Editor's Note: This article was a student's class assignment during the Greater Wellbeing and the Healing Dimensions of Plants online class. This class will be repeated soon -- for details or to register, see elsewhere in this issue, or here.
Class Assignment: Choose a plant you like a lot, or connect to in some important way as an herb, as food, drink, an essence, homeopathy, or as a live plant you particularly love. Learn about its uses as medicine, ornamentation, food, mythology, homeopathy, essential oils, essence, how it grows in the garden, whatever you can find. Tell in what ways you connected to/used the plant before this exercise.
What was it about this plant you learned that you find the most fascinating, or even surprising? How does an aspect of this plant you didn't know about before reflect some need for harmony in your life toward which you are striving?
I chose the sunflower because lately I've been seeing them in my mind again and again. I thought the best way for me to start this assignment would be to communicate with the sunflowers. In this way, I would not be influenced by any research I would be doing. To begin, I made myself comfortable for meditation, and when I settled into the stillness I asked the sunflowers why they had been so prominent in my awareness for the last three months. This was their response.
"Well, well, well! We finally have your FULL attention. We (the nature kingdom) always have had some of it, but now you are surrounded. HA! We have noticed that you listen to people with a great deal of presence, and have also noticed that over the last three years you have become more aware of just 'being.' You have expressed to your friends that often you feel as though you are "dissolving" into the background. You have expressed that you sometimes feel "hermit-like" in this busy world that we live in.
"We understand and want to tell you that this is why we have come. We want you to LISTEN to the nature kingdom. The daylilies really thought they had your undivided attention this summer, and you embraced their message. Every day, one flower saying the very same thing. When the last lily bloomed, we lost your attention.
"So... we decided to flood your inner screen with visual images of sunflowers. Sunflowers all around for you to notice. The flowers decided that the best way to accomplish their mission was to assign the sunflower this task. Ah, sunflower! We can grow big and be quite Imposing you know. We are the yellow street light... Hey Charlotte, prepare to stop!!!
"Now that you are still we want to tell you that like the sunflower, you have a lot to offer, and there will be times when you need to step up to the plate. Please stop questioning your abilities. Dissolving does not mean fading into the sunset. Rather, it means surrendering the little ego to the service of the universe. This is your nature anyway. So, when you speak your truth we will surround you and provide support. Know that you are well rooted, Charlotte, you really are.
"Express your creativity, and know that like us, you have much to give. Express, like the sunflowers, your multifaceted nature. We provide food, beauty, and continue to offer what we have to the earth and its beings. Let us all embrace as we are all part of the whole. Let us all show our faces to be warmed by the sun. Hop to it, Charlotte!"
History: The Incas venerated the sunflower as an image of their Sun God. The sunflower is native to the Americas and the Native Americans used the sunflower for food and medicine for 8,000 years. Other parts of the plant were used: the hulls for a brewed coffee and the stalks for cloth.
Food: The sunflower is one of the four major crops of global importance that is native to the U.S. (the others are blueberry, pecan and cranberry). The sunflower is high in nutritional value (protein and minerals). Sunflowers are eaten by birds, people and animals. Nutrients in the seed include: calcium, chlorine, iron, lecithin, niacin and B1. Oil can be pressed and used in cooking and confectionery. It can also be used to make soap.
Medicine: Used for the treatment of rheumatism and upper respiratory ailments. (See essence information.)
Essence: The essence of the sunflower is a catalyst for developing personal identity in relation to the larger spiritual Self. Helpful for those whose sense of self is weak, and helps to develop confidence. Sunflower aligns the super-conscious mind's spiritual values with the heart chakra. Balances yin and yang energies. When people are having trouble with their intuition and want to know if their perception is correct, the Sunflower essence will resolve the problem. Osteopathic and chiropractic adjustments are augmented by use of Sunflower essences; the kundalini is stimulated and aligned along the spine, thus awakening the charkas.
The devic orders associated with this plant include the Kachinas and some associated with the Vedas. Attunment of the entire animal kingdom to the sun's energy is present in the essence. When male animals show too much aggression or passivity, there is a balancing that takes place when the essence is used.
I found that there was a vast amount of information on this plant , but the most interesting information, and the information that resonated with me the most, was the discussion that I found on the use of essence. There are so many reasons why the sunflowers captured my attention this summer and into the fall. One of the biggest things for me to pay attention to is that I still need to work on my confidence in terms of talking to others about complementary therapies and alternatives. Public speaking is still not an easy thing for me to do as I am an introvert of sorts. There is a part of me that needs to be bolstered, and I see that the essence can be of help to me.
On another note, I still always question my intuitive perceptions. I need to stop doing this and surrender to what I know oftentimes to be true. Again, the essence can assist me here. My dog (male) has on a couple of occasions shown dominance towards me. Just a day or so ago I was consulting trainers about how to alleviate these behaviors, and using Sunflower essence on him is something I will try.
The sunflower came to me loud and clear, and I bless the universe for bringing the sunflower as a gift to me in so many ways.
Editors' Note: See details about this class and all the others offered by the World Wide Essence Society here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Charlotte Clegg is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with a masters in Counseling. She's also a Master Gardener, Reiki Master, long time student of Meditation and Intuition, and a new student to flower essences.
Art Credits: The layers of this treatment are based on stained glass from
the exceptional collection created by
Kokomo Opalescent Glass. Page design by
Donna Cunningham of
Word of Mouth Web Design. ©2004, all rights reserved. Sunflower art courtesy of Art Today
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
