My Plant Friend: Wood Sorrel
By: Laura Manipura
Tags: Nature, Plants, Vegan, Nature Writing, Vegetarian

My Plant Friend: Wood Sorrel

How a common weed led me to veganism…

Plant Camp 2006: Earthaven Ecovillage, Black Mountain, NC

In 2006, I attended a one-week herbal intensive at Earthaven Ecovillage. One of our assignments was to find a plant to work with up close and personal. In herbal circles this is known as the “plant ally.” To choose a plant ally, we were told, we could simply look around and see which plants called to us. It could be something that might treat a physical condition, something that simply looks pretty, or something you have always wanted to learn more about. Part of the idea, though, is to slow down, observe, listen and allow the plants to speak…

“Let my voice move into your awareness, as I spin my sister story, as I tell you of my ability to feed you fully: I can nourish your being, your sense of self-worth and every cell in your body.” by Susun Weed

The first plant ally I considered was Stinging Nettle. It was the first herb my acupuncturist recommended. I don’t remember if she said it was for moving blood, increasing yin, or toning the liver, or what. She was rather vague and I was rather skeptical of Chinese explanations for the way things work. I do know that nettle is recommended for allergy, menstrual issues, calcium, and arthritis. Since I had all those issues, I thought nettle would be a perfect ally.

Later in the week, my teacher shared her personal journey from veganism to once again consuming animal products. At the time, I had been strongly considering veganism, but while at Earthaven I had justified my food choices by telling myself that the eggs and cheese come from happy chickens and happy goats. As she spoke about the lamb that offered itself to her, I realized that the animals are only alive and happy as long as they are useful, but as soon as someone has a personal excuse to kill and eat them, that’s it. No more happy, peaceful lamb. As this awareness settled into my being, my heart joined with that lamb’s heart and we cried out for a deeper path.

Meanwhile, all week long I had been noticing the Wood Sorrel. It is a common plant and easily recognized with three tiny heart-shaped leaves. Even while I noticed this plant over and over, I never considered it as an ally. It is an ordinary salad green with no medicinal value. As my teacher was sharing her story, I began doodling the Wood Sorrel all over my notebook. It suddenly dawned on me that the Wood Sorrel was calling to be my plant ally. This common little plant was calling me to follow my heart and stand strong in my spiritual beliefs.

UPDATE 2019

For the past few years, I have been studying divination practices such as animal totems, astrology, and tarot cards. In reading back over this story it occurred to me that I was wrong to judge my teacher for her choice. Just as I saw meaning in the wood sorrel, she saw meaning in the lamb. We can’t find meaning in everything, not everything has a message for us. But, if we do read a message than the message is meant to be heard. Perhaps she needed to eat meat and eggs, perhaps I did not.

If you would like to learn more about working with a plant ally, check out “Worts and Cunning Apothecary’s Plant Ally Project”

Quote from Healing Wise by Susun Weed.