Getting to Know a Plant Ally
The first step is Identification. There are hundreds and thousands of plants so carefully curating your arsenal of plant allies is crucial. Consider local and abundant species first, ones with cultural significance, and those you find personally called to. A good collection of 10-13 plants could fulfill all the needs you could ever desire, but as someone who loves knowledge, knowing more is always nice.
Once you have chosen your subject(s) so begins the research and one should highly consider creating a Materia Medica/Herbal Grimoire.
It is important to realize that even if you donāt intend to use herbs medicinaly, they are by nature medicine. It is important to understand how herbs interact with our body and environment (ie. pets and children) before working with them. Making tea and burning incense are common forms of working with herbs casually that could have ill effects for some people. So take some time to gather some facts from reputable sources (note youāre sources in your notes! Trust me it helps) and put together a little (or elaborate) reference book. Hard facts and dedicating time to learning the phyical knowledge of a plant I believe is necessary for understanding its spirit and metaphysical nature as well.
Things to include in a detailed entry:
Botanical and other names, and etymology
Origins and role in the ecosystem
Growing habits and Community: where to find
When and how to harvest / parts used
Energetics and Observations: taste, smell, feel and other notes
Chemical constituents (essential oils)
Actions: how it interacts with the human body, what it does and where it shows effects
Contraindications and safety
History: folklore-current use, cultural significance, and scientific studies
Magical workings and spiritual teachings: depending on your path include correspondences, planetary associations, relations to spirits and deities, and other esoteric knowledge.
*I may have missed something so the above list may be expanded
It is important to do the research described above to determine which of the following exercises are safe to perform with your subject. Not all plant allies should be used in the following so please take proper precautions before performing exercises.
When introducing yourself to a plant ally it is important to start with gentle interactions and work your way up to ones more intense. The following exercises are written in an order that will reflect this.
Sight Exercise: carefully examine your subject for five minutes, study every aspect carefully. Really hold your gaze for the full time. When the five minutes of observation is up: turn away from your subject and close your eyes for a full thirty seconds. Hold the image of your subject in your mindās eye. After thirty seconds of visualization, without looking back at your subject, draw what you see. This drawing is Not to be of fine detail (unless thatās totally your thing and you can do it without effort) it can be deconstructed or messy, it could be just a blur of color or even a symbol if thatās what you see. The point is to catch a glimpse of the plant spirit, or to find what most sticks out to you. After completling this exersice a more detailed diagram of the subject can be drawn for your notes.
Smell exercise: jot down your notes inbetween each different sample. Without disturbing the subject, notice any latent smells. Next, crush material in between your fingers, waking up aroma. Notice the difference between fresh and dry samples (if you have them). Boil sample in a pot of water and experience the aroma released through steam. Grind dry material and burn over hot charcoal and experience the aroma through smoke. Some thoughts to consider: does the aroma evoke emotions, bring up memories, or conjure images? Does it linger or dissipate quickly? Where on the spectrum of odor is the aroma; we can sense ten different odors [x]. As part of your Herbal Grimoire research why plants produce the odors they do. Inquire about terpenes and how they help plants build a relationship with the world around them and how they also effect humans. Taking these facts into consideration what can you deduce about the plant spirit as a being and what energy it holds?
Touch exercise: start by simply feeling the subject: notice itās texture, is it robust or delicate? What do these observations tell you about the plant, how does it's form relate to it's function? For a deeper touch exercise create an herbal hand bath. Gather subject material and place in a heat proof bowl (a good handful maybe 1/4-1/2 cup), cover material with boiling water and let steep for 15 minuets. Pour off steaped water into a basin big enough to submerge your hands. When water is safe to touch soak your hands in the warm herbal bath for 8-10 minutes. Record your experience: was it astringent or conditioning, warming or cooling, etc etc. Repeat exercise but let bath cool completely and soak in cold water. Note any differences.
Taste exercise: take a small amount of the subject material and let it rest on the tongue for a moment. After noting any immediate sensation, chew and savor the flavor. Is it sweet or bitter? Describe it's taste? Does it evoke any feelings or cause any physical response? Let the material linger in your mouth to appreciate all levels of flavor. Now make an herbal tea. Take one to two table spoons of material and let steep in six ounces water 210 degrees for 6-8 minutes but drink with material still in cup. Sip slowly, take each moment to notice the development of flavor as it brews longer. Once completed consider interpreting signs in material, note any other feelings/experiences. Try exercise with both dry and fresh material if available, repeat with cold infusion instead, note any difference.
Create: while the previous exercises offer more immediate preparation, this is the next step in forming an intimate relationship with a plant ally. Now is the time for more intense creations. Using your subject alone (not in an herbal blend) create something that requires more time and effort: make an infused oil, tincture, salve, cook with it, distill essential oil and hydrosol, use it in a spell, etc. Once your creation is completed: record results, note successes and failures, write down how much you use and experiences with each application.
Meditate / Hearing exercise: all of the previous exercises are indeed meditations in themselves. But dedicating the time to a more simple meditation builds support with a plant ally. One may use a tincture, perhaps smoke some subject material, anoint themselves with infused oil, or just bask in the presence of the physical plant ally. The point to is to notice the subtle and the unseen and invite the subject into your existence with full attention. Afterwards make note of any experiences. Did you hear (learn) anything from your plant ally? This exercise can range from gentle to intense. *a note that hearing is not necessarily literal in this case*
It is important to consider time. There should be no rush when acquainting oneself with plant allies. Introductions can take days to months and relationships will be built over years. The learning with never cease.
*as always consult with a professional before using herbs medicinally, if you are pregnant, or on any medication. This is for education and curios only not for the treatment of illness or disease.*