Last weekend, I began a 6 month herbalism class at a local herb farm. For me, this place is like summer camp got married to Hogwarts and had a baby. It’s play and fun and magic – exactly what I need to help carry my weary heart through these trying times. I also am planting a huge vegetable and herb garden in my own backyard, as a gift to myself so I can work with these plants over the summer and for years to come. I am definitely in my “plant era”, that’s for sure.
The plants are my teachers in many ways, and I am in awe of what I am learning. In spending time with the plants, learning about them on a much deeper level, I am remembering things my intuition knows, but that had been forgotten in this busy hustle culture of ours. So I am writing a short blog series to share these insights with the hope that it might be helpful for those of you walking this path with me.
Re-connecting with Intuitive Wisdom: What the Plants Are Teaching Me in May – Patience:
I live in a colder climate, so May is the beginning of the season and time to finally plant seeds outdoors. Here’s a funny thing I am noticing. I no sooner plant a seed than I want to see the flower. This, I know, is a product of how I live most of my life. This is a by-product of our culture. The internet gives me everything I want, in an instant. Between a search on google or chat GPT, there isn’t much out there that you can’t conjure up in less than 10 seconds (and they say magic isn’t real!).
Working with plants shows me how living in our instant satisfaction culture has made me impatient. Our culture is conditioning me to expect things in an unrealistic manner, and when I am waiting for seeds to germinate, I can feel the anticipation in my body. I can feel the yearning for that dopamine hit. It’s almost like a let down, an anti-climax, after a day of planting to walk away and not “get” something instantly back.
Once the seed is planted I intellectually know it will take time. My rational self understands there is a germination process that has to occur. However, the feeling of desire for “more” is in my body.
I clocked this feeling as I waited for the seeds to grow. I would check every day after I had planted the seeds, but (of course), it’s a long time before I saw anything. And I could feel myself getting impatient. I truly began to feel anxious, doubting that the soil was “good enough” and thinking I must have done something wrong. The truth is, once planted, the seeds were in control. I was left to just “trust the process”.
This is pure co-creation, and it highlights and reveals every part of me that doesn’t trust things I can’t control. It is so humbling to come into relationship with nature, one of the fiercest and gentlest forces there is, and realize how small you are. I am one part of this process, but I am not in control. I design the garden, I choose the seed, and I plant it. But I do not get to control the show. I can only help, learn and have faith.
So far, some of my plants are thriving. Others, not so much. I have struggled and been befuddled because I don’t know what’s wrong, or how to fix it. I have also watched and been an observer, and realized that often everything is happening exactly how it is meant to, it’s just taking its sweet time. I’ve been humbled, surprised, disappointed and delighted. I see that unlike in many cultures, all emotions have a place in the garden.
Watching nature do its thing is a metaphor for any issue you face, if only you can pause long enough to listen.
The plants don’t need to go faster, only we do. They just do their thing. In their own time. They need the right environment (just like we do), and in it they thrive. Without it, they struggle, and often they persevere, but sometimes perish. They do so many things similar to us humans.
But they do not rush. They never, ever, rush…So why do I?
Where does rushing come from? It’s not in nature. Nature never rushes. It therefore can not be “natural”. And it is my opinion that our culture is the antithesis of nature. The plants remind me that when I’m rushing or impatient, I am acting from culture, and I have a choice to slow down.
I can stop. I can take a breath. I can pause and remember what and how I want to be in this body. And for me, that is someone who is centered, embodied and living from choice rather than reaction. (I try, but trust me, I don’t always live that way! Progress, not perfection).
This lesson that early Spring has taught me, like a mirror showing me where I am off course, has been so valuable to me. Rushing takes me away from my intuitive wisdom. Rushing will never serve you. I am glad for the reminder. I hope it might help you in some way as well. If you have questions or similar ideas, drop a comment below. I look forward to connecting 😊.
