Namaste.
It is with this Sanskrit greeting of reverence—one that captures the feeling of gratitude, humility, and connectivity—that I welcome you to Planetary Apothecary.
My name is Stephanie Gailing. I’m a nutritionist, astrologer, and natural health writer…as well as a seeker of truths, unravelers of mysteries, and all-around compassionate soul. My relationships with my family, friends, partner, and cat Lela are among my most cherished treasures.
Originally from northern NJ, I transplanted to Seattle 12+ years ago. What initially drew me here was Bastyr University, where I studied a whole-foods approach to nutrition, earning my Masters Degree in 1999. But what has kept me—with my Pisces Sun and Taurus Moon—in this picturesque pocket of the Northwest is the water, the laid-back “smell the roses” lifestyle, and a community passionate about sustainable foods and natural medicine.
Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to be of service, helping others to enhance the quality of their lives. To this end, I studied Hotel & Restaurant Administration at Cornell University but soon after realized that what I was really passionate about was helping people to enhance their health and wellness. In synchronistic twists of fate, for which I am utterly grateful, I met brilliant people who introduced me to the riches of natural medicine—including homeopathy, flower essences, botanicals, bio-energetic testing, and the powerful healing role of food—and helped to inspire my fervor for educating people about achieving optimal wellness. I channeled this passion through various career experiences including writing about whole foods, creating educational materials for healthcare practitioners, consulting companies in the natural products industry, and operating my own eco-lifestyle store.
Along the way, I discovered astrology, and my heart, mind, and soul lit up as I realized the valuable insights that it could yield. It felt as if I had found the secret key I had always sought, that which could help me better understand myself, other people, and the world around me. Over the sixteen years of my astrological studies/practice, it has also become a powerful tool that has enabled me to be of further service to others by helping them to better identify their strengths, honor—and overcome—their personal challenges, and embrace who they are.
Planetary Apothecary: The Book and the Blog
It was a graceful moment when I discovered the field of medical astrology, realizing that my two passions—natural health and astrology—were actually connected through this ancient healing art. I began writing about it in 2000, with my series of herbal astrology articles for StarIQ.com, and have focused on the interplay of astrology and wellness ever since. Then, one day while Saturn, the “making it real” planet, was transiting my 3rd house of communication, an idea for how to marry wellness and astrology in a book came to me, leading to my writing Planetary Apothecary: An Astrological Approach to Health and Wellness. I chose the name Planetary Apothecary because it not only reflects that we can use the wisdom of astrology to help identify our own unique healing path but also that the jewels of nature on our planet—including whole foods and healing plants—can themselves be powerful allies in our journey toward well-being.
After the book was written, I realized I wanted to create a space where I could continue to share my insights on nutrition, natural health, and astrology while also developing a community forum where others could gather to learn, communicate, and share ideas on these topics. From this came the idea for the Planetary Apothecary blog.
While the blog addresses the topics of wellness and astrology, its focus and style are very different than the eponymous book. In the book, astrology and wellness are intertwined, as it offers insights into and suggestions tailored for your needs depending upon your astrological profile. The blog, on the other hand, is designed to be more like a health and wellness magazine: It will cover topics such as whole foods, natural remedies, and complementary/alternative therapies and will also feature Monthly Wellness Horoscopes and other articles that illuminate astrology’s healing potential.
I hope that you will actively use the Comments section to share your views on the subjects being discussed and that it will become a place where you engage with other readers to share viewpoints, thoughts, and even recipes. I plan to be active in the Comments section, but please realize that if I don’t answer a question you post it isn’t for lack of interest. It may just be that I think that your question is better suited to be a catalyst for reader dialogue.
This section wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging my dearest Alexander Carrillo, not only for his inspiration but for the wonderful photographs that you see on this website.
Once again, welcome to Planetary Apothecary.
To a healthful and joyous life,
Stephanie
P.S. If you want to be in touch, please visit the Contact page to find the best way to reach me.
