From HerbMentor.com, this is Herb Mentor Radio.
You are listening to Herb Mentor Radio on HerbMentor.com. I'm John Gallagher. My guest today is Raylene Ha`alelea Kawaiae`a. Raylene is a long time teacher of the Hawaiian way of life and has been sharing her understanding of her heritage and cultural practices as well as teaching hula since nineteen seventy six. Raylene is a practitioner and master or haku of haponopono, a spiritual practice to restore and maintain good relations between the divine humankind and nature.
Raylene lives on the island of Hawaii and works for the Queen Lilyuakalani Children's Center, which works with Hawaiian orphaned and destitute children.
Many know Raylene from her interviews in the film Newman, the healing nature of plants.
Raylene, aloha.
Aloha.
So how did I do with my pronunciation there?
Wonderful. I can understand what you were saying.
Thank you. That was close. I tried. It's my first my first attempt. The only thing I got wrong was the title of the film Newman, which is actually Newman Newman, the Nature of Plants. But, hey, we'll call it the healing nature of plants.
Yeah. Well, it all works, doesn't it?
It all works. Exactly. And I know that, some folks listening because, you know, people come and lean on our site on her mentor dot com from a lot of different backgrounds and kind of understandings of working with plants. And people may be wondering, what does what, we're talking about have to do with herbs.
Though I'm gonna let you make all these connections, I will say I just want to let folks know that, after I visited, Kauai myself and being exposed, to hula from a traditional people there and then then seeing your presentation at the International Herbison Posing in last June. It all makes perfect sense to me.
And and if, anyone is going to explain the connection between native cultures and plants, I feel that it should be a native teacher and elder, which you are both. And so I'm not going to try to attempt to do that.
So that's why we're really honored to have you with us today.
So Your honor is mine.
Oh, well, thank you. And I guess we should just start with, perhaps maybe, we should start with exactly what is hula because to a lot of folks from the, upper forty eight, do you call it? I don't know. What do you call it? And and and why.
The continental United States.
The continental. Because I know in Alaska they call it the lower forty eight. So I'm like, is it the upper forty eight?
So, I Continent. The continent. I I guess I I, you know, never really understood, hula until I was there and had it all explained to me and got to witness and experience culture, in your on your land. And I I was wondering if you could, start by sharing that with us.
Sure. Well, hula is a tradition that has been passed down through time, and it speaks of historical and significant events of the people.
And it does so, through the chants and the songs and the dances that express them.
It's a direct connection, I think, with the heritage and the legacies, and the traditions, the and a deeper understanding, as to what that is as we, for many of us, as we experience the different mele or songs, whether they are chants or otherwise, it allows us to look at our own relationships in regards to what that particular song is about because it just opens doors.
It opens a deeper understanding of things and coming from a place that has been practiced for generations that allows us to look with what was to what is and to what will become for the future generations that follow us.
So it's a very, really wonderful way to share culture and practices in, in a way that is very embracing of all different lifestyles.
So I think that's kind of generalizing it enough because it can be so in-depth.
Right.
Yeah. We have chance that or, you know, talk about creation and and our relationship to all of things that are created that are generations old that allows us to understand our connection to all things.
So that's I think Hula, you know, the very little, very little, you know, expression of it right now.
And, were there I I know that where I live, in in Washington State, the first peoples the first peoples here, like, you could go from little area to little area and, like, you know, I could go to a place I could drive to in in twenty minutes. And because the the land was so rich and there's so many different cultures and language groups just in this area alone, I mean, even from island to island or even within islands, practiced?
Yes. And a lot of that, you know, can we can relate to that today as well as how we each interpret or we each would like to present our, understanding of the story.
And so we will present it in in the ways of what we have learned, what the families may have, talked about.
You know, I was talking, in, Europe at one point and a man there who had been studying things Hawaiian was saying that he had visited Kauai quite frequently. And we were talking about the chance of Pele and that he he was, relating that that the people there were talking about how the relationship of Pele and the young chiefs there, L'Oreal, and that, some of their intimacies that were expressed.
Mhmm.
And I was and I had just shared that there were no physical intimacies.
That was part of the story. And he said, so how can that be that in Kauai they're saying that there was, which is the families of the young chief and here in Hawaii where this deity resides and the families here connected with that deity, the female is saying no, it didn't.
So is that so far from what and who we are as people today?
You know, each family understands a certain portion of the story and thereby they express it in the way that they understand it to be.
And therein lies, you know, a really interesting part of the story of human kind. You know, we each bring to it in our own perceptions of what we have learned and understood. And then it is is expressed in that manner and then, you know, you just, between the two do you get the bigger picture.
So that's how you end up many times with, a diversity of expression.
You know, the point I think is what's really wonderful is that it's still the same story.
Right.
Just told through different eyes and different understanding, different perspective. Okay.
And, so what I wanted to ask you is, thanks for that. That, that, that helps a lot to get deeper understanding.
Now, now what about, just, either hula or just in in general, like the relationship with plants? Like, how is that connection made?
Well, because we have a understanding that we are we are the youngest, being created and that the plants and the things of this, in nature are are the oldest things. So the islands for us as ourselves are our elders and our ancestors and everything that was born before us or created before us is also that.
And so in our traditions, it's very important that we take care of our elders and understand what their, how to take care of them.
And we look at them and, realize that they have much to offer us.
So medicinally, you can see how that aligns.
Through Hula as well as other practices, do they also recognize that the plants are can embody the presence of, the greater wisdom, of the creator, if you will, through different deity that we may have specific names that that that deity can embody this particular class. And in Hula, it is, that knowledge is, really has been held. And so we know many of what plans will allow the deity of Hula to to come forth. And so we adorn ourselves when we're doing particular dances with those plans that will allow that deity to be with us when we do our have in relationship to the powers that be, in relationship to the creative forces.
And so we are, bringing that and adorning ourselves with that, to acknowledge that, to to petition for their presence to be with us when we, go forth, whether it is in in a healing practice or in the practice of hula, whatever the practice might be, if it's in lua, which is the Hawaiian, martial arts, and in weaponry, it's still the same process of gathering those resources and recognizing where they come from, and what their, potential of what they can bring into our lives.
So it's real important that we we understand all of what, they can bring forth and can help us to, do things together that we would not be able to do separately.
Because at one point, if you look at it, the plants themselves are there, but we have to we as a human is a partner to bring out their medicinal resources, if you will, their properties.
And we as a human, whether, you know, we are bringing forth all of what they are.
And so we there's a partnership that exists that that we can we are unable to produce what they do.
You know, we cannot within our own being create medicine.
Yet it is through them that medicine is created.
Oh. Oh, wow. Okay. So Oh, good. So so well, because what I what I'm getting from you is just really an opportunity for people not familiar with what you just said to expand their definition of medicine.
Because I believe that a lot of people in Western culture are interested in herbs. But what happens inevitably, and especially in the beginning, it depends on which, where you're coming from. But a lot of people are just searching on how to tag the herb onto a Western way of looking at medicine.
Like, oh, this constituent is like this drug.
I'll Yeah.
And and and you're saying that the ritual and relationship with the plants helps the plant to find its medicine?
Well, it is our it is our partnership.
Right.
So we have chance and things that allows us to remember and reminds us that though we are beautiful and unique to ourselves, when we have and when we take the opportunity to join with another, are we both the greater by the joining?
And so when we join together with the plants, are we both the greater for the meeting?
So it's recognizing that maybe you're a really great medicinal practitioner in Lao, which is of the plants her biology.
And so you know how all these pieces fit, yet the truth is, if it were not for them, you would be standing alone with having many wonderful thoughts in your head, but not be able to produce anything.
Same on the other side, the plants themselves are standing there saying, I have all these wonderful qualities and characteristics that I can add into the world.
And so they are projecting an energy that some of us can get in line with, aligned with it, so that now we, in turn, can recognize the qualities that they have to offer.
And then the both of us are now the plant and the human are the greater for the meeting.
So it's not one dominant over the other. It's it's walking it together.
Okay. So excuse me.
So I I what I'm hearing you say is is amazing and to me vital for anyone who Yeah.
Is working with Lance. And have you found is is this how you present? Because, because, because, is this how you present when teaching like two people, like on how to work with plants? And do you find that accepted and easily compatible, like, anywhere you go? Because it seems such a basic human thing.
To Yes.
Pretty pretty much what I, what usually comes up is that most people are questioning their own ability until of course they gain skill and that that comes with practice in their relationship with the plants.
Because most of us in in today's society has been, I think, taught, a possessive manner in the sense that once you have gained a skill, then it's mine. Mhmm. And then you move on and not always do we remember all the, contributing factors that you gained in your skills.
Okay.
And so in in our relationship with the plants, you know, and and and it's so hard for me to say the plants because they are sentient beings and there you think, well, what does that mean?
That means for me that they have presence in our world and that they have significant contribution to life as we do or that we have the opportunity to.
And so the more that we can realize how we are contributing to each other's existence, do we enhance each other's existence?
So most people that I, run a, you know, come and speak with or we're just talking story is they know this innately, but not always do they have, the words or that they have that's what it is. That's what I'm feeling. So there becomes a familiarity that is now now I know what it is that I've been looking for. I had this sense about it, but I've never been able to articulate it.
And and that's usually what comes out when we're, you know, when we have talk story, what I call. We were just discussing our our experiences of life and what we're learning in our practices of of applications and discovery of of one's of one's potential, which may be the plant itself.
You know, it's I, I find and one of the many reasons I want to talk to you today is that I I I know that it's important for every individual to find their own way to form relationships with plants and to find a foundation. But definitely, everyone needs that in order to work with them. Otherwise, they're just chasing constituents and chemicals and books. You know what I mean?
They're they're not having Yeah.
And, and then what I do get and just, you know, just being completely honest and here with, you know, just with everyone listening, is that, it's like I sometimes get difficulties with people who have already really set spiritual or religious beliefs and value systems when I start to bring up things like this to them when that's misunderstanding, you know, like, like so when you when you're out and you are teaching as you do to a lot of people, whether on the continent or in Hawaii, how do you communicate that with people who already seem to have a really set belief system in how they think things are?
Does that make sense? Yeah. Yeah.
I find that we have more common ground than what they than what they first would anticipate. Mhmm. That more so they, you know, they come with a preset idea of what things or what practices are.
And then we can usually, we will discuss further that it is, it's an embracing of all life and all creation Mhmm.
And honoring it in such a way as we would honor any anything or anyone.
And that realizing that, that world, the world of nature is a part of the creator itself. Mhmm. And when no matter what text or what knowledge base that they come from, even perhaps even through the scientific mind where they see all the molecules, they know all the DNA.
What they're proving is that same story.
Mhmm.
That they're recognizing that there's more to the story and more to the story that finds that we're more connected than not. Mhmm. And so you lay that base of commonality that, you know, story is standing very strong in their story and saying, but this is the way it is.
Right.
And the other side of the family is saying, well, that may be true for you, but this is our experiences and this is what we have found to be true in our practice and our understanding.
The question lies, can I still honor you in your diversity?
Because you're still honoring the same things as I do, but perhaps in a different way.
And there lies an openness of discussion now.
Right.
That's great. Yeah.
You know, in Newman, you were talking about you mentioned the creation chat. Is that what it was? Yes. Can you tell us about that? Because I because, you know, the thing I I I was you know, when I was listening to you in Newman and and, you know, and I I I was kinda like, I wanna hear more from Raylene.
Oh, thank you.
But, you know, I didn't make the film.
So Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, it's again, what is very significant for us as the as our traditions have taught us is that all the pieces fit and that they have a specific presentation of life. So in this chat, it talks about from the darkness.
It's it's similar to what people would read in Genesis, you know, that it talks about in the dark and in the chaos, and it talks about how life emerged, and then it goes into the light, and it goes into the stars, and every aspect of life, every, from the dinosaurs to the creatures of the sea, every creature is mentioned.
Every, thing that we experience our life is mentioned in this in this chat.
So and some people, because of the way we do, you know, they are aligning it well, it was just a remake of the creation of creation itself as written in the Bible.
Okay. That's to me, it's like, okay. And if it was, does it make it any less?
And so you know and for some yes, it does. And for others of us, we still see the connection.
We still know the stories, which aligns us to recognize that we are part of a great family and that's part of what that chance has to to offer us that we are all connected.
And that as the youngest born, as humankind is the youngest born, can we not see our elders that was created in each of the dispensations of time.
And here we are now and we are here in our culture Punehele, which is the youngest child, the chosen child, if you will, the special child, and that is humankind.
We're the Punahele of the Kahiappa, which is the elders, the eldest child.
And the responsibility or the kuleana of the Punehele is to take care of the elder child.
And so this chant reminds us that we don't stand here alone. This was not and most and many times, I think we are taught all of this was created for us.
Maybe it might be the other way around. Right.
And maybe we need to start realizing that because it is of them that we ourselves expand in our expression of the more that we can see our connectedness, the more that we ourselves are expanding.
So that kind of chant is it kind of allows us to see the bigger picture.
Okay. Okay.
Wow. Thank you for that. I wanted to hear more about that one. You know, when I when I was visiting, Kauai, I had a chance to, a friend of mine, it's actually a person I went to school with sister had married a Hawaiian man, like, you know, a couple few decades ago. And now, he passed away since. This is on Kauai. And she's learned the ways, and she runs the hula in her.
What do you call an area of the island that's, like where there's a group of peep, a group of, like, there are different parts, on Kauai where there are different hula, different, like Halau.
Yeah. And so she runs the hula there on certain, a certain night every week or two weeks. People come and learn. Oh, beautiful. And she runs programs in the schools, through teaching.
Oh, wonderful.
And and so I got to go to the school program. And it really struck me and the children, the difference, in relationship to Native culture, on the children on Hawaii versus, let's say children in our schools and their relation to the native peoples in their area. And, because it seems like, the really like the children there, no matter what their background or race, seem to really be, like, welcomed, as as, like, as as people of the island and everything. I think that was just really cool. And so do you see, like, with, when you're reaching and working with younger people, like, like, that they embrace that and and and and and start to understand the kind of ways and flow and respect for the, nature on the island?
Yes.
I see that just, with anything in the moment, because I I too teach, teach, middle particularly middle school age, opioid children and and high school.
And we we have a cultural program that we that we do with them through the modality of hula and that's, you know, and that's because it will open all the doors into history, particular events, relationships of what was happening in history to why this chant was written, what was and how, interrelationships of humankind, how it affected the whole, and how are they in their own relationship with their own peers.
In our practice, in our particular program, it is important that, these children have some responsibilities.
One of them because it's with the school system that they have to maintain, a grade point average.
And, for for here, for this particular program, it's a two point o grade point average with no fee, school.
And with their teachers as well as their peers in their school. No fights, no, you know, conflicts, and they also need to have, good relationship with their parents and their families and what is their contributions to their community.
So that we can address these things with them that, you know, as as young people and and even those of us who are not as young, that we find that when we are in relationship with other human people, many times there's conflicts. There's a difference of opinions and so what we're able to do is, highlight the situation in such a way so what is another way? What's another solution?
What is another way that allows you to maintain your values and still be able to address your concern without creating an illness if you will, a brokenness of that relationship.
So it's an ongoing process as we all know. Mhmm. But if but if we can fortify these children to look at their skills and build upon their skills and being able to do that, then it's our thought that then we were all we will all be the better for it, you know. And as I'm getting older and these children will be at the age where they'll be making the decisions of how they're gonna take care of me in, you know, in deciding what society is going to be be like, it becomes very important to me that I'm going to instill instill within them the connectedness, the connectedness of of humankind, the connectedness of nature itself and their connectedness to the powers and the creator of all things.
So, you know, it's it's a wonderful way that that I see many youth has a sense of disconnectedness that, you know, there's only there's them, there's their friends, and, you know, the rest and I see that more plainly I think now than perhaps before. It's a real dichotomy, you know, in the sense that, you know, here's this great effort to bring connectedness into the world and realizing that what we do has a direct effect upon all of us, and yet on the in a very personal manner, and these I think these young people are are having a sense of what's the sense, you know.
So there's there's not that connectedness to, see the world as a part of their experience in in that way.
Do do you find then, like, this sometimes when people then maybe because you're working with them as children, it gets in them. And then maybe when they get a little older, maybe have kids of their own that there's kind of a turnaround, they start to seek, you know?
Okay.
Well, that's always the the the hope.
Hope. Hope. You know, because we're we all come to it, but if we can what I found is that when you build a relationship with that person that at least you know, you remind them of the greater part of themselves.
And that's one of the things that we do within with the program that we do is that I share with these, children, young adults that I have an expectation of the of experiencing the greatest part of who they are, you know, the greater the greater being that they are. And what I've learned from just saying that to them, that is what they present to me. Right. They don't present to me the child that misbehaves in the classroom.
They don't present to me, you know, other aspects that I see that same child, you know, or I hear about the same child in the classroom with because the teacher has talked to me. How did you get this child to behave? Mhmm. I said I don't expect him not to.
I have to remember that next find your kids.
Now speaking of that, Raline, I wanna know how you grew up. Because did you grow up in, you know, from from from a from a girl in a traditional way?
Or were did you have a moment where you kind of diverted and then came, you know, came back to Yes.
Your culture? How about what's your story there?
I was, raised in a family, that my parents felt that being Hawaiian was not going to be the best thing for me, in culture. And it will in society at that time, it was recognized that most people had a perception of what Hawaiians were.
And, you know, the same kind of story I think with many native peoples, lazy party, you know, all those kind of negative connotations And so I was raised that I was not that.
And and what what was also happening is that I had it within me, I think, to to ask, what I understood as and what I still understand as the creator, as father in heaven, as you know, the creative forces that I had that relationship and I have always had that relationship.
So when I had questions, I could I would always go there to have an understanding of, you know, there's a part of us sometimes that we remember, it's not supposed to be like this. We're not supposed to treat each other like this. And how is it that we do? And so those are the kind of questions that I would ask in my prayers that I would write letters home to dad, which was the creator and asked for an explanation.
How is it that we do these things? And the answers would come.
And and as I grew older and I had, other family members that I could express these things with, did they let me know that that was a very natural way to be and that it was very Hawaiian, that that's how we are taught.
Our ancestors will come in and talk to us in our dreams or talk to us through our prayers. And that, and so it just has evolved from from that kind of, living in a reality of what society is today and being balanced in the non physical reality for me of what life is.
So it's been a continual learning. At a certain point when I mean, I was in my early 20s, my mother and I, we lived in the same area, became involved in a in a bowling league. And the people that were in this league were all local people from Hawaii, and this was in California.
And that, and so they decided for their awards banquet, they were going to do a luau.
And these and it was a parent child bullying league. Uh-huh. And so our our parents decided that their adult children, us, was going to dance and entertain at this awards banquet.
My goodness.
Yeah.
And then so in in the preparation of that, that escorted and opened the door to that side of who I am, of the culture, of its practices.
And because I had already learned how to ask questions of the non physical world, those answers were coming through that way as well, in relationship to the culture and to the practices and to hula, and it continued to do so.
And you found elders to connect with on your land and then learn more?
Yes. But most of it was of the nonphysical.
Oh, okay.
Yeah. And what are the in the physical world where was I able to connect with elders who wanted to know how did I learn? How did I know these things that they only remembered as children that allowed me to to realize that what I was learning was valid.
Wow. That's something else.
Well, I was also taught that and what I thought at the time is that everybody learns that way.
I didn't know that there are many of us who don't and even with that it was like, how come?
Why aren't we doing it like that?
You know, and so after a while it was like, well, whatever way we learn, is a benefit to us where we are. This just happens to be the way that I get to do it.
Now now, you know, and and you you so I, you know, I first heard you speak in Newman and then I saw you at the because I saw a copy before the saw you at the International Herb Symposium. If you make that connection to work in in the with herbalists, like, did you learn a lot about the medicinal uses and or did you heal or find, where did you find your own way? Did the plants speak to you on how to heal? And do you work with people healing with plants where you live? And And that's a lot of questions. I was on all over the place, but you see where I'm getting.
Yeah. Yeah. Mostly, I don't work directly Yeah. Mostly, I don't work directly with the plants in what they do.
I leave that to the the masters of those skills. Mhmm. My skill is working with the human because what ho'oponopono is about and what I understand is that it was a process that when a person was ill or had, you know, was sick in some form, the process was to find out if that person was holding within them mentally, physically, spiritually, anything that would cause the illness, any ill feeling towards another or were there others that had ill feelings towards that person so that when the medicinals are applied, there would be no resistance to the properties of what they could present to that person to be healed.
There would be like open channels that the medicines could work well.
And so my work is to see if to see if anyone's standing in their own way of having of allowing these medicines to do what they can do.
Okay. Okay. Okay.
So I work more in that way of when say, when there is a person that is has some kind of illness going on, it's finding out so where are you with this. Right. You know, and many times, particularly if it's health challenges that brings your mortality close, you know, they are definitely worried about their mortality.
And they have specific things in mind that they want to have, experience in their life, yet they're holding on to negativity.
That's what I call resistance in the body.
That would be like a blockage for the energy of the medicine to do what it can do.
I see.
Okay. Yeah. I'm familiar with that in a sense because acupuncture is personally Yeah. Energetically, they I see we sense blocks and we work on that on that level. But, I mean, I can see that under a block then you would work on with people and then the medicine of the plants that you're working that that that that a person who works with plants on where you live will then have their work be more effective?
That's what you Yes.
I see. Okay.
Because it's like you know how some people sometimes, they don't they don't really wanna take certain medicines, because of the the side effects or whatever may come. And so they will take it they will take it, but they won't like taking it because of those things. So the don't like is a resistance to what the medicine has to offer.
So it's like they're only seeing the cup half empty rather than the cup full, half full.
So they're focusing on the side effects rather than allowing their energy to focus on the outcome of what can be.
Now is that wise?
You know, generally, that's where it lies. Well, it may be wise for this person, but maybe not for the other person and that's part of the work. Because with one person there may be a greater resistance than the other of, you know, a greater form of fear than the other.
And so it's looking at them looking at themselves and reflecting. All all I do is reflect back to them, you know, what it is that, that they themselves are expressing.
Okay. And when you are then working, you know, with people or maybe you're that you're teaching, let's say, when you were teaching last year, we know, what what do you share with people, like, a first step or that they can take to have a deeper understanding of that relationship or just relationship with with plants in general? You know, like, how like, what what's something that kinda helps people kinda take things to that deeper level that you talk about?
Many times what comes up for me to say to them is, three little words and it's for what purpose?
So that they're asking themselves and for what purpose do I need to know this?
And for what purpose if I gain this knowledge that I will utilize this? And for what purpose? So it's just repeating that those words to help you find clarity.
Right.
To help you understand that, you know, it it's not a generalized, well, I I think it'd be really wonderful to know this. Oh, good. But for what purpose?
Right. Oh.
Or or I think I should pick this plant for what purpose or Yeah.
Or how right.
Yes.
Because So it's that open discussion Right. And and realizing that you will receive answers.
Right. And when you least expect it. Right?
Yeah.
And in weird ways.
And how well how and and that's part of the discussion that we have with ongoing classes is how well do you know yourself?
How well do you know know how you interrelate?
You know, what is the story that goes on in your mind and in your head when certain things come up? When you see a plant maybe that you don't know, what's the tape that's running? How well do you know yourself that allows you to open and embrace the knowledge that is desiring for you to become familiar with.
So say as an example, you you become aware of a plant. Someone has told you about this plant. And so, oh, okay, you're going to go and look for this plant and you find it. And some of us will come with a great expectation and excitement of what this of what your connection will be and what you will gain from your experience of it. Others will come to it and think, well, I know they told me about this, but you know, will I find this to be true? I don't know. Or is it based on your friend's knowledge or is it based on your own experience of it?
And for some of us, we hold more validity on our friends knowledge than we do hold in our own personal experience of it. So how well do you know what's going on with you? Mhmm. Mhmm.
And and therefore, your journey, a person's journey with learning about plants and nature, is then reflected back and is really a journey of learning more about themselves. Right?
Yeah.
It's not just about learning about a plant or a tree or what an animal's habitat is. It's really learning about yourself because you are that. You are that. You are all of nature.
Yes. We we are that.
Right.
So that plant and I are that. That animal and I are that. We contribute to each other's existence.
Though we may see many times Yeah. Mhmm.
And then we think that's that's that's their story. Well, they were created so I can eat you. Right.
Well, perhaps.
You know? And and even in that even even in that, is there an appreciation of that creation?
Of what in the eating of it that it brings into your body that it still continues on in its form in your body.
You know, how well do you know you? How well do you know your connections?
I'm I'm hope this is great. And I'm hoping everyone, kinda remembers this and asks these questions when going out. Because we teach about going and harvesting plants and using them. But when harvesting the plant, and I found that being in a state, always giving thanks or always being in that place of appreciation always makes better medicine and always helps me understand, that appreciation always makes better medicine and always helps me understand the plants and, you know. And and it's always so beyond what constituents are, but more of that, who that plant is as a being.
And that's thank you for articulating that.
Yeah. We do that in, like if we're gathering plants, particular plants for leis in hula, the leis that we wear on our bodies and we're going to go into a forested area to do the gathering.
It is very important that we addressed the family.
Meaning, so if it's, here in Hawaii, there's a tree, and it has a very beautiful blossoms and very beautiful, leaves, budding leaves that can all be woven into very beautiful leaves.
And the tree, and these flowers and these leaves are very significant in of themselves and it is our way that when we come to the forest we stand outside of the forest line and we would ask permission to enter.
And in the asking, it is inclusive of who we are, where we come from, what it is that we would like to do while we are in amongst them and that we are asking that we can come to gather them.
And in that, it's like you're talking to the whole family who we are and we have come here because we wish to create these leis.
And this is what we're going to do with you in this journey. And you will experience this in this journey and you, these flowers and these buds are you're expressing to them and you will have an insight into what it is to be in Hula and to express it in this way. And so we were asking, can we come within?
So if we are if we are given permission to enter, then we go in. But we don't yet pick because then we're now at the individual tree or the individual blossom. Mhmm. And before we even take that individual blossom, we're still ongoing in our story.
We're still articulating that you are so beautiful and you would look really lovely in this sleigh. And if you would choose to come with me, we're gonna dance this hula and then we're gonna go to this place and this is what you will see. Do you want to come with me? And you wait until you have a knowing that, yes, they do or thank you, but no thank you.
I would rather stay home with the rest of my family.
And then you honor that and you move on. So that's what it is like in medicine as with the practitioners of La'au La'au, they don't just gather the pool together because they know that's a field of medicine.
They are paying particular attention to which ones want to come to do this journey.
So when they're, I think many practitioners are like that. They already know who the medicine is for and they're only picking for that particular person.
So they're telling the story of what's happening with this person, and how, you know, how they would be utilized. So which ones of you would like to come with me in the healing of this person?
And that's who they pick.
Raylene. That's our traditions.
Raylene, would you feel comfortable sharing a song related to what you were talking about?
Or is that not appropriate? Or because it's so beautiful. Well, I just, well, why I ask is that, I I well, as you were speaking those words, I I just because my mind's eye was going to you and, you know, harvesting and having that relationship. And I'm like, there must be songs that are sung.
Why this is Most times, and there are traditional songs that are done that allows us to teach, you know, a relationship, but most times it's really speaking from your, for us it's called the na'au, inside the seat of where your spirit is, yeah, which is in your solar plexus.
And to speak from that place, so you're speaking your whole truth and in our way we would chant those things to in our story and in our discussion with these other beings that are here for us to do this work of medicinal practice together.
Okay. Yeah. So, you know, it wouldn't for me, it's in the moment.
Oh, yeah. Well, that's what I wanted to know. That's what I wanted to know, you know. Like, that's because I Yeah. I do like I said, I just had that imagery that that happens. And so I just wonder if it did and it does. So I I know that's that's, that's beautiful.
So a lot of times, in order to chance that would be done, there would be an acknowledgment of where they were, the area in which they were and they would articulate the beauty of where they are, whether the breeze is coming up over the ocean and coming onto the land and then you recognize the rain falls here. So you're acknowledging all the elements of what helped to create that space and therein create the plants that dwell there and that how healthy they are and how beautiful they are and how honored you are to be amongst them. So that's part of the dialogue that happens with wherever that place may be.
Mhmm.
Wow. Wow.
That is this has been just an I mean, I just, you you you've you've shared so many beautiful and wonderful things. I I'm my my head is contemplating all of these all at once. And I'm like, Wow. This is amazing.
And, you know, I I really appreciate you sharing this with us. And I I I imagine that anyone out there who is wants to learn more can, I don't know, visit your island and manifest that place for themselves and ask for what purpose and maybe you'll be led to the right place?
Yeah. Yeah. And that lies that lies with wherever we are.
Yeah.
And, you know, many people would ask, you know, they'll come here and, you know, what's not to fall in love with.
Right.
You know, and and, you know, and here is a place that embraces you and and it's not your home of reality, you know. It's not the land of reality for most people who come here. The land of reality is where they came from. Mhmm. And so as to reconnect and a lot of people say, well, what can I do for you? And it's like, love your land. Love where you're at.
Right.
Talk to them so that they will be vibrant because they recognize that you recognize them.
So, you know, it's like that's what we have to offer.
Take it home, practice it, you know, hold your talk story with those plants in the area and recognize, you know, all the elements that are in place so that everything thrives and is abundantly beautiful and and all the things that come into the land will help it to bring forth its fullest potential of health and well-being, of who's going to consume it. All those things, You know, we can do that wherever we are.
Yeah. Thanks. But sometimes we think well, that's how it's like in Hawaii, or that's what it's like in wherever.
Yes.
Yeah.
Even even in, Newark, New Jersey. Yeah.
Because maybe you have a small apartment Yeah. Or and but you have plants that are in your house. And some people, you know, they take the time to talk to their plants and they are vibrant and you begin to have this relationship with them. And then all of a sudden you get busy at work and you get busy with family and you get busy with it and so yeah, you're you're giving it water because you see that it needs water but there's no personal relationship with that, and you will see that the plant will change.
Well, Raylene, it's been most enlightening. Thank you so much. Well, I should say, Correct?
You're very welcome. Thank you.
Herb Mentor Radio on HerbMentor.com is a production of LearningHerbs.com.
Visit LearningHerbs.com for free herbal lessons including Herb mentor news, home remedy secrets, and supermarket herbalism. You'll also find the herbal medicine making kit and our board game Wildcraft.
Herb Mentor Radio. Copyright LearningHerbs.com. All rights reserved.
Thanks so much for listening.
