About Valentine

If you don't know me, I'm Valentine, folk herbalist, aromatherapist, family constellation facilitator and also, the proud creator of The Eldermother Apothecary.

My journey into herbalism

After studying law for five years and graduating with two master's degrees in human rights in 2021, I gave up everything to move to Ireland and study Celtic herbalism, all because of (or should I say thanks to) a book from Maïa Toll, The Illustrated Herbiary.

If we go back in time a little, in beggining 2021, I was looking for an end-of-year internship to validate my master's degree and, honestly, I kept getting turned down over and over again to the point where I was ready to give up (and I nearly did)!

One day, while I was at the bookshop, I bought Maïa's book without even looking at what I had in my hands. Once I got home, I decided to take a look at it, and after reading the first few lines of the preface, where she talks about her journey into herbalism, I don't know how to explain it, but deep down, I knew in my heart that it was what I was meant to do.

And believe it or not, once I had made my decision and told my family that I was leaving everything behind to study herbalism, everything fell into place. I found the perfect internship for me and shortly afterwards, I found a course, but not just any course, or rather, I should say, not with just anyone.

Indeed, after reviewing dozens of training courses, I found one in Ireland offered by Gina McGarry. After writing her an email with my story, she replied that she was Maïa's teacher. Some might say it was a coincidence, but for me it was a sign from the universe confirming that I was on the right path. So, that's how, on the 14th February 2022, I arrived in Ireland to embark on that new path.

After a long journey of learning, I qualified as an herbalist at the Brighid's Academy of healing arts after completing four years of training in the Arts and Sciences of Botanical Medicine in 2024 alongside Gina McGarry and Bernie McCann.

Early in my journey (or should I say my first week in Ireland), I crossed paths with Tonja Reichley, one of Gina’s very first students, who also passed on a lot of her wisdom to me and has significantly guided my pratice of herbalism to this day. 

My journey towards Family constellation work

For quite some time, I had been hearing about family constellations but I had never really taken the step to attend one, until one day, in April 2024, a friend decided out of the blue to send me a poster for a family constellation workshop. And for some reason that I still don’t know, I sent an message to the organiser and facilitator, Maria Liddy, to find out more about this modality of work.

After my first experience, beyond the fact that it totally blew my mind and left me with thousands of questions racing through my mind, I very quickly realised that there was no way to hide in this method of work. 

Whilst I still remember why I sat down on the chair next to Maria for the first time, I have absolutely no recollection of what happened during my constellation, and it actually doesn't matter to me because I trust that what needed to be aknowledge on that moment was. That day, Maria not only helped me to see the bigger picture but she also planted a little seed in my heart's pocket (as she call it). 

After my first experience of the field, I attended almost all the subsequent workshops she organised and, without realising it, in March 2025 I found myself taking part in a foundation training in family constellation of three months with Roisin Fallon, that Maria coordinated for the West North of Ireland. 

Curious by nature and always eager to learn more, I ended up signing up for the full course. After 18 months of intense training (or transformation should I say), I finally qualified as a family constellation facilitator with Roisin Fallon as trainor and Maria Liddy as coordinator.