Healing the Heart
Happy Valentine's Day! Today I offer you a special gift...an excerpt from one of my research papers about Stress Management. Since today is the day we acknowledge our hearts, I wanted to share this section that is dedicated not only to human hearts, but the the heart of nature that comes through in the plant kingdom.
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Opening the Heart
“Those who dwell
among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of
life.”
~Rachel Carson
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are three treasures. Jing is the source of all life; Qi is energy flow -the sources and movement of Jing; and Shen is the “spirit”, the vitality behind the activation of the source: how we move Qi, use Jing, and how it comes together for who we are.1 When we are under stress, our Shen becomes disturbed, affecting our perception, sleep, and our ability to be present. We can become irritable, restless, frightened, and experience poor memory, loss of appetite, and night sweats. Shen is housed in the heart.
I’ve noticed a correlation between the concept of Shen and what Americans casually refer to as our “heart”. Colloquially speaking, the “heart of the matter” is the center… the truth…the essence of an issue. When we talk about things coming from our heart, we’re speaking truthfully and openly. Our heart is our center - who we really are, our essence and our connection to everything else as we understand it. I believe that that use of the word “heart” could also be referred to as our spirit, whether or not we have religious beliefs associated with our place and purpose in life. Spirit/heart is really our center and our place of connection from which our lives flow.
When things are out of balance in the center/heart/spirit, our life does not flow well. Things get clogged and stagnate, just like they can in our physical hearts and vessels. The spiritual equivalent to physical plaque is emotional baggage. The conflicts we have forged between our thoughts, feelings, and expectations versus what is actually occurring in our lives will collectively pool until we feel pain in our center and deal with it. We will be unhappy, and no material goods will compensate or move us to a place of peace and joy. We can’t run from our center/ heart /spirit. It’s a part of us and moves with us, even if we’re going in the wrong direction.
We have to open our hearts. And nature steps in to help us, if we'll allow the experience. Nature has always been here for us, since human time began. It’s still here and willing to serve so that all may be in balance, waiting for us to remember her gifts. When humans are stressed and out of balance, so is nature and the planet as a whole. Nature offers these gifts to help us become whole as humans, and as a part of this world. As we heal ourselves, we heal the world. And we need only simply step outside to start the process of opening our heart. Nature has a way of helping us clear out all that is not us, helping us to connect to our center/heart/spirit.
As a result of being outside frequently, I’ve steadily become aware of the persona of the flora and fauna around me. Every part of nature has a song to sing and share, and is most willing to do it. We’ll hear it if we pause, take a breath, and listen. Particularly, our green allies in the plant kingdom joyfully offer their wisdom. Nature offers us a return to the heart, back to our center, by opening hers through the plant world. If we can pause for just a moment, we can plug back into that song. It may just be at the edge of our hearing, or be a quiet beat off in the distance, but we can sense it. The longer we listen, the better we’ll hear. Then we can start moving in rhythm with it, in the place of our Heart.
And so, here is a gift from a few special plants that offer their medicine to soothe and nourish the nervous system, as well as help heal the heart on many levels. The following poems came to me as I researched each of these plants. I've named them Heartsongs, as they are a gift from the heart of the plants themselves - the songs of their medicine for a return to the heart. What follows is simply my understanding of how they "spoke" to me. I hope you'll find your own experience with them.
~Linden~
The flowers of this beautiful tree make a pleasant-tasting tea that lifts the spirits, gently lowers blood pressure, and can assist with mild depression, irritability, and anxiety. Linden helps us pause, and lifts us back up into ourselves when we've become lost in the daily grind...
sweet is the medicine
I have to offer
slow and delicate,
light and fragrant
to bring pause to
your day
all is not lost -
my branches are
furrowed and full of living medicine
the sweetness of the
earth,
of life itself,
drink upon this
nectar
let it quench your
thirst
and revive you
all is not lost -
Behold the forgotten
joys within you,
around you, beside
you
I tickle your memory...
Yours is the light to
render this day anew!
look beyond the now
to see the beauty of what is yet to be,
the possibility, the
lightness of being
all is not lost -
golden are my gifts.
~Motherwort~
Like a mother who has earned her knowledge through great experience, Motherwort offers an elegant reminder to take things one at a time and enjoy the journey. I feel like I am in a supportive embrace in this plant's presence. She can help ease anxiety, heart palpitations from stress, PMS, and hyperthyroidism, and is a mild cardiac tonic.
One step at a time,
there are always
challenges along the way,
but there is beauty
in the journey.
What cannot be seen
is sometimes the most valuable of all.
A loving presence is
a priceless gift,
and what I offer if
you'll partake.
A bright and
countering spirit am I.
Sip of my nectar,
let the juices flow
through you
and feel my solid
strength supporting you.
Sit and rest awhile
on my leaves
before you continue
your journey.
I am here as you
need,
reminding you to be
present,
take one step at a
time.
There are priceless
treasures along the way -
one step at a time.
~Hawthorn~
The berry of this tree is known as "food for the heart" and is anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, calming to the nervous system, and a mild vasodilator. This tree has an ancient and universal energy...
I bear no ill will
toward any-
though my inner fruit
is precious,
I am willing to
share.
there is balance in
my boughs
and that which is
ultimately self
is ultimately worth
seeking.
I am the dream of
dreamers,
precious cargo
contained within the cells of life
I possess the stuff
of stars -
connection, the whole
where sky, spirit,
and earth are joined
I am there
in the midst
holding space for you
within my protected boughs
so that you no longer
feel alone.
I span sky and soil,
protecting,
connecting
straddling the parts
of the whole
remembering,
rejoining,
flow returning to
flow...
~Passion Flower~
The leaves and vine can help calm an irritable and spasmodic mind, alleviating stress-induced conditions like tension headaches and insomnia. This mild anti-spasmodic is also useful for restless leg syndrome and back spasms. Passion flower helps us release the thoughts and worries we can't shake, allowing us to come back to our center.
I open my heart to
you
so that you may know
there is more than
what you can see right now
I've unfurled my
leaves
my petals spiral
gently down
to free you
unbind you
loosening all that
befalls you
release your worries
unto me
let me drop them to
the earth below
so they may be
cleansed
and you are bothered
no more -
there is more than
you can see right now.
In the morning's
light
when the day is fresh
you'll start anew
with whole-er
thoughts
freed from the weight
of all you did not see.
I open my heart to
you
so that you may know
you are light.
And Light we are indeed! May your hearts be open to all the brilliant joys in life, and may you discover any healing you need. If any of the above plants touched your heart, I encourage you to do more research about them, and honor your body by consulting a health practitioner before their use for your own safety and well-being.
Love & Light,
Sue
The statements on this website and/or through any consultation have not
been approved by the FDA. Any information given on this website is not
intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. You are responsible for your own health. Please
consult a physician or an appropriate healthcare provider if you have any serious health condition.
1 DiPasquale, R., Calming the Spirit, 2001 American
Herbalists Guild Symposium,
http://americanherbalistsguild.com/files/mp3/2001%20Symposium%20Talks/Calming%20The%20Spirit.mp3.
Accessed 5/19/11.
Beautiful! Sue, I love that you included Linden in this - her leaves form a perfect heart! And her spirit is so amazing. In France they have Lindens close to houses, for shade and for the "tisane" they make with the flowers, but I think the real reason they plants them so close is because of their nurturing energy, which is truly mother-like. Thank you for your wonderful offerings!
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