Jul 13, 2021

Karen Rose is a pioneer in herbalism education who has been bringing vibes to Brooklyn for 12 years. Born in Guyana, she moved to Ditmas Park when she was 14 and would attend middle school just blocks away from the future location of Sacred Vibes Apothecary, the shop she would open in 2009.

Noting a lack of resources, education and access for Black herbalists in the area, she also launched an apprenticeship program in 2010. The shop itself has become a destination for herbal remedies based on traditions from the Caribbean, West Africa and India.

Demand for her services has only grown since the onset of the pandemic. On Instagram, she saw the number of her followers balloon to 69,000 over the past year, stoked by anxiety around the coronavirus and a desire to support Black businesses. There she offers a soothing resource for advice, education, recipes and astrological readings—like her take on the recent lunar eclipse in Sagittarius: “This eclipse will highlight matters of faith and trust in your home—matters of faith and trust in your heart, in your relationships—in your community and your family.”

She has more recently expanded her local foothold by opening Sacred Botanica, for more magical and spiritual needs, and Sacred Spice, where she sells bulk spices, teas, oils and more.