November 1 – The Beginning of a New Year – Blessing of the Water

Yesterday was October 31, which–over time–has become the date of Halloween. Today is November 1, which–over time–has become [for Catholics and Christians] the date of All Saints Day. I have said this before, but again, I want to add that the Catholic Church and the Early Christians evoloved out of a Pagan Culture, and I…

Amaranth – The “Never-Fading” Emblem of Immortality – Favorite Family of Plants of the Ancients — Including Globe Amaranths and Cockscomb

AMARANTH.— Love Lies Bleeding Image Credit: Eden Brothers A unique growth habit of cascading pink plumes to attract pollinators Annual with bright red hanging blooms Easy to grow summer bloomer that’s great for cut flowers Thrives in bright, sunny growing areas Image Credit: Eden Brothers Red Garnet Antioxidant filled fuchsia leaves makes wonderfully rich microgreens…

Alyssum – A Healing Plant – Believed to Ward Off the Evil Eye

“Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is an annual native to the Mediterranean area which is popular with modern gardeners. “The plant is low growing, about 20 cm tall, with dense clusters of tiny flowers in white, lavender or pink and a sweet scent. “Other Names Sweet alyssum, Sweet Alison, madwort, healbite, sweet Alice, seaside lobularia, gum…

Plant Encyclopedia

ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF PLANTS. ACACIA.—In the deserts of Arabia the finest tree is the Acacia Seyal, which is reputed to be the Shittah tree of the Old Testament. The timber of this tree was termed Shittim, translated by some as “incorruptible wood.” In Exodus xxv. it is recorded that the Ark of the Lord was made of Shittim wood, overlaid within…

Plants Connected with Birds and Animals.

Plants Connected with Birds and Animals. “The association of trees and birds has been the theme of the most ancient writers. The Skalds have sung how an Eagle sat in stately majesty on the topmost branch of Yggdrasill, whilst the keen-eyed Hawk hovered around. The Vedas record how the Pippala of the Hindu Paradise was daily…

Plants Associated with Magic and Wonder

Alchemy Magical Plants. In remote ages, the poisonous or medicinal properties of plants were secrets learnt by the most intelligent and observant members of pastoral and nomadic tribes and clans; and the possessor of these secrets became often both medicine-man and priest, reserving to himself as much as possible the knowledge he had acquired of herbs…

Plants Associated with Witches, Wickedness, & the Devil

In the above video, it is suggested that Eve may have been based on the goddess Asherah Ras Shamra (Ugarit), Syria: Asherah Asherah, detail from an ivory box from Mīna al-Bayḍā near Ras Shamra (Ugarit), Syria, c. 1300 bce; in the Louvre, Paris “Asherah, ancient West Semitic goddess, consort of the supreme god. Her principal epithet was probably…