We recently connected with Renee K. Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Renee K. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

So I share that my work with plant intelligence is the fifth iteration of a career. I began my career as an artist, a performing artist then moved to being an educator beginning first in the arts and then taking on general education, shifting to administration and arts administration to working with arts and cultural non profits as a strategist and an executive leader. I began my journey with plant intelligence years ago after the birth of my daughter. Shortly after she was born I began to experience paralysis on the left side of my body. As a kinesthetic learner, I was keenly aware of changes in my body throughout my pregnancy and afterwards. I was having regular treatments of acupuncture, acupressure and massage as part of my birth plan. So with a reduced range of motion, I went to my acupuncturist and shared what was happening and after my treatment, she recommended that I take flower essences. I had never heard of them before and I was willing to try anything. My acupuncturist deduced that my paralysis was due to unexpressed feelings attached to my new role as a mother. After beginning the treatment, I experienced a profound release and an enormous recalibration from this vibrational medicine captured in this small tincture bottle. This began my quest to learn more about flower essences and expanded to my lifelong journey with plant intelligence. This experience also unlock an ancestral connection to being an Earth steward. I had been told years ago, while touring with a folklore dance company, that I was the person who would restore the herbalist tradition to my family. Years later I am seeing this prophecy find alignment in my everyday existence. Akika (A- Kee- Ka) Flower Essences & Apothecary is a wholistic wellness practice that aligns with the power and ancient understanding derived from plant intelligence in order to heal, transform and empower community. Since its inception we have used flower essences as one of our main healing modalities and services have expanded to include reiki, herbalism, traditional spiritual rituals, and a wide range of products infused with the intelligence of our plant allies. Our main healing principle is synthesized through this quote from The Self-Healing Power and Therapy by Dr. K. Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau, “To be healthy is to by Mu Kinenga, “In Balance” – with ourselves, our environment, and the universe.”

Renee K. , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Renee K. Smith (Ifagbaye Esubola Ayelaagbe Egbesina) is a certified flower essence practitioner and proud founder of Akika Flower Essences & Apothecary.  Akika Flower Essences was created to explore the ancestral practice of tuning into plant intelligence as a tool for transformation, healing and empowerment on one’s soul journey.  Renee received her flower essence certification from Oceans & Rivers Acupuncture and Wellness and The Flower Essence Society (FES).  As a strategist, Renee believes that everyone can manifest their dreams by creating a strategy that encompasses the right people at the right time. Her goal is to assist others to find joy through the use of plant intelligence in as many forms possible beginning with  flower essences. As an Iyanifa and Olorisa, initiated to Ifa and Egbe in Nigeria, Renee also uses the knowledge she gains from her spiritual practice to assist her clients in finding and maintaining balance in their lives.  She continues to expand her repertoire of community tools for healing through consistent study of our plant allies, learning and practicing the art of alchemy as taught by Master Teacher Diana Pharr and becoming a Level II Reiki Practitioner certified by Taino Reiki Healing. Renee is a Brooklyn native, mother, artist,  healer, alchemist, strategist, cultural arts curator, flower essence & reiki practitioner, SRJ advocate, priest, artist and community member.

I began making medicine as plants began to speak to me, first in my dreams and then as I continued to study them in their environments through plant walks or cultivating them at home. Over time the products that were and are created have been based on the needs of my clients. For example, the Radiant Mama line was created based on products for mothers, newborns and their families as they move through the postpartum period. In all of the services and products we look at providing a wholistic approach to healing and balance which may include herbal remedies, vibrational medicine, communal ritual and one on one wellness coaching.

I am most proud of being able to be in community and watching the transformation occur as each person commits to their healing journey. To see someone bear witness to their own enlightenment and share their story as inspiration to others. Specifically in flower essence sessions, it is always a marvel when clients choose the flowers and then when the flower’s choose them and share their knowledge when sharing what they are used for and their affirmations. It continues to prove that as much as we choose our plant allies they also choose us and we have so much to learn from them as we journey to maintain balance.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what has helped me build my reputation with my market has been consistency. Being consistent in the sharing the work, assisting where I can in community during crisis using the plant medicine and then follow up with community members has really helped to build my reputation. Opportunities have opened up because clients recommend our services based on their experiences and using the products. As we continue to expand, we continue to be mindful of staying consistent and ensuring that the quality of care is excellent and wholistic.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

To succeed in my field it is a requirement to continue to study and through that study continue to create and explore the many ways that plant intelligence touches our lives. It is also important to share practical ways that we can return to honoring our ancestral practices. Centering the need of community and practicing boundaries with a good work life balance helps me to stay true to the mission and purpose as we continue to expand.

This creativity has allowed me to create additional opportunities for learning like the curation of a virtual global summit entitled Grand Rising Summer Solstice Summit. This summit was created during covid as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of community and the learnings that occurred during quarantine. In its third year we have been able to build a community around healing, learning and teaching through this one day summit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.AkikaFlowerEssences.com New Site coming soon … www.akikafloweressence.com
• Instagram: @akikafloweressenceapothecary
• Facebook: Akika Flower Essences or Renee Kimberly Smith
• Linkedin: Renee K. Smith
• Youtube: Akika Flower Essences
• Other: www,grandrising2023.com – Grand Rising Summer Solstice Summit

Image Credits
Head shot by Nzingha Diallo Products Pictures by Renee K. Smith ( Last picture of Akika Products was in Puerto Rico at the Caribbean Herbal Symposium.