The Garland in the Meadow

A journey with Motherwort

Image by Alisa Aleksandrova

I am in the clearing in the forest. I ask the plants, none in particular, “Can you show me the story, to tell your story of how you are to be used as medicine? How you are used for healing?”

Motherwort is off to the side of the clearing. It seems like she wears a silver green cloak. A garland of flowers in her hair. She turns and begins walking down the path through the forest. I follow. The little girl is with me.

We walk through the forest, not really on a path, walking over low plants growing. We move quickly to not lose motherwort.

I have no idea where we are going or what will unfold. The trees begin to get smaller, more shrubs and it becomes harder to walk. We come to the edge of the forest and now stand on the edge of a meadow.

Motherwort is in the center of the meadow standing with others in a circle. Trees surround the meadow. Someone from the circle invites me to join them on a stone in the center. Motherwort places a garland of flowers on my head.

“This is our blessing to help you in this next next ness, to bring the magic of the message of us, of this place of herbal medicine intact. The essence of herbal medicine which is not a product. It is this,” she gestures, “a meadow of aliveness. It is receiving a garland of flowers. And in that garland, perhaps, are the plants you need to heal. Which may be about beauty. But may also be something more.”

I remove the garland to see what plants are there. As I look, each plant steps forward:

Black cohosh – “I am memory of home,” she says. “Of intact forest, of wholeness.”

Rosemary comes forward – she is beautiful, dancing. “Boldness,” she says. “Of not being shy or hesitant, of saying I am here.”

Blue vervein steps into the circle. Tall, willowy, tipped with deep sapphire. “Connecting to the heavens,” she says, “And to the invisible. Like a tuning fork.”

Meadowsweet – is working work, hard work, physical shifts, building blocks. The money and resources needed to achieve the vision of why you are here.

A pause.

Goldenseal and Solomon seal come forward together. Powerful root medicine. Forest shade.

Goldenseal is a bit separate. “I can create what you need. I will bring the resources I’ll go into the world and show the value which people don’t know but they will. Because my medicine is powerful.”

Garlic pushes forward too. A little squat. “And I also am pungent and will keep out what is bad. And keep your vision true.”

Wood betony is shy and on the side. “I awaken your sight and your insight so that what you share is clear and true and comes from heaven and is more than you and what you do.”

And Zinnia. Deep red. “I am beautiful and I awaken love.”

The plants gather close.

Motherwort steps before me.

“I am the center. I am the stalk that holds the garland together. I spread. I have tiny thorns and beautiful flowers. Small. My leaves are bitter but healing.

I am the voice of the heart that weaves it all together.”