13 Earth-Body-Soul: Consulting With Rosemary, Remembrance
“As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship . . .”
Daily Word of Intention
Remembrance
Centering Thought
I am remembrance.
Questions
What meaning does the word remembrance hold for you?
Is it easy for you to remember?
What triggers memory?
Gratitude:
I am so thankful for my serenity. I am thankful for the peace that I am experiencing in this moment. I am thankful for the power of peace. I am thankful for stillness of being. I am thankful for my calm.
Reflection
There is an innate wisdom in the Earth. Our kinship with plants can enlighten and empower us. As we consider and consult the greens that grow so near to us, what do we learn— what Earthly gifts are they so freely offering to our body and soul?
What do we know about rosemary?
It’s beautiful! Woody stemmed, resinous and fragrant, rosemary grows tall and wide. Dark green, evergreen— the rosemary leaves grow long and thin. Sky blue - the blooms are delicate, lacy.
It’s growable. Growing and gathering rosemary is rewarding. An evergreen perennial, rosemary likes hot and dry and not too cold. Some varieties are more cold hardy than others; so, check your grow-zone and choose the right rosemary for you. Where I live in South Carolina in the states, my rosemary overwinters beautifully. Green even in the darkest days, its branches make wonderful winter wreaths and garlands. In warmer climates this herb can grow as tall as six feet and for as long as thirty years! If you have one already established, you can spread it on your property by starting it from cuttings.
It’s got roots. Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary now is grown in many places around the world. People of the Pacific coast in the U.S, use this herb used as hedging just as Romans did so long ago. In Ancient Greece, young women often wore crowns of rosemary. It is recored that rosemary was Napoleon's most treasured herb.
It’s got a name. Rosemary, is the common name for Rosmarinus officinalis. According to legend, it is a shared belief that Mother Mary, found shelter under a rosemary bush on her journey into Egypt and thus, the name, rosemary - because it was the rose of Mary.
It’s edible. This herb is used both fresh or dried as a seasoning. It also can been brewed into a tea and some take it in capsule form as a supplement. Rosemary can be added to anything. Try it in sauces and spreads, salads and soups. If you cook, bake it into your breads and add it to your vegetable dinners.
It’s nutritious. This herb is a good source of vitamins A, B6, and C. It has significant amounts of fiber and folate. and folate. It is also high in calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and potassium.
It’s medicine. This plant has been regarded and respected for years for its ability to heal and for good reason. It had powerful compounds that are antiseptic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. It also provides antioxidants. It has also been used as a pain reliever, anti-histamine, disinfectant, diuretic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, and expectorant. This herb bolsters the immune system, fights off infections, strengthens, relieves stress, clears the respiratory system, promotes a peaceful sleep, prevents cancer, slows aging, and is great for digestion and circulation. It relieves rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, asthma, chronic migraines, gout, edema, and kidney stones. Rosemary is also good for the brain, stimulating memory and improving the power of concentration. The oil is cleansing and nourishing to skin and scalp. It lowers blood pressure and sugar levels in the body.
It’s practical to use in the day to day: If you have a task you need to accomplish that requires a lot of concentration on focus, bundle it and use it as a smudge stick or diffuse the essential oil of rosemary. That’s what I am doing at the moment. The fragrance is so nice, I really think I’m making progress on this article. My mind is clear. It is also comforting to know that it is simultaneously disinfecting the air I am breathing! To stimulate a sedative mind, people will also diffuse the oil or mix it with a carrier oil and apply it to their body. It can also be used as a perfume in this way. Even carrying a fresh clipping of rosemary will have affect. Simply rub between your hands, and breathe in, and enjoy the benefits. Use sprigs to scent drawers and closets. Rubbed into the skin vigorously, rosemary liniment relieves muscles as well as gout. For stress relief, take rosemary baths. Used in ritual, in some cultures, rosemary thrown into the casket before burial as a farewell blessing. In other cultures, it is used in weddings, and symbolizes unending love.
In folklore: Rosemary is associated with remembrance, protection, and love.
What Advise for living does this plant give?
Be beautiful. Offer to the world your unique gifts. Don’t be shy. Be loving and loyal. Be fragrant and lasting —evergreen. IN mindfulness remember - and be brave.
Sources
ANDREWS, JUDITH. “Building Bridges with Basil, Rosemary and Yarrow.” Countryside & Small Stock Journal, vol. 99, no. 3, May 2015, pp. 34–37. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=108765363&site=eds-live.
Edwards, Gail. “Stop and Smell the Rosemary.” Natural Life, no. 116, July 2007, pp. 26–28. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=25314750&site=eds-live.
“Rosemary.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1; EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=ro071800&site=eds-live.
William, Anthony. “Rosemary.” https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/rosemary. Assessed 7 July 2021.
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today! I hope you have a beautiful day! Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you. Peace for now - And remember, stay CHARMED.