Sunflowers were first imported from North America to the Ukraine in the 1800s. They have since become the national symbol and state flower of Ukraine.
Throughout Ukraine’s history sunflowers have been a symbol of peace.
In 1996, when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, they planted sunflowers at Ukraine’s southern Pervomaysk missile base.
Ukraine produces the highest volume of sunflower seeds of any country in the world.
Recently a Ukrainian woman offered a heavily armed Russian soldier sunflower seeds to put in his pockets so that they might bloom when he dies.
Sunflower / Xiang Ri Kui / Helianthus annus
Sunflowers are one of the world’s best examples of sacred geometry. They are not actually one flower, but hundreds of tubular flower-heads clustered around a center, flatish dish. Their seeds are arranged in rows that represent two spirals that trace in opposite directions in a Fibonacci sequence. (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and so on).
Sunflowers are sacred. Their myriad swirls and spirals naturally forming these sacred geometric patterns.
Sunflowers transform weak, exhausted soils into nitrogen rich soils so other plants may thrive.
Sunflowers know to close up at night and protect themselves. They open up again to follow the arc of the sun as its light and warmth passes overhead. The seeds, oil, and leaves can all be used as food or medicines.
The Native American Shasta people burned sunflower roots to purify the house after someone died. They burned the roots to counter stuck ideas and emotional issues in order to resolve any false ideas about actions needing to be taken in life.
To the people of Ukraine, wherever you may be…
May you find protection as you await your morning’s sunrise.
Like the sunflower, you have become symbols for the whole world of what it means when common ordinary people join together to fight oppression. Your solidarity, conviction, and bravery in the face of invasion are humbling, even as they inspire.
Your roots may be on fire, but the smoke and flames are awakening the whole world to the possibility of overcoming many old stuck ideas that have for too long held an outdated status quo in place.
I wish you safe and like the sunflower, I feel your people spiraling out across our globe, all connected, all leading the way to a better world, one that is committed to peace, freedom, and the right to live safely. True Health must always include a safe place to land, to move from, a strong core, a place to thrive from.
We too can show our support. Please stand in solidarity with peace and the peoples of Ukraine by sharing this post and visual sunflower with others.
Ukraine is showing us that even small gestures can make a difference… and collectively they can become a force to be reckoned with.
Each day in March, I am sharing an aspect of True Health that inspires me, #WRITrueHealthInspiration. Thank you for joining me on this journey!