Issue One: Making Room
A Note From Lo.
Welcome.
I've started this letter more times than I'd like to admit.
Not because I didn't know what to say, but because life kept reminding me that becoming doesn't happen on a schedule.
Over the past few months, I've welcomed babies into the world, sat with families through tender moments, built a business that finally feels like it reflects who I am, and learned—again—that sometimes growth asks us to let go before it asks us to build.
This newsletter has been waiting patiently in the background through all of it.
And maybe that's fitting.
Because this isn't meant to be another perfectly polished email filled with tips and promotions. It's meant to be a place to pause.
A place for stories.
For reflection.
For learning.
For gentle reminders that we're all navigating transitions of one kind or another.
Whether you're becoming a parent, grieving someone you love, rediscovering yourself after years of putting everyone else first, or simply wondering what comes next, I hope you'll find something here that reminds you you're not walking alone.
Each month, I'll share a little of what's been on my heart, something from the apothecary, a question to carry with you, and updates from around Ancestral Roots.
So, wherever this finds you today, welcome to the Circle.
I'm glad you're here.
Lemon balm flower and leaves
🌿From the Apothecary.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
If you've spent any time with me, you've probably heard me sing the praises of lemon balm. It's one of the first herbs I reach for when I want to slow down, take a deep breath, and settle into the present moment. With its bright citrus scent and gentle nature, it reminds me that calm doesn't have to be complicated.
Native to the Mediterranean and cherished for centuries, Melissa officinalis has long been grown in monastery gardens and home apothecaries. Its name comes from the Greek word melissa, meaning "honeybee," a nod to the plant's ability to attract pollinators and its long association with sweetness, healing, and abundance.
Traditionally, lemon balm has been enjoyed as a comforting tea and culinary herb to support relaxation, encourage restful moments, and promote overall well-being. Spiritually, it's often associated with soothing the heart, lifting heavy emotions, inviting joy, and creating space for peace and clarity. Whether shared with friends or sipped alone in a quiet moment, lemon balm offers a gentle reminder to soften, breathe, and simply be.
Herbal Note: While lemon balm has a long history of traditional use, herbs affect everyone differently. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a thyroid condition, take prescription medications, or have questions about whether lemon balm is appropriate for you, consult your healthcare provider before using it regularly. This information is shared for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice.
💛Lo's Tip💛
One of my favorite ways to enjoy lemon balm is as an evening tea with a touch of local honey, a slice of fresh lemon, and a few quiet minutes away from my phone. Sometimes the ritual is just as nourishing as the tea itself.
Tea & Transitions Logo
🌱 New Growth
I'm always tending new ideas, and I'm excited to share a few of the projects currently growing at Ancestral Roots...
📚 An evidence-informed Perinatal Knowledge Bank filled with trusted, accessible education for growing families and birth professionals alike.
🤝 A curated Community Resource Directory connecting families with local organizations, services, and support throughout the DMV.
🧸 A Community Perinatal Lending Library, where families can borrow and explore baby carriers, bottles and nipples, sleep sacks, and other infant essentials before deciding what works best for them. The library will also include a rotating collection of maternity clothing, nursing bras, postpartum recovery items, books, and other gently used resources shared by our community.
🤱 Expanded Lactation & Infant Feeding Support
🌿 Postpartum Belly Binding Services
Want to help it grow? If you have gently used perinatal or infant items you'd like to donate—or know of a resource that belongs in our community directory—I would love to hear from you. Together, we can make support more accessible for every family.
This Month's Reflection
Making Room
Growth rarely looks the way we imagine it will.
I used to think growing Ancestral Roots meant adding more—more clients, more offerings, more certifications, more opportunities. But over the past several months, I've realized that growth has asked something much harder of me. It has asked me to let go.
I've stepped away from work that offered the comfort of a predictable schedule and a steady paycheck. Not because it wasn't meaningful, but because I could no longer ignore the quiet feeling that something bigger was asking for my attention. Making room for Ancestral Roots meant trusting that the space I was creating wouldn't stay empty forever.
As an herbalist, I'm reminded that many plants become stronger after they're pruned. Cutting away healthy branches can feel counterintuitive, but it allows the plant to direct its energy where new growth is needed most. Looking back, I realize that's exactly what this season has been for me. I've been trimming—not because something was wrong, but because something was ready to grow.
Ancestral Roots is no longer just an idea I've been nurturing in the margins of my life. It's becoming a living, breathing community. Every class, every conversation, every cup of tea shared across a table reminds me that this work was never meant to fit into the spaces left over after everything else. It deserved room of its own.
If you're in a season of letting go, I hope you'll remember that making space can be just as important as filling it. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is trust that what we're pruning today is making room for what will flourish tomorrow.
Transition Spotlight.
What is Matrescence?
We often celebrate the birth of a baby, but rarely do we talk about the birth of a parent. Matrescence is the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and even spiritual transformation that occurs as someone becomes a mother. Like adolescence, it's a season of profound change—not a single event. It can bring immense joy, unexpected grief, confidence, uncertainty, and everything in between. Understanding matrescence reminds us that if you don't quite recognize yourself after having a baby, you're not doing anything wrong. You're becoming someone new.
There is no "right" way to move through matrescence—only your way, supported by community and compassion.
🌿 Around the Roots
🍵 Tea & Transitions
Our newest community gathering is here! Tea & Transitions is a welcoming space to slow down, sip thoughtfully crafted tea, and have honest conversations about life's biggest transitions. Our inaugural session, Beyond the Baby, explores the often-unspoken realities of postpartum life with warmth, compassion, and community.
Learn more & register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tea-transitions-beyond-the-baby-tickets-1992985254546?aff=oddtdtcreator
💀 Deathy DC - A Death & Grief Cafe
At Deathy DC, together, we gather to have open, respectful conversations about death, dying, grief, and what it means to live well. No agenda. No expectations. Just thoughtful conversation and community.
Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deathy-dc-a-death-grief-cafe-tickets-1991954781373?aff=oddtdtcreator
🛍️ Find Us at The DC Pop-Up
Need a gift in a hurry—or just don't want to wait for shipping? You can now find a curated selection of Ancestral Roots Wellness products at The DC Pop-Up at Walter Reed, featuring incredible makers from across the DMV. Stop by and browse our handcrafted teas, wellness goods, and seasonal favorites in person!
📚 What I'm Loving
This month, I can't stop recommending Mothering the Mother: African American Postpartum Traditions, Recipes and Healing by Shafia Monroe.
This book explores the rich postpartum traditions of African American communities, inviting us to reclaim practices that have been lost over time. From the wisdom of Granny Midwives to nourishing postpartum recipes, honoring the village, and embracing the traditional 42-day lying-in period, it reminds us that postpartum healing was once seen as a sacred season deserving of intentional care and community support.
As I read, I find myself asking, How can we bring some of that wisdom forward? While our lives may look different today, the need to care for new parents with patience, nourishment, and community hasn't changed.
In many ways, this book is helping shape the future of Ancestral Roots. It's inspired me to begin dreaming about offerings that honor these traditions in modern, accessible ways—including a postpartum care experience rooted in rest, nourishment, education, and the belief that when we truly mother the mother, we nurture the entire family.
If you work with growing families—or simply believe that postpartum deserves more attention than it often receives—I can't recommend this book enough.
Before We Go...
As you move through this month, I hope you find permission to release something that no longer serves you and make room for something that does. Growth doesn't always begin by adding more. Sometimes it begins by creating space.
A little reflection to carry with you:
What are you making room for in this season of your life?
Until next time,
With warmth,
Lo