I don’t think words can describe how excited I was to do this interview, and how excited I am to share this interview. Years ago, Sophie’s book Polish Herbs, Flowers & Folk Medicine was the first resource I was able to find that described in English, the traditional plants our Slavic ancestors used for medicine.
It was like a gateway, a portal that had opened up and sucked me in. Her book is still always close at hand. She has written a handful of other books on Polish culture and tradition. Even if you aren’t Polish, I think you will absolutely love this episode. There are so many common threads all of our Slavic cultures share and Sophie speaks about them so passionately and with such wisdom.
She shares her own experiences growing up with a first generation Polish mother, her meetings with other Polish medicine women, and her visits back to the motherland. These stories are gifts that are just priceless. To be able to interview Sophie after she played such a huge part in my ancestral journey was a full circle moment for me. Her words and presence is so comforting and kind. You will feel like you are sitting with your own family member, even if you have no ties to your ancestry left.
If you’re interested in ancestral Slavic plants and folk medicine at all, I highly recommend checking her books out:
Polish Herbs, Flowers & Folk Medicine
Polish Country Kitchen Cookbook
Spirit of Place: The Roadside Shrines of Poland
Polish Customs Traditions & Folklore
And if you want even more from Sophie, or to contact her, check out her blog and website:
In the interview, she also mentions the American Polish Cultural Center, which is a great resource to find more information about Polish culture and traditions. You can find their website here.
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