Wisdom of the Plant Devas: Herbal Medicine for a New Earth

by Thea Summer Deer, Lewis Mehl-Madrona M.D. Ph.D. (Foreword)

Consulting plant spirits for spiritual and psychological guidance and healing

• Reveals how, by communing with the deva or spirit of a plant, we can call forth its medicine without even needing to ingest it

• Includes wisdom from the devas of 13 herbs, such as rosemary, datura, and uva ursi

• Empowers readers with the tools to develop their own inner resources for healing in relationship with the plant devas around them

Each plant has a story to share with us, a healing story to guide us in trying times, a spirit medicine for the New Earth that is presently unfolding. Herbs are some of the most powerful allies we have for these transitional times--we just need to learn how to listen as they share their knowledge with us.

In Wisdom of the Plant Devas , Thea Summer Deer reveals a new dimension of herbal medicine, one where the plant’s spirit is consulted for guidance and healing beyond the physical. Examining the botany, modern and traditional uses, history, and folklore of 13 special herbs, such as rosemary, uva ursi, and datura, she shares divinations and messages from their devas, or plant spirits, explaining how these stories carry the herbs into our lives, letting them work their magic on us. Exploring herbal medicine from an energetic perspective, she reveals that by communing with the deva of a plant, we can call on the plant’s physical, psychological, and spiritual medicine and guidance--without ingesting it or even being in its presence.

Detailing the sacred space of a Medicine Wheel Garden, whether in a backyard or our imaginations, she connects us with the devas and empowers us to seek our own answers with their much-needed spiritual guidance and divinatory advice. Creating a bridge between botanical medicine and plant spirit medicine, she shows how by coming into community with the devas and co-creating with the world of nature, we can gain tremendous insights to help heal our hearts, our minds, and our spirits and consciously evolve as together we birth the New Earth.

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 19, 2011

Reviews

[Panda1602 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having studied many alternative approaches to healing, I like the way that the author introduces the reader to plant devas. For some this may seem a little out there, whilst for others they will connect straight into what the author is describing and talking about. For me, everything has a soul, an energetic imprint, that can be connected into. By using resonance the healing vibrations can then be utilised without even having to 'damage' or use the original plant, seashell, crystal and so forth. This is something that I have done for many years with great success. This book is more of a reference book for me and will join my other great reference books in my library. I would most certainly recommend this book to those who have an interest in paganism as well as anyone who currently connects deeply with the plant kingdom.

[Dielle Ciesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually didn't know very much about herbology when I bought this book, but I heard the author speak in Asheville, NC, and bought it at the reading because I was immediately compelled by some of the passages she read. I've enjoyed reading it and have a new appreciation for herbs. I have rosemary and verbena growing in my yard, and now I understand so much more about them and how they heal on levels beyond the physical. It's really a beautiful book, beautifully written.

[Luce Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a "must read" for anyone studying plant medicine with the new approaches and discoveries about man/plant interractions. Very well grounded.

[Nandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference for holistic and herbal medicines. Teaches you the proper way to handle the said herbs.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really kooky. And very woo-woo. The author writes about herbs and their spirits. And by spirit, she doesn't mean essence. She means actual spirits. Which, on her view, work in conjunction with fairies to make gardens grow. She pulls from all kinds of mythological systems, combining all of them as though they were all compatible. And at the end of each chapter, she writes as the plant spirit. Like, in first person as the actual spirit.
I don't know. This wasn't for me. I think nature is holy. I think plants are powerful. But I just can't get down with fairies and other woo-woo stuff like that. I'm glad it's for some people, but it's not for me.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little concerned about the end of the world, um, I mean transformation. Other than that, great info (best thing I've found regarding uva ursi as far as I can recall). You'll look at the illustrations and be concerned...but don't worry...this book really is a jewel.