Marysia Miernowska is a herbalist, Earth activist, and director of the School of the Sacred Wild. She also describes herself as a green witch. That is, a person (man or woman) who lives in harmony with the cycles of nature and embodies those cycles to create transformation, healing and magik.
“I am bringing folk medicine and herbalism back to the people,” said Marysia. “I’ve seen the efficacy of it.”
How does Marysia feel knowing that had she lived in Salem in 1692, she would have been persecuted for her work and beliefs?
“I definitely would have. Along with any wise woman who healed with teas or soups. And the midwives.”
I tell Marysia I’m thinking of referring to her as Topanga’s favorite witch in this article. “I’ve noticed people do refer to me that way. I find it flattering. I love being a witch. It’s important to reclaim that word. I sometimes say I train witches, but I also don’t want to put it on any of my students that they have to call themselves witches. It’s a personal thing. Some of my students and colleagues don’t feel comfortable calling themselves a witch, and there’s zero pressure to do that.”
We are drinking a pleasant-tasting gynostemma tea Marysia has made.
“Gynostemma is an incredible adaptogen—plants that kind of do everything. They are a longevity tonic, strengthen the immune system, and the nervous and endocrine systems. So they work on all of the systems of the body in a restorative way. It’s just the leaves of the gynostemma steeped in hot water and it’s wonderful for circulation, for mental clarity, and brightens the mood.”
Are there any herbs Marysia would recommend for stress and smoke inhalation for people affected by the recent fires?
“Mullein is an amazing restorative tonic. It is one of the first herbs to grow after there has been a fire. It grows in very dry and harsh desert conditions. When you drink a tea of mullein, you have to filter it well as it has lots of tiny hairs but it opens up the bronchial [tubes]. It’s an amazing herb that opens the air passageways, cleans the lungs and strengthens them,” said Marysia.
“For stress, I’d recommend tulsi, also known as Holy Basil. It’s calming to the mind and nerves. It’s heart-opening and supports the immune system.”
When the Palisades fire erupted, Marysia evacuated from Topanga with her husband, Ira Christian, their three-week-old baby, Lucia Maryjka Wilder Moon, and Marysia’s 12-year-old daughter, Flora.
“There was a moment where I was breastfeeding Lucia,“ said Marysia “and I felt how, when humans have been in a moment of vulnerability, we have an impulse to react from the wounded place and rebuild quickly and bigger.
“We have to disrupt that impulse and plant in people’s consciousness that there is another way—to rebuild smarter, safer and more sustainably using materials like sand, earth, clay and straw, and give people more information about what the options are. I’ve been a fan of natural building for over twenty years.
“Natural building methods are fire—and earthquake—resistant, and don’t release the toxic loads being left in burn areas. I was sensing that if we just keep rebuilding in the same way using the same materials, it’s going to burn again.”
Marysia has been connected to the Earth for twenty years. Her daughter, Flora, can walk through the canyon and name all the plants.
Marysia completed her undergraduate degree in architecture. Her thesis was an environmental behavior research study on vernacular architecture, a style of building that uses local materials and traditions to meet the needs of a specific region or culture. She then worked for the Cohousing Company to create intentional communities.
Marysia is now circulating a petition calling for rebuilding to be done more sustainably using natural, fire-resistant materials (link below). It already has nearly 5,000 signatures, and will be sent to Los Angeles and Pasadena decision-makers and councillors.
“We need to lighten the carbon footprint when we rebuild and use fire-resistant materials,” said Marysia.
Getting planning permission will be a challenge. “A few decision-makers have called for natural building methods and materials to be included in discussions,” said Marysia, who has another idea to help speed up the rebuilding process and make it more affordable.
“The process to rebuild a home can take so long, because you have to get the plan designed, then an engineer has to sign off on it, and then you apply for the permit. To expedite that process with all this devastation and the number of people needing homes, we could create plans that already have a stamp of approval.”
Marysia’s herbalism school has a mission to connect people deeper to the Earth, have them fall in love with the Earth and to teach them the ancestral ways of making medicine with herbs and plants, creating food medicine—receiving nourishment from the Earth. There’s also a non-profit to ensure no student is turned away through lack of funds.
Registration for Marysia’s next ten-month course at her School of the Sacred Wild opens in June to begin in September. She also hosts retreats and has an organic skincare line, Sacred Rituel, that’s made in the canyon.
If you care about rebuilding more sustainably and with fire-resistant, natural materials, Marysia asks that you sign her petition.
Topanga New Times will explore building solutions and the complex permit process in future articles.
www.change.org/p/rebuild-los-angeles-with-natural-fire-resistant-materials
sanctuaryofthesacredwild.com
@marysia_miernowska
