Plants

        "Plants are an avenue to safety, an aid to healing, a soothing balm for the skin and the body, and an area of unending fascination and discovery. For most of us, plants are a visual treat though they are just part of the landscape for many. There is so much yet to be discovered in the healing properties of plants. It is a very slow process to even scratch the surface of plants' mysterious medicines. Sometimes the discovery is through science, sometimes the discovery is found in rituals and ancient wisdom that has been passed on generation after generation.

        It is puzzling that the known benefits of plants are not being taught in schools. Too often there is an automatic look at or search for the bottled medicine in the health department of a store. Too often, at the first sign of a problem, the doctor prescribes medicine when the same medicinal relief may be growing right outside the door. Of course the obvious answer is that the economy would not profit nor perhaps the doctor would not make as good a living if it was known that the medicine was free and available to all. Also, the people needing the help would not always feel they had received enough attention if a prescribed medicine was a plant. It is fortunate that in many native tribes, there is no such restraint, and the good results (and sometimes bad results) are observed and treasured and handed forward to each generation.

        Plants provide healthier air for the environment. This is a commonly known fact, and yet many, many trees are cut down as if there is no awareness of this needed growth. Plants are taken for granted yet there is aways the needed balance in nature for the new plants to be propagated and for the ones we know so well not to be overused to the point of oblivion .

        When we give plants as gifts, they seem to absorb the giver's attitude. They take on added life and with proper care they continue to share and make the connection between that of earth and that of spirit. The life energy of the plant and the color as well as its beauty all work together to help to heal.

        The growing of plants, the active involvment in the procedure of the cycle of planting, caring, and trimming is sometimes a healing to the bruised emotions of the day or the comfort needed to handle grief. Plants are interactive. As they are given love and care, they respond with life giving energy. It is a good two way expression of love. The bonus is that this love is then visible for others to share."