Working with Herbs in a Spiritual Way: How to Make an Herbal Healing Bundle
Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved
Please note: This spiritual herbology
information stems from my own, very personal path of training
with the Plant Nation as an herbalist, healer, and prayerful
co-creator.
It is NOT presented as any type of Native-American
ritual or teaching. Although I am certain that this information
emerged from Plant Deva connections that any Shaman would
understand, I do not present myself as a keeper of the ways of
any tribe. That is the work of the Medicine Men and Women
within that tribe.
I walk a blended-tradition spiritual path. The Good
Red Road of Sweat Lodges, Sundance and other ceremony is
a glorious part of my path and I also embrace the truth of many
other paths. We are coming together, not dividing ourselves
anymore through religion. It is good that we do this now.
For years, I have depended exclusively on natural means for my
health and well-being, not calling on allopathic medicines at all
save the occasional aspirin or muscle relaxer.
Different nutrition supplements have been important for my health
at different times in my life, such as vitamins, minerals, and
enzymes.
It has consistently been the plant kingdom that has most
consistently provided me with whatever I have needed to
cleanse, relax, strengthen, or heal. I rely on them heavily.
Spirit has shown me that the Plant Kingdom carries very
strong, if subtle, energy medicine for us that can permeate
all the levels of our existence — physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual.
It was after I had studied herbology for several years that I
began to understand a new way of approaching the medicines
within the plants, flowers, shrubs and trees of the planet.
It was a sort of “spiritual herbology” that began to manifest
for me. It involved approaching the plants as living
manifestations of healing lifeforce energy, with respect and
with intent. I experienced a powerful shift from simply taking
an herb to praying with it, focusing my intent on what I wished
it to do, and working with it in a “medicine” or “energy” way.
What a difference!
I learned so much by this attitude. I learned that a minute amount
of the same herb I had once taken for weeks would still work, if I
took it in ceremony with prayers and intent. I learned that just praying
with the herbs would release their medicines to me, though it was
preferrable to also have the herbs within my physical body as well.
I began to pour a special kind of purification Sweat Lodge, as I was
shown how to do by God and by the plant devas. This is a
non-traditional Lodge and presented as such. I am not a keeper
of tradition for any particular tribe, as this is the work of the Elders
and Shamans within each tribe. Rather, I simply share what I have
been taught by the Plant Nation.
I once made my own herbal tinctures, salves and linaments. My
schedule no longer permits this but I still work with essential oils,
which I consider the life blood of the plant and with various
homeopathic herbals and tinctures.
I have become familiar with Flower Essences too. At first, my logical
mind had some trouble understanding how they could be powerful,
as they are so very diluted. Yet, when I tried them, they worked.
Then, I began to realize that the essence was like the Spirit of the
plant, or the etheric template. As such, it worked powerfully with
my own etheric template. Essences were more auric medicines that
filtered down into the physical field, rather than the other way
around like whole plant medicines. I have used Bach, Perelandra
and other essences, and enjoy them very much. I have additionally
worked, both alone and in partnership with a dear friend, to create
flower essences, as well as other types of homeopathics.
In every new experience with the herbal and plant kingdom, I was further
renewed in knowledge, vibrational stability and healing. I believe anyone can
receive the blessings of the Plant Nation by working with them in
this very simple but powerful way.
How to Make Herbal Heaing Bundles:
The process for making an Herbal Healing Bundle is very easy,
but requires focused intent to be successful. If making the bundle
for someone other than myself, I start by doing a little research.
If the person is struggling with specific physical problems, then I
search out those herbs that address the problem. However, after
finding those herbs, I don’t necessarily assume that all those plants
want to work with this particular person. I use inner guidance and
ask which ones to include of those that are appropriate.
One way to do this is through muscle-testing, on behalf of the person
for whom you are making the bundle or, if you have affinity with the
Plant Devas, ask directly which is what I do most of the time. I find
there is a willingness to be included when I hold each plant, or there
is not a willingness.
Asking involves holding the plant or thinking of it, and sending out
a request for some type of sign that the plant is to be included, or
left out of the bundle. Some feel energy in their body, like a
tingling, warmth or cold, if the answer is yes. Others may hear
a tone or just get an intuitive sensing. Visionaries may actually see
the Plant Deva and receive the answer directly.
If you, or the person for whom you are making the bundle, is
dealing with more than one challenge, then it might be appropriate
to choose herbs for each challenge that is mentioned.
The herbs must be either purchased or wildcrafted or donated by
the person who requests the bundle. I wouldn’t concern myself
too much if you can’t find wildcrafted. Yes, they are naturally
more potent but I find when prayer and intent are offered up
from a sincere heart, the original potency of the herb can be
restored by the Plant Deva that lives in it. During that process,
you will decide which ones to use, either by muscle testing or
communication with the Plant Spirits themselves, as described
in the above paragraph.
Only a minute amount of each herb is needed for the bundle
since it is only the vibration of the Plant that is required. Just
a pinch of each will make it’s way to the bundle. However, I
find it is often good to gift the remainder of the herbs to the
person for whom I have made the bundle, so they may drink
the tea of the same Plants that are in their healing bundle, as
a way of introducing the vibration more strongly into the field.
If I’m making the bundle for myself, the same still applies. I
find it helps to drink tea made from the remainder of the herbs.
Obviously, in saying this, I am not suggesting anyone drink tea
of herbs chosen that might have toxic properties, like mistletoe
or mandrake. Use common sense in all cases. The toxic herbs
can be placed under the bed or strewn around the living quarters
with prayer and intent, to honor them and put their energy to use
in the strongest way.
You will also need a small piece of cotton cloth (in whatever color
feels right to you — each color has a vibration and you will instinctively
pick the vibration you need for the particular bundle being made) —
and some cotton twine to tie the bundle.
If preferred, the bundle may be placed in a leather pouch when
completed.
Now, after the herbs have been chosen and prayed with (the
number seven has special significance and it is good to pray
with the plants for seven days, prior to making the bundle.
Your prayers should be for healing at all levels, if it is your
desire to truly heal at the level that would make it permanent.
I find that the Plants respond well to specific requests, since
most of them can work in more than one way so if it is blood
purification that is needed, for example, then I entreat the
Plant Spirit that could effect that cause to work in that
specific way.
After praying for seven days, you are ready to make the
bundles. Have something ready for smudging beforehand
(White Sage is my favorite but Cedar or Sweetgrass are
also good). Also, you will need your cloth square (this
should also have been prayed with, along with the herbs),
some cotton twine and scissors.
When you have smudged everything, and are ready to begin,
take a small pinch of each herb individually. Pray with each
one before placing it into the center of the bundle. When all
the herbs are in the bundle, grasp the four corners of the
cloth and pull together so that you can twist the top, and
secure the herbs in the middle. Then, tie the cloth with the
twine, so that you have formed a pocket in the center,
where the herbs are contained.
This is your bundle.
How to use Herbal Healing Bundles:
It may be burned in a healing ceremony, carried with
the person, prayed with, or left on the altar. Each person should
use intuitive knowing as to how the bundle will best facilitate
healing for them.
Another excellent way to use the bundles is as one would a
feather, crystal or in the way of smudging.
The herbal healing bundle can be placed over the area
of the body that needs healing, and vibrational frequency
of the plants will engage to draw out the toxins. However, plant
medicine is comprehensive and, along with whatever physical
toxins that are removed, will flush up emotional, mental and
spiritual factors that must be dealt with actively by the person,
for permanent healing to occur. It is best to give clear attention
to emotions and ways of thinking that surface while using the
bundles. These will give wonderful clues as to what needs to
be addressed for the healing to be total and permanent.
You can make bundles for all kinds
of different applications and I urge you to spend a lot of
time in quiet meditation and also out in nature with the
Plant Devas, asking to be shown how this particular
medicine will best work in your life and in your path
of service to others.
I am sometimes called to use herbal bundles
during healing sessions and if you are a body
worker you may benefit from creating a personal
healing bundle to be used only with your work.
In this particular bundle, you will want to select
herbs that are conducive to healing and helpful
for clearing your auric field before and after.
I used to have a personal healing bundle that I used
in my healing facilitation work. I no longer use tools
much at all as I feel I’ve integrated the Herbal Medicines
within by now. However, for a long time, it was a great,
great help to me and to the partners-in-healing who
came to me for help.
I included a great many herbs in my personal
bundle for healing work, over 150 in fact. I would call
on whatever medicines might be needed from within
the bundle to come forth at the time of the session.
I was sometimes guided to place the bundle at certain
areas of the body and leave it for a while, to soak up
toxic residue and clear the etheric template in that
area.
You may find that your bundle guides you
differently. It is a powerful tool for those who
resonate with the Plant Deva energies and do body
work or healing work and can help you align with the
frequencies of the Plant Nation within yourself as well.
