OUR STORY

Where Heritage Meets Harmony

Welcome to Herbalaria!  

Herbalaria is a family company at the forefront of bridging the rich heritage of Filipino plant healing tradition and culture with the demands of contemporary wellness.  We take pride in crafting modern-day skin and spiritual care products that are deeply rooted in tradition, utilizing the wisdom passed down through generations.

At Herbalaria, our commitment to authenticity and sustainability shines through in every product we create.  Most of our offerings are meticulously handcrafted in-house, using only natural and ethically sourced ingredients.  Our dedication to preserving the essence of traditional practices while adapting them for modern lifestyles sets us apart in the wellness industry.

Founded in September 2016 and located in the vibrant heart of East Hollywood, California, our company embodies the fusion of ancient wisdom and innovation. As we continue to grow, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower individuals to reconnect with their roots and nurture their well-being through the transformative power of nature.

At Herbalaria, we are not just a business; we are a cultural movement, a celebration of heritage, and a catalyst for personal and communal transformation. Join us on this journey as we forge a path towards a more harmonious and conscious world, one natural product at a time.

Herbalaria is a certified Los Angeles Green Business, proudly supporting and sourcing from Philippine local farms, local businesses in Los Angeles, and from our own urban gardens.

    In addition to products, we offer shamanic services, spiritual consultations and classes to enhance the healing process by bringing clarity, centeredness, and peace of mind. 

    Land Acknowledgement

    We acknowledge the Tongva peoples as the traditional and rightful land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles Basin & Southern Channel Islands), upon which we reside and operate. We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Kizh/Tongva, and Acjachamen/Juaneño as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash to the central and southern coastal regions, and the Tataviam, Serrano, Luiseño, and Cahuilla Nations to the east and south.

    We are Austronesian Filipino Visayan settlers of Hiligaynon (Pan-Ay, Capiz, and Iloilo, Panay) and Waray Waray (Zumarraga, Samar, and Tacloban City, Leyte) ethnolinguistic Indigenous Peoples from the islands to the east, including all Ancestral bloodlines (Ilokano, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Cordilleran, Bikolano, Chinese, Basque, European, Malagasy) that come from lands beyond the island groups of our most recent Ancestors. Our waters are the Pacific Ocean, the Sulu and Philippine Seas. Our mountains are Cordillera Central, along with volcanoes Apo, Banahaw, and Canlaon, which gave birth to our Motherlands.

    Being on stolen Tongva territory, we have the responsibility to take great care and respect of the place we now call home. It is a deep honor and privilege to tend to Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants, as we continue to decolonize spaces for healing and connection.  We ask permission from the Ancient Ones of this land to do good work and make good medicine in a good way, so that we will always be in right relationship with Honuukvetam (Ancestors), in collaboration with our own Ninuno (Ancestors), Spirit Council of Elders, and all our relations across all dimensional realms of space and time.

    We pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders), and ‘eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

    Madamo gid nga salamat sa tanan.  Mula sa kamulikasan.

    Origins

    I am Lyn Pacificar, a practitioner of Katuuran¹ and Albularyo² traditional medicine. I belong to the Indigenous Peoples ethnolinguistic groups of the Hiligaynon & Waray Waray, tracing my lineage back to my recent Ancestors.  My upbringing was uniquely shaped as a first-generation Filipina-American in Los Angeles.  In our household, my immigrant parents conversed in a mix of Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Waray, and English, cultivating a rich linguistic and cultural milieu for me.

     

    Lyn Pacificar

    From a tender age of three, I began receiving messages from the spirit realm, attuned to the voices of plants and the languages of nature.  Surrounded by my culture, I had the privilege of imbibing the traditions of cooking, language, and healing from three influential figures: my paternal grandmother, affectionately referred to as "Mama"; my maternal grandfather, lovingly known as "Lolo"; and my father.  My curiosity about our Filipino origins led me to frequently inquire about their lives in the Philippines.  Notably, my Mama graciously shared the enchanting love story of her encounter with my paternal grandfather, Papa.  Their openness in sharing these narratives fostered within me a profound gratitude for my heritage and motivated me to delve deeper into my roots.  I remain eternally appreciative of their willingness to pass on their wisdom and life experiences.

    In my upbringing, I was blessed to have a father who was not only a practitioner of Filipino martial arts but also a Manghihilot³ possessing an 8th-degree black belt in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate.  He imparted to me invaluable insights into arnis, kata, and hilot – essential knowledge for comprehending bodily vulnerabilities and strategies to alleviate pain.

    Through my father's tutelage, I also gained knowledge about the diverse range of oils used in his healing practice, each meticulously prepared with specific intentions.  These teachings laid the groundwork for my pursuits in Herbalaria.

     

    My mother, an unsung heroine, instilled in me qualities of compassion, love, generosity, and spirituality.  She works tirelessly in a lab, supporting doctors in saving lives every day.  From my early days, she nurtured my spiritual connection and supported my experiences of seeing colors of light around people.  At the age of 15, she gifted me my first tarot deck, which deepened my spiritual journey.  She also facilitated my connection to our ancestral home, where we have farms and families.

    Mom Herbalaria

    While my dad deserves credit for teaching me the skills of being a Manghihilot, my mom provided spiritual nourishment that complemented my journey.  Our roots play a pivotal role, offering grounding, a connection to heritage, and access to ancestral knowledge.  A trip to the Philippines allowed me to delve into my ancestry, validate my children's potential as healers, and unveil crucial truths.

    I frequently travel to the Philippines to visit our ancestral home.  In September 2015, my mother and I journeyed to Surigao City, Mindanao, to be with my father and oversee our farm on Dinagat Island.

    During our time together, we felt a profound sense of nostalgia and surrealism.  I experienced a return to my childhood and an intuitive inkling that my father's time in this world was limited.  With courage, I expressed my desire for him to share everything he knew about our family.

    Setting up a camera, I recorded our conversation as I posed questions.  He recounted our family's inherited healing abilities, passed down to the next generation.  He assured me of a full transference of these abilities upon his passing.  A "transference" refers to the energetic inheritance of spiritual capacities and powers from one individual to another.

    My father also recounted tales of my great-grandmother, great-great uncles, and other relatives who possessed the capacity to both heal and harm.  This insight made me recognize that my lineage encompassed those who worked with both light and shadow.  This discussion took place in our hotel room, one of our final family moments before my mother and I departed for Butuan.

    The following morning, after breakfast, my father accompanied us to the bus stop.

    My parting words to him were, “Love you, Daddy.”

    At 5 am, I was stirred from sleep by the distant howling of many dogs outside our hotel room window.  According to local superstition, the sound of wailing dogs is believed to signify someone's passing.  In response, I experienced a sharp, cramping pain in my chest that seemed to radiate throughout my body, leaving me with an inexplicable sense of mortality.

    Our expedition took us to the Britania Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.  There, we embarked on a boat to explore a collection of atolls and islets adorned with breathtaking shells and corals, set against the backdrop of turquoise waters. Amid our journey, we made stops where local vendors offered souvenirs to tourists.  Among these treasures, I stumbled upon a vendor who possessed the sole pair of kamagong arnis sticks.  Seeing them, an unmistakable sense of destiny enveloped me; I knew they were meant for me. I secured them eagerly, anticipating sharing this remarkable discovery with my father once we returned to Surigao City. 


    Our subsequent destination on the itinerary was the awe-inspiring Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig.  As we ascended the path toward the falls, I couldn't shake the feeling that the land's spirits were keeping watch over us.  Upon reaching the falls, I settled beneath the cool, invigorating cascade of water, experiencing a profound renewal and a surge of clarity.

    In the company of my mother, we both received blessings from an enigmatic wellspring of comfort.  This experience left an indelible impact, a potent blend of humility and empowerment.  As we retraced our steps along the path, I carried with me an ineffable sense of having been touched by something truly extraordinary at Tinuy-an Falls.

    The day gradually waned as we arrived at our final destination, the Hinatuan Enchanted River.  Serendipitously, we were the last to be granted permission to swim in the river that day.  I waded into the deep, pristine aquamarine pools that concealed mysterious caves adorned in indigo blue.  As the other tourists departed, a tranquil and serene ambiance settled in. Despite the silence, the surroundings teemed with life – schools of large fish gliding gracefully just below the placid surface.

    As I floated in contemplation, an immense reverence for the river welled within me, paired with a profound respect for the rarity of the privilege bestowed upon me.  In a moment of tranquility, a message from my Ancestors reached me, granting me permission to rekindle ancient plant and energy medicine. At this juncture, I felt the pivotal point of transference.

    Sadly, upon our return to Surigao City, I received the news of my father's passing. At this moment, I grasped the significance of his passing.  He had bequeathed his power to me with his final breath, just as he had foretold. As a Filipina-American traditional healer of the diaspora, my commitment to raising awareness of Philippine culture surged, fueled by the potency of my own experiences.  Driven by this motivation, I embarked on a fresh journey, birthing my vision into reality through the inception of Herbalaria.

    As a Filipina-American traditional healer of the diaspora, my commitment to raising awareness of Philippine culture surged, fueled by the potency of my own experiences.  Driven by this motivation, I embarked on a fresh journey, birthing my vision into reality through the inception of Herbalaria.

     

    (Original Logo circa 2016)

    Full Circle

    My journey has led me to a purpose where I serve as an authentic traditional healer, educator, and advocate for our cultural traditions and healing practices. The unfortunate reality is that many have forgotten the ancient ways of our people due to colonization, enslavement, and systematic oppression.  Much of our pre-colonial shamanic rituals were obliterated alongside the tragic eradication of our shamans and priestesses.

    Today, I stand fortified by the strength and blessings of all my Ancestors and respected elders, enabling me to engage in this crucial work.  I persistently expand upon Ancestral traditions, providing avenues to uphold peace of mind, body, and spirit.

    Furthermore, I extend shamanic services that bring clarity, healing, and harmony to those seeking it.

    As the founder and principal teacher of Halamanism™, I reclaim and assert Philippine healing traditions firmly rooted in animistic practices through a contemporized approach that brings personal and communal harmony for all and our planet.

    Thank you for reading the beginnings of Herbalaria and becoming a part of our pamilya.

    Maraming salamat,
    Katuuran Lyn Pacificar

     

    1. A Katuuran is a Visayan shaman & priestess. I serve the people’s healing needs under the guidance and tutelage of my spiritual sponsor and Ancestor, Apong Mansanat, along with an extensive Spirit Counsel. DO NOT APPROPRIATE THIS NAME WITHOUT SHAMANIC DUE PROCESS.  
    2. An albularya (or arbolaryo) is a traditional folk herbalist and spiritual healer using a combination of modalities including prayers, ritual, diagnostic readings, smudging, Ancestral communication, and mediumship to achieve a certain goal for the recipient.  
    3. A manghihilot is a traditional healer using different methods of prayer, massage, special oils, and energy work.
    4. Arnis is a weapons-based national sport of the Philippines.  Weapons can range from sticks, knives, and other bladed weaponry.
    5. Japanese meaning “form.” Kata is a set of movements in Karate used to help memorize and perfect form.  It may be used individually or in a group setting.