Bindweed and Tenacity
Convolvulus arvensis
Bindweed, at first glance, seems like a lovely plant. Delicate white and pink flowers emerge across the length of a trailing vine; it resembles the morning glory plant. Bindweed lives up to its name by growing quickly, wrapping and binding itself around anything in its vicinity.
Aboveground, the growth seems exponential, and keeping up with it is almost impossible. If you dig up bindweed, you’ll see that the roots mirror the curving spiral action of the aboveground plant. They spread and weave themselves through the soil. When you try to extract the roots, some parts inevitably break off and start new plants. The flowers also form little seed heads that release hundreds of seeds, so the plant can spread in multiple ways.
I’ve tried all the usual organic methods to get rid of bindweed without much lasting success. These have included covering it with cardboard and then mulch, digging it up, and pouring vinegar and dish soap on it. Part of the problem is that my neighborhood is awash in bindweed, and this tenacious plant is winning in the yards that border mine. Bindweed embodies the the trait of holding on tightly.
I might not like bindweed, but I can appreciate this trait of tenacity. Stubbornly holding on can be a good or bad thing, depending on the situation. Being tenacious about a personal goal or plan—hanging on tightly and giving it all your energy and focus—will help you succeed. On the other hand, if you stubbornly hang on to ideas, people, or things that you’d be better off releasing, this could be a problem. Tenacity can also be a challenge if you have situations or people in your life that have wrapped themselves around you in a bindweed-like fashion. You may need to step back and make a plan to extricate yourself.
The energy of tenacity has both strengths and challenges. Meet the challenges with your own tenacity by hanging on to healthy and positive choices for yourself. Pay mindful attention to where you see tenacity popping up in yourself or others.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with bindweed and tenacity?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe tenacity?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of tenacity in words or pictures?
• Where does this correspondence of tenacity resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting bindweed or tenacity back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about bindweed and tenacity?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience bindweed or tenacity today?
• How did I embrace the energy of tenacity today?
• What wisdom does bindweed’s correspondence of tenacity bring to my life?