a dream leading me to Calamus Root  

I woke up from a dream yesterday morning y’all. I’ve thought about if I should share or not + maybe not the full thing, but a part of the story. How’s that? Are you ready? 

I was directed by a Grandmother of three plants. Calamus Root, Hawthorn Berries + Astragalus Root. 

I was mostly struck by the calamus root because I’ve been sitting on some root I harvested + never used it. Now I begin. At first, I didn’t know how I was going to prep all three plants together, but now as I learn of their virtues I see this is a plant immersion opportunity for myself + also I will combine the immersions at different points + see how it flows naturally. 

Calamus root (Acorus calamus) aka Sweet flag, bitter root. Enjoys growing with wet feet, in water and the Native Americans associate it with the animal muskrat, which is partially from an Algonquian word, muscascus. (The irony is not lost on me that I spent time singing my fave Algonquian water song for #worldwaterday) ANYWAY….

The muskrat is known and prized for its courage in going to the bottom of the sea to collect a piece of earth to create Turtle Island 🙂 See below for a link on Muskrat legends.

The calamus root is known as vacha in Sanskrit which translates to ‘voice’, which means invocation. The connection of voice + invocation is strongly present in my mind these days around speaking truths or keeping my mouth shut. I vacillate daily. 

The clutter of information is overwhelming + I like to bring clarity + sometimes, that means I stay silent. However, this dream is a clear sign that there is a plant ready to assist with my voice + clarity of vision + mind. 

Calamus root is chewed on to assist with GI tract issues, trachea, sore throat, chills + fever, epidemic disease and so much more.  Which at the moment sounds divine because my transverse colon reflexology point on my foot is demanding some care + attention. Also, another great herb to combat my tendency for throat weariness + not to mention…epidemic disease?! Interesting…

This plant is sacred + assists with vital force + clarity for the mind. Jim McDonald has an amazing monograph on this herb that I urge you to read + study from someone who has decades of experience chewing this herb. 

I for one have only a couple of hours of experience + look forward to forming a deeper relationship with this plant over the years. Again, I am in awe of how the dream world directs me to plants so often right when I need them. There is no mistaking that I am ready for what this plant supposedly offers. 

A plant immersion has ensued for me. I relish this time to work with a new root + by chewing. I asked to learn about plants in Florida + something tells me in this watery place that I can find more of this plant. I even have an idea of where I can walk to see some close to my home, potentially. 

As I sit here writing in the early morning and listening to the crickets sing outside my room in Florida, a part in Jim McDonalds monograph on the sacred plant Calamus Root sticks out in this exact moment, “There’s something about Calamus I’ve always likened to the song of crickets. If I were to describe it using the idea of resonance, of sound, I would think of the long, slow undulating rhythm of crickets, and the way you come to feel if you sit out in the evening and just let that music wash over you… the way your tension dissipates, the way your mind slowly lets go of its many errant simultaneous thoughts, one by one, till you’re just there, right where you’re at, and perfectly contented to be there.” 

“have no expectations. If you want to make a relationship with a plant, you can’t go projecting your ideas about it onto it. And don’t go expecting anything profound, Calamus just clears out the clutter and gives you a good mindset from which to ponder what’s causing your clutter. But you have to be a part in this… if your thoughts are racing around like crazy, you’ll not be able to “hear” what the plant is saying… it’d be like trying to listen to crickets at a rock concert. So, you have to settle down your racing thoughts in order for the Calamus to help you settle down your racing thoughts” – Jim McDonald 

In the spirit of sharing my voice, I’m sharing this interview I did the other day with one of my dear friends, Deborah Smith from Green Pirate Juice. 

Native American Story on the Muskrat

Signing off with Love,

April