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Herbal Energetics: "You gotta work for what you want in life."

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I've been wanting to write about Nettle for awhile now, but have been waiting for them to tell me what they stand for. Nettle was a herb that never really called to me in the past, even though I appreciated it's medicinal properties. But I also somehow knew that it would come to me when I was ready... cue this spring.

 

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I was planning to go up Island this spring to go find and harvest some Nettle for the season... but low and behold this unique herb grew EVERYWHERE on the beautiful property we moved to earlier this year. In fact, it has grown so much that I have had to pawn Nettle off on other herbal friends since it would be a shame to hoard it all for myself. Everyday I have harvested a little here and there to make tea, pestos, soup, and smoothies, which never fail to disappoint with this salty flavour. Packed with nutrients like Iron, Vitamin C, and many essential minerals, it seems to come at a time where we all need it the most after a stagnant, cold winter. It also cleanses out any toxins we may have accumulated over the last season and promotes urination to empty them. Nettle also helps miraculously with seasonal allergies, coming up right around the time we need to start prepping ourselves for it. It also helps aid rheumatic pain, promote lactation, stop bleeding, and many more benefits; while the root helps prostate issues and seeds act as an adrenal tonic!(something I will get into later)

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The history of this plant is very vast with many different angles to view it from! Indigenous use points at using the stinging nettles of this plant to topically whip on someone experiencing joint pain as it helps bring blood flow to the area. There are some sources saying that by doing so, it also releases serotonin into the system, so it can help alleviate those accumulated winter blues. Roman Nettle has recorded uses of it being used to "keep warm" (indicating its' fiery use). European countries have records of using the seeds to give youth and beauty in horses in order to be sold at markets (hinting at its adrenal tonic use). 

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Many medical astro-herbalists use Nettle as an example in describing how medical astrology works, as Nettle perfectly emulates the essence of Mars. Nettle roots work on the prostate, the seeds target the adrenals, and the leaves bring someone vitality and nutrients to build back strength and valour (all very Mars-like qualities and medicinal points). Mars being a masculine planet that rules action, battle, male reproductive system, adrenals, and hard work. This planet is HOT in temperature, ruling over Aries and Scorpio (if you know anyone with these signs then you should know what I am talking about). This hints at working on our solar plexus as the center of our body is our will, courage, strength, heat, and confidence. Without a strong solar plexus, many will report feeling low energy, sadness and confusion, non-decisive, and little drive. 

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Here is where my interpretation comes in; while working with Nettle this spring, my outward circumstances have forced me to re-evaluate my relationship with work ethic and drive. As someone with a lot of air and earth in my chart, I am either floating with no direction, or stagnant and lazy. Of course I still have positive traits of constant learning and nourishment of the home, but I seem to have always struggled with consistency and drive. As soon as spring hit, my car broke down, my money situation got very poor, my work was reprimanding me for slacking, and my garden looked like an absolute mess. Now, in hindsight, I can see that all of this was teaching me to not harvest my pickings without putting the effort in to help it grow. I tend to have been a lucky person in life, always receiving things at the right timing; which to me has been such a privilege, but also has not taught me to work hard for my earnings. This year things have changed, my 20's are long gone and my 30's have lessons to teach me. People love to bash the "Baby Boomer" generation (can't stand that label), but that generation knew how to work hard for what they wanted, and because they worked hard they wanted their children to have it easier. Well, we are now seeing the byproduct of that, which is entitled and spiritually lost newer generations. As I walked right past my massive Nettle patch yesterday, the phrase "You gotta work for what you want in life" came to me. So simple, yet so lost and forgotten. Nettle, giving me the strength, nourishment, and courage to face my own self-induced issues and pumping me with drive to accomplish what I want to achieve in this lifetime. Keeping my adrenals healthy to work hard in the garden and at work this summer; more importantly, providing that inner fire that I seem to have lacked most of my life. The funny part is, in order to get the magic that Nettle provides, you literally have to work for it. Even when I have gone in there and used scissors and utensils (plz don't judge) to harvest this insanely prickly plant, I got stung many many MANY times. It literally has been hard work just to harvest, process, and consume this herb. This is a plant with attitude that you do NOT want to piss off.

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With the teachings of Nettle, it has given me the drive to keep my head in the game, work my ass off to make my garden the most beautiful garden I have ever laid eyes on and to work hard at my job in order to reap the benefits later. Nettle is like that hard ass Grandparents who takes no shit from anyone. The ones that drill in work ethic and manners in order to see you achieve the goals you desire to see come to fusion in your life. Let Nettle give you the strength to carry out what you never could--as in a few years, you'll look back at this time with laughter and love for your evolved self. 

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-Love Sydney