Stephanie Rose Bird is an expert in the field of alternative health and earth-based spirituality. Bird, is the author of five books: The Big Book of Soul: the Ultimate Guide to the African American Spirit: Legends and Lore, Music and Mysticism and Recipes and Rituals, (2010, Hampton Road Publishers), A Healing Grove: African Tree Medicine, Remedies and Rituals ( 2009, Chicago Review Press), Light, Bright, Damn Near White: Biracial and Triracial Culture in America (2009, Greenwood Publishers) Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones Hoodoo, Mojo and Conjuring with Herbs (June 2004, by Llewellyn Worldwide Publishers) and “Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living (Llewellyn, 2006). She holds a BFA cum laude from Temple University, Tyler School of Art and a MFA from University of California at San Diego where she was a San Diego Opportunity Fellow.  She was a professor of fine art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for over fifteen years.  She has also taught at the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Garfield Conservatory. Bird works as an herbalist, aromatherapist and sole proprietor of Almost Edible Natural Products.  Her product line features herbal soap, incense, potpourri, bath salts, sachets and dream pillows. Bird writes regularly for www.naturallycurly.com as resident herbalist.  She has been a professional member of the Handcrafted Soap Maker’s Guild, for whom she wrote a column “Soap Worts: Useful Herbs for Soap Makers. Bird is also a member of: the American Botanical Council’s Herb Research Foundation; the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and the International Center for Traditional Childrearing.  Her writing on herbalism, natural healing, complimentary therapies, herbal lore, goddesses, rituals and ceremonies are featured in “Sage Woman Magazine” “The Beltane Papers,” “PanGaia,” “International Journal of Aromatherapy,” “Aromatherapy Today,” “The Oracle,” “Herb Quarterly,” “Herb Companion,” “The Llewellyn Magical Almanac,” “The Llewellyn Herbal Almanac” “Enlightened Practice,” E-pregnancy and “Spell-a-Day.”  As a Fulbright Senior Scholar, Bird studied the art, rituals and ceremonies of Australian Aborigines in the outback of the Northern Territory. Bird's fine art is held in several important national and international art collections, she has exhibited in numerous galleries, museums, universities and public spaces.  Stephanie Bird is a hereditary intuitive and healer specializing in positive energy work and spiritual cleansing using African plant wisdom.