It’s a Family Affair: Plant Spirit Medicine Comes to San Rafael

Back on April third people began to arrive around 7pm. They quickly filled the seats we had arranged in the ornately adorned meeting room at Open Secret Bookstore in San Rafael, California. We set out more chairs and these were filled. Soon no more seats would fit in the space and people watched and listened from the adjoining hallway. I was very happy to see several old friends, all students of Eliot’s, had come. I was also beside myself with feelings of good fortune—My Mom and Dad who had been helping me organize and publicize this event for several days had come. Also my brother, Christopher had taken a bus from Los Angeles and was donating his audio recording expertise for the evening.

As always I enjoyed hearing Eliot’s stories—how he came to rediscover the spirit medicine that plants have shared so generously. When he was finished telling his stories, audience members eagerly offered their excellent questions. One woman, an herbalist asked whether the plants wished for anything in return for their generosity. Eliot’s face showed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to talk about the important roll of exchange in maintaining good relationships of all kinds. My favorite discussion was about how plants, who, unlike humans, do not see themselves as separate from everything else and therefore are eager to see us “join the party.”

 Additional shout outs of gratitude to: Porter who was very helpful at the bookstore; also to Vicky, Linda, Randy and Wendy whose engagement with the audience really deepened everyone’s experience.
 -- Mace Fleeger