Justin Faerman – For thousands of years, medicinal herbs and plants have been used to heal and strengthen the body and mind. So much so, in fact, that researchers and scientists have taken great interest in studying their effects in recent decades. And while this has generally been a positive thing, much of the ancient knowledge regarding the energetic and spiritual effects of these plants has been lost or buried in the process due to the simple fact that it is often difficult or impossible to measure with modern research equipment.

However, that is not to say that that which cannot be measured does not exist. A few hundred years ago, the electron was an unknown particle, but of course, it existed then just as much as it does now, despite our ignorance. And the same thing is true of the energetic and spiritual properties of plants—for those who are perceptive and sensitive on more subtle levels of reality, these properties are, in fact, very real and potent despite the fact that many are not aware of their existence.

Furthermore, many sophisticated, ancient systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine have many classical texts that go into great depth and detail mapping and outlining the psycho-spiritual and energetic effects of plants and herbal medicines. In fact, ancient physicians often considered this subtle level of treatment (psycho-spiritual and energetic) even more important than working on the physical level for the successful healing of an ailment, which, ironically, was merely seen as the symptomatological level and not the actual root of the disharmony itself.

The point in case is that herbs can be powerful consciousness-shifting agents with very real and meaningful spiritually activating properties. And while most know this to be true of shamanic herbal concoctions like Ayahuasca and so on, many forget that everyday herbs that can be readily purchased at your local health food store can have similar effects, although far more manageable in day to day life. In the hopes of restoring and reawakening some of this lost ancient knowledge, I’d like to highlight three of my personal favorite herbs that have distinct and noticeable spiritually activating effects for those who are sensitive enough to perceive them. Continue reading →