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Poison Ivy, my three-season nemesis, has a crafty strategy in determining my coordinates. At age eight, soon after I debated drinking Calamine lotion as a p.i. induced rash itched its way across my face, did I become adept with why red, shiny, three-leafed plants should be shunned. At age 32, soon after I used maxi-pads to absorb the incessant weeping of the p.i. lesions on my arms and leg did I decipher what the plant looks like before it sprouts its foliage. At age 36, as a new cat owner, did I realize that the tables had turned. Instead of finding the poison ivy, the poison ivy was finding me, infiltrating on the fur of the Trojan kitties. So, now at the ripe age of 44, as my chocolate lab, Kola, nestles himself into my yoga postures I throw caution to the wind. I know full-well the entire territory he has blanketed with his scent during our morning walk, perhaps shy of one free standing oak tree and mail box, has all been in beds of caustic weed. I don't care. Why? Because my love for Kola supersedes and melts my fear and irritation of a rash.
It's crazy, I know. Particularly because I KNOW. The burgeoning realization of my 32 year old episode, my husband and I had spent the weekend clearing our piece of property in March. The spirit of two homesteading pioneers blazing way for our future, burned with intensity. Chain saws, loppers, wheelbarrows and tarps day after day until our backs, elbows and hands ached with exhaustion. As I wrapped vine upon vine around my forearms to aide in better purchase, steady clearing made way for the sense of pride and accomplishment. Until that is...comprehension of doom...not only where my forearms covered but a piece of vine had fallen down my shirt and squirreled it's way into the right thigh of my pant leg.
The mental, emotional and physical consumption from the effects of poison ivy were systemic. Every cell in my body cried for relief. Every facet of my being was impaired as the urge to itch ebbed. My dream's crescendos would conclude with the blessed answer of feverish, midnight scratching. All of my meals tasted of Calamine essence. Hydro-cortisone cream & maxi-pads applied to the lesions lasted about two weeks. No physical scars represent the miracle of the human body's incredible ability to heal.
Long forgotten information my father had taught me, however, is that growing amidst poison ivy I would undoubtedly find its antidote, Jewel Weed. I was reminded of this when my friend, Victoria, plucked a stalk from the fringe of my driveway to aid in her journey along the poison ivy highway. Through numerous interactions that followed I leaned into the cures of nature and found that Jewel Weed far surpassed anything on the shelves at CVS.
Is this really about just the antidote, you are asking yourself? No. It never is. The symbolism will always float to the surface...so just stick with me here.
For the sake of comparative analysis, if I were to assign an emotional equivalent to the wrath of poison ivy it would be resentment. The effects of p.i. hold the same intensity of anger that is characterized by the word resentment.The definition, according to Webster is: "The feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury." Resentment, just like poison ivy, spreads. It affects every aspect of one's life. Clarity, compassion, appreciation and peace are blocked when resentment takes hold. Resentment blisters in the seat of the soul leaving the burden to lie in the body of the beholder. Resentment indicates that you have allowed yourself, to take yourself, too seriously. Your shiny, glossy, three-leaved self (emotional, mental and physical bodies) have no structure to support the grace of Spirit.
However, growing in harmony, with leaves and roots intermingling, is the emotional equivalent of gratitude found in Jewel Weed. The near transparent, succulent qualities of its stem stand tall and bear an open scallop of an honest leaf. Residing within the stalk of this plant is the quality that has the capacity to, at least temporarily, disarm the bomb of poison ivy and on an emotional scale, to permanently disarm the bomb of resentment when applied in a liberal, consistant manner. It is a conscious choice to harvest gratitude...to break the stem and apply its healing salve. Jewel Weed is the grace to my poison ivy as gratitude is to resentment. Similarly to resentment, gratitude spreads, too. Seek it, implement it, herald it! Go one step further and become an acute observer of the antidote you need growing right next to the challenges you face. By reaching deep into the earth beneath you bestows abundance, wisdom and knowledge that all your needs are constantly met. We are all here to evolve by yielding to the lessons hidden within unexpected challenges. Shedding gratitude on all life has to offer has the power to reveal the antidote to the inherent hazards that ride with the over-inflation of self and it's knee-jerk reactions.
Daily thoughts, photos and clips that assist in pondering the passage. Join the JewelTree facebook community!
Julie Bowes - Certified Life Coach
JewelTree, LLC
P.O. Box 82
Sherman, CT 06784
http://www.jeweltreeoflife.com/
203.240.4397 or email Julie@Jeweltreellc.com to schedule your sample coaching session today!
It's crazy, I know. Particularly because I KNOW. The burgeoning realization of my 32 year old episode, my husband and I had spent the weekend clearing our piece of property in March. The spirit of two homesteading pioneers blazing way for our future, burned with intensity. Chain saws, loppers, wheelbarrows and tarps day after day until our backs, elbows and hands ached with exhaustion. As I wrapped vine upon vine around my forearms to aide in better purchase, steady clearing made way for the sense of pride and accomplishment. Until that is...comprehension of doom...not only where my forearms covered but a piece of vine had fallen down my shirt and squirreled it's way into the right thigh of my pant leg.
The mental, emotional and physical consumption from the effects of poison ivy were systemic. Every cell in my body cried for relief. Every facet of my being was impaired as the urge to itch ebbed. My dream's crescendos would conclude with the blessed answer of feverish, midnight scratching. All of my meals tasted of Calamine essence. Hydro-cortisone cream & maxi-pads applied to the lesions lasted about two weeks. No physical scars represent the miracle of the human body's incredible ability to heal.
Long forgotten information my father had taught me, however, is that growing amidst poison ivy I would undoubtedly find its antidote, Jewel Weed. I was reminded of this when my friend, Victoria, plucked a stalk from the fringe of my driveway to aid in her journey along the poison ivy highway. Through numerous interactions that followed I leaned into the cures of nature and found that Jewel Weed far surpassed anything on the shelves at CVS.
Is this really about just the antidote, you are asking yourself? No. It never is. The symbolism will always float to the surface...so just stick with me here.
For the sake of comparative analysis, if I were to assign an emotional equivalent to the wrath of poison ivy it would be resentment. The effects of p.i. hold the same intensity of anger that is characterized by the word resentment.The definition, according to Webster is: "The feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury." Resentment, just like poison ivy, spreads. It affects every aspect of one's life. Clarity, compassion, appreciation and peace are blocked when resentment takes hold. Resentment blisters in the seat of the soul leaving the burden to lie in the body of the beholder. Resentment indicates that you have allowed yourself, to take yourself, too seriously. Your shiny, glossy, three-leaved self (emotional, mental and physical bodies) have no structure to support the grace of Spirit.
However, growing in harmony, with leaves and roots intermingling, is the emotional equivalent of gratitude found in Jewel Weed. The near transparent, succulent qualities of its stem stand tall and bear an open scallop of an honest leaf. Residing within the stalk of this plant is the quality that has the capacity to, at least temporarily, disarm the bomb of poison ivy and on an emotional scale, to permanently disarm the bomb of resentment when applied in a liberal, consistant manner. It is a conscious choice to harvest gratitude...to break the stem and apply its healing salve. Jewel Weed is the grace to my poison ivy as gratitude is to resentment. Similarly to resentment, gratitude spreads, too. Seek it, implement it, herald it! Go one step further and become an acute observer of the antidote you need growing right next to the challenges you face. By reaching deep into the earth beneath you bestows abundance, wisdom and knowledge that all your needs are constantly met. We are all here to evolve by yielding to the lessons hidden within unexpected challenges. Shedding gratitude on all life has to offer has the power to reveal the antidote to the inherent hazards that ride with the over-inflation of self and it's knee-jerk reactions.
Ask Yourself:
Where is your Jewel Weed?
Daily thoughts, photos and clips that assist in pondering the passage. Join the JewelTree facebook community!
Julie Bowes - Certified Life Coach
JewelTree, LLC
P.O. Box 82
Sherman, CT 06784
http://www.jeweltreeoflife.com/
203.240.4397 or email Julie@Jeweltreellc.com to schedule your sample coaching session today!
