style Tai Chi 37 postures and various styles of Qi Gong and meditation. These practices taught me to ground my self and live from a place of compassion, joy, and self-awareness. In 2012 my teacher, Wilson Pitts, endorsed me to offer these skills to others. In my experience, natural settings are one of the best places to cultivate one’s Chi.
I go outside because I am compelled to. I long to feel the sun and breeze on my skin, to smell fresh rain or delicious flowers, to rest among stately trees or along river banks. In January 2008 I moved to the awe-inspiring Appalachian mountains near Asheville, NC so that I may regularly experience these sensations. Join me for a wild excursion and I will be excited to share my passions for plants, movement, medicine, and outdoor adventure with you!