Bee Balm and Whimsy
Monarda didyma
Bee balm is a member of the mint family, and like many mints, the leaves and flowers are edible. The brightly colored flowers liven up salads with their sweet, citrusy taste. Tea made from the leaves has been recommended by herbalists to counter stress and anxiety. Butterflies and bees love this plant, and it is an easy-to-grow addition to a pollinator or butterfly garden. Like most mints, bee balm sends out shoots along the ground to take over nearby areas, so be aware of that when you plant it.
Bee balm resonates with whimsy, an unexpected quirkiness and playfulness. The flowers look like tufts of unkempt hair in bright red, pinks, and purples. They could easily be at home as characters in a Dr. Seuss book. Occasionally, a stem emerges from the center of one flower and another tuft blooms atop the first, creating an even more unique and comical look. Bee balm flowers always make me smile, and that seems to be the point of whimsy, if there is one at all.
We could probably use more whimsy in the world. Whimsical things are pleasant oddities that pop up in weird places. They feel silly and lighthearted. If you have a serious outlook on life, you may feel that focusing on whimsy is frivolous. However, whimsy provides relief from the challenges and serious side of life. It can shift your mood and provide a tiny respite so that you can focus on more serious things with a calmer mind. When you mindfully work with this plant energy, be alert to where whimsy is showing up in the world. You may be surprised to find more whimsy than you imagined.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with bee balm and whimsy?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe whimsy?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of whimsy in words or pictures?
• Where does this correspondence of whimsy resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting bee balm or whimsy back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about bee balm and whimsy?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience bee balm or whimsy today?
• How did I embrace whimsy today?
• What insights do I have about bee balm or whimsy?
• What wisdom does bee balm’s correspondence of whimsy bring to my life?