This month’s blog party is hosted by Ali over at Eldrum Musings and is all about sharing aspects of working with herbs that are personal to us. She writes ,”What do you do that makes your herbalism uniquely yours? This can be an experience, a subject close to your heart, even a herbal ally that you work with more closely than any others – whatever resonates most with you!”
There are so many different facets of working with plants that I enjoy it was something of a challenge to decide what to write about. After some pondering however, I realised that it is this very multi-faceted quality that makes herbalism so completely fulfilling to me.
Perhaps the thing I love most about herbs and plant medicine is that is feels both deeply personal and completely universal all at the same time. What I mean by this is that my relationship to the plants feels at once both fresh and unique as well as profoundly ancient; something entirely individual yet something shared by generations of people since our very beginning. I have encountered so many talented herbalists, wild foodies, gardeners and other plant folk- in person, through books or online through blogs and websites. Each one has so much in common and yet also an entirely unique way of expressing our love for nature and the plants.
For me herbalism is the twine that bound together all the things I had been interested in from childhood to the present day. During this time I considered and experimented with many ways of expressing the desire I felt to be of service in the world and work with people, animals and plants in one capacity or another. From volunteer work with NGO’s to courses in environmental and citizenship education, to care work, gardening, volunteering with animals, painting and drawing, writing, studying health and spiritual explorations – it was herbalism that wove together all my seemingly disparate interests into one whole. Nowadays, whether I am drawing a dandelion, writing an article, seeing a patient, teaching a class or meditating with a plant I get to incorporate all the many facets of life I most enjoy under the heading of ‘herbalist’. Whether I am in the garden, in the kitchen or in the clinic there is a feeling of connection to the plants that infuses each aspect of my life.
There are so many things to love about this plant-entwined journey, whatever direction it may take us in, but at the centre of it is always the simple truth that being connected to nature is part of who we are. Flowing with the seasons, the comings and goings of life, knowing and using the plants in any number of ways, these are things our ancestors have done for millennia and our part in it is just another thread of the whole.
I often hear or read people asserting the need to reconnect to nature and, whilst of course I see the immense value in what they are saying, for me it misses a vital point- that we are not and never have been disconnected. We are nature and the effort is not in the coming back to her but in the dream of staying away. Somewhere along the road to our modern way of life we celebrated the idea of humans as separate and superior to nature and this has become so ingrained in the collective unconscious that we feel it is the normal way of being.
The flow of our own lives is no more and no less than nature and we are one with that flow, whether we embrace it or not. From personal journey to universal connection, the herbal path is the thread that this life and its expression is woven from and one I am ever grateful for.
Yes! We are a part of nature, not a separate entity! This so spoke to me, Lucinda. You expressed this so eloquently. love and hugs to you always dear friend. As usual, your pictures are as lovely as your prose. What kind of rose is that in the bowl? So softly pink it made me feel all soft and gentle just looking at it! xoxoxo
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Hi Leslie, It’s an English rose called Sceptr’d Isle. It’s pretty isn’t it, it always makes me feel very gentle too. The roses are so beautiful in the garden at the moment… I feel another rose photo post coming on. 🙂
Much love and many hugs to you to. xxx
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Modern man and woman are ignoring plants. They are our f true friends. All of us must try our best to keep them happy
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They are our friends indeed, we are very fortunate to know how deeply connected we are to them.
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[…] Whispering Earth, Lucinda has written a lovely post about herbalism and how it connects to everything else – […]
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Well Lucinda, What can I say….your words always enchant me and strike a chord deep within.
I have walked with nature all my life, as you know I am a simple soul, and at times so very glad to be that way….
Tku for such a lovely post on this very dreary Sunday morning.
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Simplicity is such a beautiful quality and one I wish there was much more of in this frantic world.
It’s been nice to have some sunshine today hasn’t it, the drear has been a little too dreary of late!
x
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Beautifully expressed! If only more people would see themselves as part and parcel of the cycle of Nature perhaps they would find it easier to tread more softly upon this beautiful Earth.
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So true Bridget!
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Beautiful, thoughtful post. And you’re right that we’ve never been disconnected from nature. Some just lose sight of that connection, or bury it too deeply. Friday night I stood next to a whitewater river, in the woods and in the pouring rain, taking part in a circle for three girls I have known since they were born. One of them asked for the circle to celebrate transitions and invited all her ‘aunties’. We had a fire but we were soaked, chilled, clutching our tin mugs of nettle tea, and loving every minute. We need these events as reminders of the connection you talk about here, so that we don’t lose site of it like others have. Your blog also helps remind me of that connection.
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How beautiful that sounds, what a wonderful celebration to be part of.
Being outside in the elements is definitely a good reminder… it’s much easier to forget when we are indoors all day isn’t it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.
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Oh this is so beautiful and so full of wisdom, Lucinda! I think you really capture how I feel about herbalism myself – which is that it isn’t a career path, a profession or a hobby, or a special type of person – but a way of life that honors and celebrates our connection to nature. I especially like where you’ve said “we are nature” and make the point that we are not and never have been disconnected. So much beautiful truth you speak.
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Thank you beautiful Danielle!
When I started my training i don’t think I realised quite how all encompassing a path it would be but I am so happy it is. I love your way of connecting with the plants too; food, medicine, lifestyle, the deeper you go the more ill defined these categories are aren’t they. Which makes the whole thing a much more exciting adventure. 🙂
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Lovely article, its sad that people do not see themselves connected to the earth in perhaps the way people a few generations ago still did. However there are still lots of people working hard to try to remind people of where we can get back to. Hopefully more people will head the message
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I agree, the tide is definitely on the turn! Thanks for your comment.
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I’m all smiley and warm inside 🙂 I love the way we’re all the same in being different, there’s this invisible herbal thread that winds around us binding us all together, beautiful!
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(I’ve fallen behind in the blog world the past week so pardon the lateness.) But beautifully said. We are never disconnected from nature. The oneness permeates us.
Michael
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