How Plant Spirits Connect to Soul Calling (Part One)
Curating the Medicine of Practice to Embody Soul Expansion
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 may find yourself dancing in the marketplace or singing out loud without caring who may hear you. You feel like you are on top of the mountain without the hard work it took to get there. 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 consciousness to the spirit of the plants for learning, healing, and soul guidance. We are brought on course with soul calling, giving a deep sense of meaning and connection to something mysterious — beyond the typical ego frame of reference or accomplishment.
A feeling that softens control and invites 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 can feel a sense of otherworldliness — a treasure chest of gifts.
You, like me, have likely been fortunate or graced to receive support in various forms to heed your calling. Perhaps practical, unexpected, or serendipitous — landing in the right place at the perfect time.
Wonderful. Now let’s say that your soul is blocked by the imprint of a certain ‘mine-to-do-ness.’ You find yourself with one foot in the mysterious knowing of the ethereal world and the other foot tugged to the more recognizable minutia of the day-to-day business of life.
But, 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, or purpose — the clarity of moving in alignment with your soul?
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. Needs ensue that only you can fulfill.
My mantra for stuckness to clarity and expansion is a practice of curating medicine that fuels my inner trust and knowing — an alignment to my soul life. 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!