What Manzanilla(Chamomile) Is Teaching Me About Being Held

For most of my life, I thought Manzanilla was just a gentle tea. Nice. Soft. Helpful in small ways. But this past year, she began weaving herself into my days, cup by cup, day by day, until I realized something: I was being held. Not through one dramatic moment. Through presence that returned. Through the slow accumulation of a plant who showed up every single day. In this episode, I share: How Manzanilla taught me what being held actually feels like What my elder taught me about plants as teachers, not tools Why trauma-tired bodies need repetition, not peak experiences, to remember safety A guided practice to meet Manzanilla (or any plant) properly, as a relationship What it means to reclaim your lineage and why that's hard, even with family who doesn't understand This isn't about how to use plants. This is about coming into relationship with them. About letting something small and ordinary teach you that being held is real. If you've been surviving on your own for too long if you've forgotten what it feels like to be held, this episode is for you. Slow-Living as a Way Home is a space to soften, to remember, and to return to the rhythms your ancestors trusted. If you're tired of rushing, this is for you. SHOW NOTES / TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Intro: A plant has been holding me [01:30] My story: How Manzanilla wove herself in, slowly [04:30] On reclaiming your lineage (even when family doesn't understand) [05:30] Ancestral teaching: Plants as relationships, not tools [08:30] Why the body needs repetition to trust being held [10:30] Guided practice: Meeting Manzanilla [16:00] Integration: Your practice for the week ----more---- If something here touches you, feel free to share it with someone you love or post a part that resonates. Thank you for reading, hearting, commenting, and simply being here. Your presence truly matters. And if this work has nourished you and you feel moved to reciprocate, you can support it here with a cup of tea—> tesito. ☕ Ways we can walk this path together: 🌿 Sunday Gathering — Every Sunday, I hold a 30-minute meditation circle on Zoom. A small sanctuary for your nervous system. No experience needed — just your willingness to pause. Todos son bienvenidos. ——> Register Here 🎙️ Slow Living as a Way Home — My bilingual podcast where we explore ancestral wisdom, cultural remembering, and what it actually means to come home to yourself. Available wherever you listen. ——> Listen Here 🏔️ Slow-Living Retreats — Intimate, application-only gatherings where slow living becomes embodied. Multi-day immersions in beautiful landscapes — ceremony, photography, community, and the kind of rest that changes everything. Next Adventure: Slow Living in the Highlands of Scotland. —> Learn More 🌀 Sabiduria — A weekly newsletter I write alongside Juliet and Georgina, where we explore embodied ancestral wisdom — the kind that moves through the body, not just the mind. If that calls to you, come find us on Substack. —> Subscribe to Sabiduría 🌿 Free guide: Slow Living as a Way Home → antupewma.kit.com/3f81139283