“All squirrels go to Heaven when they die,” the monk said as we walked onto the lawn after the service one spring Sunday. “And so do the trees, and all the other plants and flowers.” He checked to see if I had sensible footwear before we stepped onto the grass. He, I, and a young man who was a prospective monk were going to see if a squirrel they thought they’d heard fall out of a tree the night before was still on the ground. It was nowhere to be found.
I took this as a good sign. “Most likely, it recovered, and scurried into the forest somewhere,” I offered. The others agreed. It had been a young squirrel, a baby. “Heaven isn’t so different from this,” the monk continued, looking toward the edge of the woods. “It’s just that, you don’t suffer. And you can pick a saint to show you around when you arrive.” The sun beat down on his black robe. I finally felt at home, so relieved to have found others who viewed the universe the way I did, in which every object, even those that are inanimate, has a spirit and a soul.
Rod Dreher illustrates this view in “The Benedict Option” when he writes about how “people of the Middle Ages lived in what philosopher Charles Taylor calls an ‘enchanted world.’” Dreher lists the basics that make up what Taylor calls the “medieval Christian ‘imaginary,’” and they are:
The world and everything in it is part of a harmonious whole ordered by God and filled with meaning — and all things are signs pointing to God.
Society is grounded in that higher reality.
The world is charged with spiritual force.
When I discovered this illustration from “The Dreamer of Dreams” by Edmund Dulac, it spoke to the state I had been in this spring, which was one of both spiritual illumination and spiritual darkness. I identified with the woman on the ground, clinging to my faith in the form of a cross or a sword, in a society which is doing everything it can to destroy it. The shadowy figures above represent the opinions of others, which I am doing my best to ignore. And in front of me sits an animal spirit, engaged in my protection. Having shut my eyes to the realities of this world, I am somehow contented, feeling my psyche and subconscious to be mysteriously in tune with the stars above. The only all-knowing figure in the painting is the bird, perhaps representing God Himself.
In the spirit of this painting, and of the solace and healing it portrays, and in homage to the squirrel who is either now in Heaven or in the forest behind the monastery, I offer this list. It is a directory of basic solutions to the ailments of man- and womankind. Each travail is answered by three elements: 1) a Bible verse; 2) a corresponding Bach flower essence; and 3) an herbal remedy. May it aid you in your quest for understanding.
Note: Information for this post is taken from four sources. They are the Holy Bible (New International Version), “The Encyclopedia of Bach Flower Therapy” by Mechthild Scheffer, “Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina” by Thelma Hall, r.c., and “Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs” by Scott Cunningham.
Despair
Bible verse: Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Flower essence: Sweet Chestnut. Known as the “deliverance flower,” it aids those undergoing a dark night of the soul who are in need of utter abandon to the Divine.
Herbal remedy: Lavender. This plant brings peace and knowledge of God’s goodness. A sprig of it may be placed beside one’s pillow for spiritual comfort.
Anxiety
Bible verse: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Flower essence: Rock Rose. This flower helps with panic attacks and moments of extreme fear.
Herbal remedy: Mint. Common garden mint has been known throughout the centuries to calm an anxious stomach. It is excellent in either hot or iced tea.
Financial need
Bible verse: God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
Flower essence: Wild Oat. This flower helps those who are unable to determine a career path or discern stable employment.
Herbal remedy: Basil. Keeping a basil plant in one’s home is thought to bring prosperity.
Suffering
Bible verse: I am the man who has seen affliction … [God] has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. (Lamentations 3:1, 3:6)
Flower essence: Star of Bethlehem. This is the classic remedy for all kinds of grief, sorrow, and shock.
Herbal remedy: Chamomile. A great comforter, it can be used in tea or sprinkled into bathwater.
Desire for understanding
Bible verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
Flower essence: Aspen. This is the solution for those who are unsettled by their perceptions or sensations, and it helps with entrance into “subtle planes of consciousness.”
Herbal remedy: Artemisia. This beautiful plant brings prophetic dreams when placed inside one’s pillowcase.
Loneliness
Bible verse: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Flower essence: Water Violet. Taken typically for isolation, this plant helps with both the ability to tolerate solitude and the capacity to enjoy company.
Herbal remedy: Lemon. All parts of this citrus fruit are a great aid in developing new friendships.
Blaming others
Bible verse: How can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:4)
Flower essence: Willow. Even if one has endured hardships at the hands of others, this remedy guards against development of victim mentality.
Herbal remedy: Sweetpea. Wearing its flowers is said to bring strength, and as an alternative, the peas themselves may be added to salad as spiritual fortification.
Struggling against obstacles
Bible verse: Jesus looked at them and said, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)
Flower essence: Gentian. This is the ultimate faith flower. It overcomes discouragement, and comes to your aid when you need to believe.
Herbal remedy: Chicory. Known as the great opener of locks. When placed in a dish near one’s bedside or on a personal altar, it helps with mental space for new possibilities.
Lust
Bible verse: Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, World English Bible)
Flower essence: Holly. This is the all-purpose love remedy. It brings about affection for one’s community and humanity in general, rather than physical desire for particular individuals.
Herbal remedy: Cucumber. The inside of this vegetable is cooling and calming when included in salad or placed on the skin. It promotes chastity.
Wanting to give up
Bible verse: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)
Flower essence: Gorse. This flower is excellent for those who have tried to find solutions and no longer feel hope in the face of a difficult situation. It aids in taking heart, beginning to see a way forward again.
Herbal remedy: Primrose. It guards against adversity, and when planted in the garden, attracts fairies.