MORE ON THE WATER ELEMENT,
THE GROWING BEINGS
& PLANT MEDICINE POWER
The Growing Beings depend on healthy Earth and Water elements to thrive.
The Ancestors remind us that all Four Beings used to be able to communicate with one another and stress that ...
Trees (research done with Birch and Douglas fir) communicate with each other through mycelia networks above and especially below ground. (Paul Stamets and others.) Trees of all varieties benefit but more especially those from the same "tribe." Legacy trees or the wise elders are the most powerful communicators and help sustain forest life. The trees receive water and elements from hollow mycelial tubes which surround their roots which in return receive energy from the sugar of the trees' photosynthesis. Clear cutting eliminates this communication and mitigates against any concept we may have of healthy ecosystem.
Bees glean powerful antivirals from mycelia and mushrooms growing in the scratches in the bark from bear claws.
Bees are said by many cultures to be very powerful spiritually. The Celts say that if you want to hear what the Ancestors have to say go and ask the bees. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari also relate bees to the Ancestors as in this Bushman rock painting where a shaman approaching the bees seems to be making an offering. The bee is also a key feature in the Bushman creation story.
Many seekers describe a hum or buzzing like that of bees when in altered states of consciousness, Near Death and other transcendent experiences.
When "listening" to Growing Beings it is worth attending to their designs and patterns such as a circle, spiral or even a hexagon as well as if bees (or even butterflies) are attracted to the plants for their nectar which becomes the life force of the hive. The bee hive manifests Divine intelligence in perfect harmony in action, much like a healthy forest ecosystem.
For instance if one looks carefully at this plant of power to the Native Americans - Peyote - one can see a semblance of a hexagon in the grooves. The hexagon is also the symbol of the heart chakra signifying it can help us open this challenging chakra. These are examples of sacred geometry in the plants kingdom.
Cross section of San Pedro cactus which contains mescaline - most are also hexagonal
Cross section of Ayahuasca which contains D.M.T. also demonstrating the hexagon
Ayahuasca grows as a liana often spiraling much like the sun and moon channels of the chakra system or like the Cadueceus
Even though entheogens (Ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus, Peyote) can lead to transcendental experiences, as Westerners we have to be very careful and respectful when using them. They should only be taken in sacred space with an experienced mentor who can protect the participants and the sacred space.
The use of entheogens continues to increase amongst Westerners.
Huston Smith reminds us when talking about his own experiences with mind altering plants, that when
"one has opened the door we do not have to keep on knocking."
The inner work still needs to be done after the door has opened.
In the Americas indigenous peoples depend on these entheogens for healing and wholeness whereas we Westerners may want to consider ourselves occasional visitors to this powerful experience when we have a special request, even though;
"you dont always get what you want but if you try you might get what you need."
The Rolling Stones.
We should also pay attention to colors, smells and even tastes which can alert us to the nature, personality and character of the plants. However, because of look alike plants we must be very carefully of tasting! Fennel in its dormant winter state can look very much like poison hemlock, so do not taste the seeds!
Red - universally - is a warning color and we should be wary of the the color red in some plants e.g. in poison oak leaves and the stems of the deadly castor plant depicted below. Due to danger often being inherent in this color many cultures use a red plant or object for protection for instance a red string worn around one's wrist.
Red stems of the castor plant
Aroma is a good indication that we are dealing with a plant of power such as; lavender, rosemarie, juniper, cedar and sages. This is the more so if when burnt they release incense. They can be used for calling spirit guides and also for protection. Certain plants are used by indigenous peoples to promote dreams and their shamans for curing and healing.
When it comes to listening we need to sit down in silence, alone, and relate to the plant - Talking Being to Growing Being and see what the particular plant means to us for healing and wholeness. This requires an inner attention, an almost meditative state, doing it for its own sake with no other agenda and leaving behind cognitive function and "the need to know" things like its latin name, genus, biochemistry etc. Remembering that we are all one though not the same and we should be respectful in harvesting and ask permission or show gratitude in some way.
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These are the names of some of the plants of power, in Spanish or Chumash, in the Central California coastal region of Santa Barbara County.
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