People have been whispering over seeds as long as we have been planting them. Call it a blessing, spell, or prayer—people have been encouraging plants this way for a very long time. Science currently has no way to prove the efficacy of this approach. Rather than seeing this a short coming of science, it’s often viewed as naivety and the practice has been denigrated in my (dominate) culture. Monoculture farming and other technological approaches to seed sowing haven’t helped. I could talk about how some quantum scientists are now proposing that the universe itself is conscious or infused with consciousness. Knowing that would it give you “permission” to wish your seeds well before tucking them into the soil?
Part of what I hope to do is restore some inner faith in our ability, as humans, to bestow care upon the natural world. We can’t do that unless we give our human gifts freely, unfiltered, and without judgement. One of our human gifts is speech—elaborate, complex—a product of culture and identity, constantly changing. Our words change other people. Think about how you feel when someone tells you “I appreciate you and your efforts.” The intent behind those words moved you. That other person, feeling appreciation for you, changed the way you felt. It might change the way you behave.
Interspecies exchange is complex – we don’t all have the same gifts to share, we don’t all have the same way to say “I appreciate you” or “thank you”. But insisting that an exchange of that kind can only happen between humans is isolating and depressing. Some may say it’s depressing but nonetheless true. True how? By what proof? Many of us have been deeply conditioned to disbelieve anything that has not been proven in a scientific study. But why?
As a way to break down some of this conditioning I often ask myself: where is the harm? Where is the harm is whispering encouragement to a handful of seeds? What the worst that can happen? That they do not hear me. What is the best that can happen? That they feel the intent of my words and it helps them take root. Saying these simple words helps remind me of the tiny miracles of life I am planting. Engaging with my gratitude and awe, in collaboration with nature, fills me up in ways that allows me to show up in the rest of my life.
A Seed Blessing
Blessings upon these seeds,
Containers of creation.
May you grow and flourish
With your wisdom of generations.
Seeds pictured are from Wild Dreams Farm and Seed – the most lovingly grown seeds – I’m so lucky to live nearby – they are also available online!