Furthering our Relationship with Plants

Plant Meditations

One of the best ways to deepen your relationship with your plant allies is to meditate with them. Sit with them and breathe with them acknowledging that the air you breathe out is the air they breathe in and vice versa. Revel in the symbiosis that this relationship elucidates and feel free to ask questions or give offerings. In many cases, you will know a plant a lot more intimately when you sit with it and understand its healing powers intuitively rather than rationally. In other words using your heart and breath and not your head and brains to bond.

Talismans

One way of deepening your connection to plants is to keep Talismans. These are physical embodiments of a plant that are believed to carry its power. Ancient cultures recognized the energetic power of a plant and thus carried talismans on them for healing, good luck, love, healing, and power. You too can create a talisman with a beloved plant by weaving them into jewelry, making plant bundles or carrying them in medicine pouches.

Altars and Mandalas

Altars and mandalas are such a creative way to connect to plants and make offerings back to the land from whence they came. Making wonderful designs with petals, stems, leaves, flower heads, and even crystals is a wonderful way to honor the beauty in plants. Interacting with plants in a creative way is not only healing in and of itself but also highlights the dynamism of plant life.

Smoke Medicine

Smoke medicine is an ancient practice used by many indigenous cultures. You do not need to inhale the smoke but can also use aromatic plants like sage, copal, and frankincense to clear spaces of energy, purify the air, and evoke ceremony. Smoking of herbs is also a way of working with smoke medicine. The only word of caution is beware of over-harvested plants or plants that have become so mainstream that big companies harvest them to extinction. Two plants you may have heard of that fit this category are white sage (Salvia apiana) and Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens). There are many aromatic herbs that you can burn in their place including rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), garden sage (Salvia officinalis) and sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata).

Dream Medicine

Dreaming about or with plants is a wonderful way to enjoy the full spectrum of plant healing. Dreams are incredibly important to our waking state and well-being and plants can help us get more acquainted with our dream world. Moontime plants such as mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) are associated with the Greek Goddess Artemis and therefore clue us in to their role in our dreamscapes. Sleep with some mugwort under your pillow or take a mugwort tincture to get creative with your dream space.

There are so many ways to bring plants into your life. Breath, touch, smell, taste. In baths, teas and foods. By planting and by observing. There is no right or wrong way. All plant mediums will bring healing, and healing is just what this world needs.