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Taylor here!
I remember first learning about ‘pioneer species’ from Katie when we were in Iceland almost 10 years ago.
We drove by a massive field of Fireweed during our road trip around the volcanic island, and had to immediately pull over. Despite the rain, we all got out of the car with our cameras to take photos in the sea of pink towers of flowers.
Right near this field was a coned & taped off area where the Earth literally had broken open, exposing a steam vent on the side of the road.
This particular field of Fireweed was no coincidence. It was growing exactly where the environment had just experienced an extreme disturbance.
Fireweed is known as a ‘Pioneer Species’—a plant that grows quickly in order to heal & nourish the land, environments, animals and people after a traumatic or disruptive occurrence.
They are the first to either colonize in newly created environments, or repopulate in areas that have recently experienced a disturbance – such as a wildfire, flood, mudslide, volcanic activity, glacier receding, industrial construction or deforestation.
Pioneer species pave the way for new life to flourish and provide hope & stability after an ecological disturbance.
I wanted to share four pioneer species that we have in our collection.
May their teachings provide a sense of relief to anyone currently experiencing a massive change in their environments ~ from the fires in LA, to the hurricanes on the East coast … and to anyone experiencing a big life change that is really rocking the boat.
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Flower transmissions by Katie:
Fireweed got its name because it is the first plant to grow abundantly in areas struck by forest fires.
Long ago, this plant was considered rare in the US. It became common, however, during the expansion of the railroad, which disturbed the soil and disrupted ecosystems. Also called “bomb-weed,” this flower spread quickly during World War II and blossomed in the bomb craters. Fireweed benefits all life in environments affected by trauma, including plants, animals and people.
Fireweed flower essence heals the heart.
It transforms painful experiences by dissolving the emotion around them, leaving only the lessons learned. When we have traumatic experiences, they live in the cellular memory of our bodies. The Fireweed flower essence releases the emotional intensity from old memories of heartbreak and suffering so that we are no longer triggered by current situations that may appear to be similar.
If you’re attracted to the Fireweed flower, you may have a heartache, painful experience or trauma that is affecting you, either from a recent experience or from the past. Most of us have lived through painful experiences at one time or another, and it can even refer to experiences as far back as childhood, infancy or gestation.
Fireweed enhances our ability to navigate painful situations with strength and grace. It strengthens our capacity to love and forgive ourselves and others.
Fireweed flower essence is found in Infinite Love.
Eagle Fern grows readily in areas that have been disturbed. Its rhizomes grow so deeply into the ground that they can survive forest fires.
Eagle Fern helps us take one step at a time and trust in our inner resources.
Instead of looking on the outside for answers, we can trust our capacity to envision and feel our way into it from the inside out.
Just as ferns have spores and thus don’t need wind or pollinators to do the work of reproducing for them, Eagle Fern helps us know that the resources we need are all contained inside of us. In projects or life goals where we cannot see the final outcome, we trust in our ability to discover and reveal our vision bit by bit, piece by piece.
As long as we are in the right energetic state of being, rooted in spaciousness and grounded in nourishment, we can continue to create what "feels" right. Not based on emotions, feelings or selfishness, rather, seeking out the proper energetic state of being that feels aligned. In this way, we can keep taking the next aligned step, without worrying about 10 steps ahead.
Eagle Fern essence is found in Sacred Body & Inner Knowing.
Lichen is one of the first species to colonize in barren land.
They are slow-growing (as low as 0.1mm to 500mm per year!), but reproduce quickly & play a key role in supporting biological diversity of their environment.
Lichen secretes acids that are strong enough to break down rocks, which contributes to soil formation & helps create a hospitable environment for other plants to grow!
The Lichen in our collection is from Iceland. Icelandic Lichen essence roots us into ourselves and into the earth, so we can stabilize and be more grounded. It sinks us into what we’re here to do, and grounds us into our path. We become more tenacious. We grab the reins and take charge. We feel more alive, fresh and expansive, while being rooted and immovable.
We’re more able to root into a place, project, path and have more clarity of purpose. We see the world in a new way, and everything feels worth fighting for. We’re more able to deliver a message with clarity & strength, and our message lands.
Icelandic Lichen essence is found in Awakened Understanding.
Redwood trees are incredibly resilient. Redwood bark grows over a foot thick and contains very little pitch or resin, protecting them from forest fires, insect attack, fungal infection and rot.
After forest fires, you can often see spouts emerging from the parent tree—buds that have been dormant for hundreds of years, using ancient carbon reserves to fuel their recovery.
There is a sense of belonging and knowing that we are always supported, because we do belong and we are supported by this beautiful Earth we call home. We can always access that unwavering stability.
This tree essence encourages us to notice where we feel a sense of community—with people, places, environments, plants and animals—and ask ourselves how we can create even more community. Redwood strengthens these bonds by opening us up to allowing assistance from others, so we become more free to offer support in return. In other words, the more we are able to receive, the more we are able to give.
Redwood essence allows us to tap into the stability that already exists within ourselves. By learning to observe our thoughts, emotions & reactions, we separate from these things and realize they do not define us. The biggest, vastest, most reliable version of you is the one observing all that occurs.
This essence heals old father wounds, such as lack of support or attention, abandonment or harsh behaviors. Redwood can help expose certain patterns and behaviors rooted in our childhood that are playing out in our adult lives, allowing us to see ways in which we may or may not be supporting ourselves.
Engendered with the warmth and stability of activating fatherly love within ourselves, we are able to ‘get our feet on the ground’—find direction, and embrace the discipline necessary to bring our dreams into reality.
Much like a loving & supportive father encourages his child to go and explore the world, Redwood encourages us to move confidently in the direction of our dreams. When we fall and scrape a knee, we are gently encouraged—with a helping hand—to get back up and keep moving, knowing we are supported. This enhances our ability to teach others through love, patience, caring and generosity.
As Redwoods hold the ancient knowledge of being on Earth for millions of years, their essence reminds us of the wisdom of our elders, the wisdom of community and the wisdom inherent within each of us.
Redwood Tree essence is found in True Strength.
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Love & flower petals,
Taylor
