Plants, connection & oral tradition…

One of my all time favorite things about plants is the way that they connect us. We see this in the way that plants ignite memory in individuals. We see this in the way that stories of plants are passed down through generations in oral tradition. Oral tradition keeps sacred information alive. It keeps memories alive. And the essence of a plant often carries these sacred memories with them. 

I see this a lot in my own work as an herbalist. Through an educational lens I know that much of what I learn about plants is greatly due to oral tradition. And a huge reason that as an herbalist- we look to traditional uses of medicinal plants. This is because various cultures have paved the way of herbalism through story and the passing on of information. Much of which wasn’t written down, and rather spoken solely through word. Through stories around the fire. Through families working together to harvest a plant medicine for use in their home and community. 

I also see this in my work through a more esoteric lens of connection. In the simple yet complex way a plant ignites a memory within someone. 

I have been very blessed to be a conduit for plant connection, and this reveals itself when people share with me their own sacred plant stories. Often these stories come seemingly out of nowhere. I run into someone in a coffee shop or on a farm and in conversation a plant is mentioned. I witness as a spark ignites within someone and in that moment they feel safe enough with me to share a special memory that this plant has brought to the surface. 

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In a coffee shop last week I found myself in a conversation with two locals in their 60’s and 70’s. Somewhere along the line lavender was mentioned and I watched as the man in his 70’s lit up. I knew he was experiencing a memory- so I paused and stepped closer as he said “I have a beautiful story for you.”

I sipped my coffee as he told me about a dear friend who always brought gardening sheers with her everywhere she went. On road trips she would always make him stop to harvest lavender. No matter where it was. She would boldly go on a secret mission on private property to harvest a bundle of lavender. I could see the sparkle in his eye when he said “she loved lavender so much.”

And in this beautiful moment I was reminded of the ways plants connect us, and the way that oral tradition keeps those memories alive. 

I thanked him for sharing their story- and headed to the lavender farm to water the plants. Watering them I felt so grateful and connected. Connected to the plants, connected to earth and connected to community. I even felt myself connected to this dear mans beloved friend as I visualized her adventures with lavender.

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On another special day- I found myself wandering through a farm on the coast. I was saying hi to plant friends and seeing who was around. I found myself admiring the flowers of mallow. I was thinking of how much they remind me of hibiscus. I know they are in the same family so I stopped to admire. In that moment a family came up to me and asked- “do you know what that plant is?”

I went on to tell them about the mallow family- the mother in the family said in a Caribbean accent “that looks so much like hibiscus.” We went on to talk about how this plant was indeed in the same family and how they had similar properties. I talked about how I loved that hibiscus is used in different cultures and how some people call it sorrel and some people call it jamaica or agua de jamaica. 

In that moment I saw a memory ignite. She went on to tell me about her time growing up in the Caribbean and how her family calls the plant sorrel. She went on to tell me how she would spend hours with her grandmother taking the hibiscus flowers off the plant. She shared how much it used to annoy her as a kid, but how now it is such a special memory of time with her grandmother. 

I felt like I could taste the sorrel as she talked about how crisp and refreshing it was on a warm day. She went on to tell me about rum cake, and ended up thanking me for reminding her of what is actually a very special memory with her family. 

I mentioned that I believe it is the plants that remind us, and thanked her for sharing her story. I spoke about how I believe that this is the magic of how plants connect us. And how important oral tradition is. And how important it is that memories are passed down for centuries to come- protecting culture and family alike. 

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Months later I would find myself walking through a market in Antigua, Guatemala. Doing one of my all time favorite things. Connecting, wandering & when appropriate-asking locals what plants their families use as medicine. These conversations are never forced and always happen naturally. When the moment is right. 

I found myself in a market that is a maze of shops- I stepped into a medicine shop. Seeing quickly the herbs and tinctures lining the walls- knowing that this was where I wanted to be. When I stepped in I introduced myself and began to look around.

I began talking to this local Kaqchikel woman in spanish and telling her that I was an herbalist. I could see the excitement and trust grow on her face. At one point we were deeper in conversation and I asked her about plants she uses in her family as medicine. 

She went on to tell me about ruda also known as rue. Rue is a very potent medicine often used in rituales de limpia (cleansing rituals). Ruda is also used as parasite medicine in Central and South America. And this is one of those plants that if you don’t know how to work with them- you really shouldn’t. They are steeped in culture and sacred medicine and this is to be respected and upheld. This is one of those plants that if you don’t ask for permission when working with them- they will come back to bite you in the ass.

To respect that tradition I won’t pass on exactly how she used ruda in her household but I will say that she talked about this plant with reverence and love. We talked about how fuerte (strong) this plant was and how they were to be respected. 

She spoke of quite a few uses of ruda in her own household. Before leaving the shop we exchanged information and I thanked her for trusting me with her sacred memories. 

I left that shop feeling divinely led by the plants into that interaction. 

I am very lucky to hold more stories like this. And each one holds a very special memory. And I protect each of those stories with respect & reverence.

I believe in the healing powers of plants. And I believe that they are more than just tangible medicine “to be used.” I believe their medicine and healing powers also lives in the way they connect and hold memory.

And it is an honor to share that with you here today. 

I would love to invite you to welcome this tradition into your own herbal practice. An invitation to become inquisitive and to hold space for the stories people have to tell. With this comes great responsibility to protect those sacred stories, just as we must respect these sacred plants.