©2003 by Carol Lavoie
Saguaro Cactus -- Cereus Gigantea (waxy giant)
I was a student in the World Wide Essence Society's Essence Experience class this summer, and we
were asked to choose a single essence to take and report on. I chose Saguaro,
which FES recommends for clarity in relationship to authority; for alienation
and conflict regarding power figures; appreciation of the wisdom of spiritual
elders and ancient spiritual traditions. It lends a balanced relationship to
spiritual authority and guidance.
I found my relationship with my father profoundly affected by this essence,
which was my hope when I chose it. I caretake both him and my mom, who are in their ancient years not too far from their Centennials. My father is blind and recently
had extensive open heart surgery. He is an adult child of an alcoholic and has always been extraordinarily abusive to me and my mother. He and I have always clashed.
One of our assignments for the class was to research the essence plant to see how
its physical characteristics might reflect the qualities of the essence.
The saguaro is quite striking -- the largest cactus that grows only in the Sonora Desert.
When mature, after age 50, it will grow many arms and appear like a candelabra.
It is a very slow growing plant, reaching up to 20-60 feet tall, and living for 175-200
years.
The mature plant has five or more arms that reach upwards as if reaching for
the wisdom of the heavens. The cactus has a sprawling root system and one long tap root. The width of the root system can be equal to the height of the plant and thus offers support for this giant.
The trunk has a ribbed, accordion texture to its sage green exterior. It is smooth and waxy to hold in water, with 2-inch spiny clusters on the ribbing.
The ribbing allows for water absorption and expansion of the plant, which can hold up to a ton or more of water. This huge cactus provides food and shelter to various desert life. The fruit can be eaten raw or made into jellies, jams, syrups, and a drink that is used for ritual rainmaking. It does have hallucinogenic psychoactivity, however; the scientific studies deem the alcoholic content in the fruits to be the intoxicant
that fits the shamanic dreams of the "spirit flight".
As I took and meditated on Saguaro essence, the first image was
one of an ancient, wise, imposing figure -- and then it turned into
a very comical one. This giant looked like a gawking, awkward,
clownish, funny-shaped person. Lesson: learn to laugh at yourself
and not take yourself and your "authority" so seriously. When we
can laugh at our false ego stances and empty "authoritarian" rulings,
we can expand our own "ribbing" and let more emotion (water) pass
through our bodies as laughter ripples from us. On first taking the essence,
I grew very grumpy and irritable -- perhaps that is the signal of the incredible slow growth of the plant -- or perhaps how burdensome "responsibility" and "authority" can be.
Often the new cacti sprout from tiny black seeds dropped by birds
under the Palo Verde tree (shown here at right) which shades the new plant from the desert sun.
The cactus grows about 1 inch a year, and eventually grows to such a size where it
will absorb all the water, thus killing off the Palo Verde tree that protected
it for so many years.
The theme of the Saguaro taking the life of the Palo Verde tree that nurtured it for most of its life struck a chord in me. The other day when I was taking care of them, my father got terribly abusive. Normally, tears well up in my eyes, I choke up and a lump forms in my throat. I can barely breathe let alone swallow as he lashes out.
This time only a faint passing of that occurred, and I could feel it
release. I did not feel a need to consciously protect myself. It was not a "head' thing to think about; just the most positive reaction that has happened and so different from anything that came before. This is a very powerful essence. For a fleeting moment an image flashed somewhere (but not in my head) to without any inhibition say "I love you." I've thought of doing this before to diffuse things, but never in this completely uninhibited way and without any desire to diffuse anything. It was just different. It was a reaction of moving in the highest truth on a pure basis. It was a very new expression and relief for me. I felt that I was able to take "spirit flight" and step outside the drama -- protected but still feeling like the cactus.
The essence has had a most profound effect on me -- a
kind of all-embracing depth of getting to the real
Source of Truth. Sort of a detachment but not of the mind
or head... of my soul or Essence! I haven't taken
Saguaro very long yet, so I don't know what the ultimate
effects will be. However, I must say that since that day, our
relationship is different. My father almost treats ME with
a respect not shown before. I feel an inner shift as if the giant saguaro in me
has shifted his weight and turned towards a different horizon.
Update, a month after the class ended: Things are still incredibly sane with my father -- I am grateful and in awe. I take the Saguaro very infrequently now, but I am sure the residual effects are just as strong!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carol Lavoie is a full-time counseling astrologer with over 23 years of experience. Carol's practice has helped thousands of
clients over the years. Her sessions offer
a full line of services: forecasts/natal, relationship, horary,
electional, rectification and business. She has lectured to
many well-known astrological organizations and conferences and
has written extensively for major publications such as Dell
Horoscope, Aspects magazine, Mercury Hour, Astro-Forecast, and
Horoscope Guide. For over six years, she produced her own
television talk show, Positive Lifestyles. She is
an integral part of the
AIR Software team. She can be reached by email.
ART CREDITS: Deborah Bier of Hometown Websmith
created this snazzy treatment. Photos came from
Clipart.com.
