Ash Ritter is an ethnobotanist, multi-disciplinary animist, herbalist, writer and an educator with over 20 years of study in clinical, traditional, academic and directly relational terrains. She is a devotee of curiosity and especially savors the study of history through the woven threads of fungi, people and plants.

Episode Highlights

• Co-evolution with fungi and the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature
• Ash’s apprenticeships in Druid herbalism and Mexican curanderismo
• Exploring ancestry and the significance of traditional plants from Eastern Europe
• The fluidity of lineage and how borders have shaped history
• Ashley’s early psychedelic experiences and curiosity about life’s mysteries
• Exploring the wide variety of psychoactive mushrooms and their unique effects
• Amanita muscaria: Its myth, lore, and complex chemistry
• Safe preparation methods for Amanita muscaria to avoid toxicity
• How Amanita muscaria affects the brain by modulating GABA and reducing overstimulation
• The unpredictable, wild nature of Amanita muscaria and its healing potential
• The importance of foraging and living in a reciprocal relationship with the land
• Amanita muscaria vs. psilocybin mushrooms: Key differences in chemistry and experience
• Amanita’s potential for alleviating chronic pain and enhancing nerve health
• Amanita’s role in dream enhancement and psychological exploration
• The commercialization of cannabis and the spiritual essence being lost in greed
• Plants as living intelligences and the importance of mutual respect in this relationship
• Reverence and humility as key practices in engaging with plant medicines
• Unlocking the full potential of fungi through multi-level extractions
• Exploring the heart-centered chemistry of cacti and their medicinal properties
• Gnosis through working with plants and fungi
• The sacredness of menstruation and the practice of returning blood to the earth
• Engaging the shadow with courage and tenderness through plant medicines
• Exploring feminine wisdom, menstruation, and cultural reconnection to the body
• How art and ancient motifs capture the human story across time and space

Ash Ritter’s Links

• Website: www.blacksagebotanicals.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: @black.sage.botanicals
• Patreon: Ash Ritter - Black Sage Botanicals

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Ash’s Class Cloud
• 9-Hour Course: Merry Mushroom: Amanita Muscaria Ethnomycology, The Updated 2024 Series
• Class Recording: Balms & Broomsticks: The Taboo History & Modern Adaptations of Flying Ointments
• Class Recording: The Forbidden Fruits: Ethnobotany of Enchanted Foods
• Womb Wellness Educator: Mikaela de la Myco
• Movie: Like Water for Chocolate (1992)

Ash Ritter’s Gift to You

• 10% OFF of all digital coursework in the Black Sage Botanicals Class Cloud with code THANKYOUMAMA