What if plantain was a person?
The more I learn about plants, the more it’s liking seeing a good friend when they appear in season.
This week I have been drawn towards plantain (Plantago Lanceolata), the narrow leaf plant rather than the broad leaf (plantago major). Its properties and uses through the ages fascinate me, knowledge my ancestors would have once passed down. Re-discovering this knowledge has become a connection to my past, to the land, to myself (both body and soul) and has become part of my daily contemplative practice. I am learning to trust my intuition and my ‘body radar’ to lead me to what I need and when a plant stands out to me, I get curious. I wonder why? What has she to teach me? It often feels that the Divine communicates with me through the elements, the landscape, plants and creatures, the more-than-human world. I listen out for this too.
Plantain can grow everywhere from gardens to waste ground. It is ordinary looking, easily passed-by and can grow in tough environments - often found on well worn footpaths for example, able to thrive where others can’t because of constant pressure and erosion from footfall.
According to my research, this plant has restorative, soothing, calming and relaxing qualities. It can lower inflammation, heal damaged or inflamed areas both externally or internally, can improve digestive issues and IBS, and help with hay-fever.
In the beautiful book, ‘The Sensory Herbal Handbook’, by the Seed Sisters, they share a poem and a character description of medical plants as if they were a person. I love this. I think the more we see plants with characters and weave them into our lives and add them into our stories, they enter into our hearts and in turn, we are more respectful and honouring of them and desire to take better care of them. Robin Wall Kimmerer, the Potawatomi professor, in an interview on On Being, suggested we need more pronouns for the ‘more than human world’. I agree!
According to the Seed Sisters, some of the plant character of Plantain:
‘She has led an extremely long and interesting life with plenty of unwanted drama but always manages to remain calm…’
‘…There is something that attracts people to her, and her ever-giving nature. Never flustered, she is flexible in any situation… people feel soothed and calmed, bolstered by her kindness and care. They often offload all their worries onto her. But she can take it.’
‘…she is grounded, open hearted and loving.’
I contemplate how I search for things that help to ground me… Wandering in nature does this for me. Taking time to move slowly and gently through the world. Singing. Writing.
I contemplate what a courageously vulnerable position it is to remain open hearted, that it can be the birth place for connection and belonging. How it feels inherently hospitable, welcoming and generous but leaves you open to being hurt at times and wanting to close up.
I am reminded of my time at ‘Hilfield Friary’ and how this monastic community demonstrated all these qualities to me. A grounded-ness, growing their own food, tending to the land and living simply. An open heartedness, shown in their hospitality, welcome and generosity. All centered and encircled in love. I felt soothed and calmed and bolstered by the kindness and care I experienced there… like a healing balm to the soul.
I feel prompted at the end of this reflection, to write my own ‘celtic style’ blessing that I can remember and recite or sing when I see the beautifully ordinary and powerfully healing Plantago Lanceolata:
A Plantain Blessing
May you sooth us and calm us
Plantago Lanceolata
With humility, strength and tenacity,
May you help us grow ever more grounded, open hearted and loving
Trusting and knowing
No matter what
We will rise to love again.