Benefits of spending time in nature are now way beyond the old folk classification, with more and more research showing that this helps with our physical and mental health. I have decided to open the garden for two volunteers who would like to help with the upkeep while learning about the various medicinal plants growing wild here in northwest Donegal or other ones which I planted and care for, and now thrive here. When learning about the properties of various plants and ho

With flowers blooming and whispers of summer in between cloudy days, I feel the call of the garden every day. And with that, the will to share some of my rituals with you all, so you too can become guardians of the generous plants out there. This month I am organising a set of two workshops to deepen the knowledge of making herbal oils and balms (or salves). We’ll make herbal oils using two different methods and you’ll get to take home a bottle. The oils we’ll make you can u

Every morning and every evening, I connect with my plants through the aromatic creams and oils I use. And I’ve come to realise that a major part in this connection is the silent conversation we are having - the plants nourishing my skin and me being grateful for their gift. I have been using herbs in various aspects of my life for the last thirty years and recently I understood that there is comfort in the ritual of working with them - the ritual of applying a cream in the m

Come and join me for a walk at my Anamcara Healing Herbs garden to discover what lovely weeds have to say now at the beginning of summer. We'll talk about some of the plants growing around us and how they can support us in our wellbeing. A guided tour of the Anamcara Healing Herbs garden with expert information on how to identify weeds which have been used for medicine for centuries, and how to use them for your wellbeing; Freshly brewed herbal tea made from herbs we pick tog

Let it rain. Let it snow even. Let it be crisp cold. Let clouds cover the sky…or strip it to the sparkling blue. Let the fire in your home lullaby you. Let Nature set the rhythm of hours and minutes for a little longer. Wishing you timeless days and unreasonable laughter on your first steps into the new year. While my wise friends, the plants, are still sleeping in their beds dreaming of the wonders of spring and summer to come, I will be having some fun making some medici

As the rainbow of autumn colors surrounding us now, are beginning to fade away into shades of grey, we should listen to our instincts as often as we can, and rest more, care and repair more. For myself, I’ve had a busy autumn, with hosting a Sensorial writing workshop at the Ireland Writing Retreat in Belfast in October; mentoring a new group of beginners herbalists at the Plant Medicine School in Wexford - whom I am happy to mentor throughout their next two year studies

How To Make Herbal Oils Join me on Sunday, May 25th for a workshop at my home to see how easy it is to make this for yourself and your family.

join me for a workshop at my home where we will make some herbal medicine, enjoy a home-cooked lunch and...

Join me to celebrate Brigid's Day, the ancient Celtic Goddess of healers, poets and creativity.

Article about Columbia Hillen, herbalist in Donegal, published in the Irish Times

Happy Imbolg everyone and to celebrate Brigid the Celtic Goddess in each of us, I am offering free wellbeing consultations until February...

As fires were being lit around us here at Anamcara Healing Herbs Garden, I decided to look for the light in the blooming around me. And...

As a proud member of the Irish Registry of Herbalists I took up the challenge and entered in the annual photo competition 'Herbal...