Dear Fam,
The new moon is a great time to let go of old energy, be grateful for the journey that has shaped us into the person we are today, and set some intentions for the person we are becoming.
The old energy that I am letting go of is a pervasive fear that has encaged my heart for far too long. It’s a fear of not being good enough, of not belonging, of rejection, of failure. I realized that the only thing this low-level, pervasive, subconscious fear was accomplishing was robbing me of my joy and keeping me from being present and open to all of the good things that life offers on a regular basis.
I have so much gratitude for the journey that has led me here. As a sensitive, chubby little homeschooled kid I often felt like I didn’t belong and had a hard time making friends. I found solace in the company of women, in the creative arts, and in nature. This led me down the path of an artist and eventually an herbalist.
My intention for Fam is to create a space for people to experience a deeper connection with the earth and with our plant relatives. That’s where the name Fam comes from. It’s the acknowledgment of plants as our relatives: as beings with personalities and characteristics who we can get to know by spending time with them and treating them with love and respect.
This perspective comes from a wider lens known as Animism, which is the perspective of many indigenous cultures, which views everything as living beings: the ocean, the rivers, rocks, stars, sand, and wind. Most of us innately view the world this way as children and many of us slowly lose touch with this aliveness as we grow older. But we don’t have to.
One simple way we can acknowledge and engage with the natural world is to be present with the cycles of the moon. Today is the new moon. Make some time today to let go of old energy, be grateful for the journey that has shaped you into the person you are today, and set some intentions for the person you are becoming.
Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Much love,
Samuel James Queen
Founder, Fam Botanicals