WHAT SOUTHERN AFRICAN WISDOMS HAVE TO OFFER THE WEST #12

“All healing is in the hands of the Creator . It can be delegated to intermediaries for designated moments.” Rev Ben Shimon

If you want to ask the "Field" for help, 

and for those that are healers, 

it is best to open Sacred Space as a container for your prayers and intentions.

Sacred Space

Open formally - call in your Guides or Spirit

Drum, rattle

Light Incense 

Allow Healing to occur

Close the Space and give thanks

All healing comes through the Field, through our guides and from the Infinite One to help, heal, inspire, transform and protect. This energy is essentially universal love that emanates from the Creator. Some living beings are chosen more powerfully to channel this energy be it a person or even a pet but we all have some ability to do so. 

"Only love can generate the healing fire." Agnes Sanford

There are several essential, basic intentions that we can send out to the Field for help when calling our guides 

Healing 

Protection

Cleansing 

Asking for a dream

Asking for anything else ...

One or two plants can serve for any of these requests. If one is a plant lover, specific plants can be chosen and individualized for certain requests. Cedar and white sage (or any sage) are plants of power and can be used for our requests. They can be used for incense and smudging or be placed in water to cleanse. 

I will not discuss sacred plants used in Southern Africa where sangomas use the same principles without formal knowledge of the so called laws of Similars and Contagion.

Each ecosystem has it own unique incense and aromatic plants like  juniper, lavender, mint, rosemary all of which can be used. 

Imbibing the sacred has benefits too. Aromatic and savory plants can be used in cooking in a ritual to cleanse and clear negativity. 

Placing a sage leaf in a water bottle can change the vibration of the water and protect. 

Without the intent to carry the message, the process alone will hold less power. It is strong intention and the plant that become the container for that request and that give it traction.

One does not have to have an extensive knowledge of plants to be effective. One can use any plant. 

Community creates Coherence 

providing everyone involved has positive intent. Even a few participants can create a bigger container for Coherence with the Field.  Sometimes "it takes a village." The sum of the parts become greater than the whole creating synergy.

Red is a protective, cleansing, color in sangoma medicine as well as universally. Wearing red clothing or a wrist band fortified by a sacred plant infusion can protect. One can use plants that are red in color for ritual purification from intrusive spirits (bad blood) or organic red wine in a bath for the same reason.  It is important to meditate and imagine in the bath. Breathe in the white light of positive intention and breathe out the thick black smoke of whatever it is you need to get rid of. 

The Law of Aposematism supports red as being a warning color. Traffic lights are red to tell us to stop and beware. This Amazonian red frog is deadly if eaten.

The Castor Oil plant's stems and fruit are red. The whole plant has ricin in it which is deadly poisonous. 

The leaves of the poison oak are red and although attractive warn us not to touch or we will get a terrible rash.

The Law of Similars

“By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured.” Hippocrates

If things resemble on another they can be used in ritual to affect the other, usually favorably.

Fig wort has been known to help with skin rashes. Their inflorescence resembles a rash.

The Law of Contagion

"The law of contagion is a magical law that suggests that once two people or objects have been in contact a magical link persists between them unless or until a formal consecration, cleansing, or exorcism is performed."

If objects are in contact with one another they can affect one another.

The Law of Contagion can have dangers and benefits.

Benefits

To experience the Still Beings we need to touch them

(or they can touch us.)

Benefits include the holiness of figures and relics in places of worship.  Articles (and photos) on your alter that belonged to one's loved ones connect us more powerfully to them. If one can wear or use them, even more so.

Talismans and Amulets work beneficially through the Law of Contagion.

A locket can house protective plants, symbols or holy words to enhance the effect. The outside can be engraved with a favorite saints name or the symbol of the hexagon of the heart chakra. 

Precious and semiprecious metals, crystals and stones with positive vibrations can protect. 

Gold and silver have high vibrations and have previously been used  as such apart from their material value. 

Psychics and mediums using an article of clothing to find a lost child or person. To a rescue dog the scent of the person's clothing acts similarly.

Dangers

Witches may us a victim's nail clipping, hair, clothing or make an effigy of the person to empower a hex.

 

To experience the Growing Beings we must listen to them

If we want to learn from the plants we have to "listen" to them - listen with all the senses including sight smell, touch, and if safe, also taste. We need to ask them how they can be of assistance and give gratitude when we harvest them. 

 

Being of the breath of God, all creation is responsive to love, gratitude and petition.

Each as it is acknowledged becomes receptive to giving and receiving. That is how we experience the other.

 

Sacred plants are there to help us but they also have to be honored and respected. Only what is needed should be taken for the task at hand and one should show gratitude in some way when harvesting - for instance – giving a little water to enliven them, since they enliven us.