Who benefits when you think magic is just a weed?
Happy Sunday, Soothers. You probably best know dandelion as a prolific weed, the bane of modern American lawnscapes. Maybe you have sweeter memories of blowing on its seeds as a kid and making lots and lots of tender wishes as the pods floated off into the wandering air.
Either way, you definitely know it, because all across the earth it grows in proliferation, easily, joyfully, in almost any soil conditions.
Largely, we've been taught that the dandelion is what we would call a weed.
I never thought much about the actual definition of the word "weed," so I turned as I do when breaking down concepts to teach to the dictionary. And I laughed:
noun
a valueless plant growing wild, especially one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop.
any undesirable or troublesome plant, especially one that grows profusely where it is not wanted
So who decided dandelion was even a weed in the first place?
Who decided it was "valueless," or "undesirable," or "troublesome"?
I have my suspicions.
Because the reality is actually this:
The dandelion is so common because it is actually one of the best and most easily applied herbs to multiple health conditions out there. And the earth knows that, and wants us to use it.
But instead we think it is a weed, and so we dismiss it and ignore its powers. We even disdain it, and try to remove it from our land.
Rosemary Gladstar, probably one of the most respected living Western herbalists, has said that, “Dandelion is, I’m convinced, one of the great tonic herbs of all times. The entire plant is restorative and rejuvenating."
Here's a short list of what dandelion may aid with or can do:
Offers high amounts of potassium
Acts as a diuretic
Helps aid any stagnation in the liver
Stimulates the entire digestive tract
Relieves constipation
Supports lactation
And that's just a starter list.
The use of dandelion was first recorded in writing in the Tang Materia Medica (659 B.C.E.), and then later noted by Arab physicians in the 10th century. It was also reportedly used in ancient Egyptian medicine.
Indigenous tribes in North America used it for a variety of purposes as well. According to Mountain Rose Herbs, "In the United States, various indigenous cultures considered dandelion to be a prized edible, a gastrointestinal aid, a cleansing alterative, and a helpful poultice or compress. The Bella Coola from Canada made a decoction of the roots to assuage gastrointestinal challenges; the Algonquian ate the leaves for their alterative properties and also used them externally as a poultice. Additionally, the Aleut steamed leaves and applied them topically to sore throats. The Cherokee believed the root to be an alterative as well and made a tea of the plant (leaves and flowers) for calming purposes. It is interesting to note that dandelion was used by the Iroquois as well. They made a tea of the whole plant, and also considered it be an alterative tonic."
And it doesn't stop there. Dandelion's leaves are edible. Its roots can be roasted to make a form of coffee. Farmers would encourage dandelions in their orchards since they give off ethylene gas, which helps to ripen fruit. You can use the juice from the stems to treat blisters, bee stings, and even warts. The pollen and nectar of dandelions are vital to early spring pollinators. They can be used to tell the time of day, and even the weather, because their yellow flowers close at dusk and when rain is approaching.
OH! And how could I forget. Rosemary Gladstar has also decreed dandelion “invaluable to women going through menopause.” Crones, unite!
So.
Just a weed... my ass.
It got me thinking. If we've been convinced at a large scale that one of the most potent, useful, easily sourced and most applicable plants out there is just a weed...
...what else have we been encouraged to dismiss that's actually powerful, potent, magical, useful?
And who benefits from us thinking that?
Who benefits from us thinking that a common weed has no use or place in our health and lives?
Who benefits from us turning away from free, easily accessible resources, available to all, that can improve our health?
Who benefits from us losing connection to the land?
Who benefits from us prioritizing growing endless lawns and eradicating endless other plants and herbs in the process?
Who benefits from us thinking a dandelion is just a weed?
I have a little assignment for you, with this in mind: some journaling, and a dandelion practice.
Try out these journal prompts:
What are 1-3 things I have been taught to be dismissive of in my life? (These could be something like a dandelion, but it could also be a talent or skill you hold, a belief, your own self-trust, a generational practice)
And/or, what are 1-3 things I am currently dismissive of, or do I judge, in others (same here, these could be behaviors of others, skills of others, beliefs or practices of others, etc)?
Who taught me to dismiss these?
Why did they teach me to dismiss them?
Who might have benefited from me dismissing them?
Why might they benefit?
What do I alone want to believe going forward?
And try out this Tarot pull:
1. Something I've been taught to dismiss
2. Why I was taught to dismiss it
3. Its true power, once I look more closely
Finally, let's get in touch with dandelion medicine. This is easy, but if you'd rather not or can't actually gather and use real dandelions, there is plenty of dandelion tea available at grocery stores everywhere, and I love dandelion chai, too, which many apothecaries online will offer.
But first, simply take a walk and notice every dandelion you see that is sprouting up this spring. You could even try counting them. (Though I bet there will be too many to count, depending on where you live.) Say hello. The plants LOVE when you introduce yourselves to them and acknowledge them. (They've been waiting a really long time.)
Then, if it's safe and legal, let's make some food and a tea using dandelions that you pick. (For both these recipes you'll want to pick from an area you know is free from pesticide, etc. use. Also, of course, if you have pre-existing health conditions you'll want to consult with your health practitioner, intuition and other medications you might be taking before using dandelion, though the amounts in simply eating dandelion or drinking a cup of dandelion tea would very rarely cause harm.)
Dandelion greens: follow this simple recipe.
Dandelion tea: We're only going to use the petals (aka the yellow flowering parts) for this. The stems, leaves and roots can be a bit bitter (that's where its digestive and bile stimulation powers lie). So go out and collect about a 1/2 cup, loosely packed, of dandelion petals. Rinse them in cool water to dislodge any dirt or bugs. Pour 8oz of boiling water over in a heat-safe mug. Let steep 10-15 minutes, covered. Strain and sweeten with honey if you desire. Drink!
So once again, let's ask the most important question:
Who benefits from us thinking a dandelion is just a weed?
And who benefits from you eradicating them from your life?
And if that all this potent healing and power is available in a mere dandelion...
What magic inside you may already exist, simply waiting for you to validate it, to notice it, to use it? Magic that somebody else may have convinced you wasn't really that useful, or important?
So let's go.
A dandelion isn't just a weed, and you're not just a regular person.
You are magic.
It's time to begin to believe it.