HEALING HERBOLOGY

Chapter 98

When Healing Grows A girl sits on the window seat in her bedroom, facing the street but unable to see through the blurry cloud that was her tears. It had been one of those days where everything had gone wrong. Her best friend had called her, well, awful things. Her tutor said she was stupid, and that she would never be able to brew a potion right. Her father said he was going to disown her, and even her mother was criticizing her. "You're stupid. You're ugly. You can't to anything right." Their voices rung in her head, clear as the bell tower at noon. "Oh, God," she whispers, "what if it's true." There is a soft knock at her door. The girl lifts her sleeve to take the tears from her eyes. Rising from her perch, she lifts her head to greet whatever is coming with what strength she has left. It might not be much, but nobody was going to watch her cry. Nobody, except… "Oh!" She says, opening the door. There is a red flower. A rose to be exact. Sitting upon a roll of parchment, held together by a thin sky blue ribbon. The girl picks up the rose, breathing in its deep calming scent. Then she reads the letter. It's from a certain guy who always seems to know when she needs a reminder that she is loved. "I grew this for you. This is the first one that sprouted! And I couldn't wait to give it to you. Obviously. Kozy will take this to you. Love you lots!" The girl smiles. Suddenly there world doesn't seem so bad. There's hope. There's still hope. This pithy tale is an example of the healing power of the flower. This flower healed the pain of a broken heart. Sometimes, healing with plants goes deeper than scars on the skin. With that in mind I would like you to notice how, when someone is sick, their physical ailment may not be all that is hurting them. The physical ailment is a priority, certainly, but never lose sight of the humanity within the other person, the longing for something deeper. In the chance that any of you will choose to work in the field of healing, I would like to advise you that a kind word will do wonders for a patient. This applies to taking care of plants as well. Since love is a part of non-material reality and cannot be proven by scientific/material reality, this is called the theory of loving. Even though it is only titled as a theory, no certified Herbologist rejects its methods. So when you show love for your plant, and truly care for it, you give your plant a reason to live. Even if the plant is sick, and suffering deeply, as long as it is loved its will to live remains. Of course, this alone will not keep a plant alive, as its physical needs must be met too; however, a plant with all its physical needs met may still die, for want of love and affection. Nobody wants to feel alone, or like they are a burden on their loved ones. In a pot full of plants, if there is not enough water, the plants will believe they are unloved by their provider. Then the older plants get the idea that they are a burden on the resources of younger plants, and simply give up. They lose the will to live. If more water is added to the pot on time they can be saved, but it takes a lot of love to bring back a plant that feels unloved and worse than worthless... a burden. Anyhow, it is important to keep the Theory of Loving in mind when caring for ill plants, and it is highly commendable to also show love towards the sick witches and wizards you meet as well. Nobody should feel unloved. Nobody should feel worthless. And nobody should feel like they are a burden to those they love. And I want all of you to know that if any of you feel that way, it is not true. More water will come. I promise.