What's a Plant Ally?
Monotropa uniflora that I saw this morning
What's a Plant Ally?
The term "Plant Ally" is one that gets thrown around a lot, especially by me. But what does it mean, and -- more importantly -- why should you care?
A Plant Ally is a plant that you have a close relationship with, much like a close friend. And like close friends, Plant Allies will come and go throughout your life as you move through different stages and journeys.
You may have a Plant Ally that you're close with for a year, and then that relationship fades as another one begins. You might have a Plant Ally in your herbal practice and one that's guiding your magical practice while another is constantly offering advice about your romantic pursuits and another always wants to be there when you pull tarot cards.
Plant Allies come into our lives at certain times to guide us, challenge us, and encourage us as we move through life's adventures.
Working with a Plant Ally can be one of the most rewarding parts of your herbal and magical journeys. They can push you to learn more about yourself, support you when you're feeling desperate and weary and exhausted, and fill your life with the twinkling of synchronicities, intuition, and the instances of magic that cannot be explained away.
The other great thing about Plant Allies is that, when you learn to connect with them -- when you learn to truly listen to their messages and follow their guidance -- your herbal intuition becomes strong. So strong. Like, you-don't-question-yourself-anymore strong. Like, you-actually-know-what-the-plants-are-saying strong.
When you can connect with one plant on this level, you can connect with any plant on this level. And that's when you deepen your skill as an herbalist and plant witch.
It's easy to read Materia Medica sheets and herbal books. But knowing the plants as living, breathing characters with quirks and personalities -- that's a genuine skill. It's a skill that's accessible to you, and it's a skill that's your birthright.
I feel so strongly about this skill that it's one of the core aspects of all the Ritual & Medicine courses. In each course, you are chosen by a Plant Ally, who then guides you as you progress through the material and the rituals. Meanwhile, you build a deep & mutual relationship with them. It's pretty great.
I'd love to hear from you. Do you have a special Plant Ally? What are their quirks? How do they guide and pester you? Tell me your anecdote below!