Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae.
Name: Lantana camara
Lantana camara – also known as L. aculeata, L. armata.
Also known as Spanish Flag, White Sage, Shrub Verbena, Bacon and Eggs. In the Philippines it is known as Bahug-bahug; Bahô-bahô ; Koronitas; Kantutai; Cinco negritos; Utot-utot. In the Africa - Cambara branca or cambara amarelle.
Lantana is the Latin name for Viburnum. Viburnum in Latin is ‘wayfaring-tree or guilder rose’.
Native to tropical America and Africa.
Meditations with Lantana
Fri 1 May, Week 1.
Person 2
Image of a little hick elf playing a mandolin, just strumming away, carefree, totally didn’t care, get the feeling he would just sing, blurt out. He’s happy and carefree, no inhibitions, “couldn’t give a fuck”, not a care in the world, just enjoying life, sitting in the sun atop the lantana playing his tunes. Says “sing, sing a song, don’t worry if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song”, get this tune in my head. Guidance on harvesting plant – to do it with love and joy, it really doesn’t care, get a picture of him walking away with a little bundle on the end of a stick, he just moves off, no worries. Main feeling is of joy, happy, carefree, no worries. He says dance and be happy. He’s happy if we’re happy (and if we’re not), in fact he doesn’t really care enough either way, but wants nothing either – bit like if you want to do something then dance and be happy, but it won’t particularly effect me.
Person 3
Giving consciousness, lantana is generous and open. Upward movement of energy. Downward movement of energy. Outward movement of energy. Blue energy with orange and cream glow, a humble plant when approached, I felt at ease, and no "I" in some sense, the gentle soft communication of the plant was an entity at one.
Specific message for "me" in words – “don't be afraid of the downward movement”, sinking into the earth, reuniting. Be ok with and encourage inner acceptance of the downward movement. The plant showed this by a gentle upward movement of the branches and leaves, an upward in-breath, then a downward out-breath, very smooth and relaxed, could've been death, just sinking into the earth with those branches becoming earth.
This meditation moved me to trust the plant, the plant is trustworthy, kindness and oneness, relaxation.
As for taking from the plant, this message: Take from all over the plant. Take with blessing and consciousness. Take in the morning and the evening. Water. Is ok to take but there is some pain.
Person 4
Lantana is helping us to grow and expand, reach new heights and realms. It helps in taking the next step in expansion. It brings gifts for the earth and for the higher realms, and it enables you to move forward into new levels of expansion.
Opening your heart to higher realms. Bringing your consciousness back in touch with your nconsciousness. Bringing your fire to the surface. Opening your heart and enabling you to reach forward.
It helps the Lungs, opening the airways and helping to breathe more deeply. It works on the brain. It brings new growth/new cells where old ones have died. It nurtures the growth of new life. Bringing balance back into the union of the heart, body and soul.
It asks that we not be afraid of it, or what it has to offer. Person 5
From tuning into the Lantana came ‘We're as out of control as you are’ - meaning society/people/me! Grow strong roots that cling to the earth as strongly as I do. Allow your beauty to be seen, and rise above the negative energy that may be directed at you - as I do.
Put yourself out there regardless of what others might think. Explore me (lantana) more, particularly the tiny flowers, the very fine and delicate part of a strong and deeply rooted plant, taken out of its home territory - as you are (meaning me!), and taking the riches from the soil to enhance and further your growth, deepen those roots, the deeper you go, the richer the soil.
Person 6
Tuning in to the big “wall” of lantana at the end of the garden, feeling the ‘bigness’ and its power which also feels big, tuning into the scent of lantana and that scent itself is leading me straight into a feeling of ‘glow’. As a matter of fact I am back to the golden glow, ‘happy’ belly feeling. I then forced my mind’s eye to go back to the flowers: saw many flowers, many colours, going through intricacies of many branches, dichotomy dark/light, going right through me, filling my blood like running rivers and then back to a golden glow. The lantana feels like it wants to reach the sky(?), then small flowers, little rainbows, back to the awareness of its scent, so attractive then, sending me to a flashback when I was trying to entangle the bunch of bananas overgrown with lantana last Monday and the grazing from it (the lantana) still scarring my hands…more smell and then back to a golden glow…
Fri 8 May, Week 2, Spirit.
Person 2
Seeing the flowers like pink pom poms or lollipops, pink and sickly sweet. Then clumsy guy, like he’s jumping up and down on a trampoline, but each time, he hits his head on a barrier above, ‘ouch’ as his hands fly to his head, but then keeps bouncing and doing it. Squashed by this barrier above. Then sensation of arms wanting to stretch outward sideways, a strong reaching out as far as possible. If you can’t go up then “branch out” – like arching over the Lantana branches. Then picture of the whole group under a Lantana bush. It’s like a little cave under the lantana, a hidey hole, feels cute and homely. We’re under there playing in a way. Then get this sense of branches crossing the way between us (can’t understand the significance of this). Later, bit like a teepee – branches holding it up creating this space below. Then real belly feeling, felt like the yellowy pink of the flowers in my belly and also along left side. Stronger awareness in all left side and in belly. Deep and peaceful.
Person 3
This meditation was noted as involving "mental chatter". The clear part of it was amazing. The plant tells me: don't be afraid to ebb & flow, go with the flow. Something to let go then! The lantana became a blue fire, with cream and orange fringes, so beautiful, a fierce and yet gently pulsing fire.
Gentle presence, accepting of all, comforting. I realise I love meditation and can do it regularly if I like.
Person 4
I found myself in a field of sunflowers with lantana up one end. It was offering itself as a windbreak, as well as bringing shelter.
Person 5
Through Lantana came this for me: ‘You don't belong here - that's why you can't put down roots.’ Asked for a symbol and saw a lantana plant strangling itself in great distress, showing me how hard I struggle and cannot breathe or speak. Then asked for gentle loving guidance - shown me in Findhorn, fully in my heart and connecting with many others, in my joy and celebrating life (tears flowed). I am resisting going back, but saw how more connected I'd feel, seeing family and connecting with others. Great sadness at leaving. Shown there's much distress for me being here - failing to make whole and failing to connect. Shown how, like the Lantana flower I am very fine and delicate, and find it so hard to be in my heart and open.
Person 6
Easy visualizing, strong sense of the plant and a message saying, like a voice ‘it’s a panacea’- something about lungs & grief…and a connection with Ganesh. Something about skin and also boundaries - inner boundaries maybe? When feeling of gratitude, an invasion of golden light and a feeling of being rested. Then, really feeling sleepy and wanting more sleep as I came out of the meditation.
Person 2
Meditation in evening:
Flowers turning white to yellow to pink like aging, becoming ripe, but also like there’s some sort of cleansing, purifying property, maybe blood cleanser, bring blood back to a nice rosy, healthy pink.
Wrinkle at edge of flowers and the smell somehow took me to a mourning woman (maybe Greek, Italian or Israeli) all dressed in black going to a funeral, with a posy of Lantana flowers.
Struck me as an interesting separation that the male of the group took the root home, male roots, feminine beauty of leaves and flowers.
Arcing of the branches to create an inner haven, but then that space that fills in. How easily it breaks even though it looks very flexible (one sided viewpoints – rather break than bend?)
Shallow roots but huge mass above ground – how someone feels versus their ego/personality, may look great on surface.
Hardy through being prolific, not strong. Appears strong due to it being prolific, but each plant as an individual isn’t that strong. Strength in numbers.
Again sickly sweetness of flowers.
Wed 13 May, Week 2
Person 2
Oldish man, grey beard and long hair. Ticklish nose. Yellow light. How it grows up so straight and tall, reaches for heavens but then comes down in an arch, almost like it can’t support its own weight, its own abundance, each branch can’t but as a whole it supports itself.
Fri 15 May, Week 3, Soul.
Person 2
Big, pinky yellow cloud around me, sweetish feel again like a big pink puff. Quite a strong feeling of puffy awareness over torso and head. Cramp in right foot like when releasing.
Strong feelings/emotions that I want to ‘shake them off’, dance them away. Strong in lungs then up to shoulders, quite a weight on shoulders, sadness and grief underneath. Nebulous and intense. Powerful feelings.
Sense that the pinkish yellow relates to spleen and this sweetness. Picture of a funny fly or butterfly on right side of my head, went to shake it off and a fly flew off! (hadn’t known it was there). Sense of the heat of the sun and flies buzzing around – sense of a hot afternoon.
How it connects to my life now? Feeling a bit put upon by world, like stretched too many ways (not that I am) but feeling that sense of overwhelm, all too much, can’t deal with all this anymore – that this is related to Lantana. Again connection with space. Overwhelm, ‘give me space’, Lantana takes up lots of space. Intensity of emotions. Breathing important.
Person 4
I had to leave class early to go to a service (death of my landlord), so I missed the meditation.
Person 5
I asked 'How is the lantana related to my life?' received 'Everything is connected to everything!! Shown the Lantana dancing at 5 Rhythms as I do! I find the Lantana difficult because it's such a mirror - felt pain in my heart. Don't want to hear, see or accept the truth of what is. ‘You don't like me because I'm so like you’. The Lantana dances as I dance - not very grounded, arms and legs flailing around all over the place. The delicate flower and the prickly hard aspect, spinning around the dance floor in between everyone. Not belonging, people are wary, don't like, suspicious.
Person 6
Aware of inhabiting a very sore body, it was still relatively easy to find joy. Easy also to focus on the plant, little delicate flowers that I had looked at very carefully before. Then, my children invaded the meditation: one after the other. A said something about anger I can’t recall. S then called on my attention about a special friendship she was having with ‘obscure name’, B seemed to be needing some special attention and was feeling emotional. I kept wanting to actively go back to lantana but no, A had his finger on his mouth in a sign of hush up(!) Any special question? Yes, I asked how I could be less sore- got taken to my room with a strong message I need to write to my friend K in France and get that little parcel for my Mum’s birthday in the mail… I felt I wanted to go home after that.
Tues 19 May, Week 3.
Person 2
Meditation holding lantana spirit:
Left side again, then especially left shoulder. Then awareness deep in belly (maybe even reproductive). A crying from deep in belly, grief. Then ice cold arms from hands (holding jar) up to shoulders. Left leg a little numb too.
Fri 22 May- Body/salt cancelled due to storms, heavy rain. (Week 4)
Person 2
Brown snake poking head out of Lantana bush. It did it in a scary, dinosaur way. But then on questioning it, it kind of curled up in a little ball, laughing fearfully. This big show of scariness to mask feeling really small.
Also the stems, how all leaves up the top, long branches with no leaves, all in metabolic limb system, the warming processes.
Fri 29 May, Week 5, Salt.
Person 2
Stillness. Sadness, a heavy sadness but a stillness with it. Left side feels quite solid, hard, stiff isn’t right word but quite a rock- likeness that could go to stiffness. Whole body like that but more so on left side. A holding in a way, holding so still that almost stiff. Heaviness and grief. Sighing. Felt very quiet, could have sat for ages, but could go to too stiff. Lots of flies around.
Person 4
I felt like I was burning. If I had a thought come up it would burn. The fire was all consuming. My hair was burning. It was somehow soothing, like a final resting place had been accepted and there was nothing else but the crackling of the fire and a gentleness. I asked the lantana what it does for me or how it affects us. It brings joy. Look at how it grows...it's a playful, happy plant.
It effects the respiratory system, the heart, the circulation, the skin, and the brain to a lesser extent.
The plant feels misunderstood.
Person 5
I feel very agitated, smoky, clogged up, melting, nebulous, confusion, don't understand, impatience and sadness.
Person 6
Fire-glow as a constant image behind my eyelids. A thought: ‘my body is expanding, my soul at rest held by my spirit in a glow’. Feeling well at the centre of my body, feeling breathing is easy, feeling it is easy to meditate in this golden glow, aware of time quickly, too quickly, could have stayed in the glow…
Sun 31 May (Week 5)
Person 3
Light, most of Lantanas growing parts are available to light, the non-woody parts, the leaves and flowers are touched by light. At the beach it was dark when I started the meditation, I closed my eyes and felt at peace. I missed being in the group and having guidance, guiding voice. I talked with my inner voice saying go to the lantana plant. I didn't see the plant as clearly as in past meditations, but I felt the same kindness and willingness to share wisdom. Lantana said "don't wish to be more than you are, drink more water and let the excess salts flush out, too much salt a present".
The rainbow flowers are a reflection of beauty, the sunrise has slowly contributed to the colour, the slow adaptation, the gentle receptivity of plant consciousness is useful, is very healthy and kind. Sunset, bees and birds have helped to bring out the colours, slowly formed by adaptation to circumstances "be with circumstances, let them inform the body, kindness to self is inherent, as are light and dark and colours".
Fri 5 June (Week 6).
Person 2
Meditation: Am lying under Lantana bush, given up, don’t care, flat on back. Something like an arrow or a hook goes into my lower belly and comes out a little higher. Can feel this deep pain, a sinking deep in belly, horrible mix of hunger, pain, emptiness, nerves, liquid feeling. It’s a deep pain of hurt and grief, also extending up to throat and mouth and that same vomity metallic taste in mouth, like ‘I can’t handle this’ feeling – too much pain to deal with. Also feeling it’s connected to my eyes – again tired eye sensation – it’s a huge well of hurt and grief and just want to cry, and do. An all over pain focused on belly, throat and eyes. “Open up and let go” are the words that come. Deep feeling of worthlessness over the incidents of last couple of days, of not being valued by others and the pain at that, and such a lot of grief around it – all seems very related to Lantana. Disloyalty, and dishonesty.
Mon 8th June (Week 6)
Person 4
Lantana nourished the body. It promotes abundance and proliferation of new life. On a cellular level it nourishes so that they may function better. It works on the circulation and the heart, so that the heart can bring better life to the cells (via nourishment). It helps the heart to pump blood and the cells to uptake nutrients more efficiently.
It combines with........? to help with the release of toxins.
It enables the cells to work more efficiently so it encourages growth, development and energy levels. It induces a feeling in the body of joy. It uplifts and opens the body to new growth. In the lungs it opens the airways, encourages the uptake of oxygen more efficiently. It opens the airways, opens the heart and brings more joy. It encourages the heart-lung connection to work more efficiently.
June ?
(no record of the date, there was some resistance to doing it, changes came.)
Person 3
Motherhood meditation (it feels like it was to do with male and female parts).
Once again at the beach, in the car as it’s sunrise and cold, and pouring rain outside, only one at the beach.
Playful feelings. Could feel you all with me, warm and interesting and interested, creative energy, finely attuned energy. Walked up to lantana and asked if it gets cold: only the very tips of the leaves and fringes, edges. Water drops on, what is needed is taken, the rest drops off as the leaves give a little. Then a profound moment visually, the Lantana turned into a thick green stem, like a bean stalk, going high and all around, looping and getting stronger, the background becomes more backgroundy, the green is vibrant, beautiful growing tip, detailed like a closed bean flower or asparagus, yet furry and fun, playful, energetic and youthful. My mind made another approach, then the Lantana I knew from before was with me, to the right slightly. I felt the warmth, a glow, from the core of Lantana, very kindly, motherly, fatherly, I felt warm glow in my belly mainly. Then I opened, soothed.
This meditation was about nurture and growth in a personal and universal way. When we first started the course, I answered that alchemy was about bringing two elements together to create something better. The process of alchemy is about revealing the "gold", the essence.
Fri 12 June, Week 7, Body/Salt.
Person 2
Sense of being pulled into a black vortex, pulled at my heart mainly and a little at the belly, pulled down, through and up again, like a black hole. Vortex gave me same symptoms of empty belly and desire to vomit – like there’s so much to digest, burps. Then coming out and this sense of arms up in an arch, each hand (like a gesture of helplessness) up and outward, arching over like Lantana. And feeling like come through the vortex into rainbow light. And have this rainbow light star at the middle of my chest, just glowing and shining out. Reminds me of the shooting Star card, the star after the storm. Feel quiet, like there’s no need for anything, surrendered and still.
“Be love, it’s the only way”, be love as opposed to be loved. Still feel a little resisting to this, ego doesn’t want to surrender, more that I have no choice rather than an independent decision.
Person 4
I felt surrounded by a fog (the spirit of the plant).
Lantana is about delving deep and expanding, "suffering and smiling".
Person 5
Initial image of me in centre surrounded by Lantana, feeling totally content - not suffocated. Felt deep gratitude for the Lantana and the group and the process. Encouraged by the Lantana to draw it, to find why I still resist intimate contact with it - as with people in the external world. Normally I practically cuddle flowers and surround them with my love, I have never done that with the Lantana. There is an aggressive nature as part of the Lantana - my interpretation - which almost repels me, keeps me at arms length, which is how I've found I’ve approached it in all parts of the process. By drawing the flower, and the rest, I will 1) connect more intimately with it - and myself and others, and 2) Understand more about my resistance to intimacy on an experiential level. As I fear intimacy and the aggressive nature, even though I am drawn to the flower - I still keep away.
Person 6
Connecting with Lantana easily, same spot in the garden at the back. This time, very aware of the kiln under the lantana canopy. Talking to the plant about its invasiveness… Then I am on a bus to some place… lots of people everywhere. I’m there to talk to someone about healing cream. It’s like a lab and there are glass instruments everywhere. I am trying to find my folder while aware of a burning sensation in my lungs. Talking to myself ‘oh, it’s that heartburn again’ but as I said that I hear inside myself ‘not the heart, it’s in the lungs’. When I turn around I am there somehow to give a lecture about the importance of ‘right’ oxygen absorption through the pores as opposed to what we understand as being oxidation with free radical release….don’t know where it’s all going but back to awareness of now with the feeling ‘I need to meditate’.
Fri 19 June, Week 8, Marriage.
Person 2
Sense of lightness and a light spreading; a quiet, subtle joy. Slowly spreading up and out to the top of my lungs. Picture of the flowers growing up spreading out and their likeness to bronchioles. Breath, breathing, lightness and joy, real joy. New growth up giving me joy, but also still slight sense of grief – stopping at top of my lungs. A little anxiety in my belly at what has been set into motion through this process, but can see the joy it will bring me. Time to ‘branch out’. Following heart. Any final words for me? “follow through”. To follow through on this journey, bit of anxiety around this, but all good.
Lantana got me moving, brought up stagnant stuff from deep in lungs and heart (old stuff holding onto), following heart more again, less stuck in the old, releasing old grief.
Song in my head “I’ll tell you a secret, let’s make it perfectly clear, there’s no secrets this year”.
Person 4
Saw Lantana as a knight in shining armour. He was standing there in the village feeling strong and proud, with his new armour shining. He was ready for battle, but not needing to battle. Just a feeling of "I'm ready and feeling strong and proud".
I saw an old man walking away, but he wasn't walking well. He had a problem or illness, I think it was maybe his prostrate.
Lantana is happy to be brought back together.
Person 5
Due to this being the last of the Alchemy course and the last few days for me in Australia - facing the end - I was unable to meditate, but it was highly significant what came through each in the group that directly related to me, so I include....
Person 6 - Rainbows (a symbol guiding my journey in Australia from the start);
Person 2 - Grief, following the journey of the heart (saying goodbye and change etc!);
Person 4 - Prostate cancer (my father);
Person 1 - symbol of the cross intersecting a circle (which was later deciphered as a Celtic cross - Wales - home!)
Person 6
Easy to connect and find joy. Standing in front of the lantana aware of joy and rainbow colours then going back inside asking…a soft golden glow feeling in the solar plexus, bathed in it like sunlight and stayed there, it was so warm and pleasant. No mind, silence and warm glowing light. After awhile, feeling something like warm wind and light comes blinding, then a very Christian image- cross like shape against the light- maybe the crucified Christ but light is too blinding to really know, more like a shadow against the light, then inner voice, slightly ironical (maybe myself) ‘that’s alright’ then aware of slight negativity, consciously bringing loving feeling back, golden glow come back, gentle breathing, could have stayed there…
Tues 7 July
Person 3
Here is my last meditation. I’m not sure about it, it was the least clear of the messages and I have thought to go and do it again, but then though this is what came and maybe there is more to come, or less..
For the meditation I went to the beach with my daughter, she had arrived over here the day before. We stayed in the car because very cold. It's sunrise and as I closed my eyes, she said about the sunrise "You just see orange light and then a bright yellow ball starts to come up, its mezmerising!" I asked her to write it in my alchemy book.
As I closed my eyes and was counting down into the meditation, the golden sun beamed into the car, filling it up because that totally came into vision through closed eyelids. In my minds eye this created a golden path (everything golden) and characters walking by. My daughter said the words above, lovely to hear.
I approached lantana, well I asked to, and it was in a different place in this meditation. The first noise made by the lantana was a squeak. With this meditation's second meeting the lantana had a different voice to previous meditations. The words felt external, I don't remember as I’m writing what was said by lantana ?? I said "I am interested in plant consciousness". I could see the sun, the characters in me and outside of me simultaneously. The lantana was inside of me and outside of me.
I expected some kind of resolution. Maybe this is a resolution...? No straighforward words from the lantana, the gold without the dross, maybe this is the resolution of archetypes, wandering off and about, a freedom? Open endedness.
Personal journeys with Lantana!
Sun 14 June 2009 (Week 7). (Sunday night before final Marriage Friday).
Dream: I am sitting in an internet 'cafe' using the internet. Suddenly an extremely large tiger appears in the centre of the computer area, growling and roaring. It is very, very fierce. Suddenly an armed, armoured police riot team rush in from all directions and somehow capture the tiger and rush it away. The next image in my dream is of an armoured, locked van driving down a busy street, and my awareness that the tiger is safely secured and locked up inside. Either just before or just after the appearance of the tiger, the owner of the internet place appeared and loudly announced to everyone that they had to leave, the internet cafe was closing down because of the tiger.
I didn't necessarily feel very good about the tiger being captured. I feel I related to it as my totem or ally, and actually hoped that it would eat one of the police team. The police felt anonymous, without feeling, cold...whereas the tiger was alive and potent.
Overall Lantana experiences as follows:
Emotional
· More Intact. Less fragmented and disparate.
· Reclaiming what was lost or hidden.
· Breaking down of old fixed aspects of myself.
· Forced to surrender, forced to accept - life is bigger than me and my desires.
· Sense that much is happening beyond my conscious perception - is hidden.
· Sense of solitude that is a permanent feature of being alive - "ultimately it’s only me". A sense of calm and peaceful acceptance of this. Empowering, even.
· Sense of time...everyone happens in its own time.
· Expansion and contraction are not exclusive, can occur simultaneously .
· Ability to adapt rapidly to change – flexible.
· Tenacity .
· Transitions "don't need to be difficult".
· Lost, wandering, nothing is certain, this brings unease.
· Strength in being soft, strength in dropping defenses and guard.
· Opening heart to the world.
· Irritation and fire, anger.
· Irritation and fire melting, being released.
· Accepting a simple life, desire for complexity slipping away.
Physical
· Calmer
· More endurance and greater cardiovascular capacity.
· Spider bite wound on left hand middle finger that had consistently refused to heal - it flared up and became more irritated, inflamed and itchy. Then about two days before final class - miraculously showed signs of progress toward a complete healing.
· Physical/bodily patience, a sense of time and place and space...more flow...slower...
· Able to be still.
· Mucus in lungs.
· Conjunctivitis both eyes mostly left eye.
· Recovery time post physical exercise greatly enhanced.
· Craving for sweet taste.
General Lantana Themes & Observations
· Unconscious material coming to light.
· Transition from one world to the next.
· The phrase "Relax, go with the flow" repeatedly in meditations, when asking the Lantana for guidance, many times.
· Fixed structures and beliefs crumbling.
· Roots. An awareness of the deepening of my roots, and the importance of doing so. Roots internally, into myself, my sense of who I am and what I represent. My capacity to take a stand, to be upright, to be definitive. Roots externally, a sense of being more at rest in the one place, of deepening connection with the land, with this location, with people and relationships.
Points of tension and resistance being brought to light, asking for attention.
· 'Going your own way'
· Acceptance of where I am, how my experience is - as perfect. Nothing wrong, nothing to change.
· Fluidity. Change.
· Rest. Calm. Peace.
· Shadow and Light in balance.
· Horizontal growth. My life, my consciousness, my experience, my interests - all branching out into new terrain, uncharted areas. A broadening, a widening, a furthering of myself. Taking up more space.
· Rebelliousness. More willing to put up a fight, or to break rules simply because they represent opposition to my freedom. To say NO to established authority just for the sake of it.
· Enthusiasm. More vital, more lust for life....a general vitality and joy of being.
· Sleep. Increased need and desire for sleep on a physical level. More relaxed overall - in that sleep would come very easily if given the slightest opportunity. Sleep for more hours than usual if allowed. Greater sense of finding respite in the world of sleep - an escape from the waking world. My relationship with sleep deepened.
· Synchronicity. An awareness of the interconnectedness of all things. An experience that nothing is accidental, or coincidental. Sensing the overlap of seemingly disconnected or disparate incidents, people, places... Having examples of synchronicity in that my thoughts would match the casual remark of a passer by, or situations and people would correspond in
unique ways, ending ambiguity and resolving challenges.
· Grief. The emotion of grief, of sadness, of letting go.
· Anger & irritation.
· Service to community
Symbols
Ganesh; Peacock tail; Eagle; Christianity fish symbol (two curved intersecting lines to make a fish shape); Pelican; Snake; Cat including domestic household cat, Lion, Cheetah; Elephant; Wedding of physical male and female; Metaphorical wedding of male and female; Tiger; Kookaburra; Mercury symbol; Red rose; Venus symbol; Yin and Yang; Celtic Christian Cross (Christian cross with a circle enclosing the intersection of the horizontal and vertical beams) atop a mound representing a hill ie Calvary where Christ was crucified.; Flies buzzing; The Number 1; Butterfly caught in a spider web.
Thurs 30 April
Night before alchemy starts: situation where felt angry and hard done by, feeling not respected. Very one sided, couldn’t see the side I’d normally take (normally be more flexible, flow with it, at least wait and see and trust that it was for the best), but none of this, just felt real anger and indignance. Stopped me sleeping. Woke around 2.50am and didn’t sleep for hours, couldn’t let it go. Waking in morning it had passed.
Fri 1 May (Week 1)
Fatigue. Rainbow on waking (lasted only a few minutes), felt good, like a little sign of blessing and magic after the night before.
Few small burps mid morning. Tired eyes.
Feel slightly distanced. Also little lightness, a background joy again.
Evening: anger at being subjected to a film that I hadn’t come to watch and that felt oversensitive to – feeling the cruelty of it ‘dog with an electric collar’. Same feelings as last night, anger at helplessness, that was out of my control, and feeling like others should have been more considerate.
Get home to slight scent of death. Huge dead rat under my bed (never had one there before).
Sat 2 May
Got news that close friends have suddenly broken up, upsetting. Get to thinking about dishonesty and situations in my own life, how dishonesty is more upsetting and hurtful than just telling the truth even if it hurts.
Lots of saliva, and sensation in my mouth like I want to vomit. Belches that never really surface, stronger sensation in my mouth – metallic and salivary. Kept swallowing.
Wed 6 May
Dreams of disorganization and chaos. Same as night before course. Polarity of this carefree feeling of Lantana meditation and dreams of many worries.
Had a really good week, lots of time to do the things I love for a change, lots of space. Flowing, in synch, feeling I’m dropping down further than usual, more grounded.
Thurs 7 May
Walk down to sea of Lantana before breakfast. Flowers come off so easily, but doesn’t matter as constantly flowering, reminds me of the fertility of mice or rabbits – compensation for being so hunted by having huge litters. Lantana has such short lived flowers, touch them and they fall off, but compensates by shooting out another little bouquet of beauty. Seems very generous, each bouquet like a little burst of happiness. Outside of bouquet flowering, while middle ones almost like a little crunched up face/eyes so ready to burst out with joy, like shutting eyes really tightly and then bursting open. Amazing amount of life hidden within Lantana – frogs, tiny birds, butterflies, snakes.
In a nice present space, no outcomes – didn’t do whole walk, found myself trying to fix a fence to save a tree, hungry and thirsty but still in the moment, 1.5 hours just on tiny circuit. Spent day pottering around and really appreciating having so much time for a change.
Fri 8 May, Week 2, Spirit.
Our Lantana plant was growing through concrete. Came out very easily. Preparations for wedding going on all around us. Smell of Lantana was strong, felt a bit heady getting a strong whiff, like it could really send you out there. Flies all over it.
Bit distracted and out of my head.
Little flowers heads (when flowers gone) remind me of pine cones, pineal?
Noticing connections with space. For first time this week I have had the time and space to write and do the things I want to do. P6 really noticing a need for more space in her life even though nothing has changed. P3 feeling she needs to meditate more to create space in her mind.
Feeling very self reliant and unselfconscious for a change. More open, not waiting for others to lead, just going forth more than normal in social situations.
Sat 9 May
Dream: Am sitting on a rock, a grey triangular stone. There’s a woman taking photos. Eventually she sees me and is surprised “I thought you were a star” (a star in the sky). Then there’s a big flock of sheep, they come and surround me on the rock and I realise they’re lambs. I pick one up to pat it, but it doesn’t want to be held, I put it down and it quickly mingles, and I realise it wants nothing more than to be part of the flock, that that is more important than a personal pat.
Sun 10 May
Dream: Beautiful, soft, white cat. She is pregnant and has come to me, I take her into the birthing room, it’s not very clean so I go about cleaning it up and trying to make it how I think she would like it – warm, dark and cosy. She sits patiently. Am surprised that she’s staying there, but she seems to trust me.
Saw a white owl Friday night. Inspiring new ideas yesterday, like the dream, this cat waiting for me to prepare the space so a birth can occur, the need for time and space for new things to come through.
Thinking how attachments and being bound to structure can stop your divine light shining through, the importance of allowing structure to hold the space without filling the space up – like lantana meditation with cave under the lantana bush, but then branches infiltrating the space.
Tues 12 May
Dream: someone gets buried alive while singing. Somehow the earth crumbled up and they fell within this crumbling, bubbling earth, down quite a long way. Dream seemed to go for hours.
Death of a woman from dance.
Feeling have to make a conscious effort to pull my energy back in, am responding to needs of others rather than myself.
Thurs 14 May
Session on feeling undervalued by others, and then realizing I’m not valuing my own feelings by not speaking them. Spontaneously expressed this in a similar situation that night and felt great to value myself enough to speak up. Nausea before speaking.
Slept, then woke at 2am and awake till 5.15am. Sharp pain in left upper ribs, spleen area.
Fri 15 May, Week 3, Soul.
No. 3 didn’t come due to head lice, and 4 had to leave early as a friend died, so the four dancers were left, felt significant. Soul of Lantana connected by us on the dance floor, this movement to shake off emotion, a rolling stone gathers no moss – the need to keep moving through emotions, letting go, not letting them get stuck.
Feeling bit irritable, like I’m taking on too much, taking the initiative all the time.
Heat seems another theme. Hot this morning when I got up, sweating early. (5 very hot in meditation, 1 always hot and has cooled down in last three weeks. 6 in grips of a cold, wearing many layers while we’re all in singlets on sunny warm day).
Noticed that on Fridays during course I have no hunger, not getting my normal needs for food, and having lunch quite late without any ill effect (normally get really low sugar sx if have meal late). Connection with spleen, reading Steiner’s spleen as rhythmic regulator of our erratic eating habits. Sickly sweet comes to mind with Lantana, pink lollipop.
The four of us were at dance, though 5 and I both felt we shouldn’t have come if listened to our bodies – exhaustion from lack of sleep, and 6 too being sick. But there we all were, and was quite a magic beautiful dance night. Listening to souls desire over bodily needs, soul wanted to be there even though body tired, and so it was very nurturing and carried me through.
Sat 16 May
Dream: Seeing holes in the ground that are reptile homes. Then a beautiful body of water, clear and blue. Get excited as can see an echidna and its baby swimming around, and another animal. So much life and beauty. Trying to take photos of it, then there’s a big wave and I lose my footing, trying to pass the camera to my friend, but she can’t reach and I manage to find my footing again.
Watched ‘Lantana’ movie. How apathy makes us strive to feel things again, go to crazy extremes – affairs, lies, deceit trying to feel again – passion and excitement, to bring back soul to our lives. If denying our unhappiness, suppressing real feelings, then it forces itself upon us. Lantana reminding us to be honest and feel. Death reminds us how valuable life is, to not take it for granted, the woman who died, her husband didn’t answer phone cause he thought she’d be okay. Death reminds us not to be apathetic, to seize the moment, not wait, live in the present. (Two deaths this week.) Settling for less while living in dreams of the future, not loving what we have. Dishonesty, lying to ourselves and others, not being clear and straightforward. The only happy couple is the honest couple. Lying to selves in an attempt to deny what we don’t like for fear of consequences, getting stuck in structures (marriage) that no longer happy with, so lie to ourselves in order to cope.
Flowers of lantana – smells, dance, passion, affairs, intrigue (smelly, sticky, vibrant, momentary, overfull of life and zest), are built on these old, dead looking braches. The reason we go for these passionate things due to the dead structures we’ve built our life on, they create the need for excitement.
Denial. Denying our darker sides, lying about our true needs and wants, then up pops Lantana trying to overcome this denial of real feelings. Deal with the denial by creating intrigue, excitement, passion in our lives, trying to fill the empty space. Covering up the deadness below the surface with an exciting, vibrant outer of smelly sticky leaves and flowers.
Lantana in the movie gives this feeling of sickly sweet heat of summer – cicadas, flies buzzing, death.
Why do we have affairs? Cause love becomes a structure and lost its passion, like the wood underneath. Looking for the life again – the flowering tops striving for the new, leave the dead stems behind.
The tangled mess of dishonesty, like the tangled undergrowth of Lantana. Secrecy, hidden under Lantana, what lies beneath, what are you covering up?
Tired, sore eyes.
Tues 19 May
Moment of feeling totally alone and triggered by it, slightly powerless feeling like couldn’t change it no matter what I did. Must just accept.
Friend holding spirit of Lantana (knowing nothing of it) – water mouth like going to be sick, like dry retching, nauseating lump in throat. ‘what can’t I stomach?’
Fri 22 May, Week 4, cancelled.
Wild storms alchemy cancelled. Didn’t feel right but couldn’t get in, having to surrender to conditions beyond my control. No power, water or phone, checking trenches last night in darkness and got something in my right eye, maybe an ant – very painful stinging, watery eye and nose immediately. Today still feels grainy. Feeling exhausted, lethargy, lassitude.
So much water. Dissolution in external world! Paradoxically can’t use the water as no electricity.
Sat 23 May
Feeling under the weather (so to speak!). Feel tired and cold. Thick head, right ear slightly sore, throat slightly sore. Really bad taste in mouth since yesterday – quite unpleasant, and tension in jaw and teeth. Eyes heavy and sore. Felt to use Camphor on chest. Still no electricity or water. Throat swollen and glands up. Throat similar to my eye – grainy like something in it, like a hair in throat or something.
Sun 24 May
Apathy, don’t feel like making the effort with anyone, if it doesn’t flow easily can’t be bothered. Feeling a bit angry at myself, feeling useless. Throat glands still swollen, > hot drinks, < cold, wrapping up warm. Reminds me of glandular fever – lumpy pain in throat, very slight though, quite bearable. Very tired eyes, make me want to sleep a lot though not doing so. Heat feels so good on body. Sore throat, slight lump on left side with slight pain on swallowing.
Tues 26 May
Still tired and flat. Moments of feeling quite sick in belly after food. Mainly in mouth and throat though – like want to vomit.
Didn’t sleep well, woke around 1 or 2am and couldn’t sleep again for couple of hours.
Fri 29 May, Week 5, Salt
Burning the plant had constant runny nose and eyes from smoke. Slight impatience knowing there was lots to do and not enough time. Gentle lesson in ego for me, needing to drop expectations and trust in the process. Hard, smokey work, but good spirits and beautiful sharings after. Group seems more open, more bonded.
Body heat inside feels so much higher after this, could feel it burning inside in contrast to last weeks cold.
Sat 30 May
Dreamt of a big clean up after the snow/ice had melted, cleaning up the dirty wash that’s melted and left.
Mon 1 June
Feeling there’s less energy for me around here at moment, and thinking of finally leaving.
Wed 3 June
Really dark, horrible feelings come up around a friend, jealousy, feeling of being used and abused, going through scenarios, couldn’t sleep, then moments of peace. All seemed a bit crazy as no reason for it.
Thurs 4 June
Took Holly. Found out my feelings last night were valid, good lesson in listening to my intuition and not my mind. Situation of dishonesty and disloyalty, felt really disrespected and intense feeling of worthlessness.
Fri 5 June, Week 6.
Meltdown day, spent hours in tears, feel am caught up in this crazy drama, been taken by surprise.
Wed 10 June
Whole love triangle situation of last week has really worked on helping me let go the past more. Feeling a real sense that letting go my home is the right thing to do, a breaking of the past, feels very sad, but can also feel a sense of freedom and joy that will come from it.
Fri 12 June, Week 5, Body/Salt
Really feeling the cold. Group making this connection with Lantana and cancer – different meditations coming up with cell proliferation, healthy and unhealthy use of oxygen – oxidation, denial and how starting to follow hearts path more – cancer as a result of not doing this. Aggressive nature of lantana that can take over, only grows in fertile soil in moist warm environments.
Mars and Venus conjunct in Taurus today seemed somehow relevant.
Sat 13 June
Feeling unmotivated, bit tired and depressed. Realised apathy is a way to surrender - a not caring, letting go the attachment. Seeing how my apathy is trying to get me to just rest and relax for now, to digest and grieve, not about getting things done but just processing.
Wed 17 June
Felt a lot better the past week, more motivation, drama seems silly and ridiculous now, like it was all a catalyst to help me let go the past. Realised letting go the dream is harder than letting go the actual thing!
Fri 1 May, Week 1.
It's a delicate process. I like the group yet feel shy to talk about my meditation. It's being exposed and I appreciate the finesse of the teaching and of each member of the group. I learn a valuable lesson, that when I turn my attention to joyful and loving moments, I feel loved and this is sustenance, health-giving and a kindness to the self. It seems so simple yet the experience creates the knowledge.
Fri 8 May, Week 2, Spirit
I’m a little late, but welcomed and it’s all ok, the stress leaves.
While waiting and before asking for permission, an unexpected visual comes, it’s a kind of sucking in of energy, fast and smoothly going into a portal, downwards and from the side, it’s a long hole, like a thin black hole, light energy, some orange is going in to somewhere (in a transformation), I’m slightly alarmed, I sense big change coming.
I ask for permission (to collect plant) and it seems fine with the Lantana.
The plant is chopped up and collected into 3 parts. There is a wedding being prepared for next door. Magical room but the people preparing don’t seem too happy.
Spirit is volatile, a recognition that cooling down is part of the process of maturation and of clarity.
Fri 22 May, Week 4.
This is a difficult time for me personally. I am resisting the changes at a level I can’t access at this point. The outer world is demanding change and I feel a little victimised. This is the pain of the taking, I am aware that I am connected and yet I feel isolated. The volatility of my feelings about my "life" are affecting me, I am considering whether actually living is worth it. I don't have the choice to do it, but the death urge really strikes. I say "the spirit of change has come and it can't be ignored". It's true and the people in my life accept that I'm going to need to get healthier.
Week 5
I realise the vision that occurred during the taking of the branch (8 May) is about the process I'm going through, the process of some kind of deep change. I wish I could be aware of the details of the alchemy process, I still don’t really understand them but I trust them. I just read over my meditation, it seems that wishing to be aware of the details coincides with being guided by lantana not to wish to be more than I am. Is salt like detail? More flavour? It’s a conductor in a plant yes. I will look into this more.
Week 6
I am eating healthier than I have ever eaten before and no alcohol. The meditation takes me to a soft lovely place. I feel like crying writing about it, I may..
Timelessness, that concept comes after the meditation. On the way home, timelessness. I’m aware that you are all going along with the process and there is some flexibility about the timing.
Week 7
I learn a technique that involves seeing the past in 2d, the present becomes more alive. Stories are leaving, the ones I like I keep. I feel very healthy. I had clear pictures in my mind, I was able to look behind the pictures and there is beautiful blank space behind, is a relief. I had information in my body from a long time ago, some not useful at all. The dross is being let go. For the next few days, times in my life that are painful arise for letting go.
I received a lovely picture of Lakshmi. I've loved Ganesha for a long time. I like feeling Lakshmi and Ganesha together.
Fri 1st May, Week 1
Felt a bit restless and frustrated. A butterfly flew into the shed and got stuck in the corner of the window, so I freed it.
Fri 8th May, Week 2
There were lots of flies around. Was overwhelmed by the smell of the lantana.
Fri 15th May, Week 3
My best friends cat was run over, my landlord died and M died after being hit by a truck. I didn't know her well, but would stop to chat whenever I saw her. I was in shock about my landlord as he was like a grandfather to me, and the death of M bought up bad feelings as my brother died the same way. It all seemed to be a significant time, like it was marking the beginning of big change. Felt tired.
Fri 22nd May, Week 4
Big storms and bad weather so the group was cancelled. The bad weather seemed to emphasise the turbulence of the week before....death and destruction.
Fri 29th May, Week 5
Felt good. While setting up the fire I played with a dog and noticed the birds watching down on us to see what we were doing. During the week I became romantically involved with a new man in my life, so was feeling great.
Fri 12th June, Week 7
Felt distracted, stressed and under pressure. Felt the polarities of feeling good and bad at the same time. Feeling under too much pressure from being overloaded with work and deadlines. Felt very tired.
Fri 19th June, Week 8
Felt similar to last week. I've had too many things going on to be able to focus properly on the course and this frustrated me. Felt tired.
Person 5
Fri 1 May, Week 1
On day 1 of the Alchemy course, I became fully aware of the split in my 2 worlds, the living of very different lives in Australia and the UK. And the following day, how ‘out of place’ I was.
Fri 8 May, Week 2
A painful realisation day - I have to return to the UK!
Fri 15 May, Week 3
I overheated during meditation - as the soul was being freed from the lantana by steaming, and I found the smell overpowering.
Mon 18 May
Excited by the idea of going home - returning to the UK.
Mon 25 May
A transformational day! Had an astrological reading which brought me to the realisation that it was time for me to ‘wake up’! ‘This is it!’ ‘Now or never’! A sudden interest in astrology started on this day - an important aspect of the alchemical process for the Lantana and myself!
Fri 29th May, Week 5
During the fire process, my ego was rising up in an ugly way that immediately made me feel uncomfortable - the personality. Old facades of old behaviors - yuk! I actually said "I don't know how to be....in the moment" - the ego cried out!!!
Fri 5th June, Week 6
No alchemy today. Felt very strange, suspended and frozen, released from those feelings through dance and connecting with Person 1 & 6.
Also felt a strong sense of vulnerability in opening up to myself (and to others), and the vulnerability in facing yet another journey with myself and new others. Exciting, healing and ‘heart-breaking’!
Fri 12 June, Week 7
A group observation? - a sense of reaching beyond the visible/known/understood horizon.
Today there was much laughter - bordering on hysteria! Fun and connectedness!
Sun 14 June
The new physical symptom hit for the first time today - the armpit rashes, in response to foods I ate yesterday that I am intolerant to. The rash also enabled an emotional release - through tears - which had not been ‘allowed’ to surface.
Mon 15 June
Expressed how ”good it is to be in the feeling realm once again”! Meaning I am more able to be in my heart and express my sadness and joy through this change form OZ to UK.
Fri 19 June, Week 8
The last day became an extremely full and magical day!!!
Felt removed during the sacred marriage and closing of the alchemical process together. Feelings of sadness, exhaustion and feeling incomplete! At the end, due to feeling overwhelmed, I surrendered and then the magic flowed filling the day yet further with a whole myriad of emotions!!! Felt excited, removed, very sad, exhausted, heady, pressured, felt I’d avoided and felt I’d accomplished! Joy and spontaneity, cheeky, grounded, full of life and excitement, deeply connected, busy, social, flowing, satisfying and exhilaration!!!!
The following days I felt rested, could breath again, felt love and sadness and was made aware of the ‘huge’ journey I have travelled and the journey I move towards.....
MAIN GENERAL OBSERVATIONS which occurred during or since.
Main physical difference which arose towards the end of the process, is an armpit rash ranging from a few red patches to raised inflamed skin - which flares up in various degrees depending on what foods I have eaten which, I know not to be in harmony with my physical body! I have never experienced any form of rash ever before now!
I attribute this to consciously asking for any help to keep me off foods that deplete me, and perhaps also in response to the purification process of alchemy. The armpit rash is now assisting me in purifying and only nourishing myself with good foods.
Perhaps, an aspect of the Lantana is to reveal that which lays hidden to enable a transition through ‘stuckness’ - my consuming of foods which I know drain me.
Almost as an aside, a startling observation I made almost immediately upon my return to the UK. Instead of staring up at the tops of trees around me - which I have done as far back as I can remember! I find my attention is now on the roots and trunk of the trees, I actually have to make an effort to look up now! This is very marked!!!
Amazed at myself for not allocating the time or thought to drawing the Lantana flower - still!!!?!!!
Fri 8 May, Week 2
Observations: There is a wedding in preparation for the next day. Person 1 was the one chopping the roots (yang) and the only male of the group making a ratio of 1/6 which seems to coincide with the plant ratio root/aerials…
Talked about my feelings through the week of wanting more space (an unusual feeling for me, so used to being crowded without suffering about it).
During the week, I had been carrying a twig of lantana in my car, I realised it had withered so got another one that I drew in my diary, when I was really made aware of the structure of the flower, its vibrant and yet soft colours.
Fri 15 May, Week 3
FLU: after the major aches which started Thursday/Friday, I really came down with the flu on Saturday with a worsening of all the symptoms, feeling very emotional and having to spend time thinking and writing. Sunday, after a long ten hour sleep, my body had less overall pain but my nose started running…
VIVID DREAM: At someone’s house: a woman friend, very familiar, who apparently lives in north Queensland. Her and partner are about 50 years old, very tanned and beautiful. Lots of people everywhere in the house, a gathering maybe? There is a funny looking pool, flat and large in the backyard so people can sit around and put their feet in it. The pool is totally shaded by a roof like structure. I interacted mainly with the woman while drinking big full glasses of milk (in reality I never drink milk since birth, lactose intolerant!!!!) I remember having at least three! Everyone goes in the nude to the pool and I feel slightly self-conscious and can’t undress. I notice how beautiful and slim and tanned their bodies are and then wake up…
Week 6
Interesting to know that through this course, I got very sick, quit my job and had a major shift in the understanding of my priorities…
· Birds spread the seed. In Australia, the Superb Fairy wren.
· The Lantana bug (Aconophora compressa) was introduced in 1995 to Australia in an attempt to control Lantana, but did not have much of an impact and has become a pest of its own accord.
· Moths that feed on Lantana include Epinotia lantana, and Lantanophaga pusillidactyla.
· In Hawaii the Lantana Scrub-hairstreak butterfly (Strymon bazochii) was introduced to control Lantanas, to not much effect.
· Another Lantana butterfly (Tmolus echion) has been introduced into Mexico and
· Other caterpillars with Lantana as food plant include the Common Splendid Ghost Moth (Aenetus ligniveren), Aenetus scotti, Endoclita malabaricus, Hypercompe orsa, and the Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum).
· One mammal that can eat Lantana leaves without ill effect seems to be the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor).
· Butterflies that feed on the nectar of lantana include the Papilioninae (swallowtail and birdwings), the Hesperiidae (skippers), some brush footed butterflies like in Danainae and Heliconiinae, some Pieridae like Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), and Lycaenidae (lantana Scrub Hairstread).
· The Black-throated Weaver (Ploceus benghalensis) and the Streaked Weaver (P.Manyar) birds like to use the flowers of Lantana to decorate their nests. The females like big decorations, so the beauty of the nest indicates the suitability of the male.
· A fungus that is a parasite to Lantana is Ceratobasidium cornigerum.
· The stingless bee (Trigona fulviventris) is said to be a nectar robber of Lantana camara. It bites holes in the bases of the stamens and through the corolla, and takes nectar without pollinating. (In Verbenaceae the stamens are placed on the corolla tube). Bumblebees in the UK do this to many plants where they don’t fit the flower.
“Every enemy you create is like pulling out a lantana bush, the more you pull out, the wider you spread the seeds. But every friend you create is like a jasmine hedge. You plant it and it bears flowers.“ Raja Rao.
Introduced into Britain 1692.
The crushed leaves have been used as a furniture polish.
In Taiping (Phillippines?), the stems are used to make toothbrushes.
The fruit has been used as a flavouring. In Malaya and Sierra Leone, the fruit is eaten.
The stems of Lantana are thin, tough and durable, so used in wickerwork. In India, the Soliga of Karnataka use Lantana in their wickerwork as it has become a weed there and replaced the bamboo that they used to use.
Green berries used as an insect repellant. The oil is also reported to be an insecticide and repellant to insects especially bees, mosquitoes and flies. Dried lantana leaves burned in a glass jar have been used for centuries as a mosquito repellant.
The leaves contain 0.22% volatile oil known as Lantanol, and 80% l-d-phellandrene. The dried flowers yield 0.07% of the volatile oil.
Sixty two compounds have been identified in the oil. The major constituents identified include caryophyllene (13.57%), α-caryophyllene (11.76%), germacrene D (10.88%), isocaryo-phyllene (9.59%), γ-muurolene (6.85%) and γ-elemene (5.65%). However, the composition varies in different parts of the world. The common factor is always caryophyllene.
The leaves have been used to treat tumours, tetanus, rheumatism and malaria in India.
Leaves reported to be diaphoretic, carminative, and antiseptic. It has also been demonstrated to be fungitoxic₁, autotoxic₂, and antioxidant.
The oil of the leaf has antimicrobial activities₃.
Lantana can cause a dermatitis-like rash when working with it. The leaf is very soothing to the skin – insect bites, cuts, scrapes, ulcers, itches of various skin problems (chicken pox, eruptions), parasites, scabies.
Lantana said to be good for snakebite. Apply the crushed leaves to the bite. In Sinaloa, Lantana is the favourite remedy for snakebites, a strong decoction of the leaves being taken internally and a poultice of crushed leaves applied to the wound.
As a tea, the leaves said to be good for rheumatism, indigestion, joint pain, flu, coughs, colds, sore throat, fever, tapeworm, headaches, body pains, toothaches.
In the Philippines a decoction of the fresh roots is used as a gargle for toothache and one of the leaves and fruit, to cleanse wounds. Has antiseptic properties so good for cuts and wounds, and ulcers.
Leaves used as an inhalant for respiratory problems, colds, and headaches. Essential oil contains antiasthmatic and pectoral properties – decoction of the roots or syrup of the roots for these uses.
There has been some research that may indicate Lantana as good in diabetes and cancer. It is said to be good in helping suppress the immune system for organ transplantations. In Java the pounded leaves are applied to swellings to make them disappear, and a lotion or fomentation is made from them for rheumatism. A decoction of the leaves given internally acts as an emetic.
The Dispensatory of the United States of America reports that an allied species (Lantana brasiliensis) contains a quininelike alkaloid, lantanine, the effect of which is antispasmodic.
Lantanine, an alkaloid is thought to be the active principle. Said to be antipyretic, good substitute for quinine. In West Indians in West Africa, a tea of the leaves and flowers sometimes mixed with Basil is used as a febrifuge and diaphoretic.
In Costa Rica, a tea made of the leaves is used as a stimulant and tonic.
Hubert, who made a particular study of verbenaceous medicinal plants, reports that an infusion of the leaves is utilized internally for bilious fevers and catarrhal affections. Lotions are externally employed against eczematous eruptions. An infusions of the flowers is pectoral for children and tincture of the bark is employed as a tonic.
growth
Grows to 3 metres. Loves heat. Likes some shelter – does well along fences or walls.
Perennial in subtropical climates where it is often a huge pest eg. in Australia,
Hairy, prickly, woody shrub, has a spicy pungent smell (some say like cat pee). The seeds are at the end of the stems and look like berries. When green, these berries are poisonous and have been known to kill cows, goats and one documented child fatality. But when they ripen to a purplish black they are no longer poisonous and can be eaten. Blooms nearly continuously. The flowers are red, orange, yellow, pink, white. They generally change colour as they mature – yellow to orange to red/pink. It has been suggested that the flower changes from yellow to red as a signal to butterflies, yellow suggesting to get the nectar ‘here’ and the red to say ‘don’t bother, not here’. Newly open flowers are yellow and start to turn orange within 9 hours, and it has been suggested that the flowers have lost most of their nectar within that time. Leaves are aromatic. As green mulch the leaves are a big source of phosphorus and potassium. The fresh bark contains 60% water, 6.25% ash, 0.08% crystalline substance ‘lantanine’, 0.054% of a rubber like substance, 1.705% resin, 2.2% resinic acid but no tannic acid, however the bark of the root is said to contain tannic acid.
