Ground ivy

Glechoma hederacea is so lively and communicative that its essence reveals itself to the empathetic observer after only a short time. It is more difficult to verify the inner perception of the signature. With few plants have I spent so many hours of intensive study without discovering their key characteristics. I made the mistake of focusing primarily on the individual plant, studying its shapes and colours in detail, and thus was unable to do justice to its essence.

Glechoma hederacea is not a loner. It only comes into its own true to its nature when it is part of a larger whole, a stand of identical plants. Glechoma hederacea does not seek self-assertion. It never stands out against the background but seeks together with others to spread horizontally.

Its essence is to resonate with the rhythms and forces of nature. Glechoma hederacea can enter into resonance with the life forces and thus acts as their amplifier. At a Glechoma hederacea site, we feel the highest vitality and the presence of elemental beings, the so-called earth spirits, which are responsible for plant growth. When we observe the stand and look somewhat unfocused, we perceive it as a whole and not just its parts.

We now see a rich number of round shapes that seem to communicate with each other. The image is held together by the rounded leaves with their scalloped leaf margins. The many semicircles are like elements of wave lines, of vibration patterns that resonate throughout the entire stand and unite it as one.

This reveals the ability to resonate with the surrounding life forces. What kind of forces does the plant resonate with? They are the solar forces aimed at enlivening the earth. Thus, the young leaves at the growth point are always paired, lying flat against each other like two folded, upward-facing hands.

The plant is distinctly warm and earthy. Its aroma is spicy warm and strongly earthy in character; its leaves in the juvenile stage are covered with a violet-brown hue and often match the reddish-brown earth in colour. Glechoma hederacea belongs to the family Lamiaceae, a family that produces many spice and medicinal plants which have predominantly assimilated the element of solar warmth in a substantial form in their typical aromas. Glechoma hederacea is the first species of this family to overcome winter rigidity in early spring with its warm, earthy aroma.

The flowers are expansive, they extend far horizontally, often beyond the leaves; the upper lip is flattened, so the flowers appear as a gesture of letting go and receiving. In summary: Glechoma hederacea frees from lone fighting. It helps to release the rigid idea of having to accomplish everything by one’s own strength. It trusts and surrenders to the creative and wondrous forces of nature and gratefully accepts their help.