Everyday Magic: Plant Wisdom from My Great-Grandma
- Ruthy Baker
- Jun 12
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 2
There’s a quiet kind of magic that lives in the hedgerows, the gardens, and even the forgotten corners of the back yard. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? That gentle rustle when you brush past a lavender bush. The way the scent of freshly cut herbs can lift your whole mood. Or how one flower - just one - can transport you to another time entirely.
For me, that magic is wrapped up in memories of my great-grandmother, Lillian. She was the kind of woman who never needed to raise her voice. She let the earth do the talking. And one of the deepest lessons she ever passed down was this:
“Always ask a plant’s permission before you cut it. Take only what you need. And never grub out something that’s still meant to grow.”
At the time, I didn’t realise how profound that was. Now, I see it for what it is: plant wisdom that goes far beyond gardening. It’s a way of life. And a way back to ourselves.
🌿 The Living Conversation of Nature
Science is finally catching up to what our ancestors already knew. Plants are not passive. They’re intelligent, responsive, and deeply interconnected.
Trees communicate through underground fungal networks - lovingly called the 'Wood Wide Web' - sharing nutrients and sending out warnings to neighbouring trees. Some even say plants emit tiny ultrasonic sounds when under stress, like when they’re thirsty or being pruned.
And then there’s Kirlian photography, which captures the energetic field of living things. When a leaf is partially cut and photographed, the image still shows the full outline, as though the energy of the leaf remembers wholeness.
There's always a blueprint for restoration.
These aren’t just poetic ideas. They’re real. And they remind us that everything in nature responds to energy, just like we do.
💧 The Energy of Words, Water, and Wonder
Remember the work of Dr Masaru Emoto? He showed how water crystals changed shape depending on the words and emotions directed at them. Words like “love” and “gratitude” formed beautiful, symmetrical crystals. Harsh words, on the other hand, created distorted shapes.
Considering our bodies are mostly water, what does that say about the way we speak to ourselves?
If plants and water respond to kindness and respect, then so should we.
So when your inner Negative Nelly or Debbie Downer shows up, dragging your energy through the brambles, remember - you’re not powerless.
You can choose to speak to yourself the way Lillian spoke to her garden: gently, respectfully, with a quiet confidence in what can grow next.
Plant Wisdom Visualisation: The Lily-of-the-Valley Portal
Let’s take a moment now. Close your eyes - unless you’re driving or operating secateurs! - and imagine:
You’re standing in your great-granny’s garden. The scent of freshly turned earth and old-fashioned roses hangs in the air. But it’s the lily-of-the-valley that calls to you. Those delicate white bells on slender green stems, nestled in the shade like a secret.
You reach out and gently cup a sprig in your hand. You ask its permission.
Then, you breathe in.
The scent is soft, powdery, and impossibly nostalgic. It takes you back to warm kitchens, cotton aprons, and safe arms. You feel wrapped in the cosiness of her love, as if time folds in on itself and, just for a moment, you are held in perfect peace.
You realise that this plant isn’t just a flower. It’s a memory keeper. A bridge between worlds. A whisper from your roots.
Stay there, just for a breath or two.
Then, when you’re ready, open your eyes — and carry that magic with you.
🪴 What Plant Wisdom Teaches Us About Ourselves
Everything in nature has its own rhythm. Plants don’t rush. They don’t compete. They follow the light, adjust to the seasons, and trust in their own timing.
Imagine if we did the same.
Tuning into plant wisdom isn’t about becoming a barefoot herbalist overnight (though you’re very welcome to). It’s about remembering that the world is always speaking — and our souls perk up when we start listening.
✍️ Journaling Prompts to Reconnect with Everyday Magic & Plant Wisdom
What childhood memories do I associate with plants, gardens, or nature?
Is there a plant or flower that feels like a personal symbol for me?
How do I speak to myself during times of stress — and how could I soften that voice?
Where in my life am I “grubbing out” something that’s still meant to grow?
What would it feel like to ask permission and listen for a response — from my body, my environment, my intuition?
How can I honour the energy of what I consume — food, media, thoughts — with more presence
Q&A: Let’s Root Into the Wonder
Q: Should I feel guilty for eating plants or cutting flowers?
A: Not if you do it with reverence. Gratitude changes everything. Bless your food, thank your herbs, whisper a kind word to the rose before you snip it. Nature responds to intention.
Q: Can plants really “hear” us?
A: Not like we hear, but yes, they respond to vibration, tone, energy. Studies show that plants grow faster when spoken to kindly or exposed to music. It’s the energetic signature that matters.
Q: How can I start practising plant wisdom at home?
A: Begin with one plant. Spend time with it. Water it consciously. Talk to it. Observe how it responds. This small act becomes a gateway into deeper presence and intuitive living.
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Book Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Tree Wisdom by Jacqueline Memory Paterson - A deep-rooted guide to the healing spirit of trees.
If you’ve ever felt a quiet stirring in your soul when standing beneath the boughs of an ancient oak… or found unexpected comfort simply watching the branches of a silver birch swaying in the wind… then Tree Wisdom by Jacqueline Memory Paterson is a book you’ll want to curl up with. This isn’t your usual nature guide.
It’s part history, part folklore, part spiritual handbook, and a whole lot of heart. Jacqueline’s writing feels like she’s walking beside you through a sacred forest, gently whispering stories passed down through the ages. You’ll meet the spirits and archetypes of trees from all over the British Isles, uncovering the forgotten meanings behind tree names, legends, and ancient rituals. There’s real reverence here, and a soulful sense of remembering.
I found myself utterly captivated by the way each tree is brought to life not just as a botanical being, but as a living, breathing guardian with its own personality and healing energy. From the Yew tree’s connection to death and transformation, to the Hawthorn’s potent magic of protection and liminality, each chapter reads like a love letter to the Earth.
It’s a book you can dip into or savour slowly - the kind of book that invites you to light a candle, pour a cup of something warming, and reconnect with your roots. I’ve placed my copy on my bedside table and reach for it when I want to feel grounded, guided, or simply reminded that nature holds so much quiet wisdom for us, if we only pause to listen.
If, like me, you believe trees hold memory - if you’ve ever pressed your palm against bark and felt a knowing - then this book is for you.
And let me just say, Jacqueline's surname Memory feels utterly poetic, because that’s what she restores through this book: the ancestral memory of our sacred bond with trees.
Ready to deepen your connection with the tree spirits? Treat yourself to a copy of Tree Wisdom it’s more than a book. It’s a companion for your inner wild soul.
👉 📖 Grab your copy of Tree Wisdom on Amazon and let the forest speak to you.
Book Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plant Magic: Herbalism in Real Life by Christine Buckley - A heart-led guide to healing with herbs in your everyday world.
Reading Plant Magic feels like being welcomed into a friend’s cosy kitchen – the kettle is on, herbs are steeping, and there’s an unspoken understanding that nature has everything we need.
Christine Buckley doesn’t just teach herbalism – she lives it. This beautiful book is part practical guide, part personal memoir, and part reminder that reconnecting with the plant world isn’t some lofty ideal. It’s a real, accessible, daily act of magic.
What I especially loved is how Christine brings herbalism back down to earth – literally. Whether you live in the countryside or a city flat with a single windowsill, this book meets you where you are. She weaves in recipes, rituals and reflections that honour the seasons, the body, and the emotional landscape we all move through.
It’s deeply intuitive – you can feel her care in every chapter. There's no pushing or perfection here. Just gentle encouragement to begin where you are, with what you have.
You’ll find remedies for grief and burnout, joy and restoration. Not just lists of herbs and what they 'do' but how they feel and how to create relationship with them. From nervines and nourishing tonics to gut-loving teas and grounding foot soaks, it’s all presented with soulful clarity.
The photography and layout are gorgeous too – like a botanical love letter to your senses!
For anyone craving a slower, more intentional rhythm – this book is a balm. It’s especially powerful for sensitive souls and intuitives, who want to build a healing practice that flows naturally with life.
Want to bring more healing and herbal joy into your everyday? You’ll treasure Plant Magic. It’s a companion, not just a guide.
🌿 Order your copy of Plant Magic by Christine Buckley and let your herbal journey begin. One cup of tea, one moment of magic at a time.
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