Nature Speak Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Baby Bud and Mommy Thistle – Photo: L. Weikel

Thistle

I didn’t get a chance to walk yesterday. We went to the powwow and by the time we got home, a walk simply wasn’t going to happen. So I was determined to log some miles today. In fact, I walked both the long and the short routes (walk about and walk around). And the upshot of both was that thistle was demanding my attention.

If I’d known I was going to write about it this evening, I would’ve taken even more photos of this phenomenal beauty. Thistle is blooming in most fields and along the roadside all along both of my usual circuits. The stunning lavender-leaning-toward-pink blossoms kept grabbing my attention the entire afternoon.

Spiny, almost weapon-like leaves appear on some of the plants, appearing like fireworks splaying out in a manner that yells, “Get back!” And yet other plants seem to shyly downplay those very same needle-like weapons, toning them down and making a point of calling all our attention to each stage of their floral explosion.

Something to Think About

Most times when something, be it flora or fauna, persistently insists on catching my attention, I take it to mean that it’s bringing me a message of some sort. I honestly didn’t feel that today.

Every time I took one of the photos that are accompanying this post, I had a conversation with the plant itself, thanking it for sharing its particularly lovely self with me today. It almost felt like the Spirit of Thistle was showing me herself in every aspect of her blossoming, encouraging me to appreciate each stage for its particular loveliness.

When I realized I was getting the nudge to share these photos tonight, I wondered if perhaps the Spirit of Thistle wanted to reach out and speak with one of you. It’s possible some of you aren’t getting outside enough or frequenting venues where Thistle can get your attention, and this is a way to get the message across. I’m not saying the attributes of Thistle don’t have application in my life. I’m just saying they don’t feel as personal to me as many other ‘messages’ I receive on my walks.

Teenager Thistle – Knows it all; Photo: L.Weikel

Keynote

In checking with Nature Speak* by Ted Andrews, I discovered that Thistle’s keynotes are ‘keep a sense of pride; and protect yourself against criticisms of others.’ In reading the actual discussion of the plant, I got a sense that Thistle is best known and most respected as an aid to the function of our liver. It sounds as though Thistle can be used to both cleanse and tone one’s liver. (Again, as I mentioned in this post, always use the utmost care when working with the medicinal qualities herbs. They are every bit as potent as prescription medications and should not be used carelessly or cavalierly. Ideally, you should seek the input of a trained herbalist.)

Our liver does a ton of work inside our body, cleansing our blood and helping us eliminate toxins. The toxins it confronts are not always on the physical level, either. Our liver can suffer from exhaustion or toxicity from prolonged exposure to anger, rage, criticism, and other ‘negative’ emotions. It stands to reason that sometimes our liver needs a rest, a chance to catch its breath (metaphorically) and recover its mojo. Thistle can help with that.

Scottish Connection

Thistle is the national flower of Scotland. It’s said that a Danish marauder was trying to sneak up on a Scottish camp and stepped on a thistle, causing him to shriek out in pain. This served to warn the Scots that an attack was imminent and permitted them to defend themselves appropriately.

It’s plausible that Thistle’s appearance in our life is suggesting that we may need to protect ourselves. It may be appropriate at this time to express our upset at the way we’re being treated by others.

It occurs to me that we’re hearing a lot about how so many people are in each other’s faces about this, that, and the other thing, but primarily (lately) about masks, vaccinations, and our responsibilities to ourselves and each other. From my observation, the most vociferous declarations seem to be made by those who feel they owe no one any deference; that the only righteous concern is adherence to their own beliefs and choices for themselves.

Maybe It’s Not OK

Crone Thistles – They’ve seen it all; Photo: L.Weikel

I’m wondering if perhaps Thistle is suggesting that it’s ok to stand up for the collective. It’s ok for people to express some of the anger they’ve been swallowing. Many have patiently waited for those demanding respect for their personal space and ‘freedom’ to realize there are other people sharing this planet with them, and sometimes we have to do uncomfortable things or sacrifice a bit for the benefit of us all.

And when the hoped-for epiphany regarding generosity of spirit and sacrifice never arrives? Maybe it’s time to express some righteous anger. Perhaps in as beautiful a manner as possible, but express it nonetheless (before it poisons us all).

*affiliate link

(T-96)

Cranesbill

Aha! I was just seeing if you were paying attention. Of course, I’m sure you immediately thought to yourself when you saw the title of this post, Cranesbill, “I can’t believe she’s milking the Wild Geraniums she saw on a walk two days ago for yet a third post. Good grief, she is shameless.”

Indeed, you’d be right.

Yes, I’m parlaying my recent discovery of the name of the lovely pale purple wildflower growing prolifically along roadsides into one final post. These wildflowers are seemingly everywhere now. I’m equally sure I’m seeing and recognizing them now because I made a conscious effort to learn their name so I would no longer pass by them with no recognition.

The reason I’m writing one last post, though, is because I just had to look up the spiritual attributes of Geranium. Alleviation of the physical symptoms that respond to Geranium didn’t feel like an immediate concern to me (thank goodness). And then the light bulb went off and I realized I’d failed to look up Geranium’s significance in my trusty Nature Speak* by Ted Andrews.

The Message – on this New Moon

As usual, in looking up the message Geranium might be bringing me (since it’s practically been haunting me the past few days), I’m both fascinated and intrigued by what I’ve discovered in the aforementioned Nature Speak:

“Geranium (geranium)

Keynote: new happiness and vitality; take advantage of new opportunities

Geranium is a perennial that comes in many colors. They are usually found and grown as groundcover in woodland gardens and rockeries. Some varieties suppress weeds through mounts of their leaves and flowers. They are easy to grow and the blooms are saucer-shaped. They are a summer blooming plant, making this a messenger about efforts coming to fruition having greater success in summer.

Geranium means ‘crane’s bill.’ In southern Africa, a variety of it is called stork’s bill. The crane, the animal to which this flower is also associated by its name, is a symbol of the solar deities and the bridging of the spiritual and physical realms. This flower and its energies awaken a greater sense of happiness and stir the heart chakra into greater healing and a renewed sense of joy in life. It vitalizes the aura of the individual which strongly repercusses on all those within one’s life. It helps one to pinpoint and grab life’s happiness. In most geranium beds, there will be an elf who oversees the entire area.

Geraniums as messengers foretell new happiness and vitality in our life. They also can show you where you may be missing opportunities for happiness. And they alert us to take advantage of new opportunities when they arise. Are we hesitating? Now is the time to act.”

Take-Away

Who knew?! What a delightful and most unexpected message to receive. And the synchronicity of this messenger arriving just as we approached today’s new moon, which calls upon us to plant seeds leading to new opportunities in the fertile earthiness of Taurus, is just wonderful to contemplate.

I love the intimation that where geraniums grow, an elf oversees that area. Gee, I’ve not been too obsessed with Beings hovering around the area lately, right?

Hmm. Pretty cool.