Mimosa & Elder: Joy and Strength

Thank you for joining me for yet another plant spirit message. I hope you are enjoying these podcast episodes as much as I am enjoying making them. It has been so fun to share the messages of the plants in this way. And I wanted to take a moment and discuss something that I actually hope you haven't paid much attention to, but it's a big deal for me.

 And that is the location from where I podcast. I am sitting outside in nature where these beautiful plants grow. And it's really important to me to broadcast these messages from this location, because I am attempting to give you more than just words with these podcasts. So I'm really wanting to encapsulate the vibration of this little slice of nature, where these particular plants are living and transmitting their messages.

So, what that can mean is less than perfect sound quality. We get the noise of traffic. We get the, the carpenter bees who are interested in attacking me at certain moments, but it's just fine. We get all of it. The imperfection. Of nature that in reality is perfection. So while I personally go crazy for the perfectly broadcasted sound of that NPR podcaster, who has their soundproof booth their microphone and that's it, it does feel important to bring these messages forward in a more aligned way, coming to you from the actual environment where the plants are growing offers the essence of the space and the essence of the flower to an even greater degree than just sharing their message alone. So having said that, I hope that the sounds of the birds and the chimes and the wind blowing through the trees can bring you moments of joy.

And I really appreciate you for allowing me to come to you in this perfectly imperfect format. 

Okay. So let's get started today.

When I was growing up, Mimosa flowers brought a special kind of magic every summer. My mom and sisters, and I would always go out and welcome the blooms and marvel at their feathery softness. When it rained, my mom would ask us if we could see the ballerinas dancing. The wispy flowers looking like beautiful ballerina tutus, moving in the rain and the wind mimosa is interesting to me in that most, any child will marvel at her beauty while many, many adults spend their time fretting over mimosas quote, invasive qualities and fighting to keep mimosa out of their.

When we zoom out, this picture kind of mimics the relationship both children and adults have with joy. If you don't know this about me, I have a love affair with invasive plants. Yes. Even the ones whose benefits we can't yet see. Poison Ivy. I am a looking at you. There is something so noble to me about these plants who are determined to bring their medicine to us.

They are willing to face our disdain, negative energy, and eradication efforts with the patience only an ancient being possesses. These plants keep showing up for us. They keep offering us the chance to heal with them. And Mimosa  is no different. You can try to get rid of mimosa. It's a losing battle. After this conversation though, hopefully you'll see how misguided the fight against mimosa actually is. Then we have Elder she is having a moment these days, even people who don't dabble in plant medicine know about and have probably tried elderberry syrup, elderflower syrups, and liqueurs have surged in popularity as well. There is no doubt that elder is a powerful ally.

It seems when people accept the healing characteristics of a plant they tend to get tunnel vision. We connect to a constituent instead of the whole plant being. We focus on one trait instead of the complex medicine of the whole being. In this conversation you'll see how we can zoom out and get a feel for the complex medicine and synergy mimosa and elder bring to us.

Okay, let's go straight in. I opened this conversation with "Hello Elderflower and Mimosa! Thank you so much for offering your medicine to me and Ophelia today. Last night, I got the strongest feeling that I am meant to work with both of you. Are you willing to guide me now? Mimosa replies, "Sure. But first loosen up. See my flowers blowing in the breeze. Allow that sway to come into your field and into your body. There you go. Doesn't that feel better? My flowers look airy and delicate, but remember that those same traits, give them their strength. I'm going to ask you to lighten up. Let yourself sway and bend. You get rigid in your stress and that weakens you. Embodying joy is not an either or choice. You don't choose joy at the expense of strength or grounded-ness you choose joy and enhance your strength and grounded-ness. People have confused themselves on all of this and I'm here to share with you the truth. The fear response, when perpetuated, weakens you. Take a deep breath, envision my delicate blooms and allow that little movement to come into your body.

Let your spine sway. Imagine with each undulation that you are releasing stored, stagnant energy. Feel the density being carried out of your energy field and away from your body."

"Oh, thank you. That feels lovely. I feel lighter and less burdened almost immediately." I say.

Then Elder chimes in, "I too, am delicate, airy. Yet I bring incredible strength to your body and spirit. See my gentle spray of flowers? Tiny white clusters that look as though they would dissolve in the rain. It is no mistake that these flowers give way to fruit that is incredibly powerful in strengthening the immune system. Feel me lifting you up, helping you heal, supporting you fully."

"I do feel it. I almost have a tickling sensation when I think about your flowers, like being lifted up by little clouds." I say.

Here, mimosa and elder combine and speak to me with one voice and they say, "So together, we are coming to you to invite you to lighten up with the understanding that everything about the act of lightening up makes you stronger, more resilient. Come away from the masculine view of strength. Allow us to help you choose movement, joy and gentle power."

In this next part of the conversation I discussed preparations, which include, but are not limited to a flower essence. And when I ask how to work with these preparations, mimosa and elder reply, "Begin with the flower essence. When you take it throughout the day, allow movement into your body, however, feels right, and smile. Silly and sweet, joyful and lythe. These are all qualities that will serve you well. You've practiced stern and steadfast. Now integrate these gifts."

So my takeaway from this conversation is that elder and mimosa come together to bring us the strength to be joyful. I especially see this in depleted parents and caregivers who are stressed and stretched to their limits. They have become rigid, frazzled and frayed. We can get into this place where we are so focused on keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe that we forget how to even hold joy.

When we go to invite joy into our bodies and energy fields, there may be even a tiny little whisper from deep within saying "it's not safe to be joyful." And that can feel. As a caregiver, it's easy to get stuck in an activated parasympathetic response, always anticipating the next threat or possible danger.

And this is a tricky spot to be in because when we are focused in this way, we don't leave space for ourselves or those in our care to really relax, down regulate, and be in the present moment. It can feel irresponsible to take time off from worrying and identifying all the possible danger around you. You must be strong for yourself and those in your care; mounting, a constant defense. And yet, mimosa and elder will show you that joy and strength cannot only exist together, but can compliment and enhance each other. So when you allow yourself to be present to the joy of this now moment, understanding that you are protected, your strength is uncompromised. It becomes much easier to shift into a regulated, nervous system response and to experience calm, peace and joy.

So you'll want to bring in mimosa and elderflower if, 1) you want to be happy and joyful from day to day, but just don't see how with all that's weighing you down or with all that's going on in the world. And 2) if you are holding stress in your physical body, in such a way that you're experiencing stiffness, if you're so stressed or overwhelmed that you find yourself avoiding physical movement.

This medicine that mimosa and elder offer will support you in releasing the energy that is keeping you stiff and stagnant. 

So traditionally we see more single plant essences. For me, the magic of this medicine is the combination of these two plants. I offer a mimosa and elderflower essence through resourced apothecary that you can find in my online store.

I also encourage you to work with your local herbalist to explore other preparations of either or, and both plants learn what the plants look like when they are growing. Then notice how often you see them. Last summer on a road trip. I noticed how mimosa and elder line, both sides of I 59 for many, many miles.

I noticed how these two plant spirits are offering joy and strength to all the commuters and passersby. There truly is medicine all around us. Nature is showing up in so many subtle and not so subtle ways.

May the energy of mimosa and elder come to you today. May you feel supported in seeing all the opportunities for joy around you.

May your body feel lighter, more agile, open to gentle movement, however that looks for you.

May play and joy, bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.