We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lyn Pacificar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lyn below.

Lyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

Herbalaria stands out in the wellness industry because our brand is deeply rooted in Filipino healing traditions and animistic practices passed down through generations. In contrast to many brands that focus solely on the physical aspects, Herbalaria integrates holistic methods that nurture the mind, body, and spirit. What truly sets us apart is that Herbalaria is a family-owned business, headed by me, a Filipina shaman and original medicine woman. There’s no fakery or pseudo-spirituality here, unlike the products created by big-name brands that tout energetic vibes infused into their offerings.

As the chief ritualist and shaman (Katuuran), I ensure that our products are developed with a profound understanding of and respect for indigenous applications of traditional plants and energetic intentions. Herbalaria’s products and services are designed to guide people from pain and stress to peace and ease.

We craft our products using Filipino botanicals and natural ingredients, honoring and preserving the wisdom of our ancestors. This commitment to creating highly effective products connects our customers to a rich heritage of healing that is both authentic and time-tested.

Additionally, we incorporate ritualistic applications, spiritual consultations, and Art Office Hours—a free and accessible space on Instagram Live at @iamherbalaria every Tuesday night from 8:30 to 9:30 pm PST. This promotes mental well-being and provides a relaxed environment where anyone can freely create art without judgment, regardless of their artistic experience. During Art Office Hours, the community is invited to gain inspiration prompts and, on occasion, receive oracle readings from my own oracle deck. These are intended to enhance our customers’ overall health, welcoming more balance and harmony in their lives. By combining these elements, we offer a comprehensive model that respects and elevates Filipino cultural practices while nurturing and empowering our customers’ self-healing abilities and inner creativity. We aim to serve the whole person and their ancestors.

The very essence of Herbalaria embodies a holistic lifestyle based on ancestral direction and time-honored modalities. Our mission is to provide products and services that bring ease and peace of mind to our customers’ physical, mental, and spiritual health. This integrative approach truly sets Herbalaria apart in the industry and beyond this realm.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am, above all, a creative soul. Long before any official titles or designations, I reveled in artistic expression. As a child, I immersed myself in drawing, painting, dancing, singing, cooking, baking, and crafting herbal potions. But my creativity extended beyond the paper and crayons, the makeshift toaster ovens and the jade plants and geranium flowers picked along my apartment building. It wove into the very fabric of my being.

My life is a tapestry of art, healing, and highly psychic experiences that make up the foundations of my work and brand. To be who I am today takes a certain person, with a certain type of courage that can face the mental diseases of society, and the demons that run rampant, testing humanity’s ability to be kind and compassionate to one another. This isn’t for the faint of heart or a non-believer. I went through everything that I went through as multiple rites of passage to become a Katuuran, a Filipina shaman who can travel between realms, connect to Mother Earth, to bring forth truth.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, I learned to speak the language of my parents and grandparents. They mostly spoke Tagalog, with occasional Hiligaynon words mixed in. I listened to their stories and asked countless questions about their origins in the Philippines. I took care of my elders as they cared for me, passing down knowledge of recipes and herbal remedies. I was a matriarch-in-training, immersed in my culture through my beloved grandparents. Additionally, I took on the role of healer for my family and relatives, practicing the traditional art of “hilot,” which involves manual massage therapy. I learned by observing my father, a manghihilot, and I believe my skills were not only learned but also inherent and intuitive.

My journey wasn’t limited to the physical. I could sense unseen realms, encountering ancestors, ghosts, and otherworldly entities. My Catholic upbringing exposed me to rituals and prayers practiced by generations before me. I witnessed my parents and grandparents participate in religious ceremonies, their faith interwoven with ancestral reverence. These experiences clarified my unique purpose—one that transcends textbooks and dogmas in understanding the people and communities I would be tending to in the future.

At the heart of my practice stands Mama Guava, my spirit guide. She manifests as the guava tree, a sage carrying knowledge of millions of years before our existence. She is rich with folkloric history, indigenous applications, and holds modern-day relevance in providing potential remedies for cancer and other ailments. Together with Mama Guava, we create medicine and magic—oils, creams, and intention-infused scrubs, to name a few. These products are designed to soothe and calm skin–a well-known benefit of guava leaves. Additionally, we offer an alternative to burning white sage: the guava leaf smudge bundles, an energetic cleansing tool created by me and handed down to my daughter, Soraya. Soraya is the Herbalaria BAE (Botanical Alchemy Engineer), who has now taken charge of weaving her spells of love and healing into every botanical bundle she makes.

What am I most proud of? My family, of course! Without them, Herbalaria and my art would not be possible. I could not provide for the people I’ve helped and guided along their journey. I’m honored by the great trust placed upon me when meeting with customers. That trust is priceless and more valuable than anything when it comes to being a channel of divine messages for them. Whether it’s finding the right skin care product, providing ritual protocols, mapping out career moves, unraveling relationship complexities, or bridging the gap between the living and the departed, I offer clarity and peace of mind. Witnessing someone find their path back to wellness, wholeness, and happiness is my greatest achievement and sense of purpose fulfilled, but not without my family. No words can describe the depths of my gratitude to them for making it possible to serve our community in such a loving and caring way.

Herbalaria encompasses all facets of who I am. It’s more than a business; it’s a vocation. It’s a space where I serve others through the products I make, express my artistry, and stand as a priestess and counselor to those seeking it. Here, I work towards inspiring my children and transferring knowledge to them so that our family’s heritage will never be forgotten and the ancestors remembered.

Finally, I want to share my current projects to illustrate the breadth of my personal work, benefiting my various communities and future generations. With Herbalaria, I am formulating new products to expand our offerings for pain and stress relief. I am also writing a decolonized dissertation on Mama Guava, which combines the science and spirituality of the guava tree, my relationship with her, and how she has led me to teach others about self-empowerment and self-healing. Additionally, I am authoring and illustrating a shamanic oracle deck centered around notable Philippine plants and animals, aimed at raising conservation awareness and preserving some of our endangered flora and fauna. I created Divina Amala, a comic book character in the New Icons anthology of Diwata Komiks, a diversity-focused, multigenerational comics company representing Filipino Americans like me. Last, but certainly not least, I continue to paint and make art for myself.

I did say I was a creative soul, right?

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As a family-owned microenterprise propagating our healing traditions, we are incredibly proud of who we are and what we stand for. Our journey has been one of continuous learning and growth, and while we recognize that not everyone is familiar with or values our traditions as much as we do, we are dedicated to building that understanding and appreciation.

In January 2020, we had the privilege of participating in the Founders Business Accelerator at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. This experience was invaluable, providing us with the knowledge and tools to enhance our business operations and financial management. Just as we were learning more about how to better serve our market, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, causing widespread closures of brick-and-mortar businesses. During this difficult time, we also faced the sudden and heartbreaking loss of close family and friends to the virus. Despite these profound adversities, we forged forward.

Amidst these challenges, we saw an opportunity to adapt and meet the evolving needs of our community. As an online business, we were uniquely positioned to maintain accessibility to our customers despite the physical limitations imposed by the pandemic. In response, we innovated by offering shamanic journeying sessions and spiritual consultations via Zoom for the first time. This pivot not only resonated with our existing customers but also attracted a broader audience seeking healing and connection during uncertain times. Consequently, we experienced a significant increase in sales of both classes and products, marking our highest growth surge since our launch in the fall of 2016.

Our commitment to our mission remains unwavering as we navigate the highs and lows of the economy. We continue to create products that address the changing needs of our customers, always striving to stay true to our roots while adapting to the modern landscape. Our journey is far from over, and we are excited to keep growing, learning, and serving our community with dedication and passion.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

Yes, my family and I are deeply involved in the manufacturing of our products. We create them in a ritualistic manner and with good intentions, ensuring that each product carries the essence of our traditions and values. On our property, we grow some of the ingredients such as calamansi, guava, lavender, and other botanicals. These are essential to the manufacturing process of some of our most beloved and popular products.

We initially started with scrubs that helped my mom heal the dyshidrotic eczema on her hands. These scrubs were bottled in mason jars, charged under the full moonlight, and labeled with a hand-written Christmas label sticker. From there, we expanded to creating herbal balms and the Moldavite Solstice Manifestation Oil, a ritual-intentioned oil made once a year during the Summer Solstice.

Throughout this journey, we’ve learned that creating a product requires a deep connection to our heritage and a mindful approach. The making of our traditional healing medicines necessitates energetic mindfulness. This means that if we’re not in the right headspace, mood, or emotional state, we don’t proceed with the creation process. Listening to our ancestors and maintaining this mindfulness is crucial.

Furthermore, understanding the science and function behind each ingredient is vital. We dedicate a lot of time to research, trials for efficacy, and ensuring the spiritual effects of our products. Some ingredients are sourced directly from the Philippines to maintain the authenticity and originality of our ancestral practices.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that manufacturing a product is more than just a physical process. It is about manifesting peace and healing for our customers. It’s a great responsibility and an act of making means for others to find well-being and harmony. This holistic approach underscores the significance and depth of our manufacturing process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://herbalaria.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamherbalaria/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamherbalaria
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynpacificar/
• Twitter: https://x.com/IamHerbalaria
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Herbalaria
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamherbalariahttps://www.lynpacificar.com/IG: @lynpacificar_art

Image Credits

Nilo Juaneza, Gilbert Pacificar, Zack Larez, Nico Belasco