What if waiting could teach us how to watch?
In this second episode of How to Wait, I'm sitting with the Page of Cups from the Herbal Tarot, the plant damiana, and the wildness of a place I'm still waiting to call home. With one foot in my old life and one reaching toward the new, I'm exploring what it means to let the land shape me before I arrive with plans of my own.
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The word wait comes through Anglo-French and Old North French waitier, meaning "to watch." Its early meanings included keeping watch and lying in wait; the familiar sense of remaining patiently in expectation developed later. That connection offers a beautiful invitation for this season: to pay attention to what is already here while something new takes shape.
Through stories from Minnesota nature writer Sigurd F. Olson, reflections on the Page of Cups, and a mother moose's fierce protection of her calf, I explore:
● How plants, animals, and daily encounters give a place its character
● What happens when we allow ourselves to be changed by our surroundings
● Wildness as devotion, protection, and care
● Keeping a waiting journal to notice the small changes we might otherwise miss
Working with damiana (Turnera diffusa)
Damiana leaf is traditionally prepared as a tea and is also available as a tincture. Its traditional uses include support for anxiety and sexual vitality, though human research remains limited. For this week's practice, you might prepare a tea according to your supplier's directions, sit beside a window or outdoors, and notice the aroma, your bodily sensations, and the life moving around you. Let the cup accompany a few quiet minutes of watching.
Damiana safety: Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Damiana may lower blood sugar, based on animal research, so consult your healthcare professional before use if you have diabetes, experience low blood sugar, or take glucose-lowering medication. Follow product directions and check with your pharmacist about medication interactions. This information is educational and does not replace individualized care.
What are you noticing in your own season of waiting? I'd love to hear in the comments!
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