About Circé + Medée
Circé + Medée is a Community Wellness Centre dedicated to guiding individuals on their journey toward holistic health and well-being. Founded by Andrée Noye, a Clinical Herbalist and Certified Aromatherapist, C+M offers a unique blend of personalized herbal consultations, aromatherapy, and wellness services. Our mission is to empower our local community to live conscious, vibrant, and holistic lives through uncompromised quality in both services and products. At C+M, we believe in nurturing the mind, body, and spirit through nature’s wisdom.
Behind the Name
Circe and Medea are two fascinating figures of the Greek mythology. Circe was the daughter of the Titan Helios and the Oceanid Perse, a water nymph. Circe is known for her relationship with Odysseus, as detailed in Homer’s poem Odyssey (c. 750 BCE). But she is also known to be the first enchantress, who used plants in lieu of magic. Such magical use of herbs was called Pharmakeia, which etymology evolved into today’s words pharmacology and pharmacy! In my opinion, Circe represents acceptance of oneself, the ability to adapt, the power to live on her own terms, and being her own sovereign.
Medea is Circe’s niece, also an enchantress. She is known to have helped her lover Jason, the leader of the fabled Argonauts, to obtain the Golden Fleece. Medea is a complex character, who embodies feminine anger at being abandoned by her husband and is a horrifying example of how far somebody will go when pushed to the extreme. To my mind, Medea *is* passion, and our shadow self that we so often keep in check, but that she unleashed. She is a reminder of the importance of healing our trauma through ancestor work…
Together, I chose these mythical characters as they represent both light and darkness and the duality that is found in each and every one of us. Throughout my military career, I have visited dark corners of my soul as I experienced some of the worst the world offers. But in my healing journey, I discovered my craft and herbalism, and a return to a healthy life. I love both goddesses, as throughout the centuries, their complex natures have been sadly simplified to malice and selfishness. In retrospect, both Medea and Circe embody the archetype of the "dangerous woman," a figure whose independence challenges the patriarchal norms, and our perceptions of power and agency.
Discover more: Exploring the Tragic Power of Medea and the Mystique of Circe.
Behind the Logo
The logo C+M is a wreath of laurel attached to a waxing moon crescent. The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis), and its leaf, the bay, are a symbol of victory. Many people associate the noble laurel with protection as it is believed to dispel negative energy. The waxing moon is a period during which the moon becomes larger. Many associate this phase of the lunar cycle with growth, as it is the time to set intention, and reemerge from the darkness that was the new moon, where our natural satellite is invisible to the naked eye. I believe that both the wreath and the waxing crescent are a perfect match to the nymphs Circe and Medea themselves…
THE FLOWERS
You may notice that I use four plants throughout the image I created for C+M: the poppy, the dandelion, the American ginseng, and the mugwort.
The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance and my military service, as I hope for a peaceful future. I also use the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) in herbalism, as it is a mild sedative and analgesic.
My favourite plant in the entire universe is the underappreciated dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). This plant inspires me for its resilience and ability to thrive in the harshest environment. As an herbalist, it is one of those herbs that can be used entirely: flowers, leaves, roots! Metaphorically, it looks like both the sun and the moon, which reminds me again of the duality we find everywhere: light and dark, yin and yang, etc.
The endangered American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) represents everything that we must protect. While a powerful plant ally, it has fallen victim to overharvesting, greed, and poaching. Its habitat destruction is threatening the plant to the brink of eradication. It is our responsibility to be its stewards.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt. In mythology, Artemis used the flower to enhance her powers and intuition. Through the symbolism of the moon, mugwort is linked to feminine energy and has been a symbol of intuition and psychic abilities. A little magic for everyone and a reminder of my craft…
