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Vine – Form and Function

People in the Vine state, said Bach, are ‘sure that they know what is right, both for themselves and for others….they wish for everything just in their own way.’ This is a widespread condition, surely, where we try to control the world around us (as widespread as grapes and wine, perhaps). We can observe this urge for dominance in the vineyard where every other plant is eradicated and bare soil is measured out by the serried lines and symmetry of planting. Wild vines run riot by comparison in a fluid growth of freely expressed form: let it be, let it explore the life opportunity, that is the message. Vine people ‘give orders to those helping them’ and it is this domineering control that is damaging; where Rockwater is strict with self, Vine is strict with others. Like the Rockwater remedy, the Vine essence softens and gentles the heart; we can sense this in the softness of the Vine flowers and the sweetness of their scent.

Vine flowers have no petals and this shows a lack of emotional sensitivity, there is a lack of empathy towards other people and how they feel. When the buds open, the cap (calyptra) is pushed off by the developing stamens beneath. Again the gesture is one of force and pressure rather than the gentle receptive unfolding of other flowers. Yet the flowers lead to fruits that are sweet and full of juice, carrying a generosity in a dry land. And, if as the Gospels say ‘each tree is known by its fruit’ then vines are renowned for their flavour and usefulness. Vine, therefore, is a story of almost violent contrasts.