Golanv Circle
Moon Day
Magick & Medicine

Intermediate Practicum
Definition of a Plant Ally

For thousands of years all Animal Allies have had intimate relationships with Plant Allies.  At Three Circles Medicine & Magick, we have hinted at this, and will continue to do so through all three Circles for this Journey.

Why do we choose to do this? Why do we recognize plants and animals as “something more” than just “Friends” as perceived in many Western Esoteric practices?

Without the thousands of years of teaching that we see throughout the world by the Elders, or Shamans, or Medicine People, we see the animals, also considered our Allies, visit Plant Allies time and time again.  They visit them for food, medicine, comfort, and other strong Magicks and Medicines as we do not consider ourselves “more” than any other living thing in the Universe. 

HISTORY
Relying on plants to teach and heal is something that has been since the beginning of life.  From the Neanderthal to the Modern Human, we all live symbiotically whether we acknowledge it or not. Some examples of what still seen with our Animal Allies and their shared Plant Ally Knowledge:

BOTTELNOSE DOLPHINS
Indo-Pacific bottlenosed dolphins that live in the Northern Red Sea will seek out and rub their bodies against gorgonian corals.  Why?

First, although this coral is considered an animal made of protein, gorgonian skeletons have a wood-like consistency. Add to that the required algae that coral needs, not necessarily a “plant’ but a PROTIST as it converts sunlight like a plant, contain an antibacterial compounds that helps the dolphins not only “reach an itch” but maintain healthy skin.

ORANGUTANS
Most recently, an adult male named Rakus was observed using Plant Medicine on a facial wound to heal it.  He was seen chewing leaves from an Akar Kuning plant.  The Plant Ally increases immunity and functions as an antiviral when chewed and applied as Rakus did. (His wound healed in a few days.)

BEARS
When our Bear Ally, Yona, comes out of their winter-long hibernation, they will seek out Oshá Root. They eat it to stimulate their sleepy digestion and rub it all over their bodies to wake up their circulation. In fact, The Hopi translation of their word for the plant, hongyapichuchupate, derived from the ancient Aztec language.

Why are we not listening to the Animal Allies about the Plant Allies?

INDIGENOUS PLANT ALLIES

Most have always been close observers and Keepers of the surrounding world, the Knowledges and Medicines that it all shares.  Many tribes across the globe have varying but similar stories of “promises” or “treaties” made with the Plant People or Tree People, or even the Stone People to share Knowledge that would aid us in our Experience of Matter.

Amongst all of the indigenous of the world, Plants are viewed as Sovereign Beings.  They too have their own energy, chakra points, “feelings”, Medicine and Magick.  Most, if not all, native people regard our Plant Allies as having Spirits, for they too are a Divine Experience in Matter.  (Just as the Elements can be.)  Our native, or indigenous peoples gather Plants with purpose, social and religious ceremony for example.  They consume in a preservationist and prayerful manner, taking only what they need.  Above ALL ELSE, they show gratitude, or thank the Plant Ally Spirits for everything they share, leaving an offering such as native tobacco.  (Not that store bought stuff.)

So why are we not listening? Why do we not respect the Spirit in the World of Matter around all of us? We ask, but we can each only answer for ourselves.


PLANT ALLY NAMES
The various indigenous around the world have tagged the wild growing Plants with names that are beautifully fitting of their individual energies or Medicines.  If we too look and listen respectfully, we can learn that free and shared Knowledge too.

ADLAY, “Chinese Barley”, or Job’s Tears
The larger grass known as Job’s tears, is named such because of its glossy, rounded grains, which Indian children use for necklaces, in Cherokee it is called Selutsi, “the mother of corn”.

BEAR GRASS, BASKET GRASS
Bear-grass, with its long, slender leaves like diminutive blades of corn, is called Salikwayi, which in Cherokee is to say “green snake”. It is edible.  And, it is not only used to weave baskets and make garments to wear, its roots are ground into a poultice and applied to a bleeding wound.

BLACK EYED SUSAN, DEER EYE
To the Cherokee, the black-eyed Susan was called Awaikta or “deer eye”.  In tribes all across the Americas, an infusion of the black eyed susan roots have been used to treat cold, dropsy, and worms in children. This mixture has also been used for sores and snake bites, while the liquid within the roots has also been used as earache drops.

LADY SLIPPER
The Lady Slipper is known as the “partridge moccasin” amongst the Cherokee. The plant has become increasingly rare due to over collecting and habitat reduction.  The root of lady's slipper can be used as a remedy for nervousness, tooth pain, and muscle spasms. In the late 1800s and early 1900s it, and other orchids, were widely used as a substitute for the European plant Valerian Root for sedative properties.  (Rev Richoz note: Valerian has a distinct odor to it. “Stink foot” 😉 )

LICHEN, ROCK LICHEN
The common rock lichen bears the name of Utsaleta, “pot scrapings.” This is because it is sometimes the only thing to eat in Winter in many places of the world, from North America to inside the Arctic Circle of Finland.

***MAYAPPLE
The May apple, with its umbrella shaped top, is called Uniskwetugi, meaning “it wears a hat” in Cherokee. The fully ripe fruit can be used in marmalades, jellies, and drinks, but the rest of the plant and unripe fruit is poisonous. The Cherokee, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, Menominee, and Meskwaki ate ripe mayaple fruit fresh or dried.  The “poison” aspect was used by tribes to treat snake bites and warts (topical), to induce vomiting, to destroy parasitic worms and even as a suicidal agent.

With this Knowledge shared to colonists, it was incorporated by European settlers and introduced the plant into their own gardens. Colonists often called it mandrake, because its root looked similar to the root of a different plant, the mandrake (Mandragon officinarum) they knew from Europe. (A poison)

MISTLETOE, falsely accused “Thief of the Tree”
The mistletoe never grows alone and is always found in a symbiotic relationship with its roots fixed in the bark of a supporting tree from which it draws is sustenance.  It is called Udali, a name that signifies “it is married.” Mistletoe will NEVER intentionally kill its host.  If the host dies, it dies.

An entire ecosystem can occur with an Oak Tree that finds itself harboring Mistletoe.  A moth called a Mistletoe Marble will winter in the leaves of the mistletoe.  It knows the symbiotic relationship exists and can rest assuredly that the Plant Ally Mistletoe will not choose a Tree that cannot support it.  Even the mycelium that get vibration of this relationship will increase around the Tree. 

Again, to some other animals, Mistletoe is considered toxic, especially the white berries. Ingestion of even a small amounts of the berries, leaves, or stems may result in GI symptoms, including pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Rarely, large ingestions have resulted in seizures, hypertension, and even cardiac arrest.

Do not misunderstand, there is a balance to all things, there are many birds that eat mistletoe berries.  Those include grouse, mourning doves, bluebirds, evening grosbeaks, robins, and pigeons.

VIOLET
The violet is called by a plural name, Dindaskwateski, meaning “they pull each other’s heads off,” showing that the Cherokee children discovered a game not unknown among their settler counterparts.  This is a game where the heads of the violets are interlocked and pulled apart by the stems.

This small hardy herbaceous perennial is commonly known as wood violet, sweet violet, English violet, common violet, florist's violet, or garden violet. Its flowers are edible, used in jellies, jams, teas, wine and mead.

Topically, violet is used as a poultice, compress, infused oil, and salve for dry or chafed skin, abrasions, insect bites, eczema, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It is cooling, soothing, and anti-inflammatory.

WHITE PUFFBALL FUNGUS (ROUND)
The white puffball fungus Nakwisiusdi, “the little star”.  Calvatia gigantea, commonly known in English as the giant puffball, is a puffball mushroom commonly found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests. 

Discovered early on, before they turn brownish and belch out their spores, puffballs are edible. (Learn to identify FIRST)  If you slice into the flesh and it is still pure white, add them to stir-fries or other recipes. There are “false puffballs” by they are irregular shaped mycotoxins, or “slime” that grow on dead trees.  Compared side by side, they are CLEARLY different. 

Moon Day GJ1

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: GJ1 MON PLANT INTRODUCTIONS (Due by Sunday)
As we begin our Journey in Golanv Circle, what Plant Ally calls to you or has been calling to you?
Have you had one that appears and reappears?
Throughout our lives, plants will appear.
It is believed that is our Higher Self, which reaches into Akashic Knowledge
and shews us what we need. Ever “crave” a plant based food?
THAT COUNTS.
What has called out to you already in your life?
What do you know about this Plant Ally?
What are it’s metaphysical properties?

Take some time this week and explore this Plant Ally.
This Ally is considered to already be on our Medicine Wheel of Life.
Did you know that?

Explore what energy this Plant embodies.
What Magick or Medicine does it hold for you?
How will you continue to learn from it?

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