Petals & Planets September 26, 2026
“Every leaf that grows will tell you: what you sow will bear fruit, so if you have any sense my friend, don't plant anything but Love.” — Rumi
A Practice for Honoring Our Roots
There are times in life when we are invited to pause and remember where we come from.
Our lives are shaped not only by our own experiences, but also by the people and stories that came before us—their sacrifices, strengths, traditions, struggles, hopes, and ways of loving. Some of what we inherit becomes a source of resilience and wisdom. Other patterns may quietly travel through generations until someone becomes conscious enough to say, this can change with me.
This is one of those moments.
A time to become quiet enough to listen beneath the surface. To honor those who came before us without needing to carry everything they carried. To recognize what has nourished us, what has shaped us, and what may now be ready to rest.
The harvest reminds us that growth is not only about beginning something new. It is also about gathering what has matured, giving thanks for what has sustained us, and discerning which seeds are worth carrying into the future.
We can honor our roots while still choosing the direction we grow in.
Prithvi Mudra
Gesture of Grounded Strength
Prithvi Mudra is traditionally associated with the element of earth and qualities of grounding, stability, strength, and connection.
For this practice, let the gesture become a simple reminder that we have roots beneath us. We can acknowledge where we come from while remaining present to who we are becoming.
How to Practice
Sit comfortably with your spine naturally upright.
Touch the tip of your ring finger gently to the tip of your thumb on each hand. Allow the other three fingers to extend comfortably without tension.
Rest your hands on your thighs or knees, palms facing upward (to recieve) or downward (to let go). Generally, the intention is to let go of what's no longer serving the highest good in order to make room to receive essential upgrades, across the board.
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable and take several slow, natural breaths.
As you settle, imagine yourself connected to the ground beneath you—not weighed down by the past, but supported by everything that has helped you arrive here, now, in this moment. Allow yourself to sit with this feeling of being deeply held and supported. It has always been and will always be so.
Remember: There is no need to force the position or the breath. Keep the hands soft and choose whatever feels comfortable for your body. If closing your eyes feels uncomfortable, simply keep them open with a soft gaze.
Supportive Qualities
Grounding & Stability - encourages a sense of being rooted, supported, and steady.
Strength & Resilience - reminds us of the inner resources that have helped us move through difficulty.
Rootedness & Belonging - invites connection with our foundations, lineage, and sense of place.
Discernment - creates space to recognize what is worth carrying forward and what can be released.
Receiving & Letting Go - supports the natural rhythm of releasing what no longer serves while remaining open to what is ready to enter our lives.
Trust & Support - encourages a felt sense of being held by the ground beneath us and by the deeper support available to us.
A Gentle Note
Prithvi Mudra is traditionally associated with the earth element and qualities of grounding, stability, strength, and nourishment. The Sanskrit word Prithvi refers to earth, reminding us of the ground beneath us and the steady foundation from which life grows.
We can be deeply rooted without being held back by the past.
We can honor where we come from and still choose our own direction.
We can receive the strength of those who came before us without carrying their burdens.
We can release what no longer belongs to us and remain connected to our roots.
We can trust that being supported does not mean standing still.
We can grow from what has been given to us while becoming something uniquely our own.
🔊 Mantra | Wahe Guru
Pronunciation: WAH-hay GOO-roo
Wahe Guru is traditionally used as an expression of wonder, gratitude, and awe before the wisdom that reveals itself through life.
For this practice, it can become an invitation to listen more deeply—to recognize the wisdom that may have been passed down to us, the lessons revealed through our experiences, and the understanding that sometimes arrives only when we become still.
Repeat Wahe Guru slowly and naturally with your breath.
Allow the words to become less about searching for an answer and more about becoming receptive to what is already present.
You do not have to know what comes next.
You only need to become quiet enough to listen.
Rhythm & Practice
Find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed for several minutes.
Light a candle if you wish.
Bring your hands into Prithvi Mudra.
Take several slow, natural breaths.
As you breathe, allow yourself to notice the fullness of your heart.
If you are using an essential oil, allow its aroma to become part of the experience.
Then repeat:
Wahe Guru for several minutes or 108 repetitions. (If you have a mala, then you use it to help you keep track.)
Slowly. Gently. Without needing to force a particular feeling or answer.
When you feel ready, reflect on these questions:
What have I received from those who came before me that I am grateful for?
What strengths, values, or gifts have been carried through my family?
What patterns have I inherited that I no longer wish to continue?
What am I carrying that was never truly mine to carry?
What would it mean to honor my roots without allowing the past to determine my future?
What do I want to consciously carry forward?
You might write whatever comes to you without editing or judging it.
There is no need to resolve everything.
Sometimes awareness itself is the beginning of change.
When you finish, place your hand over your heart and say:
“May I meet myself today with the same love I so freely offer others.”
Then rest in the quiet for a moment before returning to your day.
🌿 Essential Oils for Reflection & Rootedness
The essential oils selected for this practice invite reverence, groundedness, and quiet reflection. Together, their aromas can create a sensory pathway for honoring what has shaped us, connecting with what is steady beneath our emotions, and making space for what we are ready to carry forward.
Vetiver | Roots & Groundedness
Vetiver has a deep, earthy aroma that lends itself naturally to practices of grounding and stillness.
Its presence can accompany reflection on our foundations—the people, places, experiences, and values that have helped shape who we are. Learn More
Frankincense | Reverence & Remembrance
Frankincense has a long history of use in spiritual and contemplative traditions. Its rich, resinous aroma can create a sense of ritual and quiet reflection.
For this practice, Frankincense can serve as a reminder to pause, remember, and approach our history with reverence. Learn More
Sandalwood | Stillness & Devotion
Sandalwood has been used for centuries in contemplative and devotional traditions.
Its warm, grounding aroma can support an atmosphere of quiet attention, helping create space for reflection, gratitude, and listening. Learn More
How To Use: Essential oils are highly concentrated. Always dilute appropriately for topical use and follow the safety guidance for the specific oil you are using. For aromatic use, choose a well-ventilated space and discontinue use if irritation or discomfort occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or take medications, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding essential-oil use. Please always double check to assure safe use of essential oils around pets and small children.
🌸 Bach Flower Remedies for Reflection & Integration
The Bach Flower Remedies selected for this practice reflect themes of comfort, courage, and compassionate responsibility. Together, they offer a gentle framework for acknowledging what has touched us, finding courage in difficult moments, and remembering that we can serve others without losing ourselves in the process.
Star of Bethlehem | Comfort & Integration
Traditionally associated with the emotional aftermath of experiences that have been difficult, shocking, or painful.
In this practice, Star of Bethlehem can represent the gentle work of acknowledging what has happened without allowing old pain to define the whole story. Learn More
Honeysuckle | Making Peace with the Past
Traditionally associated with being emotionally attached to the past or longing for what once was.
Honeysuckle can invite us to honor our history while gently returning our attention to the life that is unfolding now. Learn More
Walnut | Staying True to Your Own Path
Traditionally associated with protection during times of transition and maintaining one's own direction despite outside influences.
Walnut is especially meaningful when considering family patterns. We can love and honor where we come from while still recognizing that our lives belong to us. Learn More
How to use: Take as directed in water or under the tongue throughout the day.
Note: This document is intended for informational and educational purposes. Flower remedies & essential oils should be used as complementary wellness practices — not as replacements for professional medical or mental health care. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new health regimen, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a chronic health condition.
Honoring Our Roots
Our roots are part of our story, but they do not have to become our boundaries.
We can remember with gratitude. We can acknowledge what was difficult. We can recognize the resilience that carried us here.
And we can choose.
Perhaps this is one of the quiet gifts of maturity: learning that honoring those who came before us does not require repeating everything they lived through.
We can keep the wisdom.
We can keep the love.
We can keep the strength.
And we can allow some things to end with us.
Like a harvest, our lives contain both what has reached completion and what is still full of possibility. We gather what has nourished us, release what has completed its season, and save the seeds that are worth planting again.
May we honor the roots beneath us.
May we listen deeply.
And may we carry forward what helps life grow.
With Love & Care,
Carlie Love, LMBT, CIMI
Petals & Planets | Seasonal Wisdom for Body & Soul
