Black-Eyed Susan
and Justice
Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan is a North American perennial wildflower. Native Americans used the plant as a medicinal herb, most notably for treating infections and snake bites.26 At first glance, a black-eyed Susan, with its dark center and yellow, daisy-like petals, could be confused with the sunflower. It’s shorter than the sunflower, and there are other differences as well. The Susan’s center is a darker brown and the petals are a bright orangish-yellow, creating a striking contrast. Black-eyed Susans also have a more pronounced rounded cone that pushes up and away from the petals.
Black-eyed Susans usually make their appearance midsummer, often growing wild in clumps along roadsides and in open spaces. The plant’s hardiness and beauty make it a popular garden plant as well. They grow easily and are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including the dry, hot summers here in Denver.
Black-eyed Susan has a history of countering toxins, including snake venom, and it is the perfect symbol for countering a community toxin: injustice. Its hardiness and tolerance for different situations resonates with the idea of justice, its energetic correspondence. If you pass by a field of black-eyed Susans, you can almost imagine them confidently standing as a strong, deeply rooted community to support fairness and justice.
Humans seem to have an innate longing for justice. Most people agree that creating a just world is a worthy goal. We attempt to make the world a fairer place with rules, laws, and traditions. It doesn’t take much observation to notice that we’ve not been completely successful. One challenge is that we each perceive justice from our own unique perspective. The difference in colors between a black-eyed Susan’s center and petals reminds us that within the same community, there might be strikingly different ideas of what is just and fair. While bringing mindful awareness to the concept, we can step back in an objective way and listen to others’ points of view on justice.
When holding the concept of justice in your awareness, you may quickly slide into focusing on injustices. Unfairness abounds on the planet, and there is much work to do, but as a starting point, place your attention on the accomplishments of justice. Pay attention to the wrongs that have been righted. These may be issues in your personal life or in the wider world.
In considering injustices, be aware of your own circle of influence. You can’t do everything, but you can usually do something. How might you contribute and make a difference? How might you speak up or take a stand in some way?
Millions of people around the planet are working to counterbalance injustice through sharing, cooperation, and challenging the status quo. Take time to acknowledge the work that has been done in the pursuit of justice; this shines a light on the positive and expands your awareness of what is possible.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with black-eyed Susans and justice?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe justice?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of justice in words or pictures?
• Where does the correspondence of justice resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting black-eyed Susans or justice back to me?
• How does energy shift when justice is achieved?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about black-eyed Susans and justice?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience black-eyed Susans or justice today?
• How did I embrace justice today?
• What wisdom does the black-eyed Susan’s correspondence of justice bring to my life?
26. Warmund, “Rudbeckia.”