MARYA OF THE WOOD
I broke one of the cardinal rules of wildcrafting. I reached for a plant without checking closely for bees or other insects. I was feeling a bit off yesterday, more tired than usual, when I set out to gather a fresh tea blend.
My hand instantly felt the sharp sting of a bee. It was a painful reminder of the consequences of not being mindful of the insects around the plants. I had learned my lesson the hard way.
It's a responsibility I take seriously, always mindful of others on and around the plants. This incident was a stark reminder of the importance of this mindfulness.
Lucky for me, there is an abundance of plantain all around. I picked a leaf, chewed it lightly, and applied a compress to the inside of my finger/hand where it stung me. The sting was quite obvious, surrounded by a deep red circle.
Within a half hour or so, the pain subsided, and now I only have a telltale red dot where the stinger penetrated the skin.
The moral of the story is clear: always be vigilant and check for all potential hazards, whether it's a bee, a spider, or any other situation, when you're out picking.
So, remember, never take a flower from a bee.
Be well.
Be wild. Marya of the Wood
Yes, there is too much mindlessness with humans and their disregard for "bugs" as just another annoyance in the wild. Bugs indoors, too, are disregarded and the maker of Raid has people brainwashed into believing bugs serve one purpose: to be killed on site.