Because my next essay is on pine nuts, I've actually been thinking about that and plan to address it. In my view, any part of the plant can be used to faciliate a connection to the whole plant and its totem. Thus, pine nuts can be used to help one spiritually with any of the lessons Pine itself offers. However, working with one specific part of the plant is also likely to cause a focus on the lessons and symbolisms of the whole plant that are connected to that part, possibly overshadowing other lessons and symbols of that totem. As examples, the way we interact with Garlic is largely through its bulb, so aspects of the bulb (how it smells, its growth underground, its ability to asexually spawn new plants) are far more likely to be used by Garlic to communicate lessons to humans rather then lessons that could be learned from, say, its stems or leaves. A totem like Pine has many ways humans can relate to it. We can visit and study the tree itself, use the scent of its needles for aromatherpy and ritual, and craft items from its wood. If someone were to choose to use pine nuts as their primary method for connecting to Pine, all of this can be available to them. However, the use of pine nuts is likely to facilitate a greater focus on the nature of Pine's cones and seeds. Teachings centered on protection of seeds from predators, the importance fire can sometimes play in releasing those seeds, and the phallic symbolism pine cones have in some cultures are more likely to come up while focusing on pine nuts.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-05-16 11:46 am (UTC)As examples, the way we interact with Garlic is largely through its bulb, so aspects of the bulb (how it smells, its growth underground, its ability to asexually spawn new plants) are far more likely to be used by Garlic to communicate lessons to humans rather then lessons that could be learned from, say, its stems or leaves.
A totem like Pine has many ways humans can relate to it. We can visit and study the tree itself, use the scent of its needles for aromatherpy and ritual, and craft items from its wood. If someone were to choose to use pine nuts as their primary method for connecting to Pine, all of this can be available to them. However, the use of pine nuts is likely to facilitate a greater focus on the nature of Pine's cones and seeds. Teachings centered on protection of seeds from predators, the importance fire can sometimes play in releasing those seeds, and the phallic symbolism pine cones have in some cultures are more likely to come up while focusing on pine nuts.