Pole Beans and
Exploration
Phaseolus vulgaris
In the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Jack trades the family cow for a bag of magic beans. His mother is so angry by his apparent naivete that she throws the beans out the window. The next morning the beans have grown into a sturdy stalk that reaches beyond the clouds. Jack climbs up the stalk to discover a giant’s kingdom, and Jack’s fortune is forever changed.
A small part of this fairy tale is grounded in truth. Pole beans are viny plants that can grow to ten feet or more depending on the variety, and they grow quickly and easily. However, they don’t grow overnight, and they can’t grow upward without support. As their name suggests, they need a pole, a trellis, or other support to reach upward.
While all beans are high in protein, pole beans produce more when compared to their cousins, the bush beans (also known as green beans). This makes them a great choice for small gardens. It is fun to watch the tendrils of young pole beans as they reach out in various directions until they find something to latch on to. They explore their environment, turning one way and then another, until they find what they need. Like Jack, the plants embody a correspondence of exploration.
Small children are expert explorers as they try to learn about the world. As we get older, we may feel as if we have our world mapped out and there is no need for further exploration. Like Jack’s mom, we might feel we don’t need to know about anything new and different. Often, our map of the world doesn’t allow for the possibility of magic beans or anything that will dramatically alter our current understanding, yet the world is constantly shifting and changing.
Searching your physical environment is only one dimension of this correspondence. It also includes your whole being—physical, emotional, and spiritual. When you mindfully attune to the correspondence of exploration, consider the edges of your personal maps and the discoveries you might make if you push beyond those edges. Be attentive to your comfort or discomfort with this idea.
Mindfully exploring your world might include truly listening to others when they are explaining their view of the world. It might include investigating where your values and beliefs originated. Like pole beans, it is only by reaching out and exploring that you find what you need. Consider whether exploration feels comfortable, scary, exciting, or something else. Discoveries await you when you push beyond the edges.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with pole beans and exploration?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe pole beans or exploration?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of exploration in words or pictures?
• Where does this correspondence of exploration resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting pole beans or exploration back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about pole beans and exploration?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience pole beans or exploration today?
• How did I embrace exploration today?
• What wisdom does the pole bean’s correspondence of exploration bring to my life?