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Mullein
(Verbascum thapsus) - known to the ancients as a protective herb
against evil and illness. It was grown in monastery gardens to keep
out the devil and on journeys it was carried as a talisman of safety.
It was also said to be used by witches during their rituals and
was called witch's candle.
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) - Considered by the Greeks to
have the power to keep evil spirits at bay. In other parts of Europe
seeds were collected and threaded together on to white thread to
wear around the neck to ward off evil. In pagan times the roots
were dried and carved into amulets. It was thought to have been
created by the moon goddess and to reflect her light through the
night.
Primrose (Primula auricula) - the primrose has always been
associated with safety - posies of the bloom would be left on doorsteps
to encourage the fairies to bless the house and anyone living in
it. Bunches would be left in cowsheds to convince the fairies not
to steal the milk and should you wish to see a fairy, you would
eat the flowers. A bunch of five freshly gathered primroses, especially
if growing near water, is said to open the way the Fairyland if
placed on a magical standing stone.
Rose (Rosa spp.) - probably the flower the most steeped in
mythology and legend. In Greek mythology the goddess of flowers,
Chloris, found the body of a beautiful nymph and asked the help
of the Three Graces to create a very special flower out of the lifeless
body of the nymph. The Graces gave the flower joy, brightness and
charm. Then she asked Aphrodite the goddess of love to give the
flower beauty, Dionysus the god of wine to add a special nectar
to create a beautiful perfume, and Zephyr the wind god to blow away
the clouds so that the precious flower could open her petals to
the sun. Thus the rose was born and was crowned the Queen of Flowers.
According to Eastern traditions when a soul knocked at the door of the next world and all material things had to be left behind only the red rose was allowed to accompany that soul over the threshold.
St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) - the flowers symbolised
the sun which casts out all evil, dispelling the forces of darkness.
The name comes from the Greek huper eikon meaning 'over an apparition'
because of it apparent power to protect against evil spirits. Sprigs
were hung at house and church doors on Midsummers' Day to protect
them from negative influences, thunder, lightning, fire and witches.
Stepping on the plant was said to cause a fairy horse to rise up
and take the mortal on a wild ride lasting all night!
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) - A fairytale tells of Oberon's
daughter Kenna, who fell in love with the son of King Albion. Oberon
objected to the couple's love and banished Kenna's lover from fairyland.
He returned with an army to fight defiantly against his banishment
but was wounded. Kenna rushed to heal his wounds, putting 'herb
moly' on them, but where the juice touched his skin it turned to
snowdrops, and he died.
From Johann Gottfried Herder (18th century German author and philosopher):
'When the earth was still wasteland, a group of charming nymphs came to a bare rock to brighten the barren soil with flowers. The nymphs shared out their jobs; under a blanket of snow on the cool grass the nymph Humility [also known as Thalia] created a modest violet, then Hope [Euphrosyne] created the calyxes of then hyacinth with a beautiful perfume. When Humility and Hope had finished their jobs, a whole variety of new flowers were created, tulips raised their heads and narcissus nodded dreamily. When Venus had seen this she said to the two Graces: 'What are you waiting for sisters of charm, hurry up and create the flowers of your tenderness'. The Graces went down to earth, and Aglaia, who was Innocence created the lily. Thalia and Euphrosyne, seeing the lily, created a sister for the lily, the rose, a flower of love. From that time it is said the rose and the lily have flowered together because they were made by the sisters of Grace.
Thorn Apple (Datura stramonium) - In China it was sacred
and said to have descended to earth from heaven at the time of the
Buddha. In Ancient Greece, the priests of Apollo used datura to
achieve altered prophetic states. In Columbia it was similarly used
in rites to produce a sedated state in which the prophet could communicate
with the spirit world and see the souls of the departed.
Vervain (Verbena officinalis) - was the foremost magical
herb of antiquity. It was considered sacred, a wizard's herb, used
for casting spells and a vital ingredient of magic potions. The
Romans used it for ritual cleansing and to sweep the altars of the
gods and held an annual festival called verbenalia in honour of
the plant.
Water Lily (Nymphaea alba) - It derives its botanical name
from Nymphe, the Greek water nymph and goddess of springs, as water
lilies were found growing where the nymphs were said to play. In
medieval Germany the water lily was a symbol of female purity and
people believed that water lilies were nymphs disguised as flowers
to escape the attention of over-amorous men.
Yarrow - the name is said to be derived from hieros, meaning
sacred, because of the plant's association with ceremonial magic.
It was thought to be richly endowed with spiritual properties and
was therefore preserved in temples and treated with special reverence.
It was used as an amulet to protect against negative energy and
evil as it was thought to carry benevolent powers. It was also thought
to be a love charm. In folklore a maiden who place yarrow under
her pillow and repeats the following rhyme with dream of her future
husband:
'Thou pretty herb of Venus Tree
Thy true name is Yarrow
Now who my bosom friend must be
Pray tell thou me tomorrow' Halliwell
In China yarrow stalks were used to reawaken the spiritual forces of the superconscious mind during ritual divination using I Ching.
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