The Unparalleled Wisdom of Plant Spirits
An Insiders Perception for A Powerful Practice to Clarity on Purpose
You, like me, probably have many moments, days, even years of clarity — a clear and conscious perception of what you’re supposed to be doing with your life.
I will call this perception conscious knowing — a strong body intuition — aligned with ‘a calling’ — a purpose.
At times like this, you find yourself dancing in the marketplace or singing out loud without caring who may see or hear you. You are on top of the mountain without the sweat of conventional labor. You savor an eagle view of a terrain not visible before now. You’re sailing into a coastal port ready to devour a thick bowl of spicy clam chowder.
A plant healing dieta (diet) opens our mind and body to the spirit of the plants for learning, healing, and soul guidance. Working with plant spirits leaves an indelible mark that gently aligns us with soul calling. They open us to understanding why we feel stuck, afraid, or confused and help us find meaning in our suffering. We are empowered to connect to unmet places in ourselves, something more mysterious and interesting — beyond the typical ego frame of reference or accomplishment.
We encounter feelings that soften control and invite us to loosen our grip on the wheel of life for a bit; perhaps sleep in, call an old friend, and maybe even play hooky from a rigidly structured routine. We sense there is more happening than physical eyes can see and physical ears can hear — we feel a sense of otherworldliness — we nourish our inner life and in doing so we find a treasure — gifts we were unaware of.
You, like me, have likely been fortunate to receive support in various forms to nourish your inner life — your gift.
Wonderful. Now let’s say you’re not feeling much of anything at all. You feel blocked by the imprint of a certain ‘mine-to-do-ness.’ You have a vague memory of the ethereal world of mystery and wonder. You feel tugged — concretized to the more recognizable minutia of the day-to-day business of life.
You have a list — a collection of tasks you must do — often invisible to others.
For example, the tending of what you feel only you can do. The caring and attention that allows you and significant others to exist — to feel seen, cared for, and valued. This is an undeniable and beautiful aspect of who you are — someone who cares about others.
In my ordinary life, I attend to many people as a therapist, retreat facilitator, guide, team leader, and mother of three adult children, two with disabilities.
Is it possible to tend to others and not lose the thread of nourishment to your unique soul connection, calling, gift, or purpose — the clarity that sustains you and gives your life meaning?
I believe the answer is “yes.” I will show you how.
It’s been three weeks since I returned from the enchantment of the jungle. I took a retreat in the seclusion of the rain forest without the Internet, personal or professional obligations, or conversation. It was a time of voluntary isolation to receive rest, healing, and learning to deepen and rekindle the inner spark of my soul calling — purpose.
I committed to practicing with my mentor and the spirit of the plants about fifteen years ago. The time alone is not always easy but each time I feel renewed as if a part of myself has been resurrected from beneath the noise and exhaustion of my ‘mine-to-do-ness.’ My energy body feels strong and relaxed, my mind calm and clear, and my inner knowing is more certain.
You’ve probably heard the expression, ‘The real retreat begins when you return home to your ordinary life.”
So true. This is why we need a practice specific to our needs and lifestyles. On retreat spaces of clarity, healing, ease, excitement, connection, and belonging with both feet rooted in the substance of ‘calling’ is pronounced even actualized. It is a satisfying brew of witnessing an inner reclamation of purpose and meaning.
When we return home we meet the work of taking on activities that support us to continue to bask in tenderness and meaning. And when we feel ourselves going off track or getting stuck, it is up to us to curate a practice for gently returning to ourselves.
This is what I do. I know the nitty gritty tasks in life are knocking at my door for attention like a puppy who can’t get enough of licking your face. The exquisite tenderness, and flow of knowing and confidence leak into the distance like a suitcase of precious belongings that didn’t make it through baggage claim. Worry and impatience can easily emerge to center stage. What about time for this and that? Soon the weight of a familiar block or stuckness dominates your spaciousness.
Wait — not so fast. The moment you feel yourself off track — leaving yourself — your knowing — is the time to pause and take a moment to ask yourself, what do I value — what is the most important thing that I need to be doing right now?
In the pause, remembering your prior experience brings you back to a place of nourishment. Of course, there will be moments of wandering or doubting the crystal clarity of expansion you embodied days or weeks before but all is not lost.
What is my daily practice going to be? What activities or resting spaces will I commit to that ensure I do not get devoured with busyness, ‘mine-to-do-ness,’ — the collective mantra to push, produce, and please? As if the outer world needs you to feed it more than you need to feed yourself and those you love. Feeding the outer world and depriving your inner life of nourishment guarantees roadblocks, stuckness, and ultimate soul starvation. It doesn’t have to be this way.
My mantra for stuckness to clarity and expansion is curating a practice that fuels my inner trust and knowing — gives my soul life meaning. Your soul knows your ‘calling’ in an unforgettable — undeniable way.
…Stay tuned to Part Two. I will continue to explore steps for curating a practice as medicine for your soul.
Thanks Prajna! Your words always inspire me! I’m in deep study for a coupe more weeks then I have summer off.
You know me. I always want to be studying or embodying. Your shares will be helpful in keeping me on track!