Plant Path Musings & Wounded Healer Balm
This post was originally published on August 31, 2020
Plant Path Musings…
My plant path began around 2014 after developing a mysterious chronic pain condition that no medical doctor could treat. I spent years experiencing debilitating neck, shoulder and back pain that came with a myriad of other symptoms including nausea, dizziness, fatigue and severe depression. In an effort to find relief and take responsibility for my own healing, I turned to plant medicine for support. Aromatherapy, gardening, and adding fresh herbs to my diet were the first natural remedies I found to help soothe and heal myself. Engaging with plants through their scent, taste and growth cycle was just the beginning.
Fast forward to 2020, I can say that I’ve become a full on plant person. While I’m certainly no expert, I have formed deep relationships with specific plants that I interact with every day and I am continuing to listen and learn from them. Plants have taught me how to listen and attune my body with the earth by slowing down and intentionally aligning myself with the cycles of the moon and the energy of each season. While I still experience pain in my body today, I am much more equipped to tend to my physical, emotional and spiritual needs. When experiencing a flair up of my chronic pain condition (I was diagnosed as Myofascial Pain Syndrome in 2015), I can meet that pain with less resistance and more curiosity, loving care and compassion.
Plant medicine has become an essential part of my creative healing practice, which continues to deepen and expand in incredible ways every day. At the start of this year, I began creating an oracle deck featuring my favorite plants and gemstones. I’ll be sharing a lot more on this soon, but for now I just want to share that bringing plants more directly into my daily life and creative practice has brought greater healing, intimacy and connection to my body and with the earth. I’m also learning and remembering that I come from a long line of farmers and laborers originating from across Northwestern Europe. So this return to a slower, more earth-based lifestyle and plant practice feels like an ancestral healing as well.
The Wounded Healer Archetype
I first discovered the Wounded Healer archetype while learning astrology and studying my natal chart. In astrology, the Wounded Healer is represented by the minor planet/comet, Chiron, a centaur known as a great healer and teacher in Greek mythology. In my natal chart, Chiron lives in my first house, directly linking this archetype with my identity. Mythologist and storyteller, Michael Meade often talks about “the genius that lives behind the wound”. Upon first hearing this concept, I immediately felt it to be true. That behind all the pain I was experiencing was a gift. My suffering was not meaningless. I was meant to move through it and find my greater purpose.
Healing is the focus of life my now and while it remains largely a personal practice, I’m feeling called to let this part of my identity become more visible. I have a strong desire to share my process and be of service during this time of collective reckoning and our planet’s urgent need for healing and repair.
Magic Healing Balm & Co-creating With Plants
I’m excited to share my newest creative project and limited offering, a soothing balm inspired by the Wounded Healer. I created this in collaboration with four different plants from my garden. Together we made a balm intended to heal and protect all wounds of the body, mind, heart and soul.
Artwork from my forthcoming oracle deck! © Rachel Beyer
Comfrey is a demulcent, vulnerary and emollient herb known to soothe and heal wounds and offers grounding protection. It is associated with the planet Saturn and the element Water.
Calendula is antiseptic, warming and pain-relieving and promotes strength and courage. It is associated with the Sun and the element Fire.
Lavender is a relaxing nervine and antimicrobial herb that gently soothes, heals and protects the body, mind and spirit. It is associated with the planet Mercury and the element Air.
Lemon Balm (not pictured) is another relaxing nervine and antiviral herb that promotes peace and strengthens one’s inner light. It is associated with the Moon and the element Water.
I tended and harvested each of these plants and infused them into a blend of grapeseed, aloe vera, olive and coconut oils for 30 days. After that, I strained the oil and created a balm by adding beeswax and essential oils of lavender and bergamot mint.
This balm has a light and sweet, herbaceous scent. I use it daily to soothe dry, cracked skin, to heal scrapes and bruises, and to generally soothe any aches and pains I might be feeling physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Physical touch is an essential part of my daily practice and this balm is now one of my favorite tools for self care. It is available now in my shop, in very limited quantity, HERE.
Moving through this process of both art and medicine making has felt deeply soothing and joyful. Growing and interacting with these four plants in this deeper, more expansive way brought me many lessons. I tend to be very precise and seek perfection in my art. Collaborating with plants has taught me let go of my expectations and to become more present with the creative process, creating space for mistakes, new insight, magic and intuitive flow.
