On days like these when the outside world is a little too loud and my soul a little too quiet it came to me: there is little consolation in the little marvels of nature. These pictures I took a few days ago returned to me today, and I thought I would share them. These are pictures of the foxglove. This regal plant that is so much more than a flower.
When I took my camera out that day, the unique aesthetic of this plant in all its kingdom came quickly into the viewfinder. Look at how the calyx hangs as if they hang like tiny bells at the end of a graceful stem, in the prettiest shades of purple and white with a sprinkle of riddled dots inside. It had an unreal beauty, an elegance that makes you forget everything around you for a moment.
The beauty of the Foxglove is not only skin deep, it is also a master of contrasts. The foxglove is widely known for its toxicology. This is a warning you should heed - the cautions about handling or even eating the voxglove, because as a member of the plant kingdom, all parts of this foxglove contains toxic inconsistencies that can severely impact your health if handled haphazzardly. While it provides beauty and grandeur, I think we should remember that the most beautiful things in life may hold darkness, dangers of consequence, that demand respect and caution.
But it is these very poisonous substances that have made foxglove one of the most recognized, and used, medicinal plants in history. A long time ago, knowledgeable herbalists recognized its potential; today, its active ingredients are just as necessary for medicine, and specifically for treaments for heart disease. See, it is paradoxical, a plant that can kill you can save you. For me, this underlines the often profound symbol of how frequently good and bad go together in our lives.
Perhaps it is this duality that speaks to me so today. The abilities to hold both death and life, beauty and a reminder of the quieter things in life. It is as if nature is telling us that life is full of shades, full of dark and light, and for every bad day (as we all have them) there is always something beautiful and healing to see if we just take the time to look for it.
I hope the images I have provided, and my thoughts about them, can offer you even a small representation of this quiet magic as well. Sometimes we just need a moment to reflect to see how little miracles surround us and draw on them for strength. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the little things that make life great.🙃✌️
Foxglove's Dark Whisper: Beauty, Deception, and Life.
