The Green Girl Story
The concept of the Green Girl was one that I dreamed of for many years but it wasn’t until I met Graphic Artist, Alyssa Diamond in one of my classes that the Green Girl truly came to life. As I watched Alyssa make a few simple sketches, I knew she was the perfect person to capture the heart and spirit that is the Green Girl. In the Winter of 2012-13 over many pots of tea, the original Green Girl was born. The updated version was finished earlier in 2016 to include just a few of the healing plants that I have come to rely on.
The Green Girl is wild nature itself, untamed, and yet ever observant of the deeply-rooted inner cycles of the Earth and Spirit. It is that which lives beside and inside of all of us but that which we often miss or overlook. She is the living force of the realm that watches over all of nature and especially all plant beings. Many cultures speak of the fae including my own Native culture who calls them the “Masingwe” or “little people”. The green she wears is symbolic of the plant world, evergreen, and ever new, regenerating year after year. The sprout she offers to the world represents the healing gifts to be found as we engage with the plant world and the infinite healing abilities contained therein. Her faerie nature is the hidden force that tends to the wild things growing all around us and the sense of wonder of a child. The belief that all things are possible. May you know that all things are possible and may you never lose your sense of wonder at the beauty and mysticism of the natural world, of life and of possibilities.
Background
Karine’s journey into herbalism, shamanism and Earth healing practices began as a young child learning from her father, who was of Mahican descent and taught her the secrets of the medicinal plants and the healing ways of her ancestors. The wisdom of both her matrilineal grandfather and great-grandfather has influenced her work.
Karine has studied herbalism and the healing arts since 1985 with many teachers including, Rosemary Gladstar, Gretchen Gould, Deb Soule, Sandra Ingerman, David Beck, Tom Brown Jr., Astrology and Medical Astrology with Pat Townsend, and many others. In 1993 she received her first and second degree attunements in Reiki and the Reiki Master/Teacher Certification in the Usui Tradition in 2000. In 2003, Karine began her apprenticeship with Pam Montgomery in Plant Spirit Healing, a multi-year professional shamanic healing training focusing on healing with plant consciousness. Karine continues to hone her skills and has recently completed additional training in shamanism with Sandra Ingerman, Medical Intuitive Training with Tina Zion, and continues her studies in Clairvoyance and Animal Energy Healing with Lynn McKenzie, and Medicinal Herbalism with Matthew Wood and various teachers. In addition to the wonderful human instructors, Karine considers the plants themselves as some of her greatest instructors and mentors.
Karine works with human and animal clients for individual healing sessions in Shamanism, Plant Spirit Healing, Reiki, and Herbal Wellness and has done so for the last 25 years. She teaches classes in Herbalism, Shamanic Plant Medicine Journey, Shamanism, herbal crafting, and essential oil classes. She has created and teaches, The Sacred Heart of Herbalism levels 1 and 2 incorporating a holistic approach to Western, and Native American Herbalism for over 22 years. Karine teaches Herbalism Beyond the Basics and other classes at The New York Botanical Garden, and has taught at many locations throughout the Hudson Hudson Valley, NYC, and Connecticut including The New York Open Center, The Omega Institute, The Center for Algonquin Studies, May Peace Prevail on Earth International, Westchester Community College Continuing Education, Marist College, The Howland Cultural Center, and The Albertson Memorial Church of Spiritualism.
Karine is the founder of Green Girl Herbs & Healing, a small batch herbal tea and remedy company through which she has formulated her own custom line of teas, salves, flower essences, and herbal remedies
