When something is experienced by many on a large scale it is both a personal and shared experience. Our evolution works this way too; we all have a part in the experience as a collective. The lessons in every experience are all unique to each of us as we all experience things in our own unique ways, but this effects how we as a collective will evolve and grow from common experiences. Like plants, people can unite and grow for the common good of all in a healthy and productive way, together. When communities can unite and everyone looks out for one another, protecting the most vulnerable, sharing what we have to give for the greater good of everyone around us.
Our collective consciousness extends past other humans and includes all living things. Plants are sentient beings that science is starting to recognize can see, have feelings, families, and can help those around them when they are in need. Of course plants experience the world much differently then we do, but all people do. To me, Personhood belongs to all beings, not just the human ones. We can also choose how we are going to filter our experiences be it though love or through fear. We have a lot to learn from the people of the Plant Kingdom!
Have you ever wanted to know what a plant is feeling? If you haven’t connected with your plant family but would like to, I’ll share with you some ways that I have learned to get in touch with them. First, pick a plant you feel drawn to for whatever reason and sit with it. You may need to do this for a while, and it may even take you a few different sessions before the plant feels comfortable opening up to you, so don’t give up! If you are sitting awhile and haven’t felt a connection yet switching to self observation can help open up any blockages. How you are feeling/what thoughts or images come up within your body/mind? Writing down what comes to you is something I have found to be benificial. Another way to open up the pathways between species is to sit with and draw the plant. Observe everything about it, how the bees and others interact with it. You will start to notice things differently, as if from the plants perspective.
After you have spent time with a plant and communication has been established you can ask if you can experience the plant through taste. Be sure that it is in fact a plant that you can safely do this with! I always make sure to ask them permission before I pick from any plant, and of course offer my Thank You afterwards in gratitude. (My children have now taken on this practice, which fills my heart!) When you ask, you may not always get permission, and that is ok. You should be able to easily decipher through thought/feeling after sometime whether or not you have the plants blessing. Most plants will happily oblige, but some will let you know if they would rather you not. There is a mutual respect that forms, and it is a beautiful thing. When you aren’t sure what the answer receives was you may get your answer from the environment around you. Pay close attention to your immediate surroundings during this interaction. Did a sudden gust of wind come up? Did you hear a bird or other sound that was startling or unpleasant? This may be one of the times you are getting a ‘no’. When you do get permission focus on the shifts that happen within you, and what your experience is. This works the same for any medicinal plant as well as the essences we make from the plants here at Tree Frog Farm. This mutual respect is what allows us the partnership with nature, as we always have permission from and learn about the essence of the plant from our communications with them.
I hope that my round about way of sharing this message wasn’t too off course to be understood. I feel humbled and my heart is full as the harvest season feels giving and plentiful this year! I want to share the box set Higher Heart of Unity Consciousness for this weekend’s specials to remind us all that we must keep our hearts open in order to connect with, and evolve in unity with all peoples. All people, be it plant or animal, are deserving of love, care, and respect.
Thank you all for reading our emails. It is so wonderful to have so many beautiful souls to work with on our journey together.
Sharing with Love – Rhaychell
