Plant Medicines for Earth Protectors, Land Stewards & Sacred Activism
Hearing the Call of Mama Earth ♥
Many of us are hearing the call of Mama Earth, the Water, the Plants, the Animals, all of the beings here. The call is a beacon home. Home to the Earth, to our Bodies, and to our Ancestor’s ways. Decolonizing all aspects of our life, to return to Harmony with Nature & one another. To honor our Ancestral Roots.
This call may look different for each of us, the one common theme is awakening the Protector in each of us - that part of us that is intimately connected with the Earth, with all that is, and who will fight to Protect what is Sacred.
A Peaceful Warrior so to speak. We are hearing the call to protect & come back to ways of life, connecting to the Earth, traditional knowledge, language, craft, parenting, teaching, playing, ceremony, medicines, etc that has been taken and/or forgotten. Mama Earth is calling us, not because they need saving, but because they love us - we are the species who must return to Harmony.
The first time I understood this was part of my Medicine & purpose here I was in California. I was driving near Muir Woods (who, was not a wonderful person if you want to delve into that) in Graton Rancheria & Coast Miwok territory. I was driving down this winding road to get to the Woods, with many cars behind me and on the other side of the road as well. It was early morning, a beautiful perfect sunny day. A deer darted in front of my rental car - I swerved to miss this beautiful being, and luckily they made it safely across the road. My heart was pounding, and I said a prayer for their safety - that they make it wherever they are going without harm.
When I got to the parking lot, I stepped out to *huge* Angelica Plants. And I just started to cry. I had been working with Angelica in the days before, and their message of shedding & healing was clear.
These beautiful Woods were paved over with a parking lot to make room for us to ‘explore.’ This Sacred being, Deer, was being pushed from their home and forced to cross busy roads as people (including myself) flock to ‘connect with Nature.’ It was in that very moment that I had a strong vision of my path & purpose. I was studying Naturopathic Medicine at the time - a path of healing humxns. But this vision was crystal clear & my deeper purpose was about healing our relations with the Land & Animals. Returning to relationship & connection. Even further, helping to heal the Land.
At the time, about 6 years ago, I didn’t have vocabulary for this. I didn’t remember consciously yet that the Land holds memories, traumas, joy, pain, etc. I didn’t understand that this vision was actually the Earth & Spirit calling me. I just knew this was important, and so, I kept it in my Heart. Questioning how working with humxns could serve this purpose. A few months later I realized this: as we heal ourselves, we also begin to heal the Earth. As we work with Plant Medicines in a good, loving way, we begin to remember these Sacred Relationships and we begin to come back to this way of walking. We start to heal our communities, which in turn heal the animals, and heal the water ways …. we are all so intimately connected. We can heal together. And part of this purpose now includes (re)connecting people back to the Land.
I share this story in hopes that it rekindles something within you, perhaps you've heard or felt similar things on your path & perhaps there was also some confusion as to what they meant.
We each have a responsibility to remember these ways, our Medicine (our gifts), and reconnect with the Land. Not in a way that induces shame for not having access/time/energy/etc., but in a way that awakens that Spirit within each of us that feels this longing for connection. That longs to return ‘home.’ That feels grief & sadness, that relives the trauma, when we see pipelines being built, forests logged, fires raging. Honoring this part of our tender Hearts, honoring what we know in our Bones. And beginning to heal. We’ve come too far out of balance, and many of us are hearing the call to re-establish this Harmony with Nature.
Sometimes this responsibility, or calling, can feel heavy. There is a lot of destruction in the World. A lot of greed, injustice, a lot of taking - essentially, a capitalistic & colonial paradigm. This can leave us feeling exhausted in the fight. It can leave us perpetually in a state of 'fight or flight' so that our nervous systems never have a chance to rest, to feel *safe.* This fight or flight state (also known as sympathetic nervous system overdrive) can lead to imbalances throughout the entire body: anxiety, depression, hormonal imbalance, fatigue, fibromyalgia, weight fluctuations, brain fog, insomnia, thyroid imbalances, etc.
We have to take care of ourselves, and take care of one another. Not allowing these systems of oppression to paralyze or create fear, but to *activate* us, form our Heart centers. Of course, anger comes in to play at times, of course, sacred grief may pour from our bodies … and, we must always come back to the why. The why for most (all?) of us is Love, Harmony, Healing & Peace. Truly living in Harmony with all of Creation, with Nature, together. Coming back to this sense of purpose, and Love, has been a way for me to stay centered even on my most frustrated & exhausted days.
So, as my act of Love for you all, I compiled a list of Plant Medicines that may also be supportive for your journey. I have listed them by how they support us, however each one has a wide range of medicine so there may be overlap (as well as a lot of information on each one left out). Sacred Activism, and protecting the Sacred can affect different parts of the Body & Spirit. Each of us may experience this differently too. This list is not exhaustive, this is a list from my perspective & lens. I have included medicines that are important to me, but there are many others that could be listed. Listening to your intuition is a huge part of this work - trusting that if a Plant is coming to you, then likely you are meant to work with them in some way. You don’t need a list, or a book, or anyone else to give you permission to work with Plant allies that are calling you to work with them in a good, respectful, way.
Heart Medicines
Hawthorn {Miinensagaawanzh} - Hawthorn is one of the most well known & worked with Heart Medicines, along side Rose. The leaves, flowers & haws (often called berries) are all worked with medicinally. Hawthorn is a true Heart Tonic. They help to bring healing to the energetic Heart as well as the physical Heart. They strengthen the musculature & vasculature of the Heart - ensuring that it stays healthy, vital & strong. They are also what is know as ‘trophorestorative’ to the Heart - meaning they can help tissues heal & regenerate after trauma. Energetically they can help in a similar way. Healing our Hearts after trauma, while also strengthening our energetic Heart so we are more resilient in this Sacred Centre. In this way Hawthorn helps us to not close off, or harden our Hearts, which can sometimes happen when faced with so much trauma.
Rose {Oginiig} - Rose is a Medicine we all know. Just stop for a moment & feel into Rose Medicine… what memories arise? For many of us Rose holds the memories & love of the Divine Mother, and our Maternal lineages. Rose Medicine helps to keep our Hearts soft, yet strong. The thorn on Roses are a reminder to have discernment in what/who we engage with. This means social media, music, food, relationships, environment, etc. Rose helps to offer protection of our Hearts, through strong boundaries. Again, keeping our Heart’s from being hardened through this work, yet also keeping them protected from taking on energies that aren’t ours to hold in our bodies. You can find Wild Rose in many Xálish offerings, including Wild Rose Flower Essence and Womb {all gender} Wisdom tea.
Tilia {Wiigob} - Tilia, Linden, or Basswood is another beautiful Heart Medicine. They are another Heart Tonic, helping to strengthen the Heart and also may reduce high blood pressure. While Hawthorn & Rose can be a bit drying as they contain tannins (leading to astringency), Tilia is actually moistening. This is a key distinction. Too much dryness can lead to heat symptoms in the body. Heat is tied to emotions such as: anger, irritability, over-reaction, frustration. If we are facing a lot of injustice, it is easy to feel some of these emotions naturally, but if our bodies are out of balance these emotions can feel even stronger - and may not serve our highest good. This is one reason I love Tilia so much as a Heart Medicine. They help to keep the nervous system & our Hearts cool and moist. Helping to lessen reactions that might harm us later, or throw us further out of balance. Till is also helpful for prolonged periods of stress – emotional, mental, physical — that many of face due to the current systems in our society. Supportive for folks who experience anxiety paired with heart palpitations {Motherwort is also lovely for this}.
Boundaries
Yarrow {Wabaanowashk} - Yarrow is a beloved ally for many Plant Medicine people, and especially Earth Stewards/Sacred Activists. Yarrow is beautiful for boundaries - all things boundaries. Keeping our boundaries strong, so that we don’t take on the energy of others. This can include the energy of the Earth too. For some, part of their Medicine may be transmuting the pain of the Earth through them as a vessel. For many others, the pain of the Earth & all beings is felt in the body and then gets sort of stuck. There is a difference between feeling/sensing from a place of brining awareness to something (ex. feeling trauma from the Land we are on may help us to know where/how to act) versus taking on the pain unconsciously & not knowing how to handle it. Yarrow helps us to discern these boundaries, so that we can *feel* without taking on energies that are not ours to take on. Similarly, Yarrow also holds a boundary so that we don’t leak our energy out to others. Yarrow also reminds us to respect other’s boundaries, to respect the Earth’s boundaries & the Plants as well. One of my favorite stories from Yarrow is how they help us to heal. They stop bleeding in the body, known as a stypic. However, they also promote healing, known as a vulnerary. Energetically they’ve shown me how they can help to stop the trauma (bleeding) pattern, AND hold//create space for us to Heal. So they are stopping whatever harmful cycle is present, while also promoting deep healing. Their leaves are serrated like cuts, going deep. Their healing mimics this, reaching depths in our bodies + minds + spirits.
Yarrow also reminds us of our own resiliency. Their active medicinal constituents are actually stronger when they grow in poor soil. To me, this just symbolizes how they can help us thrive when conditions aren’t optimal. Not that we are accepting these conditions, more like, we know we have what we need to thrive & create healing in whatever environment we are placed in. And from there, we can create lasting change & healing. I love Yarrow, deeply. You can find Yarrow in Boundaries + Protection Flower Essence
Hypericum {Goldenwort} - Hypericum is a beautiful, bright sunny being. Typically they bloom with the Summer Solstice. They remind us to find joy, happiness & light on our path. As they embody the Sun, they also help when we may be feeling our energy is stagnant. Perhaps we feel hopeless, or there is a lack of clear direction. There may be a feeling of being lost, or stuck, or heavy. Hypericum can come in, bring warmth & movement to our bodies + minds + spirits. They uplift our Spirit, and help us to take Heart inspired action in ways that serve our Community & Collective. They are also strong protectors. They protect against ‘bad magick’ or harmful energy. The little perforations in the leaves have been likened to holes into our ‘aura’ or subtle body - essentially energy leaks where we may be allowing energy to penetrate our field, or where we may be leaking energy out. This can lead to feelings of lethargy, fatigue, irritability, listlessness, etc. Hypericum is helpful for creating these boundaries so that we can remain in our own energy field, and stay balanced. They also are helpful for bad dreams, nightmares, and entities around the home. I love to hang them in my child’s bedroom as sometimes he was noticing energy around that was bothering him, they have helped so much. You can also choose to work with them topically as an oil for protection, or even burn them as an incense and bathe in the Smoke Medicine.
Agrimony - Agrimony is a member of the Rose family, and in this way they are also a beautiful Heart remedy. Not so much a tonic for the Heart, but more for helping us move through grief. They are actually one of my favorite grief remedies. They are also strong protectors, being connected to both Wolf Medicine & Spider - we can see how they offer strong boundaries & protection, while also helping us to stay connected into the tapestry of the collective. I find Agrimony to be a beautiful ally to those who resonate as a Star being, someone who feels they are deeply connected to the Spirit World/Star Nations - yet, also embodied here. At times this can be difficult to manage, and Agrimony helps us to navigate this more as a guide rather than helping to ‘heal’ per se. They have been worked with traditionally for protection against harmful Magick, entities, dreams, and ‘bad’ Medicine. They can act as a strong shield for us. They also help us to see the Truth. In this type of work, it is important that the highest Truth is seen, and Agrimony helps to show us this - within ourselves, and within a situation, ensuring the highest/most healed outcome is achieved.
With so much Love for each of you, may we hold each other up as we Rise ♥
xo,
Jacqui
Have Plant Medicine allies you love to work with? Please comment below & share your experiences!
Part 2 of this series will include Plant Medicines for the Nervous System + Strength & Stamina.
