An examination of Cosmos bipinnatus

Patricia Maher 22/05/2014

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Natural history:
The plant comes from a private home garden in Buffalo, NY.
	Kingdom: Subkingdom: Division: Subdivision: Class: Subclass: Order: Family: Genus: Species:	Plantae Tracheobionta Spermatophyta Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida-Dicotyledons Asterida Asterales Asteraceae Cosmos Cav - Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Cav (garden cosmos)
Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly known as cosmos or the Mexican aster, is a medium-sized herbaceous flowering plant native to Mexico. Spanish priests planted it in the gardens of their missions in Mexico. Inspired by the symmetrical arrangement of its petals they named the flower "Cosmos", the Greek word for harmony or an ordered universe. (Further exploration of the word "cosmos" reveals, according to Wikipedia: "Today the word is generally used as a synonym for the Latin loanword 'universe'." In many Slavic languages such as Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian the word "kosmos" means something like "outer space". In Mandarin Chinese both "cosmos" and "universe" are translated as "space-time".) The species and its various cultivars are popular ornamental plants in temperate climates. In North America they also frequently grow wild. Cosmos bipinnatus is considered an annual and relatively hardy, although plants can return for years by self-seeding. The plant can reach about 60 to 180 cm in height. When in bloom the plant can become top-heavy. This problem is reduced when plants grow in groups because the doubly pinnate (bipinnate) leaves interlock and the plants in the colony support each other. The leaves of cosmos are single- or double-pinnate, arranged in opposite pairs and divided into fine, thread-like segments. The plants flower twice a year and die back at the first frost. They may regrow the following spring if seed falls on bare ground. In some areas of the USA they are regarded as weeds. Cosmos blooms in pink, white, brownish or pink with occasional darker-pink markings. The flower head is surrounded by a ring of broad ligulate florets. In the centre of the flower head there is a large number of tubular florets. Cosmos flowers are about 5–10 cm in diameter and occur in colourful single or double blooms. [1]
Comment: "How does it feel How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone?" Excerpt from "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan "One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye." Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
The homeopathic proving showed how fitting the flower name Cosmos is. This remedy is very alienated, far out, and can only be understood with the heart. Cosmo Kramer, one of the main characters from the American TV show Seinfeld, is a perfect embodiment of a certain aspect of this remedy – he is so eccentric that he becomes incomprehensible. As the provers said: "These plants are so far away that they can't speak to you", and: "If you are not of this world, perhaps they speak to you." There were many references to space, the stars, the universe – all fitting with the origin of the plant. In an unusual interaction a prover repeatedly conversed with the plant and wanted to know why the plant had never spoken to her ("You don't even say 'Good morning'"). She demanded a kind of communication that the plant could not give. Interestingly, the same prover could show alienation and grief, and express the wish "to belong", which corresponds to this remedy's deep need for connection and bonding. Previously she felt part of the universe and also expressed a sense of balance and groundedness, which corresponds to the original Greek meaning of the word "cosmos" as an "ordered universe". Another theme was secrets, but not in a sneaky way. It was more about information to be shared so that a common ground could be established. Interestingly, "Florence Nightingale" emerged as an independent theme. Two of the provers were nurses, and at first the mention of this nursing icon seemed simply a way for the two provers to find commonality. On closer inspection Florence Nightingale was not only a radical reformer in patient care, but also radical in her religious outlook, believing that all sinners would be equally received into heaven. (Consider that this plant was named "Cosmos" by priests.) Florence Nightingale can certainly represent an aspect of this remedy – the visionary and humanist who, though eccentric, acts according to her convictions and does not lose her head. As one prover put it: "If you can let go of your alienation you feel connected... even if you are ahead of your time!"
The nightingale itself – the bird – is symbolically associated with poetry and the muse. Who is more alienated than the poet, even when he can make magnificent connections? Who else brings the stars down to earth?
		Milky Way
According to Jan Scholtens' botanical system: 666-44.17 Series: Lanthanides from the lanthanoid series Kingdom: Flowering plants; Asteranae; Campanulidae; Asterales; Asteraceae; Heliantheae; Cosmos Phase: 4; Sub-phase 4 Stage: 17 Below is an excerpt from the proving. The full proving can be found at: www.greatlakesprovings.com.
Mental / emotional themes:
Alienated / Connected: "Out there" 2: C1 My first thought was that they are the least talkative plants. They don't say much. It's the first plant I planted on the spot where homeopathy first met me. I planted the plants by the roadside. They convey an airy feeling. 2: C1 My biggest problem with these plants is that they have nothing to say. 3: C1 They suit people who don't say much. 3: C1 She (Susun Weed) researches medicinal herbs and doesn't want people to be ill. People listen to her. 3: C1 She is "out there". Her ideas are out there – too far out in the cosmos – like the cosmos plant. 3: C1 Susan Weed is opinionated. Her ideas are out there. But she does not treat people. 2: C1 These plants are so distant that they cannot speak. 1: C1 Maybe they speak to you if you are not of this world. 2: C1 It's as if they need a medium. 3: C1 A channel. 1: C1 Seinfeld - Cosmo Kramer. 2: C1 Maybe he needs this remedy. 3: C1 He was present. 2: C1 Nobody understood him because he was so far away. 3: C1 "Out there", eccentric, the voice of eccentrics. 2: C1 I am very sad. 2: C1 I just want to lie outside and look at the stars. 2: C1 Something makes me sad. I feel very small. Everything is so enormous [she cries]. 3: C1 I used to often get existential anxiety. For example, when I saw a time-lapse of millions of years of Earth's history – bizarre, terrifying. Our insignificance. 2: C1 Sadness. I felt very insignificant on this planet when I saw how much bigger everything else is. 2: C1 Isolated and alone. 2: C1 I want to see all the stars – millions and millions – and be one with them, instead of being alone on a star. 2: C1 Not connected. Only a part of the whole. 2: C1 The feeling of separation and loneliness disappears – everything comes from the heart, but my back is connected to the earth. 2: C1 This is a good, clear feeling – balanced. I never had this feeling, not even on drugs. 2: C1 Separation. I have this name, and I want to speak about the healing energy of plants, but I don't want to treat people – people are difficult and disappoint you. 2: C1 It is perfectly natural to need connection and love. 2: C1 Something is far away and yet very near, elusive, contrasted with something else that is faithful in the heart, but distant. Observation: Prover 3 begins to sing: "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan, particularly intensely the verse: "no direction home / like a complete unknown" 2: C1 Cosmology is space. 2: C1 A star in the cosmos. The purple [cosmos] also didn't speak. 1: C1 Look – the flowers are like stars. 2: C1 Marty turns 49. 49 is 7x7 – that's the cosmos. 3: C1 Reaching out to the cosmos. 1: C1 For me they speak volumes. It's my favourite plant; the petals are spread out like rays of the sun. 3: C2 "Star-struck" – fascinated by the world of the stars.
Keeping secrets: 2: C1 They can keep secrets. They are not chatterboxes. They keep them, whether they come from inside or outside. 2: C1 [to the cosmos] I'm tired that you say nothing, you secretive one. 1: C1 Someone must guard the secrets. 2: C1 What does it mean that I want this plant to say something? 2: C1 Why are they called "cosmos" (cosmea)? 3: C1 They shout it out. 2: C1 Maybe they know the secrets of the cosmos.
2: C1 To withhold a secret also means to want to share a secret. Jan: C1 It constantly speaks of the secret, yet not everyone can hear it. 2: C2 Showing trust. OBS: C2 Large discussion about Bob Dylan. Provers and supervisor reveal information about his private life. 2: C2 He wanted to be a poet. He didn't want people to ask him questions.
		Cosmos bipinnatus meadow
Physical symptoms:
Heaviness / Tightness / Pressure: 2: C1 Heaviness on my chest. Not oppressive, rather a heavy fullness, as if hands are gently pressing. It is not unpleasant. 2: C1 I feel really grounded, connected downwards. 3: C1 I feel heavier in the chair, my leg feels heavy on the other leg. Draggy. [Observation: he closes his eyes]. 2: C1 The ribcage hurts. The intercostal muscles relax. 1: C2 Heaviness in the area of the left temple. 2: C2 The shoulders and pectoral muscles hurt. It feels as if they were constricted and are now relaxing. When it relaxes, you feel the tension. 2: C2 Pressure relieves the chest pain.
Headaches: 2: C1 Headache and tightness in the back of the head 3: C1 The smell of this hotel room gives me a headache. How is it that all hotels smell the same?
Dizziness: 2: C1 Light-headed, dizzy. 3: C1 Light-headed, dizzy. Slippery dizziness with a tendency to fall to the left. 2: C1 When I stand up, it pulls me to the left. 3: C1 Light-headed, dizzy – a bit like cannabis. 2: C1 My left side of the body falls up or down.
Eyes: 1, 2, 3: C3 The eyes water. They tingle and water.
Bladder: 2: C3 I had a long pee, very yellow. 1: C3 Polyuria 2: C3 I went to the toilet and peed a gallon.
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Sources:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_bipinnatus http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/flowers../cosmos/cosmos.html http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/tropicalflowers/cosmos-pink Photos: Cosmos bipinnatus white © shutterstock.com / Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH Milky Way © shutterstock.com / John A Davis Cosmos bipinnatus meadow © shutterstock.com / PhotonCatcher
This article was published on www.interhomeopathy.org
Category: Proving Keywords: cosmos, alienated, out there, space, the cosmos, stars, keeping secrets Remedy: Cosmos bipinnatus

Patricia Maher