Sowing the Seeds of Love (© 2022) Dandelion seeds aren't widely celebrated, but they hold so many valuable gifts in their arrow-shaped leaves and intricate sunny flowers. Their seeds carry the potential and beauty of life in feathered umbrellas, bringing food to pollinators and therefore to us. What is it that we can learn from this small but resilient plant?
Sowing the seeds of love
I can guess what you’re thinking, and yes, you’re correct. I’ve been listening to Tears for Fears lately (specifically their “Greatest Hits” album), and since their tunes have the habit of getting stuck in one’s head, of course their music influences my work.
But what better title to give a photo of dandelion seeds than Sowing the Seeds of Love? The song by Tears for Fears is one of hope, connection, and a call to action. “High time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man” is the first line in their song, bringing to light the change that’s been needing to happen for quite possibly lifetimes: cultivating love and peace for all.
Like the deep-rooted belief that dandelions are weeds and only weeds, meant to be taken out with the rest of the trash, so too is our unwillingness to come towards mutual agreement and connection with all beings. They’re both stagnant, still convictions that show humanity’s hesitation to stepping out of the ordinary and accepting life in all of its forms. “The difference between a flower and a weed is a judgement” is a quote that makes me smile every time I come across it.
Dandelions are in fact a huge source of nutrients and food for pollinators, and if our pollinators aren’t fed, where would we be? Just like the importance of this so-called weed, that feeling of connected, shared humanity is vital for making the world a safer, kinder place.
I know there’s stigma with the supposedly “hippie-ish” belief that love should be universal. But it’s been an issue for many years. Think of the past movements in history that have shown people should be equal – equally loved, equally represented, equally cared for. The women’s movement, civil rights movement, LGBTQ+ movement, even recent events in Canada like the trucker’s convoy; all examples of a group of people tired of the norm and ready to shake “up the views of the common man”.
This month’s photo reminds us that we’re all inevitably human, and we all come from the same source, the same plant. Like the umbrellaed seeds from the dandelion, we too travel to spread ideas and grow our beliefs. It’s up to us whether that wandering, nomadic voice is one that shows our collective, common humanity, or one that further divides it.
It’s time to eat all our words, swallow our pride, open our eyes. Together, let’s sow the seeds of love.
WOW! After listening to a heady lecture by Jordan Peterson (“This lesson from the Bible will make you unstoppable”), I found this blog conveys much more meaning for me. Your message definitely triggers many levels of perspectives and you will likely enjoy the following facts on dandelions:
“Dandelion makes the only flower representing three celestial bodies during different phases of its life cycle – sun, moon, stars. The yellow flower of the plant resembles the sun, the dispersing seeds of the plant resemble stars, and the puff ball of dandelion plant resembles the moon.
Dandelions have been a vital element in the field of traditional Chinese medicine for around a thousand years. Considered as a native to Mediterranean, dandelion plants were known quite well by ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. The leaves and roots of the plant were medicinally used as a tonic for removing toxins from bloodstream, as they serve as a mild diuretic to improve the digestive system functioning.
Ancient physicians were not much aware of vitamin and nutrition deficiencies. However, they found that dandelions were beneficial in many problems, including fevers, toothaches, constipation, anemia, arthritis, diabetes, gall bladder problems, heartburn, skin irritations, and liver, stomach and kidney disorders. Modern herbalists now realize that growing dandelions are enriched with Vitamins A, E, and C, as well as iron, zinc, and calcium.
The beauty of the plants was also appreciated. Making dye was a common application of the plants – pale yellow dye was made from the yellow dandelion flower and a purplish hue was derived from inner ribs of dandelion leaves.
Botanists state that some dandelion species are originally from North America. However, according to historians, early European settlers had introduced the plant’s two most familiar species – common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and red-seeded dandelion (Taraxacum erythrospermum) – to the New World owing to their medicinal and nutritional benefits. Both of these dandelion types have naturalized and are found abundantly across the country” (All American Turf Beauty 2022).
Thanks for your comment, Gramps! And for the facts – very interesting stuff.
I love your post and photo title! <3 I hope that we can stop the pattern of negative labels and dehumanization when there are disagreements between opinions or beliefs. An amazing picture and message.
Thank you, Mom! Much appreciated <3