| WHAT ABOUT HERBALISM AND SPIRITUALITY? Upon examination of the ancient belief systems of the Chinese,
Indian, and Native Americans, a mutual earth centered religion
is evident. This religion shaped humanities view and relationship
with the Great Spirit, and the relationships between all of
humankind. This was a belief system which also demonstrated a
medical view of illness, and utilized herbs in concordance with
religious belief. An Earth Centered-Nature religion still permeates herbalism today
by various expressions. Herbalism is part of the RELIGION of
NATURE, representing a balance of head and heart; that relies
more on artful intuition than precise scientific reasoning. Nature religions ascribed a divine expression to the forces of
nature, and to the earth itself, and advance a philosophy of
divine inter connection with all of it’s inhabitants. In working with nature, pagans are simply respecting and paying
homage to the spiritual forces they observe. Nature is perceived
as the domain of the gods and of spirits. The philosophy of paganism usually recognizes a state, in which,
spiritual beings on earth, and in the rest of creation, become
aware of the “oneness of creation”. Herbalism is a vehicle to express the oneness of creation, and
foster the divinity of nature and the earth. The more we turn our attention toward the nature of our
relationship with the environment, the more profound become
the insights into the close embrace we share----of the many
ways, in which, our ecological inter-relatedness shows itself. The
art and science of herbal medicine is, for many people, the most
unexpected----we are ALL ONE. The Gaia concept of our earth as, “The Greek goddess of the
earth-a living entity with the equivalent of senses,
intelligence, memory and the capacity to act-she is the earth
spirit-she is ecology" The Complete Illustrated Guide to Ayruveda demonstrates the
Hindu concept of oneness: “Today for instance, people everywhere,
are beginning to understand concepts like Gaia, the ONENESS of
the organism of earth. This happens by Pitta, the force of the
intellect, or Vishnu the preserver (a Hindu god), who keeps
balance on earth between the spiritual and demonic.” Herbalism is incorporated into this Gaian philosophy in The
Elements of Herbalism, where; “Healing is a Gaian quality,
as it is a personal expression of balance and wholeness. The
relationship between healing plants and people, can be seen as
Gaia in action----the context of ecological embrace.” Herbal
healing is “an expression of very real and practical links with
Gaia, there is an activation of ecological cycles for healing.
A unique opportunity is created by the simple act of taking
herbal medicines----such healing, goes beyond the treatment of
pathologies and alleviation of bodily suffering-rather, it is
in the realm of the transcendental, the ineffable transformation
that comes through the touch of the Great Spirit. According to Wicca-a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Wicca
is a “religion, centering around reverence for nature, as seen
in the Goddess and the God. The Goddess is nature, the Universal
Mother. The God is the consort of the Goddess.” The Roots of Healing-A Woman’s Book of Herbs, conveys: “We
understand that the primary “LIFE FORCE” of earth is contained
within plants. We trust in earth’s healing abilities, and
therefore, have continued to call upon herbs for nutritional,
medicinal, and spiritual help. Our reverence for the mysteries
of birth, life, death, and renewal, guides us to live in
harmony with nature, closely following her rhythms. We are
connected to changing seasons, the weather, and the cycles
of the moon----We are known in our communities as herbalists,
midwives, witches, nurses, and wise women----We have continued
to practice our healing arts despite centuries of persecution
by religious organizations, governments, and medical
establishments----Over time, I realized that a presence of
unconditional love was emanating from earth herself through
herbs. This presence, I came to realize, is divine female wisdom,
the great Goddess." Consider the view expressed that, “herbs are gifts that teach
and heal. Through them, we can learn to hear the whisperings
of earth herself. Listen for their songs. Let yourself remember
the wise woman, who lives within you.” In Witchcraft, we discern that, “Wicca (an alternative name for
modern witchcraft) is a positive, shamanistic, nature religion,
with two main deities honored and worshipped in Wiccan rites: the
Goddess (the female aspect and a deity related to the ancient
Mother Goddess in her triple aspects of maiden, mother and crone)
and her consort, the Horned God (the male aspect). Wicca (which is
also known as the ‘craft of the wise’ or often just ‘the craft’)
is considered, by many, to be both a monistic and pantheistic
religion. In simple terms, it is a positive nature based religion,
preaching brotherly love, and harmony with, and respect for, all life
forms. It is very similar to Native American spirituality.” According to the late Scott Cunningham, a well published author,
“Earth is a manifestation of divine energy, and reveals her
secrets ‘to Wiccans’, who listen to the earth. To be outdoors,
is to be in the temple and surrounded by sanctity.” |
