Oak Tree Message for Humanity

“We want the humans to love the trees and grass again.”

I have a little story for you…

Last month I had a vision to hold a virtual herbal medicine circle so we could make herbal medicine together, which is one of the most healing experiences in my life.

If you missed it, you can get the recipes, read about the impact of the medicine circle and watch the herbal tea gathering here: Click Here

I knew I felt compelled to do this, but I didn’t really know what would come out of it.

During the course of the event, the conversations with Lani Kamauu Yamasaki, Jolie Elan and the interaction with 2,000 people that attended from all around the globe…the reason this circle called us together became so clear to me.

I know, it sounds so cliché, I feel a little hesitant to even say it. But I have to just follow the ‘medicine’ that was dispensed during this virtual herbal medicine circle.

This time of change and transition is about love. Love for ourselves and love for the earth.

Before this virtual tea gathering; as always, before I teach, I ask the Earth, “Dear Mother Earth, what would you have me say? What is your message now? What do you need? What can I do for you? Please guide me, please help me to say what will be of benefit to all.”



I saw the usnea start to sway among the oak leaves.

And the message came so clearly.

“We want to be loved, we want the humans to love us. We want the humans to love the trees and grass again.”

Is that it? Is it really all about love?

That is the root of why we are in such a state of desecrating the earth?

Because of how much we are capable or incapable of loving?

If we look at rape, child molest and suicide statistics, we clearly are struggling with trauma that keeps us from loving ourselves and each other as much as we could.

How then, can we have the room to love the earth?

We go to school for years. But where are the teachings of the heart?

Who guides us in how to work through a broken heart? Tolerance and conflict de-escalation. Where are compassion and empathy in the curriculum?

How do we learn to allow the heart to be a major player in our decisions? How do we cultivate love?

If we can’t love ourselves and each other, it is going to be difficult to love the earth enough to honor and respect her in the way that is needed.

All this came from the oak tree!

Meanwhile, Planet on Pause doesn’t mean all of us are home taking care of the kids and baking bread.

I know single moms that are really struggling being alone with several small children. I know many nurses that are working harder than ever, not able to see their family and risking their lives. And then there are the nurses that have been laid off without pay…

What is for certain is that we are all steeped in the effects of this virus and what it’s bringing up for us. The question is, can we find ways of processing our fear, anger, bereavement, frustration and whatever else we are feeling?

Why? Because what other pathway is there to the heart? Beauty and joy bring us to the heart; along with working through the trauma and emotions that keep our hearts under lock and key.

We are at a crossroads.

We will make the changes to care for each other and the Earth, or we won’t.

And as the oak tree reminds us, it comes down to how capable or incapable are we of loving.

The number of species going extinct right now is mind boggling.

I am not going to even look for the latest cancer epidemic statistics. We all know someone dealing with cancer right now.

The ice is melting quicker than we thought.

We are headed for the 6th mass extinction.

And here we find ourselves in a global pandemic that has the world on its knees, humbled to the unseen world.

How do we process it, do we just keep scrolling and go numb? When our emotions are left untended, we just keep going, the grief builds up and gets crusty and stuck.

This is the time to render; to sift and sort and process our grief and see what it really means to come back into right relationship with ourselves and to create our covenant with the Earth Mother again. She is our mother.

What does it mean for us to be in deep, connected relationship caring for her? What are her vital signs? What do we look for to make sure she’s healthy? Can we lead with caring for the water?

It is no coincidence that this virus affects the lungs.

The lungs are where we hold grief. This generation isn’t just dreaming of a future with jobs, they are trying to create a story where an ozone exists.

Time to squeeze the grief from our lungs. Tears will flow like rivers when we take the time to feel the damage that has been done.

Now is that time. Now is the time to feel deeply and question what really matters.

Gather your herbal medicine circle.

Create the healing ceremonies for each other so we can steward our trauma enough to awaken our hearts and feel the pulse of guidance coming now straight from the Earth Mother.

Gather your herbal medicine circle and let the plants fill your hearts with the generosity and healing that we all know is possible.

Sometimes the earth speaks in riddles.

Sometimes you don’t hear things right away. Sometimes the next day, you get an idea of how you could move forward with a little more care for yourself, others and the earth. It’s step by step by step.

It’s not the scientist in a white coat that’s going to save us with some kind of drug panacea.

It’s each of us, step by step, day by day tuning in to the heart of the matter. Moving forward each day with each step with love, whatever that is.

By the end of the virtual tea ceremony event, I realized the gathering was dedicated to the awakening of love.

And it is no surprise that during this time of “Planet on Pause” there has been nothing short of an ‘awakening’ to the importance of herbal medicine. And it’s not just about elderberry syrup and Fire Cider.

Herbal medicine is a cultural bridge that activates our connection to Mother Earth and how we steward, care for her and receive her abundance.

Now is a time when the humans are calling on the plants. The herb shops, the nurseries, the seed companies, the compost delivery people – they’re out of stock.

The herb supplier is out of stock. We’re remembering what’s important, what really matters. We’re remembering that we call on the plants and our plant allies for support, nourishment and care.

The love and generosity of the plant world is immeasurable. Every breath we take is a gift from the plants.

Most likely your interest in herbs didn’t stem from wanting to fill your head with more data. It’s about awakening the embodied experience of being with the plants and the earth- based, earth-centric knowledge that lives inside our human cells.

This is the time – the awakening of love and care for Mother Earth.

How do we listen for the guidance of how to heal ourselves, heal our food and heal our water? Take care of each other?

I don’t think we’re going to get back to normal. We don’t know what it looks like yet, but the threshold is here.

When we gather in our herbal medicine circle, we set a field of healing. We pray and ask for guidance for our new story–one that puts the earth first; the water first and includes all of us.

The TV screen is vibrating at chaos, confusion fear and blame. Fear can be an incredible activator. I’m not saying don’t ever be afraid, but I’m saying don’t set your vibration at fear all day every day.

When I make my herbal medicine, I come back home to myself and remember that everything is related. I call on the herbs and my herbal medicine circle to help me take one step each day in a way that’s healing for me and those around me.

Remember who you are. The earth needs you. We need the medicine makers now. We need the Earth Stewards.

Probably nobody will initiate you as an Earth Steward. I was never really initiated. In my early twenties, I just wanted it so bad.

Thirty-something years ago, I apprenticed myself to the earth. I said, “Earth Mother, I love you so much. Please teach me”.

I kept waiting for that grandmother to show up to teach me how to do it. It never happened.

I just kept asking for the earth to guide me and teach me. You can do that too.

There is no authority at this point that’s going to teach us how to do this, to lead with love for this beautiful blue green planet that is our home.

If those of us that love the plants, don’t take this stand, then who will?

The message from the oak and this tea gathering: Tend to the pain and trauma of the past and to remember who you are now.

Gather together in your herbal medicine circle and lead with your heart.

The Earth needs you.

Every breath we take is a gift from the plants.

With much love and care,