Plant Ritual + Writing Prompt
Marble Queen Pothos
This writing prompt is inspired by the Marble Queen Pothos. These beautiful vining plants are a great choice for beginners.
The name Pothos comes to us from Greek Mythology.
The Erotes are a collective of winged gods associated with love in Greek mythology.They are part of Aphrodite's retinue (the goddess of love), and each member depicted a different type of love.
Pothos was a part of The Erotes and was associated with longing, yearning, and desire. He was often depicted carrying a vine.
The other attendants of Aphrodite were: Antheia, Eros, Erotes, Eudaimonia, Eunomia, Genetyllis, Harmonia, Hebe, Hedylogos, Himeros, Horai, Ikhthyes, Ikhthyokentauroi, Kharites, Khrysothemis, Nymphai, Paidia, Pandaisia, Pannyakhis, Paregoros, Peitho, and the Sea Gods.
Plants have long been connected with desire. Many parallels have been drawn between gifting plants and flowers to those we love, tending to love as one would a garden, and the erotic nature of plants.
Plants can be a symbol for desire. Plants reach in two directions simultaneously. They grow up above ground, while also sending roots into the earth. I think that this is a beautiful model for us. This is a practice that can help us connect with our own desire. How can we stay rooted while also reaching? How can we love ourselves while also caring for someone else?
We put together a writing prompt to help us tap into the spirit of the Marble Queen, the myth of Pothos, and our own desire this February.
These prompts are seven line prompts are meant to help hold your hand in creating a poem. Each line describes a different “move” in the poem that the writer can make. Some lines have sentences started for you. Leave what doesn’t work for you behind and take what does.
Title: Pothos Means Desire
Line 1: “A vine growing is _______”
Line 2: Use the color green as a verb
Line 3: Reach your roots into the earth
Line 4:”Desire can look like _____”
Line 5:Use the words: copper, February, and satin
Line 6: Refer to Aphrodite
Line 7: “From here it looks ______”
Once you complete the poem, take a deep breath and imagine your roots and your branches at the same time. Read it out loud to yourself.
If you write one and share, please tag @heyhorti and #plantpoem, and we might just share it with our community!
You can also tuck this poem into a Pothos and give it to a loved one.
To work with plants to set intentions click here.
