Plant Medicine, how it works!

This is based on my experience, research, learning and personal healing.

When I first entered herbal healing, it was on a fantastic course with Nayana Morag over at Essential Animals.

I learnt about properties of oils and how they could heal. Not just on the physical, but on a behavioural and emotional level.

The teachings also incorporated the Traditional Chinese medicine of the 5 element theory which explained the different elements and meridians within the body, and how to understand an animals primary element, which would explain how dis-ease is manifested according to element in-balances and dominant meridians.

Truly fascinating stuff!

I then continued my learning deeper. Discovering Rachael Maxwell over at Animal Botanical, where I learnt about herbalism through the seasons, being in the UK we looked at what was coming out in nature, and what ailments they can assist with. We did plant tastings through teas, so I could feel the affects on the body, where it wants to reach and what physical sensations came up. Rachael goes a step further and her husband Max, come in and encorporates meditation and a whole host of holistic modalities which beautifully encompass the plants actions, energetics and the depth of healing which can be experienced, if one only alows the plant to teach us.

It was like It a wonderful remembering. Such a beautiful experience which I am truly grateful for. (you can find out about Rachaels courses and offerings here)

Around the time I started Herbal Shennanigans, I was introduced to Cacao, and I sat in cereomny with a wonderful Medicine Womban and healer. She connected us with Mama Cacao. I nurtured this relationship and had some beautiful heart opening experiences.

I am currently half way through my practicioner course on inate botanical selections for animals (accredited by UK rural skills). I am reading lots of different books and texts around Alchemy, Astrology, evolutionary herbalism, folklore and symbolism of plants and trees. I sit with Mama Cacao daily, I deepen my intentions and alow her to open my heart to listen to the language of nature.

My current understanding on this medicine journey is that plant medicine is the most ancient art. Its lore deep and entwined through millenia.

Across the world, cultures long ago learned the wisdom of their land. It was passed down from the elders, and mostly lost in horrific genocides and the savage colonialism movment.

One thing which we can see now. Is that all these tribes, some hundreds and thousands of miles apart, understood that the plants we live umongst are conscious sentient beings, with knowledge and wisdom.

The understanding is very much beyond our perceived sense of reality. A connecting with our heart centre, which is the home to our intuition, is where this knowledge lies. There is only so much we can understand with our intellect, before our heart takes over.

So to experience plant medicine, will be through your own journey, through your heart's understanding. letting the intelect take a back seat, and feeling your way through, through your senses, and into that inner knowing of your ancestors. You can return to this knowing through ceremony, intention and ritual. Shamannic rituals including drum beats- connecting us with our heart- have been used for many many years to open up and allow for this wisdom and energy synchronicity, between our hearts, and the heart of all things.

This way of understanding deeply resonates within me, uncovering alowing and working with nature, like a coming home. Coming home to this knowledge within our hearts, its like it was always there.

next time you are out in nature, ponder the saying:

'As above, So below '

you will find much wisdom in this.

A'ho

All my love

Daisy