Plant Spirits: Gifts of Jupiter and the Element of Shadow (Anyi Muin)

If you want to be happy all your life, grow flowers.
(Eastern wisdom)

Dia duit!?

I have one habit, strange at first glance: I constantly find all sorts of sticks, twigs, cones and other acorns on the street and drag them into my house. Sometimes I even ask my friends to send me plants in a parcel that don’t grow in our area. For a stranger, I probably resemble the quirky locals who collect all sorts of junk and save it for years. But, unlike those who have problems with their heads, I do this with knowledge of the matter and with certain goals. And what are the goals – today I will tell you. 🙂

Let’s dive into metaphysical botany today and talk about our green brothers – plants. How to work with them, what to ask for, what is better not to do. I promise you will like it!

For some reason, people on the physical plane of their existence are used to considering themselves the most important species in the universe. And to perceiving other species as food, medicine, or a way of entertainment, getting pleasant emotions. Probably, this is one of the main problems of many people – a lack of understanding that other species have no less right to life, that they have their place in this big world. And people as a species appeared much later than others. We have been studying animals, reptiles, birds, bacteria, plants for a long time, we use them for our own benefit. But do we think about the fact that we can not only take or study, but also beneficially cooperate with those who are our immediate neighbors? Long time ago, it used to be like that, even before the advent of “official” biology, microbiology, ornithology and botany as sciences. The Druids lived in harmony with the world. And most people knew that our dense world is only a small part of the huge world, which we call the subtle plane within the Archaic project. There are other universes on the subtle plane, and it is impossible to imagine the diversity of species that inhabit them. Some species more or less coincide with their brothers on the physical plane, while some of them we do not have on Phyz and never have had.

In ancient times, people freely communicated with the inhabitants of the subtle, both with large and conscious elementals, and with small ones. The latter include plant spirits. There is an opinion that druids, healers and herbalists learned all the properties of herbs by trial and error, but this is far from true. The number of people at that time would clearly not have been enough to try everything that grows in the forest. In fact, herbalists communicated with the plant world the same way as one can communicate with some deity, for example. Legends, myths and fairy tales contain many stories of interaction between people and plant spirits. Dryads, hamadryads, lapiths, etc. are just from the same story. In folklore, Irish druids talked with oak trees in sacred groves, and in fairy tales, apple trees hid children from pursuers. In the Ancient East, people worshiped plants and flowers as living beings, had confidential conversations with them, like with close friends, they were idolized. Memorials were erected for beloved plants when their lives unexpectedly came to an end. Flowers and herbs were addressed with spells and prayers, and the wind and rain were asked not to break trees. In ancient chants, they prayed not only for a good harvest, but also for an extension of the flowering period. And the magic of the Druids was based on the properties of the plant world. In India, they still believe that if you want to talk about your feelings, but no one is around, talk to geranium. She is an excellent listener, and she will also give you new strength. And if you regularly talk to geranium, you will not need a psychotherapist. Or you will need a psychiatrist – depending on who you are and how you are doing 🙂

There is one important point for us in this approach to botany: in general, it was typical for most peoples to animate not individual plants, but their clusters – forests, groves, fields, meadows, etc. Why is that? Because people knew that closely related species are ruled by one spirit. You can communicate with him through a rose, and through a hawthorn, and through an apple tree – these plants are representatives of the Rosaceae family and they have one chat and one admin on call 🙂 He can tell about the medical and other properties of plants of the entire species, give recipes for harvesting raw materials, the best periods and dates for collection, etc. Plant spirits are essentially the same totems, if that makes more sense. That is, the collective mind of a species.

The healers remembered the information they were given, passed it on to others, supplemented and expanded their knowledge throughout their lives. When it became possible, they wrote it down. This is how it became known which plants would help with a cough, and which would simply kill you. Conventionally speaking, who among the plants is a friend to people, and who is not inclined to be friends.

In this regard, the spirits of the plant kingdom can be divided into 3 large groups:

1. Friends – helpers

2. Neutral

3. Hostile

They worked with everyone: if you are willing, you can reach an agreement with anyone, even with enemies, depending on the goals you set for yourself.

It is worth saying a few words about why “Gifts of Jupiter”. Metaphysics says that the planet Jupiter is the conductor of the Wood element and the Shadow element. All plants are children of Jupiter. In fact, we live in the kingdom of this element, and our world operates in the spectrum of the element of Life, the Wood’s daughter element. Graha Guru rules almost everything here: fresh Qi comes from Jupiter at the beginning of the new year, providing life for the year ahead, and it also provides all plants with strength. It is not for nothing that many peoples developed worshipping the grahas of Jupiter and Earth (Baal), and Chinese metaphysics puts Jupiter at the forefront. Jupiter, and not the Sun. Therefore, it is strange not to use the opportunities granted by such a state of affairs, when the plane itself and its features can help to improve your life.

Eastern metaphysics considers the element of Wood and Jupiter itself to be benefactors that cannot harm us. This is one of the features of this element – the Wood can only give benefits to others. It gives shadow, provides wood, roots and strengthens the soil, gives fruits and juices. The Wood does not know how to take. It can expand on the soil, but still gives more. This same quality is characteristic of people with the leading element of Wood in their body. The second feature of Wood is its cycles, which it completely transferred to its daughter element – Life. Wood can only grow in cycles, it cannot first bear fruit and then bloom. So does a person living by the element of Life, he cannot first be an old man and then a child.

Jupiter is responsible for rooting things in the mental field, habitual schedules, routines, manuals and the civilized spectrum of reality.

When we apply to plants for help, plant spirits help us through the Shadow – the second personal element of Jupiter, the element of transformation and the subtle form of the element of Wood. Working from the inside of the dense plane, plant spirits launch processes of change in the probability lines of the one who contacted them. Now, I think it is clear that the stronger the spirit, the more opportunities it has to influence our lives.

Metaphysical Botany

Let’s move on to theory, and then to examples from personal practice. Each plant or several closely related species have certain properties that are typical only for this species and distinguish it. These properties depend on: a) the biochemical composition of the plant, its physical parameters and b) the characteristics and abilities of the plant spirit associated with it. There are weak spirits that can help you get a good potato harvest and nothing more. There are strong ones that can change you from the inside, help you work through psychological problems, trauma, improve your subtle vision, etc. As an option – strangle a competitor’s business 🙂 Such plants are called entheogens.

How can you work with plants and their spirits? Let’s take a closer look at each method.

1. Mantics

Celtic Ogham runes, various plant oracles.
The principles of work are the same as with any other mantic system: a set of plant signs with given parameters + a correct question + a random sample or throw + the ability to interpret the layout.
Celtic Ogham has existed for a long time as an excellent fortune-telling system based on plant spirits. For people who adore the plant world, it is an excellent choice. A set of Ogham Fedas will become a good friend for you, your eyes and ears. It is easy to communicate with, the system is not capricious, ready to work, not abstruse and covers a wide range of issues in detail. The system views the world through the prism of the Wood element and the Jupiter plane, which often gives unexpected angles and accurate answers that are inaccessible to systems like Tarot, which works through the Chaos element. Ogham gives a view from a totally different position, close to people.

2. Staves, amulet-making with classical Ogham Fedas.

History has preserved household items with Ogham inscriptions made for magical purposes: knife handles, beads, spindle whorls. Most often, these are good wishes, prayers to the gods, spells.

Nothing prevents you and me from reviving the glorious Celtic tradition and creating amulets with Ogham Fades ourselves. By the way, Ogham staves are also called scripts.
It should be taken into account that Ogham formulas and amulets work slowly – you cannot make a tree grow faster 🙂 On the other hand, when an Ogham amulet is unwound, your intention reliably grows into the soil of reality, strong “roots” appear. Another plus is that the work of Ogham formulas is almost impossible to track, it disguises itself as something natural, harmoniously growing into reality. Consequently, the effect will be long-lasting: your own subtle tree – amulet – is able to live much longer than runic formulas. Hence the preferred themes of Oghamic amulets – harmonization of life spheres, good health, luck, stable cash flow and other things that are not limited to one-time promotions.

Logically, the best material for such an amulet is wood. But stones, bones, and clay will also do. It is advisable not to use metal objects, as they are in conflict with Wood. Here is a hint: if you want the situation to be dynamic, to develop, then apply it to wood, by analogy with its growth and development. If you need to fix something for centuries, then use stone.

A true method, which works faster, is to apply the script to a living tree, especially one that is suitable in terms of properties. Do not forget to agree with the tree about help, as any work with outside forces requires their clear answer and consent. There will be a separate article about the properties of Fedas and tree species in amulet-making.

A twig is prepared, dried if necessary, varnished after applying the script, etc. The script should be written bottom up, in the direction of growth. The roots are schematically indicated at the bottom, and the crown at the top. The needed Fedas are indicated on the trunk, like branches. Well, then you can decorate it with stones, beads, feathers, threads, or not decorate it at all – whatever your intuition tells you. The amulet itself can be in the form of a ring – it depends on what the final goal is. If you need to loop the situation – then you make the amulet in form of a loop. If you need sequential events with pauses in process – then you write Fedas with intervals. Or place the Fedas as close to each other as possible if pauses are not required. In a word, turn on your imagination, use associations, clearly define your goals and listen to yourself, as you feel – that is right.

Let’s say you need to get out of a situation or relationship in which you are stuck. Prepare the basis for the amulet. Remember the situation, examine it from all sides. Think about which Fedas will help you solve it, in what sequence, stages of development, etc. Here is a simple and working option: Byekh + Liis + Sile. Way out of stagnation, a magic punch.

Single Fedas work weakly, which is again logical: the more species of trees in a forest, the stronger and more diverse it is, the more perfect its ecosystem, the greater the chances of expanding and surviving forest fires. The same is with Ogham scripts.
There is one exception, successfully used by those familiar with the Ogham system: apply only one Feda Ivy to a pot with a houseplant, and see how this affects the growth of your green friend.

Launching an Ogham formula, its revival occurs as follows: imagine how real energy roots begin to sprout from the place where the script schematically indicates roots, and those roots gradually grow into reality, into the situation. Visualize how they search for the necessary paths, take energy and gradually feed the trunk, the Fedas on it, charge your amulet. Done, you did it. Then your “tree” will begin to work on the situation itself – until the moment that you designate with the intention or indefinitely.

More about Ogham in my two articles:
Ogham runes: mantic Terra Incognita. Part 1 (Anyi Muin)

Руны Огам: мантическая Терра Инкогнита. Часть 1 (Anyi Muin)

Ogham Runes Meanings of Classical Fedas. Part 2 (Anyi Muin)

Руны Огам: Значения классических фэд.Часть 2 (Anyi Muin)

3. Independent reading of information about plants from the subtle plane streams without direct appeal to plant spirits.

In this version, both methods “with crutches” and without them work great for me. By crutches, I mean reading various reference books on the world of plants, textbooks on botany, etc. While reading about the properties of plants, I simultaneously pull out other types of information: what a certain plant can help with and how. Which parts of it are strong and in what areas – roots, stem, flowers, seeds, etc. Conventionally speaking, a predatory and “warlike” plant in botany will clearly be a good assistant in situations where aggression and active advancement are needed. Also, knowledge of botany helps to determine the best seasons for collection and work.
For example, roots are collected in the fall, after the above-ground part dies off. At this time, the roots have accumulated a sufficient amount of nutrients, they are energetically strong and are suitable for your work if it requires roots.
The green part (the stem, the grass) is strong during flowering.
If you need to put something into a situation, set its parameters, germinate it into reality — we take the seeds of a plant with suitable properties.
Thus, information about physical parameters and chemical composition serves as keys — hints to information of a metaphysical nature.

The second option is to read information directly from the plant. I look at it in nature or just at a photo – and gradually information about the properties of the plant and how it can be used comes.

What can you do with the reading obtained in this way? Well, everything is the same: create your own personal Ogham, magic alphabets, amulets, charms, use in associative magic.

I will give examples of reading the properties of two plants: fig and larch.

Fig (fig tree)
One of the most ancient plants cultivated by man.
There is evidence that figs were already known in the Mediterranean eleven centuries ago and decorated the gardens of the rich. In Ancient Greece, figs were part of the diet of orators and philosophers because of their taste and usefulness.

Fig is a plant that is rich in all senses, a kind of battery, a universal accumulator. Sunny, joyful, generous, like its spirit – a pleasant, sociable creature. It will help in matters of fertility, well-being, harvest, abundance, love and sex, financial inflow. The fig tree resembles the element of Darkness in its properties – a concentrate of energy and a nutritious broth.
One of the primary plants created for the physical plane, and absorbed the best that could be given to people.

The purple or light yellow fig fruit is a storehouse of useful substances. Figs contain proteins, fats, sugars, pectin, citric acid, folic and pantothenic acids, and anthocyanin glycosides. Vitamins C, PP, B1, B2, B6, potassium, carotene, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and copper have a beneficial effect on the functioning of various body systems. Fig leaves are rich in psoralen, furocoumarin, and bergapten. Resinous and tannins have been found. In addition to rutin and ascorbic acid, there is essential oil.

Larch.
A type of coniferous tree from the Pine family.
It is widespread in Siberia and the Russian Far East, covering large territories.
An ideal example of a hybrid of a coniferous and deciduous tree, the only one of its kind, a plant known to almost everyone. What is special about this tree? It looks like an ordinary conifer – needles, cones, resinous, pleasant and delicate aroma, especially if you rub the needles in your palms and bring your hands to your face. It is resistant to many unfavorable factors. But appearances are deceiving. Autumn comes, and our heroine suddenly turns yellow from head to toe, no different in this regard from neighboring birches. And then, like other deciduous trees, it sheds its needles for the winter, in order to release thousands of new young, bright green needles and new cones that look like small tea roses in the spring. And so from year to year, cycle after cycle.

The element of Wood, its properties can be successfully used in cases where it is necessary to create an appearance and hide the true essence. It would be perfect as an amulet for people associated with the acting profession, where it is necessary to mimic and portray someone else. Also, areas where any types of hybrids are used for different purposes. The very concept of hybridization describes the energies of larch in the best possible way. The combination of seemingly incompatible things, various kinds of unification of opposites, etc. It can be used as an assistant in cases when it is necessary to strengthen an alliance with someone who is higher than you in level and position. The same with misalliances 🙂

4. Communication and work directly with plant spirits.

Each of us at least once in our lives has been in a forest, in a meadow, picked flowers in a clearing, or leisurely strolled in a park. Even the most insensitive person can feel that these places are different from human cities and villages. In such places, everything depends on the Master of the Place. And the energy there is different: in some places it is more hostile, and you want to run from there like the wind, leaving your slippers behind, in some places it is calm and friendly. This is the influence of the reverse side of the dense plane and those who live there, including the diverse people of the Wood element. The plant world is connected to each other by a single network, individual threads of which relate to different plant spirits. They are a whole organism with a common consciousness – and can act independently, depending on their abilities, preferences and level of development.

Have you noticed that plants respond to you if you stroke their bark, gently run your hand over their leaves and stems? For example, I love kissing flowers 🙂 You can catch a pure, emotional message of joy and gratitude. A completely unusual feeling, try it if you have a chance.
I also noticed that dead plants are much colder to the touch, even if the temperature around is above zero. And there is no response there.
You can start communicating with the beautiful and numerous green world with these basic things.

Do you know what the secret of successful and smooth interaction with anyone is – with people around you, with spirits and elementals of the subtle plane? It’s simple: politeness, calmness, a friendly attitude, honesty and adequacy. Such a comrade will be accepted normally in any society, both on the dense and subtle planes. When you come to the forest or any other community of plants and their spirits, please do not forget about etiquette. Say hello politely and calmly voice your request. Whether you are looking for something specific or do not yet know what the result will look like – it does not matter, the main thing is to ask normally, and you will be answered. Listen to your feelings, intuition, go where they lead you.

Having found a plant that has been “highlighted” for you, do not rush to pluck it rudely. You would not like it if a stranger showed up at your house and, without explanation, raided the fridge for some food or something even worse, right? The same rules apply to everyone. Greet the plant you found, explain to it why you need it. Ask where other similar plants grow. Come to agreement with the spirit of the plant about what you will do in exchange for the fulfilled request. At least promise to plant its seeds in other places, water it, fertilize it, clean the area, etc. Do not be greedy, do not pluck everything you see in front of you. Act carefully and politely. Believe me, the spirits of plants will find a way to take revenge on you in a bad situation, given that this world mostly belongs to them, and you and I have few rights and advantages here. You can ask for anything, there are no special restrictions here. If there are spirits in the forest who can and want to fulfill the request, they will let you know and you will see it. The main thing to remember is a simple rule: if it seems to you, then it’s not just your imagination.

A couple of years ago, an unpleasant situation arose in my life: information came to light that made the world around me seem to go black. I remember coming to the bank of my river, crying, wanting to talk to someone, to tell them about what was weighing on me. There were only trees, flowers and grass around. Why not, I thought, and told the space and the surrounding plants everything that had accumulated in my soul. They heard me, I have no doubt about that.

There is such a concept and state of mind as a shamanic journey, also known as dynamic meditation. During it, you send a request into space, turn off the annoying dull beggar in your mind, and then act with pure intuition. At that moment, I was just covered by this state of semi-trance. I found the plants that were highlighted for me, took them home, created an amulet and hung it near the window. Literally a month later, serious changes occurred in my life that determined my future destiny and me as a person, and also partially leveled the evil that was once done to me. Those little plants seemed simple, but they played a big role in my life 🙂

Another case I would like to tell you about relates to conscious work with plants and the forest. Last autumn, I desperately needed information of a certain nature. The difficulty was that you can’t find it on the Internet and even wise people couldn’t help.
I came to my forest, made a request — and they led me. I remember now that I found a wild apple tree, white tinder fungus, several mistletoe berries (and I wanted to eat them right away, and I did it), a bird feather and a birch branch. I took all those treasures home, not forgetting to thank my green friends for their help. At home, I made an amulet, putting in the intention and applying the necessary Ogham Fedas. Two weeks passed — the information was found, and in an unexpected way.
Miracles, and nothing more, isn’t it? 😉

Instead of conclusions and epilogues.
Be open to the world, learn to communicate with those who lived here before us. Believe me, it is more interesting outside than behind the fence. They will talk to you and help you if you are ready for this and want to share with the world what you have. And then maybe you too will find your place and yourself, and plants will become your true friends and excellent helpers.

P.S.: the section “Metaphysical Botany” will be growing with author’s plant alphabets, notes on different plants, practical experience and other materials. Don’t switch, there is a lot of interesting things ahead.

Sincerely, your druid Anyi Muin / material of the project Marginal Metaphysics (c)

Reposts of this material are welcome only with the indication of the author and source of the material. Theft of information, text or parts thereof is severely punished, and I am not talking about lawyers. Be honest and respect other people’s work, and this respect will return to you a hundredfold.

Illustrations by Tuesday Riddell (c)