"Weeds" and the Law of Cure

Homeopathy, Five Element Acupuncture, and many other systems of alternative healing, view the symptoms of disease as warning signals from the body of a deeper imbalance.  Suppressing these symptoms is like shutting off a fire alarm rather than seeking out the fire.  When these symptoms are suppressed, the imbalance moves deeper into the system and becomes more difficult to right. 

When balance does begin to be restored, old symptoms sometimes reoccur as the body works its way back to its natural state.  Often this can be alarming because it may seem like things are getting worse rather than better, but if we trust the wisdom of the body, the symptoms will work their way out of the system naturally.

This way of looking at disease and healing came to mind as I was contemplating the local effort to eradicate Japanese Knotweed, a symptom of imbalance in the environment.

 

Trust is also something we have to have when it comes to the Earth's ability to return to balance.  When soil is distressed by human intervention, the soil is no longer able to support the native plant population.  This is where weeds come into the picture.  They are hardy plants that are able to grow quickly and cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

They are the scar tissue that covers the wound, allowing the Nature to create new soil .

These plants usually have medicinal value for humans, and are good at absorbing toxins from the soil so that it can begin to repair itself.   Then it will be able to sustain a more diverse ecosystem, hopefully including the original plant populations.

However, the speed at which they spread is often frightening, and we mistake them as a sign that things are getting worse.  They are labeled "invasive", and war is declared.  Well meaning people looking to fight for native species arm themselves with pesticide which will only further damage the ecosystem.  

I can understand why one might want to remove this plant from their garden, but when it is covering areas of distressed soil, like is is here under the freeway, I believe we should allow it to grow and heal the soil.

Fortunately, this plant is tenacious and not easily deterred.

   

 

Quiet

The energy of Winter is hidden.  It is a time when nature turns inward in order to renew resources.  We need this season like we need sleep at night.  It's a time to quietly renew.

Snow in the mountains means water next summer.

So snuggle up like a cat by the heater.  

Its ok.

Neighborhood Mushrooms

More on the Abundance Front

Late Summer

Late Summer in ancient China is what we think of now as the Harvest Season.  There is a distinct energy to this season even if it is no longer recognized as such.  It is the season associated with the element Earth.  The hexagram in the I Ching associated with the months of late summer, July and August, is the trigram for Heaven above the trigram for Earth.  It is called "Stillness".  Everything is as it is supposed to be.  Nature is still so fruit can ripen.  Survival is easy.  The weather is mild, and you need only step outside to find dinner growing along the side of the road.  Only sometimes its just out of reach. . .

Unless you happen to be arboreal.

Summer?

I know its summer because even though I wore a polar fleece shirt yesterday, I wore sandals.   I know its summer because I don't eat dinner until 9.  And I know its summer because there are poppies.

Unlike my veggies, they don't seem to care too much that we haven't had any sunshine.

Sun where you find it

I was at an herb workshop this weekend and someone asked whether there was any medicinal value in buttercups.  The answer was no, but I take issue with that answer.  I think just looking at the near blinding brightness of their petals has healing power similar to the sun.  Especially during gray springs such as this one.

I remember in elementary school we used to play some kind of game that involved twirling a buttercup under our chins.  I can't remember why, but part of the reason was to see the way the bright yellow was reflected on our skin. 

 I can't think of a brighter flower, like a little light box.