Rosemary and Ancestors
Rosmarinus officinalis
Many people are familiar with rosemary as a culinary herb. It is great on roasted potatoes and other vegetables. It is also often part of herbal blends because a little goes a long way. It has a strong, piney flavor that can easily be overpowering.
Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub with small, blue, fragrant flowers. It has a long history as a plant of remembrance. It has been used at funerals, weddings, and other ceremonies with the purpose of remembering our connection to the past.
The correspondence for rosemary is ancestors. This isn’t about filling out genealogy charts, although you might choose to research your ancestors in that way. This is about cultivating an awareness that who and what you are in this moment is a unique manifestation of countless ancestors, stretching back through the ages.
Tuning in to your ancestors in a mindful way might include gratitude that you are here, a curious investigation into all the ways they have influenced you, or simply realizing the commonality of human experience.
We all carry our ancestors with us in various ways. Our genes, culture, and language shape us, often without our conscious participation. We may feel like our modern life is very different than someone who lived 100 or even 1,000 years ago, yet there are some commonalities of experience. Love, loss, and grief are universal. For example, I remember that surge of love when holding each of my children in my arms and simultaneously realizing my mother had this same experience. I have this connection across time with my mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers back through the ages.
Throughout history, there were many twists and turns that made up your genetic and energetic mix. One of those twists can be seen in my family’s lineage. During World War II, my father served on two different ships that were sunk. Many of his friends and shipmates died, but he was rescued each time. I’m here because of a twist of fate, for which I am grateful.
You don’t exist in a bubble. There are innumerable human ancestors that led us to today, whether they are in your direct lineage or not. Be grateful to your ancestors who began gardening, discovered the healing power of herbs, created fiber from plants, created language, told stories, made each other laugh, and did so much more. Acknowledge every positive invention, helpful discovery, philosophy of kindness, and hope that helps nurture our world. Tuning in to that unbroken connection to your ancestors is the correspondence of rosemary.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with rosemary and ancestors?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe ancestors?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of ancestors in words or pictures?
• Where does this correspondence of ancestors resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting rosemary or ancestors back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about rosemary and the ancestors?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience rosemary or ancestors today?
• How did I embrace the energy of ancestors today?
• What wisdom does rosemary’s correspondence of ancestors bring to my life?