Today I had the pleasure of walking down the big hill at Learning in the Woods with Elizabeth Boyd, Registered Herbalist. She has walked down this path every Wednesday for the past 2 months and as an herbalist, she is very familiar with all of the plants along the path and how they change as the seasons change. Today she was so excited. She spotted many first year Mellein plants, a biennial meaning that it takes 2 years to complete its botanical lifecycle. She also said that it is new to our pathway and can be used to treat ailments in children such as ear infections. By the time she finished her explanation, we had reached another new clump of plants which she said was called Motherswort, a plant used most often for anxious mothers. Suddenly I became aware of the irony in our path. I turned to Elizabeth and said, “Do you mean that the new plants that are growing on our path are reflective of the people using this path?” Yes. “Is that your belief system; that nature will provide the plants and herbs that are most needed by the people living in the space?” Yes, it happens all the time.
That was kind of mind blowing to me. These herbs were growing where mothers trudge down the pathway with their kids on their way down to base camp. These herbs were emerging in this shared space in response to the energetic needs of the people using the path…that same day I learned that Elizabeth first studied as a chemical engineer before becoming a registered herbalist. After reflecting on this, I think I have a better understanding of her perspective, knowing her science background and passion about herbalism. 
To bring this back to the pathway leading to basecamp at Learning in the Woods, Mothers and children arrive with their particular energy quality and our natural environment along the footpath responds to that energy quality. At the very least it responds to offer a restoration of balance but it may be responding in a way that transforms too. Mothers who are worried, if in tune with nature’s offering, can use Motherswort to restore balance in their hearts and minds, and let go of their worry and anxiety for their children. In that work of rebalancing, they are potentially able to transform though to a higher energy quality…they have the potential to become a better parent, a better person? 
Imagine if we were all aware and in tune with universal energy. Not only would we trust the universe but we would send out a question or problem and wait for the answer to show itself. Beautiful!