We were lucky to catch up with Reynna Romo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Reynna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Desert Rey’s Apothecary was born from a beeswax candle project I shared on social media. I included facts about most candles being made with toxic ingredients and people wanted more of what I started. An other part of Desert Rey’s is providing herbal remedies, mostly from plants harvested on hikes or from small gardens. I started leaning in to this way of living when I was experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder on the southern coast of California in 2017. Living outside is full time work and getting to know plants that were around for physical and spiritual ailments became something I was drawn to. My mentor of that time is no longer here physically, but helps guide every step of my medicine making processes. Urban foraging was also something one of my great grandmothers would do in California to care for herself and her family. I take after her in that way.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Reynna, the heart behind Desert Rey’s Apothecary. Our driving force is Ancestral wisdom and Connection. I am indigenous to the Southwest United States, Sonoran Desert, and Chiapas Highlands. Connecting with community constantly teaches me things and shows me how to care for those around me. Uncovering the ways of those who came before us in our bloodlines is important work. I encourage everyone to do the same for the sake of collective well-being, intergenerational healing, and providing potent medicine. Roots and tradition are missing in many practices today and it’s a vital ingredient to ancient technology. My foraging journey and relationship with the land has given a beautiful strength to my relationships with other women. While there is so much to learn, I am sought to teach what I know so far about foraging and communing with plants in every stage of folk medicine making. It empowers others to take wisdom I have, make it their own, and find their own purpose and passions on to the road of wellness. People also come to me to see if I can help heal minor physical issues with non-toxic, natural remedies. This enables me to serve others based on their individual needs, continue expanding on ways nature can heal and encourage our bodies to heal themselves.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
On this road, it’s been a challenge finding a place I feel a sense of belonging. When I got sober I worked jobs that I needed, but had no passion for. This drove me to lean in to connecting with people by sharing my knack for herbalism and finding efforts that feed my spirit. Desert Rey’s Apothecary was born from sharing my plant relationships and cultures with everyone. It led me to start vending within the Native and Recovery communities. I started spending time volunteering with a local non profit who specializes in reintegrating the homeless population into society. This led me in to working in treatment today. I have found myself in places where I thrive and continue to learn new things.
Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?
There have been slow times for my small business that have challenged me to continue with it. Most times I remember the slow moments are for resting and refining what I have. A couple of times doubt was so loud I almost closed the doors for good. Each time someone happened to reach out for a large order, or message me to tell me how much the product they got from me helps them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Desertreys.com
- Instagram: @desert_reys_apothecary
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/desertreys
