Aculeatus Silentium: Stinging Stillness (Foxglove)
The Foxglove (Digitalis) is a water plant with a showy and dramatic appearance. It is easy to imagine the water nymphs dancing around them, as they grow into elegant plants, tall and majestic. But this plant holds a surprise. Do not be distracted by its beauty, but look deeply and you will see the power residing there. It is not to be tampered with casually. The Foxglove contains a deadly poison that is as likely to stop a heart, as to keep it going.
On the positive side, parts of this plant are powdered into a powerful medicine. Commonly known as digitalis, this substance is used as a cardiac stimulant that keeps millions of heart patients alive.
The unexpected pairing of the Foxglove and the Scorpion happened because both contain powerful toxins. But, the relationship is deeper still, and it is one that perseveres through time. This is an elemental dance that will remain a mystery to many, and merits a deeper meditation.