20/02/2026
How to speak to plants 💚
There is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to sit with plants in my upcoming book: Outlander Herbal.
Here's a little insight into my plant journalling process.
When I speak about 'talking to plants' or Plant Communication. This is what I mean.
It's not an occult practise or art form that only a few gifted mystics or shamans can master. Plant communication is what anyone who spends time in nature 'pondering' does automatically.
Equally scientists, botanists, ecologists are communicating with plants when they observe them closely in their environment. Goethe famously developed a scientific method for communicating with plants, as a means to by-pass our own filters of perception, and perceive plants as 'beings' without our preconceptions.
While I have been part of many Goethe plant studies, for me, the way I have got a flavour of the language of plants, has been to observe and take notes over time of my thoughts and feelings and observations, when plants 'Speak' to me in Nature.
Here is the first page of my meeting Mugwort a few years ago. Although, I personally have worked with and used mugwort for many years. On this sunny day when it called to me, I tried to forget everything I already knew about her.
I started by writing the first thing that came into my head.
I was rushing by on my walk and it felt like the plant said:
"Do not pass me by. A little time moment spent with Mugwort harms no-one"
Said with the authority of a loving grandmother!
Next I sat with the plant, looking closely at the details. How the plant connects to the ground. The differences between the young plants and older ones. The fine changes between young leaves, older leaves, flowers, seed heads etc.
I don't overthink or edit anything. I just write what I see/think and will consider it later. I'm looking for what stands out to me.
When I have considered the small details of the plant, I then take a step back to consider the whole plant. I note my feelings, or anything that comes to mind as I take an overview of the whole of Mugwort.
Next I sit with my eyes closed and write down thoughts, feelings, colours, visions.
For me, sitting with her, I went on to see with my eyes closed, silver light, which turned into silver beings with wings the shape of Mugwort leaves and a 'downy white silvery soft velvet coating' "They are bright silvery white and flutter"
I then went on to note some thoughts relating to my life, and also some plants that mugwort reminds me of, Meadowsweet and vervain came to mind.
I note that Mugwort is a plant of Venus, and consider the feelings I am having and qualities that might be attributed to Venus.
(In Plant Astrology, the downy coating on plant leaves like velvet, is often a sign of Venusian rulership)
Over time, by keeping a journal like this, you will begin to have a deeper understanding of plants, seeing the relationships between families for instance, or planetary rulers, or by understanding the similarities in plant chemistry, and how those plants feel similar.
You will also understand your own inner way of communicating with plants. Your secret language, that only you can decode.
Those little bright beings I saw with my mind's eye, for instance, may not be how Mugwort appears to others.
The details I note of importance, may not be the details you or anyone else notices. The next time I sit with Mugwort may in fact be entirely different.
This is the beauty of plant Journalling.
Every person's experience is unique, and each time spent with a plant will be different. Overtime though, you will notice patterns and observations that hod real meaning and healing.
The journey itself is also a way of deeply connecting to Nature and understanding parts of yourself that are not normally given a space for expression in Daily Life.
Why not start a Plant Journal today?
If it makes it feel safer, you know that what you write doesn't need to be shared with any other person. It is solely for your own private use. I am choosing to share a small insight of mine for others to learn from.
If you do want to share and get feedback from others though, I'd love to hear your own experiences with Plant Communication too!
