Akil is a clinical herbalist, educator, and medicine maker with nearly a decade of experience rooted in nature-based and ancestral healing. His journey began in the backcountry, where a deep love for wild plants and foraging inspired him to pursue formal study at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, where he earned a scholarship to their intensive two-year clinical program.

Akil’s practice blends Western herbalism with Caribbean, African, Chinese, and Indian healing traditions, creating an integrative approach that honors both science and spirit. He is the founder of Black Lotus Apothecary, a holistic wellness collective dedicated to herbal education, community health, and cultural restoration through plant medicine.

In addition to his clinical work, Akil leads monthly tea ceremonies and teaches classes on plant energetics, pathology, and traditional medicine. Whether guiding individuals through personalized care or cultivating spaces for community connection, Akil approaches healing as both an art and a sacred responsibility—grounded in reverence for nature, ancestry, and the living wisdom of plants.

Arin DeGroff is a healing arts practitioner and co-founder of Black Lotus Apothecary, blending embodied wellness, social care, and holistic transformation into every facet of her work. A licensed Reiki and Massage Therapist with over a decade of experience, Arin has supported clients across the United States—both in-person and virtually—in reconnecting with their bodies, intuition, and innate capacity to heal.

Arin weaves healing into systems of care—currently working alongside elders and individuals with mental, physical, and intellectual disabilities to access vital resources with dignity. This work reflects her core belief: that healing in all its forms must be accessible, justice-oriented, and integrated into daily life.

Her pathway to finding her own physical, mental, and spiritual well-being has deepened her commitment to holistic living. Herbal medicine, energy work, movement, and creative ritual became not only tools of recovery but pathways to liberation. These practices now form the heart of her offerings—empowering others to reclaim wellness through grounded, heart-led living and embracing the idea to “live inside out.” Arin’s mission is to help others build bridges—back to themselves, to one another, and to their own unique, authentic expressions of healing.

Monticue Connally is an African American shaman, herbalist, seer, father, artist, and lifelong student of the plant world. As a shrine medium, Afro Futurist, and author of The Afro Fantasy Walking Tree Oracle, Monticue bridges ancestral wisdom with visionary imagination—honoring both African spiritual traditions and the evolving consciousness of the modern age.

Through his work, he invites others to explore the intersections of nature, energy, and identity, viewing Afro Futurism and traditional African cosmologies as essential tools for the liberation and healing of the collective mind. His Walking Tree Oracle guides readers through a nine-realm spectrum that weaves together elements, energies, herbs, and celestial influences to illuminate pathways toward health, balance, and self-understanding.

A dedicated bio-regional herbalist, Monticue works closely with the native plants of Colorado, teaching others to reconnect with the land beneath their feet. He has taught for numerous Colorado herbal schools and currently serves as an instructor at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. Whether through his teaching, writing, or ceremonial practice, Monticue’s mission is to awaken ancestral memory and inspire deeper relationship between people, plants, and the planet.Monticue is a bio-regional herbalist who works with plants of Colorado. He has taught for many Colorado herbal schools and currently teaches for the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. 

Santemu Aakhu is a certified Usui Reiki Master and an experienced practitioner of Chakra and Gemstone Energy Healing. With a lifelong connection to both the healing and creative arts, Santemu views energy work as an extension of nature’s artistry—a living expression of balance, beauty, and restoration.

Over the years, she has shared her gift of healing throughout the Denver–Aurora community, offering workshops and sessions designed to awaken awareness of holistic and energetic wellness. Through her practice, Santemu helps clients restore harmony to the body, mind, and spirit by opening and balancing the chakras and activating gemstones to enhance vitality and inner peace.

Her Reiki sessions welcome people from all walks of life into a calm and nurturing environment, where each person is supported in exploring their unique path to healing. Guided by compassion and intuition, Santemu’s mission is to help others reconnect to their natural state of balance and wholeness—one session, one breath, and one heartbeat at a time.

Elijah is dedicated to cultivating holistic health and well-being at both the individual and community levels. As a wellness advocate, coach, and licensed massage therapist, he blends intuitive care with evidence-based techniques to help clients restore balance, release tension, and reach their fullest potential. His approach emphasizes the connection between body, mind, and environment—empowering each person to take an active role in their own healing journey.

Beyond his private practice, Elijah extends his work into the heart of the community. He regularly supports local wellness events, facilitates group discussions, and mentors youth advocates, believing that true healing ripples outward through shared learning and connection. Whether through touch, conversation, or collaboration, Elijah’s mission remains the same—to nurture resilience, harmony, and sustainable health within every individual and the collective community.