Meet the plants: rosemary
I have a friend named Rosemary — a name I can’t forget.
-Anonymous
Rosmarinus officinalis
Somehow we know rosemary even if we don’t cook with it regularly. Some say rosemary is the scent of deja vu. This aromatic herb has been hailed since ancient times for its powerful medicinal properties, culinary attributes and energetic relationships to death, and remembrance. Perhaps our own DNA knows this better than our recipe book. Traditionally rosemary is used to help alleviate muscle pain, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth. Rosemary has significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-tumorigenic, anti-nociceptive, and neuroprotective properties. Lots of science words there. Basically, rosemary shows important clinical effects on mood, learning, memory, pain, anxiety, and sleep. Go easy with rosemary however– too much can upset the stomach, give you the runs or cause involuntary muscle spasms.
Perhaps you have seen rosemary hanging above doorways attracting love and protection? You may have also seen this herb planted on top of tombs or memorials- Rosemary has become a universal symbol of remembrance. According to Mother Earth News, “many legends surround this remarkable plant. One such tale has it that, during the flight into Egypt, the Virgin Mary washed her blue cloak and hung it on a rosemary bush to dry …whereupon the shrub changed its white flowers to blue in her honor. The aromatic perennial is also supposed to flourish in households where the woman is dominant …and not to grow at all in the gardens of the wicked!”
An elder rosemary bush in the Abolitionist’s Sanctuary, New Orleans.
Rosemary reminds of memories from lifetimes past. The ancient wisdom of this sacred plant is also carried in our human DNA. Rosemary is a great teacher, friend and plancestor.
Rosemary asks us to move beyond cognitive thought and feel the memories of our ancestors and history. How are your ancestors connected to settler colonial history or a history of bondage? How can working with these connections help us to heal and shift the present and future?
How is ancestral memory part of abolitionist practice?
Keep a sprig of rosemary close to your heart to attract love & wisdom. The aromatic smell can also help with memory.