Five of Water
The Five of Water energy prompts: Seek out healing waters to ease your pain. A restored heart clears the vision. Golden hope dwells deep underground.
Five of Water: Cups
The Five of Water energies manifest in Goldenseal.
Goldenseal
Grief is a necessary part of healing. You may be lost in sorrow or depression, unable to move forward from a great loss. Allow your feelings to unfold. While goldenseal is a prized remedy, its survival is threatened by overharvesting.
Tea made from the yellow root heals irritated mucous membranes, conjunctivitis, wet colds, sore gums, and eczema.
Goldenseal root medicine teaches us that healing can be buried deep within. Sadness can open the portal to intuition. Though you are in the depths of despair, hope is hidden in the darkness. A small amount is all we need to get by
Qualities
| Positive | Negative |
| moving forward moving on accepting help healing forgiveness re-joining the world | sadness loss grief despair abandonment guilt remorse regret trauma mourning heartbreak unwelcome change focusing on negative emotions isolation loneliness |
Crafting With the Five of Water
The five energies feature plants that are listed as threatened or endangered with United Plant Savers, an organization whose mission is to protect the native medicinal plants of North America. The plants of the Fives have been affected by climate change, over harvesting, deforestation, development and disease. They require specific conditions for growth and are difficult to cultivate. They are among some of our most potent healing plants. Their loss would be devastating.
The Challenge the herbcrafter faces in the second mini-drama comes from the larger world beyond herself. She has created sanctuary with the Fours in her own garden, but she sees the threats from the outside world to these beloved botanicals. The herbs of the Fives specifically confront humanity’s relationship with nature. The herbcrafter becomes aware of how the choices of the dominant culture influence the ecosystem. She will be charged with standing up for what is right. The fives spark action that leads to community and conservation.
Craft
- Fill a small vial of bright yellow goldenseal root water to remind you where hope is hidden.
- Nourishing the earth restores the heart. Support United Plant Savers’ efforts to protect this planet.
- Use goldenseal root as a wash to soothe eyes inflamed and red from exhaustion and crying.
Mini Meditation
Meditation
Get into a relaxing position and close your eyes, make sure you are a comfortable temperature and not likely to be interrupted.
- Take three deep breaths
- Feel your tension melting away.
Imagine yourself doing one of the crafts mentioned above. Use your imagination. Make it as elaborate or as simple as you like. Have whomever you would like to be there come and share the time with you.
Imagine what it would look and feel like, as if it were really happening. Use your five senses and imagine all the sensory details as though you are really there.
Be creative and indulge in this moment.
Spend as long as you like in this visualization and feel the benefits of crafting with nature. Think about your meditation as often as you like as you go through your day. If possible, create it in reality.
The Herbcrafter
Herbcrafter
An herbcrafter is an afficianada of the botanical realm. She is in love with plants and longs to know them more deeply.
Her approach is driven by a playful, wild spirit.
The herbcrafter embraces the plant world as her teacher and friend through observation and botany, gardening and wildcrafting, medicine and kitchen craft, fiber arts and weaving, art and magic.
She recognizes herself as part of nature. She seeks reciprocity in all things. Through the relationship with the botanical world, she learns how plants and people can be of service to one another.
If you haven’t forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive others?
Dolores Huerta