Plant spirits: Herbs in metaphysical, energetic and occult practices
/There’s an elephant in the room whenever you talk about using herbs these days, and especially if another section of your blog is devoted to spirituality. That is whether we’re talking only about scientific, clinically studied, solidly proven biology or whether we’re dabbling in something… for lack of a better term, “woo woo.”
The Practical Herb Lore section of my blog has been completely focused on the former—practical, proven, medical and culinary uses of herbs. Though I may have other uses for herbs, I don’t like to mix the two in public or even in my private records, because there is a big difference between an herb which supports peaceful sleep through well-understood biological mechanisms and an herb that fosters peaceful energy in a room. It usually isn’t even the same herb and the latter herb might actually be poisonous if ingested.
Image by Peter Farnam
But it is also only fair to explain to my readers that I investigate both paths in herbalism. When I’ve written about medicinal uses of herbs, I’ve always explained where I got the information—whether it is something shared by herbalists in person or something I found in a clinical study. So far, I haven’t gone into much depth with the metaphysical or energetic uses of particular herbs, primarily because I have only now begun to go beyond the basics in my own knowledge.
In this post, I’ll explore the various reasonings behind the energetic and metaphysical affects of herbs. There are several different schools of thought on how it works in practice:
Correspondence theories: Much of eastern medicine, whether it is Ayurvedic Medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is based on the idea that the body contains energy centers, circuits or systems, much like it contains biological systems, such as the respiratory or circulatory systems. Similarly, energetic systems utilize and affect a number of organs and are generally crucial to the survival of the whole. Practices based on correspondences employ herbs to balance and heal physical, mental and spiritual issues. The theory behind it lies in the borderland between medicinal herbalism and metaphysical herbalism. Some of it has even been documented with clinical studies and long-standing medical practice, but there is no hard and fast line between the purely biological parts of the practice and those that rely on bodily systems that western medicine has yet to accept. Western medicine did once employ herbs based on their planetary or elemental correspondences, much as eastern medicine today demonstrates that certain herbs are cooling or warming for specific parts of the body. All of these traditions have in common a reliance on some form of correspondence between herbs and various topics or issues in the human body or in daily life.
Homeopathic theory: I have encountered two schools of thought on homeopathy. One states that homeopathy works on a purely biological level, cueing the body’s immune system to react to trace amounts of unfamiliar substances in order to produce specific reactions. The other claims that homeopathy works through patterned and vibrational alignment on a molecular level. Both explanations attempt to explain homeopathy in scientific terms, but generally do not have a fully developed scientific theory with appropriate evidence… yet. However, some homeopathic medicines are quite reliable in their effects, so these theories shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.
Vibrational theory: Another theory, or group of related theories, overlapping with both of the first two but not strictly contained within those systems is the theory of vibration. In this theory, any object may have its own energy or vibration. Usually supporters of this theory contend that natural objects or things that are or were alive have purer, clearer or more intense energy. Stones, wood, herbs and even silk or wool therefore have more desirable energies or vibrations than factory-processed items. This theory unlike the previous two, rarely requires that the herb be ingested in order to use its energy or vibrations, but larger amounts of the herb tend to intensify the specific energies. The vibrational theory may appear at first glance to be the same as the correspondence theory. However, a key difference is that vibrational theory focuses on the energy emitted by the herb in a general sense, while correspondence theory requires a system of associations that must be learned or researched. As such, while traditions based on correspondence theory employ heavy reference books and memorization to identify the exact right herb for a specific issue, vibrational theory can be more intuitive and focused on what’s immediately available.
Animist theory: Finally, there is a purely and unashamedly metaphysical theory connected to the larger spiritual orientation called Animism. Animism is the belief, often found in indigenous religions and traditions, that each plant, animal and stone has a spirit or soul, much the way humans have a consciousness. Even places, rivers, towns, mountains or houses may have individual spirits with personality, desires and agency. In this theory, each herb has an individual spirit and often a connected species-wide spirit as well. When gathering or using herbs in this tradition, one should treat plants, trees and even stones as living, sentient and independent beings--by for example asking permission to harvest and directly asking for help in a particular matter. In Animist theory, the uses of a given herb may be narrowly specific to the practitioner. While any herbalist may know all of the correspondences and uses listed for a given herb, an Animist herbalist will generally also ask the plant itself what it is best used for and wait for a feeling, mental image or other sign in answer.
Some of these theories make a greater effort to be accepted by western medicine and science by developing theories that attempt to bridge the gap between medicinal and energetic uses of plants. While it is tempting to see these theories as more legitimate as a result, there is also danger in pushing the boundaries of science too far. Let science stand firm and unmuddled. And we don’t have to claim that something is accepted by western medicine and science in order to justify its legitimacy. While science is immensely valuable, it simply does not encompass everything of value and importance.
When I write about medicinal uses of herbs, it is always grounded in a physical, biological view of the herb’s effects. On the other hand, when I use herbs in energy work or metaphysical practices, I tend toward the correspondence and Animist theories. To readers who have followed my blogs primarily for the practical medicinal information, books and social justice stories, this may come as a shock.
Correspondences
The theory of correspondences could indeed be considered no more than a stretching of medicinal herbal practice. This herb is good for that kind of ailment. Thyme is good for the respiratory system. It isn’t even possible to say medicinal correspondences are only those we can explain scientifically. There are plenty of well-documented herbal effects, such as the almost miraculous efficacy of humble lemon balm against the super-killer bacterium streptococcus, which causes scientists to scratch their heads and shrug—so far at least.
But western medicine and modern science have an aversion to things that claim to cross the perceived barrier between the physical and the non-physical. To say that lemon balm promotes calm appears to have a neurological (i.e. physical) cause, so it tends to be somewhat acceptable. But to say that lemon balm helps you to choose the right path when making decisions, let alone that it will foster love in your home, is rejected out of hand, even though these topics are not as far removed from neurology as we may think.
I have cited TCM and Ayurvedic uses of herbs in many of my posts on medicinal herbs, where there is some evidence of their physical effects, but while I am careful to make the distinction between that and non-physical correspondences, I am personally unconvinced that the barrier between the physical and the rest of reality is as monumental as western medicine would have it.
As such, I am open to the idea of correspondences, not only between herbs and mental and physical health but also between herbs and other aspects of our lives. I hold these ideas fairly loosely and remain flexible in my thinking about them. Some of these connections are simply hard to ignore. But I’ll always be open to new evidence.
If you think that correspondence theory on herbs is only for crazies, consider how widespread the idea that roses are connected with love is. Yes, they are lush and gloriously red or pink. But so are poppies, and those have a dramatically different association in most cultures. If you’ve ever joked about people kissing under the mistletoe or added cinnamon to a drink for the cozy atmosphere, you’ve used correspondence theory with herbs. There is simply a lot more where those traditions came from, if one cares to look.
Image by Arie Farnam
Animism
My claim to follow the Animist theory as well may be even harder for many of my readers to swallow, though it isn’t, in the end, any more outlandish than many other beliefs you may consider quite ordinary.
Athiests are those who believe with certainty that there is nothing beyond the physical in our universe. This too is a metaphysical belief that can be neither proven nor disproven. Christians believe in Jesus as both God and human. And many of them are respected scientists and doctors, though they often keep some sort of line between these two sides of their worldview, much as I do. So, my Animist worldview is in good company.
Why do I believe everything has a spirit?
It’s a matter of paying attention. Most people who live closely with animals can tell you that they have individual personalities, feelings and desires beyond just “gimme food.” We know this because their actions, mannerisms and expressiveness are close enough to ours for us to feel that there is someone there.
I’m just not convinced that plants are any different. There is no real scientific reason why they should be.
Most people can’t perceive their mannerisms and expressiveness as easily. Does that mean there is “no one there” or does it mean that we aren’t very perceptive? The latter seems more likely to me, given the way biology works and the way I feel with plants.
We do know that plants grow better if you talk and sing to them or even project positive feelings at them quietly. This has been demonstrated very well with many elementary school science experiments. More sophisticated science has shown that trees communicate complex messages through a subterranean system of roots, fungi, hormones and electrical signals.
And if people, animals and plants have spirits and “someone home,” where’s the line exactly? I’ve been in places where the sense of place is palpable—a sunny field on an autumn day that felt terrible, life-devouring and deeply depressed despite the nice weather, which turned out to be a WWII slaughter ground. Or a little cottage in the North Bohemian mountains with a spirit so strong that a week spent there changed my life forever—and I later learned it has changed many other lives in amazing ways.
People in vastly different cultures have associated the same types stones with specific energies for thousands of years. And the list goes on.
I don’t always remain aware of the spirit of everything, but that is mainly because if I did, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate and immerse myself in my own tasks. But I find it safest to assume that everything has a spirit, and that definitely includes plants.
Metaphysical herbalism in practice
What does this mean for an herbalist?
Using herbs as part of energetic and metaphysical practices is a very wide and deep subject that I can only scratch the surface of here. If you choose to delve into it, a good place to start is books on “plant energy” or “herbal correspondences.” There are a wide variety of them with vast reference lists. The gold standard for an introduction to the concepts in our times is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which is readable, informative and mind-bending.
But a crucial part of using herbs in this way is to get to know them closely and in person. Ideally, you should be around the same plant in all different seasons, observing its life cycle and seasonal cycles. If you are at all inclined toward Animism, you should talk to it, and spend time quietly perceiving whatever you perceive from it. If it’s appropriate, you should harvest some, feel it, smell it and taste it—if research shows it to be edible. You can then store some of the herbs you know best and use them in various situations, hold some of the dried herb in your hands and breathe into it. Then inhale its fragrance. Sense what you can sense from it.
None of that is “the key” to the metaphysical use of herbs. All of it is what will build a relationship and a subtle understanding of the plant within you. That relationship is the key, but like most relationships you can’t just say you want a relationship, you have to take the time. Books and reference lists are often helpful. But the practice of coming to know specific plants in great depth is non-negotiable for metaphysical herbalism, no matter which theory of it subscribe to.
I have deep and complicated relationships with many plant species and many individual plants. There is a 600 year old fir tree on the windswept ridge where I was born that I consider to be a patron of my family. We have come to that tree for forty years, offering love, words, water and the climbing hands and feet of children. For all that time, we didn’t conceive of this as a relationship we got anything out of, except shade and comfort.
But last year, as I was learning about energy work with plants, I enlisted her aid to protect us from Covid and keep the school open for my child with significant special needs. I asked her to use the great power of fir trees for protection, cleansing and health, and to join with other trees in a circle around our area to clear the sickness out and keep it at bay. That night there was a massive lightening storm in which lighting ringed the area exactly as I had requested. And the school there remained open, while most schools closed. There were only three known cases of Covid in the school all that year.
In a very different way, I have a special relationship with nettles. I can barely see them due to my vision impairment, and they sting me mercilessly as I garden and gather other plants. I am not one of those lucky people who don’t get a rash from nettles and my skin often stings and tingles for more than a day unless I use the nettle antidote immediately.
But I have also learned important medicinal uses for nettles and in one case, I used nettle oil in an emergency to reverse a dangerous allergic reaction that a visiting child developed from eating my strawberries. The dramatic reversal mystified emergency room doctors and pharmacists alike.
But nettle doesn’t always work that way. It counteracts some allergic reactions on the skin amazingly well, including those it causes itself, and has no effect on others. It’s personality is capricious and fiercely independent. I might call on nettle to help me with energy work, but likely only if my motive was destinctly unselfish, righteous and of obvious need, primarily to aid the very young. Otherwise, I get the impression the nettles might just have their own opinions on the matter.
The takeaway
If you’re the kind of person who insists that everything must be scientifically proven and clinically studied, I give you open-mindedness points for reading this far, but I doubt I’ve convinced anyone in that camp. I’m writing this mainly for those who consider other levels of reality or who have already had experiences that are hard to explain without considering plant energies.
If you haven’t had these experiences yet, all it takes is lengthy study, persistence, time spent with plants and paying attention with open curiosity. In other words, not much and a huge investment of time and attention in today’s hectic world. Don’t worry. It isn’t a race.
If this branch of herbalism calls to you, you’re already on the path and likely it’s too late to turn back.
