This is a book about our hearts as perceptive and transmissive organs (I'm not sure how it got a title of little relation to the content of the book).

The most interesting parts of the book are down the line of inquiry of Goethian Science—ways that we can increase our sensory perception. I'm interested in learning more about heart fields (the magnetic fields of our heart).

That said, this book is very challenging to read. It is poorly edited, and feels more like a first draft than something ready for publication. Buhner quotes so extensively that a reader quickly loses his narrative arc; in some ways it is more of a literature review, although one that is haphazard and incomplete. His pacing is also poor; the first fifth of the book focuses on "linearity," a topic he could have covered in a few pages. ( )

Throughout the world there is a tradition of direct perception of nature through the "intelligence of the heart." Recent discoveries in neuroscience have proven that over 50% of the heart is comprised of neural cells. The heart is, in fact, a brain in its own right. Heart-centered perception can be exceptionally accurate and detailed in its information gathering capacities, as indigenous and ancient peoples assert.

Stephen Buhner is an earth poet, deep ecologist, and herbalist. From this page you can listen to two part podcast of him talking about some of the differences between earth-based worldviews and the scientific, mechanistic worldview, as well as the non-linearity of nature and some of the energetics of life. He talks about the current ecological catastrophe that seems to be everywhere, and how exactly we can go about being alive and response-able in such a painful time.
Podcast is titled The Lost Language of Plants and the Perceptive Heart
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=19979&allEpisodes= ( )

The Secret Teachings of Plants is a book that does much more than remind us of the importance of Nature in our lives. It provides simple skills to help us make a much deeper connection to the natural world and bring our lives back into balance. Too often we get so caught up in the busyness of the human world that we become numb to ourselves. It is at times like this when we need a sage like Stephen Buhner to guide us back to the wisdom the other living beings of this planet have for us.

The book is based on a wonderfully insightful concept of the “intelligence of the heart.” Recent discoveries in neuroscience have proven that more than 50% of the heart is comprised of neural cells. It is from our hearts that we process our energetic connection to everything we come in contact with. The problem is that we have cut ourselves off from this connection by allowing ourselves to be caught up in our rational, analytical minds.

Buhner explains that the knowledge of plant medicines that ancient and indigenous peoples have, comes, not through trial and error experimentation, but is directly transmitted from the plants themselves. And while this may seem like a stretch to the rational, analytical mind caught up in the post-industrial, television-based world, deep within all of us this truth awaits rediscovery.

The first part of the book contains scientific explanations and linear analysis. The second part is a stream of consciousness, full of quotes and practices for enhancing our relationship with plants. When I first started the book I loved the first part and was a bit skeptical of the 2nd half. But once I began reading that part, I realized that the first half was merely setting the stage and the second part is where the real understanding lies.

The consciousness of plants may be vastly different from our understanding of consciousness. Interacting with plants is not simply about talking to them. It is much more about opening the lines of communication with them on an energetic level and sharing our lifeforce. By opening our hearts and experiencing nature in its fullness we can begin to realize this connection.

Personally I have been cultivating my relationship with plants for many years, yet while reading this book I found my experience reaching a deeper level of understanding, to the point of profound wonder at this world we live in. See for yourself….read the book.

in peace,
Aaron ( )

A0019