Orange Tree — A Guided Shamanic Journey with Gongs (Cacao Optional)
Today we journey with orange — a plant ally that's been walking alongside humanity for thousands of years, in forms far richer than the glass of juice most of us know her by. Supported by the gongs, we'll cleanse our energy, call in sacred space, and travel together to meet Mama Orange directly.
If you'd like to bring cacao into this journey, one lovely way is a cup of cacao with a single drop of organic orange essential oil stirred through — always organic, so you're not ingesting anything you don't want to. Equally, a cup of orange tea or a cold infusion works beautifully on its own. Neither is necessary; the gongs and the journey carry the medicine regardless.
Orange's Medicine — Body, Folklore and Science
Most of us know orange for her vitamin C and her antioxidant qualities, but there's far more beneath the surface. Orange peel — shenpi in Chinese medicine — supports digestion and helps energy flow, which is why she's associated spiritually with abundance, prosperity and fertility. She's safe enough that I worked with her through my own pregnancy for digestive support, though if you're on statins, check with your healthcare provider first — she can interact in a similar way to grapefruit.
Technically, orange peel and orange flower water come from slightly different plants: the sweet orange, Citrus sinensis, gives us the peel, while the bitter orange, Citrus aurantium, gives us the fragrant flower water. Orange flower water is mildly sedative — my husband takes it most nights before bed, and swears it works better for him than valerian, on the occasions he remembers to take it. She's also considered a gentle aphrodisiac, though I find her sedative quality far more pronounced.
Her folklore runs wide across cultures. In Italy and Spain, orange blossom was woven into bridal bouquets — the white flowers symbolising purity, the abundant fruit symbolising fertility. In Persia, orange flower was used for anxiety and heartache, and to welcome guests into ceremony. In Moroccan tradition, the peel was burned through winter as a symbolic calling-back of the sun. And in Chinese tradition, oranges and mandarins are still exchanged as gifts at Lunar New Year.
How the Journey Works
We begin by cleansing the energy field in three layers — the outer aura, the emotional layer, and the physical body — gathering love and light at the heart and pouring it down through each layer into the earth. From there we call in the seven directions as protective witnesses, so only our allies can join us in sacred space.
Once settled, we travel into the lower realm to meet the spirit of Orange directly — Mama Orange — carrying whatever intention you've set for the journey, whether that's joy, clarity, digestive ease, or simply the wish to meet her as an ally.
Coming Back: Integration and Reflection
Journaling is genuinely my top tip after any journey like this one. Whatever happened, write it down while it's fresh, and reflect on it afterwards — sometimes the meaning of what came through only becomes clear on a second read.
How to Prepare
Optional: a cup of orange peel tea or cold infusion, orange flower water, or a drop of organic orange essential oil in cacao if that's part of your practice
Find somewhere comfortable to sit or lie down
Good headphones or speakers make a real difference — the gongs deserve proper sound
Keep a journal nearby for afterwards
If you're on statins, check with your healthcare provider before working with orange internally
Continue Your Journey with Plant Spirit Medicine
If this ceremony resonated with you, here are some ways to go deeper:
