When we are travelling, whether by car, plane or public transport, it’s easy to see we might need the Clematis flower remedy. Our mind is running on ahead, thinking of obstacles we may encounter, or the next stage of our trip, watching the time, going over our plans, anxious about what lies ahead. Almost by definition we are not grounded in the present.
One of the many folk names for the wild Clematis Vitalba is Traveller’s Joy. Relating this to the doctrine of signatures, we can see the connection with our lack of travelling mindfulness. The Clematis drifts over hedge after hedge, never content to remain in one place, forever roaming ahead. It was termed Travellers Joy by the 17th century herbalist John Gerard and my favourite interpretation of that comes from an article in the Guardian by Phil Gates. “… where my grandparents lived in the 1960s was half a mile from the nearest street lamp, and the bus stop across the road stood in total darkness on winter evenings… As the bus turned the corner its headlight beams would sweep along the downy clematis seed heads that clung to the hedge like clouds of smoke, before it drew to a halt and the doors opened to the light and warmth within. As we peered out through the steamed–up windows the traveller’s joy in the hedge became indelibly associated with that feeling of relief…”
Relief … interestingly, in the language of flowers, wild clematis stands for security and safety – the antithesis of woolly-headed meandering. And so it is appropriate that when we take the Clematis essence, our energy and attention is brought back to the here and now. Our connection to the present is restored – safe and secure.
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| Drawing by Henck van Bilsen |
Lovely to be reminded that it is possible to return to the here and now. SO many people need this wonderful essence now. I love the quote from Phil Gates- memorable! Thank you!
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