Meet the Snapdragon flower seed pod which bears the stark appearance of a human skull (or a human face screaming in agony).
The Snapdragon flower (aka Antirrhinum or dragon flower) can be found in many household gardens and gets its name from its flower which resembles a dragon’s head (squeeze the snapdragon flower and the “dragon” mouth will open and close making it “talk”). Yet once the flower has died it leaves behind a seed pod with the macabre appearance of a human head.
The Snapdragons name (Antirrhinum) comes from the Greek words “anti,” meaning like, and “rhin,” meaning nose. Many years ago, people thought the plant possessed mystical powers and would place them around their homes to shield the house from curses and witches. In Victorian days, the flower was a symbol of deception, suspicion, and mystery. Legend has it that concealing a snapdragon in your clothes makes a person appear fascinating, gracious, and cordial. Today they are a favorite in gardens around Europe, United States, and North Africa because, well, they look like dragon heads!
If you are itching to grow one, know that they are cold-season plants that do best in the sunlight. You can plant them right before the spring season starts. Keep them well watered for the first few weeks and after that, give them about 1 inch of water every week. When grown, they stand from 6 inches up to 3 feet tall. When dead they’ll leave behind the creepy tokens you can collect for display.
Known as Petunia cultivars, night sky petunias or galaxy flowers (we're sticking with 'galaxy flowers'), the rich purple color is enough to make these flowers stand out. But it's the intricate, lighter-colored patterns on these petunias that give them their name.
The scientific name of the “galaxy flower” is the Petunia Cultivars, and they are a type of Petunia. They are a deep purple flower, which tend to be specked with unique white dots on their petals, creating what bears striking resemblance to a celestial body, or galaxy. The white freckles on their petals seem to have drawn parallels to different galaxies and faraway star clusters and constellations. Indeed, these celestial flowers are a sight to behold! They are frequently referred to as Night Sky Petunias, and can be planted indoors, in a planter.
Each pattern on the flowers is unique, and no two flowers seem to come exactly the same. The pattern variance is due to temperature, and they are very reactive to their environment. So much so, that they require warm temperatures during the day (100 F), and very cool temperatures at night (50 F) to survive. They originally hail from South America, and interestingly enough have a close relation to potatoes, eggplants, and even tobacco.
The “galaxy flower”, or Night Sky Petunia, was introduced to Europe in the 19th century, and was most often used to decorate balconies and add a touch of color to gardens.
Petunias come in a wide array of colors, which span from yellow, red, pink, white, purple and include a mixture of different patterns (nearly 35 to count.)
These beautiful flowers can be sown easily from seed, and can be planted indoors, in a planter.
Want to grow a little personal galaxy in the comfort of your very own home? Then head on over to Amazon and pick up a pack of Night Sky Petunia seeds.
Trees are the most spiritually advanced living beings on the Earth who are constantly in a meditative state and subtle energy is what they speak as a language. I have always loved trees. I love walking through the forest, and sitting under trees to meditate and connect with their energy.
Trees have a long and rich history of sharing the spiritual path with humanity.
Trees have been involved in a number of religious and spiritual practices. Many mythologies around the globe have stories of a “world or cosmic” tree. The roots, trunk and branches of the tree represent the underworld, earth, and heavens respectively.
Even biblical scriptures mention trees as in the “tree of life” and the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” in the book of Genesis. Buddhism has connections to the Bodhi tree where Buddha was known to have reached enlightenment as he sat and meditated. Druids were known to practice worship among sacred groves of trees.
The Kabbalist recognize the fifteenth of the month of Aquarius, the day known as Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees. It is the 24 hour window in time in which the trees receive their energy for the entire year–whether they will grow and whether fruits will grow from them.
Tree: Healer and Friend
Trees are a source of energy on many levels. Physically they help people and the planet by providing oxygen and shade. They can provide shelter and habitats for animals. Some trees also give their fruit and wood to help ensure our survival.
The energy of trees can also affect our mental, emotional and spiritual bodies of energy. Consider for example the peace and serenity people feel when they sit under a tree or walk through a forest. And what about the feelings of joy and excitement that children feel when climbing a tree or the magic of spending time in a treehouse?
Trees like all living things have an energy frequency or vibration and an aura. Trees are quite intelligent and they do have a sense of touch and feel and they have conscious emotions too.
With roots reaching deep into the earth, they have excellent grounding energy. Their vibrations are slower, deeper and more concentrated compared to some other living things. Essentially they give out the energy vibe of safety, security and stability.
By coming into contact with a tree you will pick up these vibrations whether you are consciously aware of it or not. You begin to resonate with the tree’s energy and you become more centered and grounded. This can help explain the comfort many people feel when next to a tree.
Through the time in history, trees have been used for various healing and medicinal purposes.
Trees can help open your energy channel and help them reciprocate with healing their blockages. A relationship with the tree is a mutually beneficial one which needs to be nourished.
They radiate Chi, nourish the blood system, strengthen the nervous system and ensure longevity. Trees fill the soul and our spirit. Pines are the immortal trees. Although pine trees are mostly the best choice, many other trees or plants can be used.
Establishing a communication with a tree
First of all, each tree, like each person, has a personality, desires, and a life of its own. Trees differ widely in their taste for human contact. Some are very generous and want to give you all the energy you can take. Others are weak or ill and need your comforting and healing energy. Some are just friendly souls who enjoy human company. You can learn and grow by working with all of them.
There is a certain size range within which trees are most accessible to human beings. When a tree is too small, it does not have enough energy to make much of an impression on you. When the tree is too big, you have the opposite problem, so it takes more persistence to get large trees to take an interest in you. As a source of healing energy, it is best to choose a large, robust tree from within the accessible size range.
Among the most powerful are trees growing near running water. Some trees feel warmer or hotter than others; some feel cooler or colder than others.
Sit under the tree that calls out to you. Place your back against it if you can… You can also stand in front and place your palms on the trunk. Close your eyes and breathe.
Be patient and listen, as the guidance from trees sometimes comes slowly, but when it does it is incredibly helpful and profound. You may hear guidance from the tree, or receive mental images, which is a common way for trees to communicate.
In addition to asking for help and healing from the trees, ask what you can do for them.
Trees operate on a longer time scale than do human beings. You can help to bridge this gap by returning again and again to the same tree, so that a relationship develops. Visit regularly so that the tree knows when to expect you and can look forward to seeing you. Spiritual communion with trees resembles love more than any other human activity. Let the tree lead you into the wonders of its own inner life.
They have the power to unlock your intuition and help you in your spiritual journey.
Does hugging trees really improve your well-being? Science says YES!
This ancient practice has been confirmed to have advantages that improve health issues ranging from concentration levels and reaction times to depression, ADHD and other forms of mental illness. The studies conducted can be found in Matthew Silverstone’s book, Blinded by Science, where his research even indicated a tree’s ability to relieve headaches.
The studies conclude that children function better cognitively and emotionally when they interact with plants. Although many believe it’s the green open spaces that contribute to the effect, Silverstone demonstrates that the vibrational properties of trees and plants offer health benefits.
Hugging a tree increases levels of hormone oxytocin. This hormone is responsible for feeling calm and emotional bonding. When hugging a tree, the hormones serotonin and dopamine make you feel happier.
There is one other school of thought are in alignment with this remarkable theory: Taoism.
Taoists observe that trees not only have the power to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen but they have the capacity to absorb any negative energy and convert into something useful.
For example, the Taoist master Mantak Chia teaches students to meditate with trees, as a way of release “negative energies.” In his Cosmic Tree Healing Qigong method, Master Chia teaches how to align one’s body with the “aura” (or energetic field) of a tree. He explains that trees are natural processors that can help you transform your body’s sick or negative energy into positive, vital life force energy. As you connect your energy with the tree you facilitate your own physical and emotional healing. The Taoist theory is that because trees stand very still, they are better at absorbing the Earth’s Energy and the Universal Force from the Heavens. Trees and all plants have the ability to absorb the light frequencies and transform them into physical food; and they do the same with energetic food. The Taoist view of trees is to see them constantly in meditation, with subtle energy as their natural language.
One other fascinating laboratory that studies plant vibrational energies is Damanhur, an intentional community in Italy. In this peaceful and spiritual ecovillage there is a laboratory in the woods that offers a beautiful choir of singing trees. Yeah, you read that right… Singing trees. Since 1976, researchers at Damanhur have invented and developed equipment that can capture electromagnetic changes on the surface of leaves and roots, transforming them into actual sounds. The best part is, these trees seem to control their electrical responses via a feedback mechanism, and demonstrate a kind of awareness and preference for types of music. The singing plants and trees of Damanhur have sparked off such a worldwide fascination that the people began organizing “Plant Concerts”, where musicians perform to the music created by the trees.
Watch this 15-minute video of a beautiful demonstration singing plants while one of Damanhur’s researchers explain the phenomenon.
While it may seem obvious that a good hike through a forest or up a mountain can cleanse your mind, body, and soul, science is now discovering that hiking can actually change your brain… for the better!
Hiking in nature can stop negative, obsessive thoughts
Aside from the almost instant feeling of calm and contentment that accompanies time outdoors, hiking in nature can reduce rumination. Many of us often find ourselves consumed by negative thoughts, which takes us out of the enjoyment of the moment at best and leads us down a path to depression and anxiety at worst. But a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that spending time in nature decreases these obsessive, negative thoughts by a significant margin.
To conduct this study, researchers compared the reported rumination of participants who hiked through either an urban or a natural environment. They found those who walked for 90 minutes in a natural environment reported lower levels of rumination and they also had reduced neural activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain related to mental illness. Those who walked through the urban environment, however, did not report decreased rumination.
The researchers noted that increased urbanization closely correlates with increased instances of depression and other mental illness. Taking the time to regularly remove ourselves from urban settings and spend more time in nature can greatly benefit our psychological (and physical) well-being.
Hiking while disconnected from technology boosts creative problem solving
A study conducted by psychologists Ruth Ann Atchley and David L. Strayer found that creative problem solving can be drastically improved by both disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature. Participants in this study went backpacking through nature for about 4 days, during which time they were not allowed to use any technology whatsoever. They were asked to perform tasks which required creative thinking and complex problem solving, and researchers found that performance on problem solving tasks improved by 50% for those who took part in this tech-free hiking excursion.
The researchers of this study noted that both technology and urban noise are incredibly disruptive, constantly demanding our attention and preventing us from focusing, all of which can be taxing to our cognitive functions. A nice long hike, sans technology, can reduce mental fatigue, soothe the mind, and boost creative thinking.
Hiking outdoors can improve ADHD in children
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is becoming more and more common among children. Children who have ADHD have a difficult time with impulse control and staying focused, they get distracted easily, and exhibit excessive hyperactivity.
While raising children who have ADHD can be difficult for parents, the usual solution — opting for prescription medication — may be doing more harm than good, particularly when natural solutions can work just as well. A study conducted by Frances E Kup, PhD, and Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD, found that exposing children with ADHD to “green outdoor activities” reduces symptoms significantly. The results of this studysuggest nature exposure can benefit anyone who has a difficult time paying attention and/or exhibits impulsive behavior.
Hiking in nature is great exercise and therefore boosts brainpower
We already know that exercising is fantastic for our overall well-being. Hiking is an excellent way to burn between 400 – 700 calories per hour, depending on your size and the hike difficulty, and it is easier on the joints than other activities like running. It has also been proven that people who exercise outside are more likely to keep at it and stick to their programs, making hiking an excellent choice for those wishing to become more active on a regular basis.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia found that aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume — the part of the brain associated with spatial and episodic memory — in women over the age of 70. Such exercise not only improves memory loss, but helps prevent it as well. Researchers also found that it can also reduce stress and anxiety, boost self esteem, and release endorphins. Many people take medication to solve each and every one of these issues, but the solution to these ills may be a lot simpler than you think!
How can you begin to start hiking?
Luckily, hiking is one of the easiest and least expensive sports to get involved in, and it can have great benefits for the whole family, including grandma! Start out small and test your abilities. Do what works for you — if that means just walking through trails in a park, that’s fine. Any exercise outdoors is better than none. You can easily find maps of trails around your home online, and there are plenty of smartphone apps to map them out, too. I recommend turning off your signal and your phone while hiking though, so you can reap the most benefits of the hike (though it may be wise to at least carry it with you in case of emergency).
Make sure you have some good sturdy hiking shoes, a hat, and a water bottle, and be sure to layer your clothing so you can take things on or off easily as you warm up and cool down. You may want to consider using trekking poles as well, which can increase your speed and take some of the pressure off your knees. Now, can you just do one thing for me?
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. ~ John Burroughs
There’s a German word, “waldeinsamkeit ," that roughly translates to “the feeling of being alone in the woods.”
From Wald (“forest”) + Einsamkeit (“loneliness”).
It’s meant to describe a singular type of loneliness that is at once isolating, peaceful, and reflective.
Waldeinsamkeit is a strange name for a beautiful idea.
The concept of Waldeinsamkeit might seem scary or unsettling (the idea of being alone in the woods), but it is definitely a positive thing; it suggests a calm, contemplative atmosphere amidst a beautiful setting. If you’ve ever taken a solitary stroll through a forest and felt better for it, then you’ll understand.
Waldeinsamkeit refers to having a connection with nature, and enjoying time alone amongst it. It is no surprise, then, that the Germans have this word, if their forests are anything to go by.
Perhaps the best known German forest is the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in Baden-Württemberg, which was also the setting for many Brothers Grimm fairy tales. When you think about it, a lot of fairy tales are set in forests – Hansel und Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Rumpelstilzchen (Rumpelstiltskin), Schneewittchen (Snow White), and Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood), to name a few! If anyone has experienced Waldeinsamkeit, it’s surely the characters in those fairy tales (at least, before things started to go wrong for them…).
There are even some real-life fairytale castles that exist in the heart of the German forests. The best-known of these is probably King Ludwig II’s Schloss Neuschwanstein, located in Hohenschwangau, Bavaria. This castle is often nicknamed “The fairytale castle”, and for good reason.
Yes, the woods and forests of Germany are certainly magical, mysterious, special places. It is easy to feel alone in them, and to get lost in your own thoughts as you stroll through them. Perhaps that is why the Germans have the word Waldeinsamkeit; they know, more than anyone, what it is to be alone in the woods – and how rejuvenating it can be.
Goethe frequented the Thuringian Forest, taking inspiration from the feeling among the spruce and spas around Ilmenau; Mozart found it in the springs in Carlsbad; successive Kaisers made it part of public health policy, and even Hitler insisted on it to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
And having a spot where you can go and indulge in a little waldeinsamkeit of your own can be a rewarding experience for everyone.
One study from Japan noticed that hiking alone in forests helps reduce stress by lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.
While waldeinsamkeit traditionally implies a dense, quiet wood, the emotional experience can happen just about anywhere. Maybe it’s a meaningful hideaway in your city or town that you like to keep all to yourself, or maybe it’s a bustling public square where you allow yourself to be alone in a crowd.
Tell us about your favorite place to be blissfully alone, and why that place is so perfect for your peaceful solitude, in the comments below.
There's an old saying, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all," and now IKEA are seeking to bring that into 2018 by teaching kids to be nicer to each other… and to plants.
In a bizarre experiment, the Swedish homewares chain asked school students in the United Arab Emirates to bully one of their plants, while complimenting another.
"Plants have feelings, just like people," the company wrote alongside a YouTube video of the project.
"So, what happens when you feed one plant with compliments and another with negative remarks?" they asked.
The company claims that the social experiment was used "to raise awareness on the effects of bullying," and used the hashtag #SayNoToBullying in their media.
Running over the course of a month, the experiment concluded that the plant receiving insults failed to thrive, unlike the plant getting positive attention from students.
Naturally, the video has attracted a lot of criticism online, with many questioning the legitimacy of the astounding outcome, claiming that it was a deceptive, thinly-veiled ad for IKEA.
"There is no way this is sound science. I want this repeated with more plants. This is a hoax," wrote a YouTube commenter.
"Scam ad that's obviously been rigged by the ad agency," said another, adding: "This whole 'experiment' is based on non-existent science. Kudos for doing something for a good cause but this is entirely fake. "
Another viewer wanted to know, "What languages do the plants speak? "
Many argued that because plants lack a nervous system, they do not feel physical or emotional pain like animals and humans do.
Others weren't as sceptical, however, and congratulated IKEA on their positive project, even sharing their own experiences with plant-talk.
"It's true that if you talk to your plants and even sing to them, they grow better and are healthier. I know so coz I have done the same experiment on my own plants. The deterioration of a 'bullied' plant is the same as that of one that's attacked by pests," said a YouTuber.
"Great work IKEA UAE! Here's to more companies using their influence in positive ways! " responded another.
Another suggested that the "haters" should read the 1973 book The Secret Life of Plants, which proposed the idea that plants do react to sound, claiming that plants respond positively to classical music.
Hence, it could be said that while the insults would obviously not be understood linguistically, it's possible that their verbal delivery could have altered the plant in some way.
"Although they may seem passive, plants have their own complex sensory systems too, designed to respond to dangers or other changes in their environment," Alana Schetzer of the University of Melbourne wrote in an online paper.
"Plants may not have eyes, ears or a tongue, but their skin can perform many of the same functions," she continued, adding that plants have an awareness of their surroundings, and "can respond accordingly."
The "plants can hear us" theory was also tested in an episode of The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters.
A team of sceptics divided 60 pea plants into three greenhouses and left them to grow with identical sun exposure, soil and water.
For the duration of the 60-day project, two of the greenhouses were played recorded soundtracks, one of loving praise and one of cruel insults, while the third remained silent.
At the end of the experiment, it was determined by comparing plant masses from the three groups that there was no difference in plant quality between the nice greenhouse and the mean greenhouse.
In fact, both recorded yielding greater biomass and bigger pods than the third, silent greenhouse.
If the Mythbusters' theory is correct, talking to plants, no matter what you say, is beneficial.
Go to a Forest. Walk slowly. Breathe. Open all your senses. This is the healing way of Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest.
Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.
The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.
We have always known this intuitively. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. For example, many trees give off organic compounds that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune system's way of fighting cancer.
The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:
Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body's Natural Killer (NK) cells.
Reduced blood pressure
Reduced stress
Improved mood
Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
Increased energy level
Improved sleep
Longevity
Just as impressive are the results that we are experiencing as we make this part of our regular practice:
Deeper and clearer intuition
Increased flow of energy
Increased capacity to communicate with the land and its species
Increased flow of eros/life force
Overall increase in sense of happiness
Tips:
Make a plan based on your daily physical activity and do not get tired during the forest bathing.
Leave behind your phone, camera or any other distractions, so that you can be fully present in the experience.
Leave behind your goals and expectations. Wander aimlessly, allowing your body to take you wherever it wants.
Smell the fresh air and the evergreens. Get close and smell the flowers.
Pause from time to time, to look more closely at a leaf or notice the sensation of the path beneath your feet. See the trees, the plants growing under foot, the fungi, moss and lichen. Look up, down and all around for animals hiding under rocks, in burrows, and on tree branches. Notice the colors, shapes and textures.
Find a comfy spot to take a seat and listen to the sounds around you. Hear the rustling of leaves, the bird songs, or running water. See how the behavior of the birds and other animals changes when they become used to your presence.
If you feel thirsty, you can drink water/tea anywhere and anytime you like.
Taste the fruits, pine needle or gingko leaf tea. (Be sure to accurately identify any plant you are going to taste.)
If you go with others, make an agreement to resist talking until the end of the walk, when you could gather to share your experiences.
If it is possible, it is better to take a hot spring bath (a spa) after the forest bathing.
