| Every tree, every plant, has a spirit. People may say | | | | region of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic |
| that the plant has no mind. I tell them that the plant | | | | system is also called our 'primitive' brain, as its |
| is alive & conscious. A plant may not talk, but | | | | structure is below the linguistic and 'higher' functions |
| there is a spirit in it that is conscious, that sees | | | | of the cerebral cortex. The limbic system is the |
| everything, which is the soul of the plant, its essence, | | | | location of our primal (primate) emotions, and primal |
| what makes it alive. The channels through which the | | | | needs. The sense of smell is our only sense which |
| water & sap move are the veins of the spirit. | | | | has this access to our primal or unconscious mind. |
| Pablo Amaringo, Ayahuasca Visions | | | | Breath in the fragrance of the plant, allow any |
| The first and possibly the most important key in | | | | feelings, memories, images, and associations to arise |
| developing your relationship with the Plant Spirit (and | | | | and experienced. |
| what really helps to 'open the door' ie. makes the | | | | Tactile - our sense of touch. Gently move your hand |
| connection work), is a benign attitude and to have | | | | towards the plant, maybe you can discern a |
| good intentions and feelings towards the plant. | | | | movement, or sense a connection between the |
| The plant consciousness or spirit, communicates with | | | | respective fields of energy, yours and that of the |
| us when we are in relaxed, gentle trance-like, or | | | | plant. Touch the plant, leaves or bark with your |
| dream state. So the person, who holds the desire to | | | | fingers. It is possible that you may sense the flow of |
| commune with the plant, needs to know how to | | | | energy within the plant, into the earth, and up into |
| move into an altered state. | | | | the sky. |
| Moving into an altered state of consciousness can be | | | | Taste - Place a very small piece of the plant against |
| achieved gently, for example by going out in forests, | | | | your tongue and gently taste it. The taste may be |
| woodlands, or a park; and walk at a slow and steady | | | | acrid, bitter, hot, sweet, sour, or sharp. The taste |
| pace. Gradually the rhythm of this slow and steady | | | | may attract, be neutral, or repel you. This tasting will |
| movement will bring you into an altered or heightened | | | | give you an indication of its character or 'personality'. |
| state of awareness. When you feel or sense this | | | | Exercise caution with this practice as there are |
| subtle shift, lift up your eyes and look around. Allow | | | | poisonous plants, do not eat or swallow the plant! |
| yourself to be drawn to whatever tree, bush, or | | | | When you have completed these practices (which |
| plant attracts your attention; you may experience | | | | form part of the Amazonian plant apprenticeship |
| this attraction as akin to a little 'tug'. | | | | 'plant diet') take some time to meditate or embark |
| Now go and sit with the plant. Use all your sensory | | | | on a shamanic journey to encounter the spirit or |
| and tactile faculties to engage with the plant. | | | | consciousness of the plant you have been working |
| Visual - Study the shape and form of the plant. | | | | with. To quote the Amazonian Shipibo maestro |
| Maybe the plant grows alone or is in a cluster. Look | | | | Guillermo Arevalo regarding the plant spirits, "They |
| at the form of the leaves; look at the spaces (the | | | | are beings, which have their own forms or they can |
| forms within the forms) between the leaves and | | | | be like human beings with faces and bodies. When |
| branches. The latter is part of a practice called gazing, | | | | the spirit accepts the dieter, and the dieter has the |
| which offers a way to perceive patterns outside the | | | | will, the spirit grants them energy. The path to |
| consensually agreed shapes and forms. | | | | knowledge opens, the healing takes place, as case |
| Smell - Our olfactory nerves go directly into the | | | | may be". |