What is wisdom? If one were to look up the definition in the dictionary, one would find it defined as many things. One of such definitions is, “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.” Another definition is, “the sum of learning through the ages,” which can be a precarious concept for those who continue to seek their wisdom from other humans alone. It seems that wisdom is something that is continually sought after outside of oneself. It appears as though everyone has forgotten their irrefutable ability to connect to their own divine insight, an insight that is by birthright their own true nature. We all possess this truth within us, and it is not mere coincidence that it is referred to as our “nature.” The truth that resides within each and every one of us is the piece of nature that still exists in us as the human soul. The soul desires deeply to reconnect to the lost parts of itself, and it presents in this life as a longing that is oftentimes inexplicable in words. To put it bluntly, the soul wishes deeply to reconnect with nature.

In modern times, especially in the western world, this disconnection from nature is visible in every facet of life and society. It is no question that man has lost his way, yet the question remains how does man realign? Who does man look to when all men are lost, when there is no one to lead the way? This is a quandary as old as time…“How can I, unless someone guides me?”, says a bible verse. It is true that as human beings we are in dire need of guides, guides who are selfless and of a timeless wisdom in which words are not necessary to convey. In a fortunate plot-twist it seems as though our guides are actually everywhere. They are in fact some of the oldest lifeforms on this earth, having developed their consciousness some 1.6 billion years ago. The guides we so desperately seek are the plants, and they possess the ability to mend the original wound in man. The original wound is the illusion in which man sees himself as separate from God. In this representation, God, of course, is nature.

While on my own journey down the narrow path of soul realization and integration, I was fortunate enough to have been internally guided to the world of plant medicine. I had begun my work with plants as a teenager, although only subconsciously was I aware that I was seeking to gain wisdom from them. In western culture there is little to no understanding of working in partnership with plants. The culture here is ubiquitously extractive and looks at plants as a means to an end rather than an end in themselves. Yet, plants have lived in this realm and thrived for over a billion years without the need for futile words to communicate. They build vast communities and support systems that unite the ecosystems of this earth. They withstand with grace and tenacity every test that man has devised through his endless destructive tendencies. The plants communicate in silence, yet they say so much when we learn to listen. Having continued my plant medicine journey to the jungles of the Amazon, I have learned so much about the plant spirits as individuals. Each one of them is as uniquely attuned to life as you and I are. Each one has a lesson to teach us about true sacrifice, humility, and redemption.

The people who live amongst nature and revere this timeless wisdom have been cultivating relationships with the plants for millennia. Their rituals are a way of life, because living in communion with plant wisdom is the only unobstructed way to access nature’s wisdom. It requires no “middle-man” so to speak, it is direct access to the source. The tribes of the Amazon jungle and beyond have never forgotten their connection to nature and thereby their connection to God, to their souls, is still alive and well. If we wish to heal this very present and very painful divide within ourselves there is much work to be done, but not in the way one may think. The work is in clearing away the distraction and reconnecting with nature in a way that helps us to remember what we truly are and what our true purpose is here. There are no humans that can guide us to this realization, but there are many plants that can. The realization can only be felt through direct perception, and when we ingest and work with plants they guide us to that space where we directly perceive and remember. The plants wish to remind us that in our constant pursuit of building things we have somehow forgotten that no matter how tall the structure of our vines may be, those structures are only as strong as the roots that support it. It is imperative that we remember our roots in nature, and to look to nature when we need to choose our next step on the path of life. Nature has no hidden motives, and is not up for private interpretation. Nature is the final truth.

When we use cannabis in a healthy relationship, she reminds us to nurture ourselves and to slow down and rest. This is plant wisdom in earnest. Without rest the plant cannot grow, let alone produce flowers that bloom. The cycles of nature require patience, humility, and a deep trust in the process. The ultimate outcome is never truly to be conceived of by our feeble human minds, for the picture is far too big for us to grasp in its entirety. That is where the trust comes in. In our return to communion with nature we remember how to trust and flow with the cycles of nature. Plant medicine helps to restore our conscious participation in these cycles, which of course are also the cycles of human life. In a very real way, the plants teach us how to be human again.