Motherwort for Strength of Heart

Since I've always thought of February as "Heart Month," and in light of the upcoming Valentine's Day, I decided to feature another plant medicine card, this time on the full moon. I recently participated in an online webinar, The Transformative Power of Co-creating With Plant Consciousness that included a guided meditation by earth elder and plant spirit healer Pam Montgomery. The focus was on Motherwort, one of my favorite herbal remedies who I'm sure would appreciate some extra attention.

The familiar icon of the planet Venus at the top of the card along with the common name of the plant will tell you that Motherwort is an herb that has a special affinity with the feminine and maternal in all of us. Creator of this card deck, Adriana Ayales cites its folk reputation as one considered to, among other things, "guard pregnant women and their unborn children from envy or evil air."

The images depicted on the card are especially significant to understanding the feminine energy of this plant and the origins of its name. The goddess figure holds within herself the female reproductive system crafted partially with Motherwort's distinctive leaves. These are said to resemble the tip of a lion's tail which explains the first part of its botanical name, Leonurus cardiaca.

Interestingly enough, this month's full moon is in the sign of Leo, and If you take yet another look at the card, there's an affectionate lion snuggling contentedly into the veil of the meditating goddess. She is surrounded by what appears to be rose quartz--the crystal most associated with love in all its manifestations. The goddess protects an illuminated red heart that also calls to mind Motherwort's healing medicine that supports the physical body, especially the cardio vascular system ("cardiaca").

Many herbalists will suggest Hawthorn for heart issues, especially to those with a family history of blood pressure imbalances. Motherwort, on the other hand, is called for when the heart may be affected by stress and anxiety. Since both physical and emotional issues can impact heart health, these herbs are often found together in cardiac support formulas.

Like most plants, Motherwort has other uses, but it's been known over centuries for the ability to calm the nervous system and treat female disorders. Nicholas Culpepper, the famous 17th century herbalist instructed that Leonurus cardiaca is “useful for removing melancholy vapors from the heart, improving cheerfulness, and settling the wombs of mothers.”

On a related and more contemporary note, here's a two minute video created by world renown author, teacher, and herbalist Susun Weed , considered to be the voice of the Wise Woman Tradition. It's worth a look for visuals of blooming Motherwort along with a botanical companion:

As you can see, this herb has much to offer in the way of mind and body medicine, but the time has come to consider how Motherwort and other plants can also be spiritually transformative both personally and globally.

In Pam Montgomery's guided meditation, we're encouraged to experience the healing exchange of breath between ourselves and Motherwort. She tells us that connecting to plants in this way allows us to recognize that "we're on the threshold of a tipping point where raising our consciousness just a wee bit is all it takes to shift the paradigm..." Here she is referring to replacing the "old story" of separateness with the "new story" of "unity consciousness." This is indeed heart medicine on a higher level.

---

As always, thanks for letting me share my thoughts and journey with you. I welcome your input, so if you want to submit a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post. If you are interested in booking a personal session, you can do this here:

https://www.plantmedicineandmagic.com/book-online

You can also contact me via email at: my.plant.allies@gmail.com

For now, here's wishing you wellness, wisdom and bloomin' vibes!