I am in the process of taking a course on Shaman journeys and have just completed an assignment. This lesson dealt with the Plant Nations. The following is my what I wrote in the "Journal" portion of that assignment:
The Senses Awake
Herbs and spices – what a wonderful array of aromatics exist in the world! From the sweet tang of cinnamon to the pungent burst of sage, all plants contribute to the joys in our daily lives.
Sadly, I’ve never been very good at keeping herbs alive, but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating the bounty these plants provide. This of course includes all plant life – vegetables, grains, fruit, legumes – but here I shall touch only on spices and herbs.
So precious were these barks, gums, seeds and roots, that our world was discovered in pursuit them. Trade routes were established to bring these rare tastes from one region to another. Today, our store shelves are packed with them all. That does nothing to lessen the impact of the spices and herbs.
In my own kitchen, I give thanks daily as I sprinkle pepper on food – common black pepper – or as I fold fresh-chopped parsley into mashed potatoes. Spices are not really necessary. All food can be cooked without them and still come out okay. Just okay. Without the zing of lemon zest, or flavour burst of garlic, it’s just okay. Thus they delight the tongue.
I often rub some dried sage between the palms of my hands, delighting my sense of touch, and am energized by the fragrance. I blend dried crackling leaves, to the delight of my ears, and then burn them like incense, delighting my nose.
I’ve gazed at the bright scarlet of ground paprika, and the burnt orange of cinnamon, tracing these colours back to the bark and fruit, thus delighting my eye.
A few years ago, I did a special ritual involving herbs. The criteria was simple – all herbs needed to be easily available at the local grocery store, yet meet the needs of the elemental energies. Here are the invocations I wrote at that time (July 2, 2008):
Blessed be, oh Creature of Sage
Blessed be, sweet child of the Air
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom connection to the Divine
And abundance of inspiration
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!
Blessed be, oh Creature of Ginger
Blessed be, aromatic Child of Fire
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom keen sharpness
And clear understanding.
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!
Blessed be, oh Creature of Mint
Blessed be, refreshing Child of Water
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom calm rationality
And gentle reasoning.
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!
Blessed be, oh Creature of Parsley
Blessed be, green Child of the Earth
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom solid grounding
And continuous growth
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!
