A well-known and respected member of the Meso-American Zapotecan people located in Oaxaca, Dona Enriqueta Contreras is a descendant of a long line of Zapoteca shamans that date back to 500 B.C. Dona Enriqueta owns and operates a health clinic for her community, as well as for international visitors, in the small town of San Francisco Tutla.

Her history as a practicing midwife of more than fifty years has yielded her a flawless career with no mother or child ever lost during the birth process… an extraordinary feat, even by western standards. She travels the world disseminating her wisdom and knowledge.

While her address does not talk about herbs directly, Dona Enriqueta shares very important wisdom from an ancient people. Such wisdom is essential for having a strong foundation for herbal studies.

Dona Enriqueta first performs a simple ritual from the Zapotecan people and then reminds us of how important it is to live with the rhythms of nature, work with each other, and give us tips for a healthier world.

Wintertime is traditionally the time when we as humans would gather around the fires and hear the stories of our elders. This is the perfect time to dim the lights, light a candle, make a cup of tea, and hear timeless words from this wise woman. Wonderful words for the new year.