Got Cosmic Questions? Carol Mann answers your questions in this column in every issue of Teton Spirit Magazine. Email her what you’d like to know! carol@yourcosmiccafe.com She will answer. Plants Have Feelings, too. Here is a summer related question from Susan: “I recently heard that plants are intelligent and have feelings, so now I am a bit freaked out wondering if plants feel pain when I am cutting flowers, pruning trees, mowing the lawn or crushing things underfoot all summer when hiking off trail. Please tell me more about plants and their perceptions.” Many decades ago, Cleve Baxter had a random idea, which became the defining moment for the discovery that plants communicate, remember, feel and react to human thought, emotion and actions. Baxter, who loved plants and was a police lie detector specialist, was curious one day to see what might happen if he hooked up the polygraph electrodes to one of the many plants in his office. He then walked over to another part of the room, picked up a pack of matches and thought to himself, “Maybe I’ll burn the plant to see what happens.” The moment he had this thought, (just the thought) the polygraph registered a huge spike of alarm from the plant. In another experiment, Baxter hooked up all the many plants in his office to the polygraph machine, and then had a person intentionally walk into the office and kill one of the plants. Later in the same day he had a variety of people walk into his office one at a time and pass by the surviving plants to see how the plants would react. Nothing of note happened until
the “plant murderer” walked into the office. Then all the plants registered huge distress on the polygraph. They remembered! In the years since then, Baxter and many others have created and replicated scientific experiments showing that plants respond to who and what is going on in their environment. Specifically, they are aware of people’s positive and negative thoughts, emotions, intentions and actions. Plants react with most agitation to lack of love and the intent to harm. There is a qualitative difference in the plant’s experience of ripping off its leaves or branches and someone lovingly pruning for the wellbeing of the plant. In research studies, plants “scream” in fear when someone approaches with negative energy. And, conversely, plants literally sing and create music (Google this to hear recordings) when someone who genuinely likes them and appreciates them approaches! This happens both in the wild and with indoor plants. One more amazing discovery: House plants, indoor and outdoor gardens and trees in your immediate environment take only a few hours to calibrate to you as their “owner”. Once that connection is made, the plants will remain attuned to you wherever you go. All these studies further demonstrate that all life is interconnected, and are Stewards of the Earth. Our choice to cultivate care, gratitude and appreciation for all forms of life (including each other) has a huge impact on whether everything flourishes as a collective expression of love…or not.
Carol Mann is a long time resident of Jackson Hole. She is a Harvard University trained educator, whose life-long study of things spiritual and talent as a clairvoyant give her a unique set of skills and perspectives. She offers sessions in person and by phone to help you connect with the wisdom of your soul. Ready for a Soul Reading, a Channeling Session or Life Coaching with an intuitive edge? Log onto www.yourcosmiccafe.com for Carol’s full Menu of Services, books and CDs.
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