Can Plants Talk To Us?
Understanding our potential to
communicate with nature
Since the
beginning of time, humans have held a deep reverence for the wisdom of plants; it is only recently
that this has been forgotten. This isn’t about receiving a phone call from a
tree, it’s about understanding that language and communication can also come in
non-verbal ways if we are able to tune in and listen.
We know what
a dog is trying to communicate when it barks, what a baby is saying when it
cries, and we know what a skunk is trying to say when it turns around and lifts
it’s tail! We know that communication happens across species, but what if
plants could speak to us directly through our consciousness when we ingest
them?
Plants
can affect our Consciousness
For
millennia we have co-evolved with plants by helping breed or pollinate them,
while they feed us and provide medicine. The notion of plants communicating with us
is well accepted by indigenous cultures who still live close to the land. It
should be no surprise that many people living in concrete jungles, eating
processed or frozen and packaged foods with little exposure to natural
environments might feel otherwise.
Obviously
certain plants have properties that affect our consciousness, while some effect
our bodies. For example, a neural synapse is a junction between two nerve cells
where an electro-chemical process occurs. These synapses allow our
body to communicate to itself through our nervous system, and they can
also be directly affected through ingesting certain plants.
Anything
that informs our bodies or consciousness could be considered a type of
communication. The body “talks” without words so it shouldn’t be too far
fetched to consider this idea regarding plants. A great example of this kind of
plant-human communication can be found in the realm of Visionary Art.
How
Plants Inspire Visionary Art
Art also effects our
consciousness,
and there are artists who claim to be profoundly influenced by plant
medicines. Is it possible that artists can be mediums through which visual transmissions
of non-verbal information are conveyed from the plant kingdom? The fact is that
humans have used art in all forms to convey ideas that transcend words since
before written language existed. In this context many artists play a somewhat
shamanic role in modern society.
In this
way, plants influence artists who then influence the rest of us. Luis
Tamani is a wonderful example. He grew up in the Amazon Rainforest and was
greatly influenced by the rivers, waterfalls, lush vegetation, and colorful animals
that surrounded him. Another artist known for illustrating his visions from
plant medicine is Pablo Amaringo who is known for his popular book, Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconography of a Peruvian
Shaman. We are happy to have both of their work adorn this
article.
"After
experiencing sacred medicine plants, Luis began painting the ceremonial visions
he experienced, resulting in paintings in a magical style. Today, his art
represents and speaks to the fusion of human beings and the vegetal and animal
kingdoms. He is continually astonished by the deep relationship that human
beings can develop with plants and animals; what makes men and women unique
beings; and how we can be Medicine Men and Women."
What
are the Plants trying to tell us?
Perhaps, for
those of us who have become disconnected from the natural world by living in
cities and spending our days on the computer, art is the most potent way to reconnect us
to something much greater than ourselves. Maybe the plants are screaming at us
to stop clear-cutting rain forests and artists have the ability to amplify this
message? Maybe even Dr. Seuss was channeling the plants when he wrote the
Lorax? The beautiful thing about art, and developing a relationship with nature
is that each of us get our own messages directly from within as a result of
giving ourselves time to connect.
There is a
current trend of wealthy and successful western business-people who are
disenchanted with materialism traveling to the Amazon for a ceremonial experience with the plant medicine,
Ayahuasca. There is also research that indicates therapeutic benefits in
addressing trauma and addiction with various hallucinogenic mushrooms or plants
like Iboga.
An African medicine man working with
the sacred Iboga plant
It is no
accident that herbal and natural remedies are being increasingly sought as
people are exploring alternatives in order to live a more healthy lifestyle. In
addition, plant-based plastics and fuel are being considered as ways to address
current environmental issues.
“I went to
the top Crohn’s clinics in the world and saw the top doctors in the world, and
none of them could help me,” Pischea said. “There is a curative quality to the
plants in the jungle that you really need to be there in that environment to
experience. I think it really does work.” – Scientists
Put Shamanic Medicine Under The Microscope, Carolyn Gregoire, Huffington Post
So can plants talk to us?
I believe
that plants can talk to us. Actually I think that all of nature is talking to us if
we are willing to notice. Whether it is a plant like tulsi that calms our nervous system when we drink it in
tea, or spiralina super-food in a smoothie that energizes our
cells, our relationship with plants and the natural world is ancient as well as
essential to our survival. It might not need to be a trip to the Amazon to try
Ayahuasca with a shaman to awaken this connection to the greater biological
web, it could be as simple as spending some time with inspired art, a walk in
the woods, or eating live plant foods!
Luis Tamani
will be participating in a live Q&A and providing tuition at Somara
Shamanic Medicine Forum in Byron Bay, Australia which is happening from February
2-7. Somara will be doing a worldwide
webcast of all talks and panel discussions held at the conference.
For updates go to facebook.com/somara.org
.
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