You might notice that I have a picture of Angelica archangelica at the top of my blog. It is one of my favorite herbs, as you can read in my post about it. It is also a bear medicine, so it goes along with my persona of "Mother Bear."
There is a legend that long ago, in Europe during the time of the Great Plague, an Angel appeared to a monk in a dream and told him that Angelica would cure the Plague. That is where it gets its name, or so they say. I don't know if it actually did cure the plague or not, but I do know that plant spirits teach in mysterious ways, and it is best to pay attention when they speak.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
My Teachers
This is a post to publically thank my beloved Teachers. I bow to your Mastery!
With love,
MRJ
With love,
MRJ
Bathed in Moonlight
The moon is full again tonight, this time in the sign of Scorpio. Since this is a water sign it is a good day for planting, although it is better to plant in a water sign while the moon is waxing. The full moon is still a good time, though.If you plant by the moon, the plants seem to grow better. There are lots of books on this subject that you can find. Or just get an astrological calendar or almanac to see where She is on any given day (or night). Plants are in harmony with the moon's cycles, as we all used to be, and many of us still are, whether we are aware of it or not. There is something about the light of the full moon that feels so healing to me. It has a gentle, pearly, motherly feel, that plants respond to. So do animals and other living creatures. Even stones seem to love moonlight. Try setting your house plants (and stones, if you are also a rockhound like me) in a window where the full moon can shine on them. They will thank you for it!
Try this: Make an infusion of a favorite herb, and let it cool. Put it into a clear jar and set it out where it can absorb the magical reflective light of the full moon. After a few hours you can use it."Take a cup and drink it up." Soak your stones in it. Pour it into your bath and soak in it while you are drinking the tea. See what visions come to your inner sight. Perhaps you will receive a Teaching from the Plant Kingdom. The herbs communicate with us in many ways.
Try this with different herbs--of course, make sure they are safe to ingest in this way--Experiment! The herbs have so much to teach us, and so many ways of imparting their wisdom to us. Learn from them as the living teachers they are. They are not just collections of chemical constituents any more than we are. Our DNA is closely related to the plant DNA.
We are one flesh, you and I.
Try this: Make an infusion of a favorite herb, and let it cool. Put it into a clear jar and set it out where it can absorb the magical reflective light of the full moon. After a few hours you can use it."Take a cup and drink it up." Soak your stones in it. Pour it into your bath and soak in it while you are drinking the tea. See what visions come to your inner sight. Perhaps you will receive a Teaching from the Plant Kingdom. The herbs communicate with us in many ways.
Try this with different herbs--of course, make sure they are safe to ingest in this way--Experiment! The herbs have so much to teach us, and so many ways of imparting their wisdom to us. Learn from them as the living teachers they are. They are not just collections of chemical constituents any more than we are. Our DNA is closely related to the plant DNA.
We are one flesh, you and I.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Lady's Mantle
Lady’s Mantle
Alchemilla vulgaris
Alchemilla mollis
Alchemilla xanthochlora
“Among the spirits Quicksilver came first” (Chaucer, The Yeoman’s Tale)
The more I have researched Lady’s Mantle, the more I have come to the conclusion that the alchemical qualities associated with this herb are not just fancy and folklore.
There is a strange and telling conjoining of the Lady, (whether we call her Venus, Freya or Mary, she represents the universal Feminine principle), with the Lion, (whether as the Green Lion of the alchemists, or as the Lion of Judah who is Christ the Divine Bridegroom, representing the universal Masculine principle). To me, this more than hints at the mystery of the Alchemical Marriage. This interpretation might be reinforced when we consider David Dalton’s use of it as a flower essence—he says it is specifically used to balance the masculine and feminine energies in a person.
One other thought—the image of the leaf holding the dew drop seems like an obvious plant-teaching, waiting to be discovered; even though it wasn’t one of Dr. Bach’s original remedies, it clearly teaches the lesson of how to make a flower essence.
I believe this plant has a lot more to teach us.
Lady’s Mantle
Common Names: Lady’s Mantle, Lion’s-foot, Stellaria
Botanical Names: Alchemilla vulgaris, A. mollis, A. xanthochlora
Family: Rosaceae
Habitat: Cold wet slopes, rocky areas, stream banks. Native to Europe and Asia, but now widely cultivated. It is a northern plant.
Parts Used: Mostly the leaves, but some sources include the root (Grieve).
Collection Time: Pick early in summer before it flowers, while the leaves are still tender (Wood).
Pharmacology: Tannins and salicylic acid
Preparations:
· Infusion—one cup of boiling water to one tablespoon of the leaves. Steep 15 minutes
· Tincture in brandy—1-3 drops
Energetics: Bitter, astringent, cool (Tierra).
Bitter, cool, dry, astringent (Wood)
Tissue State: Relaxation
Organs: Uterus, spleen, kidneys
Actions: Astringent, febrifuge, tonic. It is a good post-partum remedy because it strengthens the abdominal tissues. Claims are made that it can raise sagging breasts. At one time the claim was made that it could restore virginity—a very alchemical ability indeed!
Historical And Folk Uses: In early herbals Lady’s Mantle was listed as a woundwort, because its astringent properties will stop excessive bleeding , including menstrual bleeding. In Germany it was associated with the goddess Freya (Wood). Later in the Middle Ages it came to be associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was called Our Lady’s Mantle,( which has been shortened to Lady’s Mantle) because the leaves supposedly resemble the flowing mantle of the Virgin Mary.
Its botanical name, Alchemilla, linking it with alchemy, might come from the fact that its water-proof leaves are able to hold a drop of dew much later in the day than most leaves. To the medieval mind this dew might look like the “divine dew” of the alchemists. It certainly resembles a drop of liquid mercury—one of the three main ingredients in an alchemical operation. This drop of divine precipitate is sometimes called the Green Lion. A funny coincidence is that Lady’s Mantle is called “Lions-foot.” Some writers say this name comes from the shape of the leaf, which does resemble a lion’s paw). Perhaps beneath the folklore there is a deeper meaning waiting to be discovered. I can’t claim to understand alchemy well enough to mine these depths, but maybe someday someone will.
Culpeper says “Venus claims this herb.” Venus is one of the names of the Lady, of course.
Flower Essence Use: David Dalton in his book, Stars of the Meadow, goes into some depth in discussing this essence. He claims that it balances the masculine and feminine aspects within an individual, (sounding very reminiscent of the Sacred Marriage). It also is protective of women.
Indications: Lack of appetite; rheumatism; diarrhea; stomach trouble; menstrual problems.
Cautions: None found.
Alchemilla vulgaris
Alchemilla mollis
Alchemilla xanthochlora
“Among the spirits Quicksilver came first” (Chaucer, The Yeoman’s Tale)
The more I have researched Lady’s Mantle, the more I have come to the conclusion that the alchemical qualities associated with this herb are not just fancy and folklore.
There is a strange and telling conjoining of the Lady, (whether we call her Venus, Freya or Mary, she represents the universal Feminine principle), with the Lion, (whether as the Green Lion of the alchemists, or as the Lion of Judah who is Christ the Divine Bridegroom, representing the universal Masculine principle). To me, this more than hints at the mystery of the Alchemical Marriage. This interpretation might be reinforced when we consider David Dalton’s use of it as a flower essence—he says it is specifically used to balance the masculine and feminine energies in a person.
One other thought—the image of the leaf holding the dew drop seems like an obvious plant-teaching, waiting to be discovered; even though it wasn’t one of Dr. Bach’s original remedies, it clearly teaches the lesson of how to make a flower essence.
I believe this plant has a lot more to teach us.
Lady’s Mantle
Common Names: Lady’s Mantle, Lion’s-foot, Stellaria
Botanical Names: Alchemilla vulgaris, A. mollis, A. xanthochlora
Family: Rosaceae
Habitat: Cold wet slopes, rocky areas, stream banks. Native to Europe and Asia, but now widely cultivated. It is a northern plant.
Parts Used: Mostly the leaves, but some sources include the root (Grieve).
Collection Time: Pick early in summer before it flowers, while the leaves are still tender (Wood).
Pharmacology: Tannins and salicylic acid
Preparations:
· Infusion—one cup of boiling water to one tablespoon of the leaves. Steep 15 minutes
· Tincture in brandy—1-3 drops
Energetics: Bitter, astringent, cool (Tierra).
Bitter, cool, dry, astringent (Wood)
Tissue State: Relaxation
Organs: Uterus, spleen, kidneys
Actions: Astringent, febrifuge, tonic. It is a good post-partum remedy because it strengthens the abdominal tissues. Claims are made that it can raise sagging breasts. At one time the claim was made that it could restore virginity—a very alchemical ability indeed!
Historical And Folk Uses: In early herbals Lady’s Mantle was listed as a woundwort, because its astringent properties will stop excessive bleeding , including menstrual bleeding. In Germany it was associated with the goddess Freya (Wood). Later in the Middle Ages it came to be associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was called Our Lady’s Mantle,( which has been shortened to Lady’s Mantle) because the leaves supposedly resemble the flowing mantle of the Virgin Mary.
Its botanical name, Alchemilla, linking it with alchemy, might come from the fact that its water-proof leaves are able to hold a drop of dew much later in the day than most leaves. To the medieval mind this dew might look like the “divine dew” of the alchemists. It certainly resembles a drop of liquid mercury—one of the three main ingredients in an alchemical operation. This drop of divine precipitate is sometimes called the Green Lion. A funny coincidence is that Lady’s Mantle is called “Lions-foot.” Some writers say this name comes from the shape of the leaf, which does resemble a lion’s paw). Perhaps beneath the folklore there is a deeper meaning waiting to be discovered. I can’t claim to understand alchemy well enough to mine these depths, but maybe someday someone will.
Culpeper says “Venus claims this herb.” Venus is one of the names of the Lady, of course.
Flower Essence Use: David Dalton in his book, Stars of the Meadow, goes into some depth in discussing this essence. He claims that it balances the masculine and feminine aspects within an individual, (sounding very reminiscent of the Sacred Marriage). It also is protective of women.
Indications: Lack of appetite; rheumatism; diarrhea; stomach trouble; menstrual problems.
Cautions: None found.
Basil
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Ocimum sanctum
Basil has a long and strangely schizophrenic history. Some herbalists warned that it would grow scorpions in the brain. To other people, e.g., in India, it has a long and happy history of use, both religiously and medicinally, and is called “holy.”
Culpeper reviles it, although he credits it with some medicinal value, i.e. drawing out poison from a sting. But he believes that this is only because “Every like draws its like,” meaning that basil is as poisonous as the sting itself.
The old stories that claim that its name comes from the basilisk—that dreaded reptilian beast whose breath and gaze could kill—might hold a clue to basil’s paradoxical reputation.
In the Western societies, whose histories can be traced back to the ancient Jewish tradition through the Bible, the Serpent (which is a similar archetype to the basilisk) is seen as evil, actually as the devil, and is the cause of the downfall of “Man.” As a Puritan, Culpeper probably believed strongly in this symbolism.
In India, on the other hand, where basil is called “holy,” the serpent archetype as Kundalini,( the serpent energy coiled at the base of the human spine), is seen as a symbol of wisdom, and when properly raised, of enlightenment. (Certain Gnostic sects also equated the serpent with wisdom, but they are mostly long forgotten—except by people like me.)
In considering the extreme polarity of the serpent symbol and its relationship to basil, the Flower Essence Repertory may hold a key. Basil’s flower essence is for the soul who “tends to polarize the experience of spirituality and sexuality,” (and who more so than a Puritan?) This is that old dualistic dilemma of spirit vs. matter, which has been a thorn in the side of so many religions for so long.
In my experience, I have found that Truth exists at the heart of Paradox, in the fulcrum of the scales, so perhaps somehow both of basil’s reputations are true. What if Culpeper’s “scorpions” are simply a reference to a puritanically repressed sexuality, which not coincidentally is ruled by Scorpio in astrology? Even the serpent-like nature of the basilisk is a potent symbol of male sexuality.
Perhaps Basil is another guide into our Shadow Self, but I must stop at the entrance to this gate of mystery here and agree with Culpeper: “I dare write no more of it.” At least, for now.
Ocimum basilicum
Ocimum sanctum
Basil has a long and strangely schizophrenic history. Some herbalists warned that it would grow scorpions in the brain. To other people, e.g., in India, it has a long and happy history of use, both religiously and medicinally, and is called “holy.”
Culpeper reviles it, although he credits it with some medicinal value, i.e. drawing out poison from a sting. But he believes that this is only because “Every like draws its like,” meaning that basil is as poisonous as the sting itself.
The old stories that claim that its name comes from the basilisk—that dreaded reptilian beast whose breath and gaze could kill—might hold a clue to basil’s paradoxical reputation.
In the Western societies, whose histories can be traced back to the ancient Jewish tradition through the Bible, the Serpent (which is a similar archetype to the basilisk) is seen as evil, actually as the devil, and is the cause of the downfall of “Man.” As a Puritan, Culpeper probably believed strongly in this symbolism.
In India, on the other hand, where basil is called “holy,” the serpent archetype as Kundalini,( the serpent energy coiled at the base of the human spine), is seen as a symbol of wisdom, and when properly raised, of enlightenment. (Certain Gnostic sects also equated the serpent with wisdom, but they are mostly long forgotten—except by people like me.)
In considering the extreme polarity of the serpent symbol and its relationship to basil, the Flower Essence Repertory may hold a key. Basil’s flower essence is for the soul who “tends to polarize the experience of spirituality and sexuality,” (and who more so than a Puritan?) This is that old dualistic dilemma of spirit vs. matter, which has been a thorn in the side of so many religions for so long.
In my experience, I have found that Truth exists at the heart of Paradox, in the fulcrum of the scales, so perhaps somehow both of basil’s reputations are true. What if Culpeper’s “scorpions” are simply a reference to a puritanically repressed sexuality, which not coincidentally is ruled by Scorpio in astrology? Even the serpent-like nature of the basilisk is a potent symbol of male sexuality.
Perhaps Basil is another guide into our Shadow Self, but I must stop at the entrance to this gate of mystery here and agree with Culpeper: “I dare write no more of it.” At least, for now.
Rose
Rose
Rosa spp.
Common Name: Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa spp.
Family: Rosaceae
Habitat: Grows in temperate regions in both hemispheres, but probably originated in what was once Persia.
Parts Used: The fruits, called “hips.” The flowers and petals are also frequently used. In fact, almost all parts of this plant have been used at times.
Pharmacology: The hips contain tannins, flavonoids, sugars, pectin, fruit acids (malic, citric, and ascorbic or vitamin C) and carotene (Wood).
Actions: Aperient, astringent, stomachic, cardiac and nerve tonic, blood purifier.
Preparations: There are possibly hundreds of preparations given for Rose. Some of the more common follow:
· The hips are the most commonly used today. They contain vitamin C and can be taken in tea, capsule, or pill form. They are used to treat colds and flu.
· Rose water is used in cosmetics. When diluted it is also used as a refreshing drink in Arabic countries, probably due to the cooling effects of the Rosaceae family.
· The oil is used in aromatherapy, but is prohibitively expensive. It is estimated that it takes almost 60,000 pounds of petals to produce a little over two pounds of the oil (Chishti). (Maude Grieve gives a slightly more conservative estimate).
· “Attar” is the Arabic word for “essence.” So Attar of Rose means “essence of Rose,” usually in an oil form.
Energetics: Flavors:
· Hips: sour, sweet, cool, astringent.
· Petals: sweet, slightly bitter, aromatic (Wood)
· To the Sufis who value it highly, considering it the “mother” of scents, the oil is said to be cold and dry in the second degree.
Historical Uses: The Rose has been prized since the dawn of human history as the queen of flowers, so named by the poetess Sappho. It has been cultivated for over 3,000 years. The Egyptians used the petals to freshen air and in perfumery.
In the Middle Ages rose conserve was a specific for tuberculosis, from a remedy popularized by Avicenna (Wood).
Since the earliest days the Rose has been used as a token of silence, hence the term “ sub rosa,” referring to matters that require strict confidence.
Hildegard of Bingen used rose hip tea for nearly every illness. Nostradamus, who was actually a practicing physician when he wasn’t writing his quatrains, used rose in his medicine for treating bubonic plague.
Attar of rose was discovered, (so the story goes), in India at the wedding of Shah Jehan, who built the Taj Mahal and Shalimar Gardens for his wife, Noor Jehan, as a symbol of his undying love. On the day of their wedding, he had the moat filled with rose water and rose petals. The heat of the sun, shining on the rose petals and water, caused a natural distillation of rose oil. The Indians have excelled at making rose oil ever since.
Not surprisingly, Culpeper assigns this plant to Venus.
Rose Around the World: Ayurvedic doctors consider the petals to be cooling and astringent, and use them to treat skin inflammations. They also use rose water as a laxative.
Chinese doctors use different preparations from different species, but they see rose as a warming plant. It is used to relieve congestion of qi and blood (Wood).
Aromatherapy: To me this is where Rose’s qualities really shine. True rose oil is the least toxic of all oil, but also one of the most versatile, working on many levels at once. Rose oil’s scent will change when applied to a person’s body if they are carrying many toxins. The scent of the oil will become slightly sour in this case. On a healthy body the fragrance will remain unchanged. This makes rose oil a useful preliminary diagnostic indicator of a person’s general state of health.
Rose oil can help nervousness, menstruation, fever, migraine, depression, and skin problems, among other things. Its signature is a veritable encyclopedia of symbolism.
Unfortunately, fake rose oil is common due to the high price of true rose oil. It must be made from real rose plants—Rosa damascene, R. centifolia, R. gallica are the most often used. The best oil comes from Bulgaria.
Rose essential oil is rarely taken internally, but is added to massage oils and diffusers, where it enters the body through the skin and respiration.
Its character is yin.
My Experience with Rose: It is part of my name and also my personal symbol. I use the hips in tea, the petals soaked in olive oil and used for my skin, the rosewater as a refreshing mister, and the oil as a meditation aid. ( I have a small amount of the precious attar). I find all parts to be spiritually cleansing, at a deep soul level—the “matrix level”—where the blueprint for our physical, etheric and astral bodies is formed. This matrix is where I believe all true healing must take place. Any flaws in this “blueprint” will manifest as illness in the physical body. Some deep-seated “karmic” illnesses can only be healed here. I also find that Rose can heal “heart-wounds.”It rules the heart center in many traditions.
Rose’s Story
According to Sufi legend, in all the universe, the first thing that Allah created was the Soul of Prophecy, which He made from the absolute essence of His own Light, called “Nur.” The Soul of Prophecy burned so brightly with the Light of Allah that it began to perspire. From these drops of Prophecy’s sweat, Allah made the Soul of the Rose. This is how the art of aromatherapy originated.
In Sufi healing, the Rose is the Mother essence, the Queen of scents, whose complement is the Father essence, which is Amber (Chisti). Rose works simultaneously on the physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies of the human being. It cleanses, heals, and uplifts a person on all three levels.
To the Sufis, the signature of Rose expresses the spiritual quest of the Soul in its way of return to God. The tall stem, covered with sharp thorns, shows the long hard way of the world that the Soul must traverse and endure in order to arrive at the absolute sweetness of perfection in Paradise, symbolized by the blossom of the flower. Its diadem of dewdrops, bestowed on Rose by the goddess Chloris, hints at the mystical process of Condensation, a secret to Creation understood by few except the Alchemists, the Kabballists, and the Sufis.
Rose has long been a symbol of Love, both human and Divine. It is often used to represent Christ, and also His Mother, the Virgin Mary. Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, the Rose has also symbolized silence. In light of our understanding of Rose’s spiritual efficacy, we can accept silence as necessary--- each Soul’s experience in its return to God is ineffable, and may not be spoken of, even if we had the words to describe it.
If some plants, like Angelica archangelica, are great shamans, then surely some are prophets. I believe Rose to be such a prophet from the plant world, sharing her wisdom with all who can hear her silent voice.
It is written that the Rose, may peace be upon her, has no thorns in Paradise.
Rosa spp.
Common Name: Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa spp.
Family: Rosaceae
Habitat: Grows in temperate regions in both hemispheres, but probably originated in what was once Persia.
Parts Used: The fruits, called “hips.” The flowers and petals are also frequently used. In fact, almost all parts of this plant have been used at times.
Pharmacology: The hips contain tannins, flavonoids, sugars, pectin, fruit acids (malic, citric, and ascorbic or vitamin C) and carotene (Wood).
Actions: Aperient, astringent, stomachic, cardiac and nerve tonic, blood purifier.
Preparations: There are possibly hundreds of preparations given for Rose. Some of the more common follow:
· The hips are the most commonly used today. They contain vitamin C and can be taken in tea, capsule, or pill form. They are used to treat colds and flu.
· Rose water is used in cosmetics. When diluted it is also used as a refreshing drink in Arabic countries, probably due to the cooling effects of the Rosaceae family.
· The oil is used in aromatherapy, but is prohibitively expensive. It is estimated that it takes almost 60,000 pounds of petals to produce a little over two pounds of the oil (Chishti). (Maude Grieve gives a slightly more conservative estimate).
· “Attar” is the Arabic word for “essence.” So Attar of Rose means “essence of Rose,” usually in an oil form.
Energetics: Flavors:
· Hips: sour, sweet, cool, astringent.
· Petals: sweet, slightly bitter, aromatic (Wood)
· To the Sufis who value it highly, considering it the “mother” of scents, the oil is said to be cold and dry in the second degree.
Historical Uses: The Rose has been prized since the dawn of human history as the queen of flowers, so named by the poetess Sappho. It has been cultivated for over 3,000 years. The Egyptians used the petals to freshen air and in perfumery.
In the Middle Ages rose conserve was a specific for tuberculosis, from a remedy popularized by Avicenna (Wood).
Since the earliest days the Rose has been used as a token of silence, hence the term “ sub rosa,” referring to matters that require strict confidence.
Hildegard of Bingen used rose hip tea for nearly every illness. Nostradamus, who was actually a practicing physician when he wasn’t writing his quatrains, used rose in his medicine for treating bubonic plague.
Attar of rose was discovered, (so the story goes), in India at the wedding of Shah Jehan, who built the Taj Mahal and Shalimar Gardens for his wife, Noor Jehan, as a symbol of his undying love. On the day of their wedding, he had the moat filled with rose water and rose petals. The heat of the sun, shining on the rose petals and water, caused a natural distillation of rose oil. The Indians have excelled at making rose oil ever since.
Not surprisingly, Culpeper assigns this plant to Venus.
Rose Around the World: Ayurvedic doctors consider the petals to be cooling and astringent, and use them to treat skin inflammations. They also use rose water as a laxative.
Chinese doctors use different preparations from different species, but they see rose as a warming plant. It is used to relieve congestion of qi and blood (Wood).
Aromatherapy: To me this is where Rose’s qualities really shine. True rose oil is the least toxic of all oil, but also one of the most versatile, working on many levels at once. Rose oil’s scent will change when applied to a person’s body if they are carrying many toxins. The scent of the oil will become slightly sour in this case. On a healthy body the fragrance will remain unchanged. This makes rose oil a useful preliminary diagnostic indicator of a person’s general state of health.
Rose oil can help nervousness, menstruation, fever, migraine, depression, and skin problems, among other things. Its signature is a veritable encyclopedia of symbolism.
Unfortunately, fake rose oil is common due to the high price of true rose oil. It must be made from real rose plants—Rosa damascene, R. centifolia, R. gallica are the most often used. The best oil comes from Bulgaria.
Rose essential oil is rarely taken internally, but is added to massage oils and diffusers, where it enters the body through the skin and respiration.
Its character is yin.
My Experience with Rose: It is part of my name and also my personal symbol. I use the hips in tea, the petals soaked in olive oil and used for my skin, the rosewater as a refreshing mister, and the oil as a meditation aid. ( I have a small amount of the precious attar). I find all parts to be spiritually cleansing, at a deep soul level—the “matrix level”—where the blueprint for our physical, etheric and astral bodies is formed. This matrix is where I believe all true healing must take place. Any flaws in this “blueprint” will manifest as illness in the physical body. Some deep-seated “karmic” illnesses can only be healed here. I also find that Rose can heal “heart-wounds.”It rules the heart center in many traditions.
Rose’s Story
According to Sufi legend, in all the universe, the first thing that Allah created was the Soul of Prophecy, which He made from the absolute essence of His own Light, called “Nur.” The Soul of Prophecy burned so brightly with the Light of Allah that it began to perspire. From these drops of Prophecy’s sweat, Allah made the Soul of the Rose. This is how the art of aromatherapy originated.
In Sufi healing, the Rose is the Mother essence, the Queen of scents, whose complement is the Father essence, which is Amber (Chisti). Rose works simultaneously on the physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies of the human being. It cleanses, heals, and uplifts a person on all three levels.
To the Sufis, the signature of Rose expresses the spiritual quest of the Soul in its way of return to God. The tall stem, covered with sharp thorns, shows the long hard way of the world that the Soul must traverse and endure in order to arrive at the absolute sweetness of perfection in Paradise, symbolized by the blossom of the flower. Its diadem of dewdrops, bestowed on Rose by the goddess Chloris, hints at the mystical process of Condensation, a secret to Creation understood by few except the Alchemists, the Kabballists, and the Sufis.
Rose has long been a symbol of Love, both human and Divine. It is often used to represent Christ, and also His Mother, the Virgin Mary. Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, the Rose has also symbolized silence. In light of our understanding of Rose’s spiritual efficacy, we can accept silence as necessary--- each Soul’s experience in its return to God is ineffable, and may not be spoken of, even if we had the words to describe it.
If some plants, like Angelica archangelica, are great shamans, then surely some are prophets. I believe Rose to be such a prophet from the plant world, sharing her wisdom with all who can hear her silent voice.
It is written that the Rose, may peace be upon her, has no thorns in Paradise.
A Little About me
I'm not very good at this blogging thing yet.
This blog is meant to be about Herbs, but I suppose I should tell you a little about myself, so you know what kind of creature you are dealing with. I am a Scorpio woman of Scots-Irish and Cherokee descent. In fact, on my Father's side I am a descendant of the great, semi-mythical Irish warrior CuChulain, the Hound of Ulster, (go to the head of the class if you know who he is!) My Dad's folks were "Hill People" and both grew up in log cabins in the Ozarks ( a lifestyle I have been trying to achieve for years), so I guess I inherited my affinity for folk medicine from them. On my Mom's side I am 100% Irish. I grew up believing in Fairies because my clanspeople talked about them as if they were real. (I still believe in Them.) My clans are Murray and McNally, (which, being rebellious sorts, we spell McAnally). Most of my Irish relatives come from the border counties in Ireland, so they are a pretty tough bunch. Poet warriors all. We are what you call "black Irish," not "lace-curtain Irish."
We know less about our Cherokee relatives, but they come from my Dad's side, too. We know even less about my mother's side. Her people came here in the early 20th Century with just the clothes on their backs. It wasn't the Great Potato Famine, but there were other , smaller crop failures when the potato blight struck.
Our religion at home when I was growing up was Irish-Catholic-Union, (all one thing) which gave me my strong mystical and political tendencies. I grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota and came of age in the late 1960's and early '70s. I was most definitely a Flower Child and was involved in the "back to the land movement." (I still call myself a hippie; no matter what people say about us now, we were right about a whole lot of things. And I am still trying to get back to the land).
I started trying herbal medicines once I was out on my own-- (I had been a very sickly child, and actually wasn't expected to live. I have the Herbs to thank for my continuing presence on this planet!)-- and found that the plants could actually heal, rather than just suppressing symptoms. When I started having my babies (one in heaven above and three here on Earth) I raised them with herbs, homeopathy, yoga and vegetarianism (plant foods). They all turned out great. Now I am a grandmother, with one grandson ,( the only child of my peripatetic oldest daughter, in France), and another one on the way (coming soon!) a little closer by, to my youngest daughter.
These days I am back in school, finishing up a degree in Western Herbalism. I have fantastic teachers and classmates, and I will be sad to see this part of my life end.
The more I study the Herbs, the more I am amazed at their inherent wisdom. I have come to believe that the plants are intelligent in a way our modern culture doesn't understand, that they possess a type of consciousness which, though different from ours, is no less real. The plants mysteriously show up when and where they are needed. They will literally reach out and grab a person who needs their medicine. If you are open and willing they will whisper their wisdom to you for free. Learn to listen to them. You might be surprised at what you hear.
I believe in Magic--I believe the whole world, this whole cosmos--is made out of Magic. "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy" (to paraphrase Hamlet).
I believe that the plants are our teachers and our caretakers--they give us air and food, medicine, clothing and shelter--and sometimes visions. They know we are all related, even if we humans sometimes forget. "We are one flesh you and I," Mowgli says in The Jungle Book. This is my philosophy--in this magical world everything is connected and anything is possible. "God is alive, Magic is afoot."
This blog is meant to be about Herbs, but I suppose I should tell you a little about myself, so you know what kind of creature you are dealing with. I am a Scorpio woman of Scots-Irish and Cherokee descent. In fact, on my Father's side I am a descendant of the great, semi-mythical Irish warrior CuChulain, the Hound of Ulster, (go to the head of the class if you know who he is!) My Dad's folks were "Hill People" and both grew up in log cabins in the Ozarks ( a lifestyle I have been trying to achieve for years), so I guess I inherited my affinity for folk medicine from them. On my Mom's side I am 100% Irish. I grew up believing in Fairies because my clanspeople talked about them as if they were real. (I still believe in Them.) My clans are Murray and McNally, (which, being rebellious sorts, we spell McAnally). Most of my Irish relatives come from the border counties in Ireland, so they are a pretty tough bunch. Poet warriors all. We are what you call "black Irish," not "lace-curtain Irish."
We know less about our Cherokee relatives, but they come from my Dad's side, too. We know even less about my mother's side. Her people came here in the early 20th Century with just the clothes on their backs. It wasn't the Great Potato Famine, but there were other , smaller crop failures when the potato blight struck.
Our religion at home when I was growing up was Irish-Catholic-Union, (all one thing) which gave me my strong mystical and political tendencies. I grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota and came of age in the late 1960's and early '70s. I was most definitely a Flower Child and was involved in the "back to the land movement." (I still call myself a hippie; no matter what people say about us now, we were right about a whole lot of things. And I am still trying to get back to the land).
I started trying herbal medicines once I was out on my own-- (I had been a very sickly child, and actually wasn't expected to live. I have the Herbs to thank for my continuing presence on this planet!)-- and found that the plants could actually heal, rather than just suppressing symptoms. When I started having my babies (one in heaven above and three here on Earth) I raised them with herbs, homeopathy, yoga and vegetarianism (plant foods). They all turned out great. Now I am a grandmother, with one grandson ,( the only child of my peripatetic oldest daughter, in France), and another one on the way (coming soon!) a little closer by, to my youngest daughter.
These days I am back in school, finishing up a degree in Western Herbalism. I have fantastic teachers and classmates, and I will be sad to see this part of my life end.
The more I study the Herbs, the more I am amazed at their inherent wisdom. I have come to believe that the plants are intelligent in a way our modern culture doesn't understand, that they possess a type of consciousness which, though different from ours, is no less real. The plants mysteriously show up when and where they are needed. They will literally reach out and grab a person who needs their medicine. If you are open and willing they will whisper their wisdom to you for free. Learn to listen to them. You might be surprised at what you hear.
I believe in Magic--I believe the whole world, this whole cosmos--is made out of Magic. "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy" (to paraphrase Hamlet).
I believe that the plants are our teachers and our caretakers--they give us air and food, medicine, clothing and shelter--and sometimes visions. They know we are all related, even if we humans sometimes forget. "We are one flesh you and I," Mowgli says in The Jungle Book. This is my philosophy--in this magical world everything is connected and anything is possible. "God is alive, Magic is afoot."
Monday, April 12, 2010
Herbal Sustainability
As budding herbalists (pun intended) I think it is our responsibility to teach people to use plant medicines in a respectful and sustainable way. As more and more Americans turn to herbs for their medicine, I am afraid that many are bringing the pharmaceutical approach they are familiar with to the world of herbalism. We need to educate people about this. The herbs are part of a living ecosystem that can be damaged and destroyed by non-sustainable practices.These practices are all too often employed by large corporations, trying to cash in on what they think is a new fad. In reality, the relationship between herbs and humans goes back to our prehistory. When the world's population was small, there was little danger of destroying whole populations of plants. Now the possibility is all too real, and some plants are in danger of disappearing from the Earth forever. Please encourage people to check out United Plant Savers and other organizations that are working to save the plants. Get informed. Avoid buying "corporate" herbs.Instead, buy from a local, reputable herbalist. (Believe me. They need the money.) Make it your business to find out which plants are in danger, and look for alternate choices. Extinct is forever.
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