“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
-Lao Tzu
Meditation is the greatest rebellion against a society that moves too fast. In a world that can feel a bit chaotic at times, sitting and meditating with plants can become our greatest solace. When you start to slow down enough, you start to notice how the body is subtly calling out for moments of stillness to balance out our busy and chaotic lives.
Breaking free from our daily routines to spend a moment connecting with nature in some way is beyond essential on so many levels. Sitting with plants can help "re-set" our mental space, refresh our energy, and revitalize our spirit.
On the days you feel as though you are pushed to your edge and the days you feel too drained to work, plant your feet on the Earth and allow yourself to connect with all of the thriving life around you.
Whether you are resting in a small park, wandering through a vast forest, or gazing at the plants on your apartment balcony, you can find an outlet to connect deeply with nature. Regardless of what other traditions might tell you, there is no "right or wrong" way to meditate. And there is no one looking over your shoulder judging you on your plant meditation. It is just you and the plants before you. Sitting, observing, and feeling.
As an herbalist, I was first drawn to start sitting with plants just to observe their botanical features and get to know them a little better. The more time I would spend with them, the more I learned, felt, and experienced. Regardless of your personal spiritual beliefs, all plants are living, breathing organisms that are impacted in many of the same ways that humans are. We share many aspects in common with plants and there is so much we can learn from them.
If you are curious to experiment and dive into the world of plant meditation, read on for some insights and guidance to help deepen your journey and exploration.
Wander: Let your senses guide you.
When deciding which plants to sit and meditate with, let your intuition guide you. If a spot in Nature or an outdoor garden is accessible to you, let yourself wander and sense out which plants you feel intrigued by. If you are practicing in your own home, you can still let your intuition guide you to which houseplant you feel most drawn to at that moment.
Try not to focus too hard on analytically deciding or stressing over which plant you should meditate with. Just allow your body to guide you to a plant and take a seat. You can sit with the same plant time and time again, or you can try sitting with a variety of plants over time. Remember: there is no right or wrong way to have a plant meditation.
If you are working with a specific herb in your daily routine or practice that you also grow at home or know a place where it grows in nature nearby, consider choosing that herb to sit and meditate with one day. You will likely be surprised at how much more you receive from your herbal supplements, extracts, or teas when you finally meet the living plant in real life and take the time to meditate with it.
How To
Utilize the prompts in each Sense Section below to help guide your plant meditation. After you sit with your plant, take time to journal and write about your thoughts or sketch your ideas.
» Take a pause to process whatever came up for you.
DISCLAIMER: Unless you have already properly scientifically identified a plant, or have accurately confirmed whether it is or could be poisonous or irritating to the touch or taste, I encourage you to refrain from using all of your physical senses when meditating with your plant. Instead, simply visualize the sensation of what it would feel like to touch, taste, or smell this plant, without physically doing so. Focus on the inward meditative journey when exploring those aspects and omit any external connection that could be contraindicated.
Sight
With your eyes, take in all of the features of the plant before you. Notice what aspects of the plant you are visually drawn to; perhaps its color, texture, vein patterns, flowers, or leaves. Witness whether the plant is moving slightly or resting in stillness. Observe how the natural light is touching the plant and what it illuminates for you. Is there new growth emerging from the plant? Notice how and where this growth is emerging from.
Smell
With your nose, lean in and inhale the aroma of the plant before you. Observe what notes are the most apparent for you and whether these aromas are alluring to you or not. If it feels accessible and the plant has plenty to spare, break off a leaf or flower and crush it gently in your fingers then inhale the aroma. Notice if you unlocked any new or deeper scents from this process. Does the smell of this plant invoke any memories for you? What sensations do you feel in your body when you inhale the aromas of this plant?
(*Visualize this practice only unless you are certain that the plant you are meditating with will not irritate you if inhaled.)
Touch
With your hands, gently and intuitively touch the plant before you. Allow yourfingers to caress the leaves and flowers to feel their textures and patterns. Perhaps close your eyes for a moment and let your hands guide you. What do you visualize in your mind's eye when you touch this plant? What sensations do you feel? Does it feel comforting energizing, or simply foreign to touch this plant?
(*Visualize this practice only unless you are certain that the plant you are meditating with will not irritate you if touched.)
Sound
With your ears, listen to hear if there is any sound coming from this plant. Do not strain yourself, just open your ears and allow yourself to hear whatever comes forward. If you are outside and the wind is blowing through the plant's leaves, notice what it sounds like. Observe any differences in sound depending on how strong or softly the wind blows. If you are inside and the air is quite still, envision in your mind's eye what kind of sound the plant would be making in its natural environment. When you close your eyes and simply listen, what descriptive words come to mind for you?
Taste
With your taste buds, experience the plant before you. Break off a small piece of the edible plant (please note the disclaimer below before proceeding here) and place it on your tongue. Allow this plant part to simply sit on your tongue before taking any further action and simply notice whatever flavors and sensations arise. Perhaps there is a subtle tingling sensation, a profound bitter flavor, a sweetness, a warming feeling, or the plant stimulates your salivary glands to turn on. Simply observe what occurs. If you feel drawn, start to slowly chew the plant in your mouth, noticing what other tastes and flavors begin to open as you go along. Either spit out or swallow the plant part then sit with your eyes closed and simply observe any feelings or residual flavors that arise.
(*Visualize this practice only unless you are 100% certain that the plant you are observing is edible, nontoxic, and will not irritate you if touched or consumed. If you do not feel drawn to taste the plant, even if you have properly identified that it is safe to taste or eat, simply visualize this process instead of actually tasting it.)
Deepen Your Journey
Go forward and use meditation to connect with nature and the plants around you. Meditating with plants can be a beautiful practice to help center yourself and experience a place of deep mindfulness and presence on a daily basis. The best way to truly understand a plant or an herb is to spend time with it in its living form. To sit and meditate with it, using whichever sensory tools you are most drawn to.