Recently I have been learning about herbs. For the past 4 months I have been reading 2 chapters of “Body into Balance" by Maria Noel Groves, and then every other week getting together with some friends to talk about our main takeaways. I have learned so much about our body systems, what herbs to use when and have grown a deeper respect for how our natural world truly provides us with everything we need to be healthy and well.
It almost feels a little selfish - like - are all the plants here to literally take care of humans??
What I really noticed from this learning journey is that I seem to have this programed desire for grandiose when it comes to the most exotic herb or the most intense healing experience. As I read through the chapters I noticed the same local herbs kept coming up again and again. Tulsi, Dandelion, Burdock, Nettles...herbs I could find so easily.
I was honestly a little frustrated, “I already know these ones” “they can’t be powerful enough” and other dismissive thoughts went through my mind. Where was the high impact herb I had never heard of?
The thing is, we have what we need right here. In our backyard, growing in our neighborhood, wedged between the cracks in the sidewalk.
It has taken me a lot of time to realize when they say “You have everything you need” you actually do!
I was drawn to Ayurveda because it works with what you have right here right now. No need to buy fancy wellness stuff to start on your path to healing. But it took reading this book & learning about herbalism to realize that I was still searching for the next big thing to “save” me. I think a lot of us are used to having medicine "hurt so good” or have grown up with the idea of “no pain, no gain” and that is a mental process that is hard to let go.
When we are so used to struggling for our achievements how can we receive goodness that comes with no cost?
This, to me, extends beyond our own healing to our societies and organizational structures. There still seems to be this idea that if it is free or common it has no value. Kind of like our capitalist system - scarcity (exotic/rare) has an implicit value that is higher than what is in abundance.
If I want to be in an abundance mindset I need to start valuing what is already abundant - like the dandelions!
I challenge you to take a moment to notice what you already have - right here, right now - and how it has supported you to grow in the beautiful being you are. You may have more than you realize.
Haylee Kristen
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