Full Description
Stories are spells. Healers have long recognised the need to travel to psychic realms, from heaven to Hesperides, to effect cures. Ancient medicinal manuscripts pair myth and magical incantation with instruction on how to dig up roots, make salves and concoct tinctures.
Herba Mythica draws on this tradition and is a handbook for story-lovers and herbalists alike. Acclaimed storytellers from around the world choose plants that reflect their heritage or specialism, and notes on plant origins, symbolism and healing properties complement each tale.
Mythology suggests that every bush, every flower is a deity who mirrors the healing action of the plant: Hecate is the hypnotic Poppy, Osiris the oracular Laurel and Tara the regenerative Lotus. And in folk tales, there are Willow fathers, Hawthorn mothers and brides who marry trees.
Throughout, Sherry Robinson's characterful drawings capture the light and shade of each plant, reminding us of their power to kill or cure.
Contents
Title
Copyright
Contents
Introduction
A Note on the Text
Foreword by Michael Holland
Foreword by Lisa Schneidau
A Story Explaining Why the Names of Plants in this Book are Capitalised
Acanthus mollis (Acanthus): Flower of Rebirth, Greece
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow): Macha, Ireland
Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony): Dian Cécht - The Well of Healing, Ireland
Alnus glutinosa (Alder): Mis, Ireland
Anemone coronaria (Anemone): Aphrodite and Adonis, Greece
Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort): The Dreaming Plant, Norse
Ho Hsien Ku Becomes an Immortal, China
Bellis perennis (Daisy): Pearl, Middle English
Betula pendula (Silver Birch): Birch Mother, Britain/Northern Europe
Camellia sinensis (Black Tea): Tea, Japan
Cannabis sativa (Hemp): The Origin of Kīf, Middle East
Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut): The Man Who Planted Chestnut Trees, Cantabria, Spain
Colchicum autumnale (Crocus): Medea, Greece
Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh): The Soul's Scent, Greece
Crataegus spp. (Hawthorn): Mother of the Maypole, UK
Cytisus scoparius (Scotch Broom): The Broom Hill, England/Scotland
Dictamnus albus (White Dittany): A Samodiva Doesn't Keep House, Bulgaria
Euphrasia officianalis (Eyebright): The Healing Eye of Horus, Egypt
Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet): Blodeuwedd, Queen of the Meadows, Wales
Fraxinus excelsior (Ash): A Walk with the Ash Tree, UK
Helianthus annuus (Sunflower): The Sunflower Towelling Wrap, UK/France
Clytie and the Sun, Greece
Hylotelephium telephium (Stonecrop): Trust-Me and Trust-Me-Not, Italy
Laurus nobilis (Laurel): The Wadjet Eye of Healing, Egypt
Lilium regale (Lily): Mother of Angels
Madhuca longifolia (Mahua): Mahua and the Wandering Penis, Santhal, India
Malus domestica (Apple): Avalon, the Isle of Apples, UK
Medusa and the Golden Apples, Greece
Mandragora autumnalis (Mandrake): Snakes and Mandrakes, Egypt
Morus alba (White Mulberry): Mulberry and the Sacred Tanbur, Kurdistan
Myosotis spp. (Forget-Me-Not): Stream and the Blue Flower, Sufi
Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus): Tara and the Lotus, Tibet
Neurolaena lobata (Jackass Bitters): The Pumpkin Seed, Guyana
Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Water Lily): The Blue Lily Makes a New World, Egypt
Hathor's Golden Lotus, Egypt
Olea europaea (Olive Tree): The Olive Tree, a Blessed Tree, Morocco/France
The Eyes of Serapis, Greece/Egypt
Opuntia ficus-indica (Sabra Cactus): Fart Roman Thab and the Golden Pomegranate Seeds, Palestine
Papaver rhoeas (Red Poppy): Hekate Poppy, Greece
Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm): My Grandfather was a Palm Tree, Iran
Pinus pinea (Stone Pine): The Magna Mater and the Pine Tree, Italy
Primula vulgaris (Primrose): Carys of Nant Carfan, Wales
Prunella vulgaris (Self-Heal): It's all in the Name, China
Prunus armeniaca (Apricot): A Bee is Always Behind the Flower, Kurdistan
Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn): The Man and the Blackthorn Stick, Ireland
Quercus robur (Common Oak): The Magical Flower, Cantabria
Diana and the Golden Seed, Greece
Rosa spp. (Rose): The Rose, America/Romania
Rose Kitchen Magic: A Ritual for Self-Love, Italy
Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry): Cloudberry, Finland
Ruta graveolens (Rue): The Herb for the Opening and Closing of Doors, Brazil
Salix spp. (Willow): The Willow Flute, Romania
Sambucus nigra (Elder): The Tree of Freja, Norse
Silene dioica (Red Campion): The Red Flower of Silenus, Greece
Silene latifolia (White Campion): Snake Flowers, Wales
Tabernanthe iboga (Iboga): Tiger's Whisker, Africa
Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion): Brigit's Favourite Flower, Ireland
Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme): The Massage Oil, India
Tilia spp. (Linden): Sister Trees, Denmark
Tracheophyta spp. (Fern): The Golden Seed of the Fern, Europe
Ulex europaeus (Common Gorse): When the Gorse is Out of Bloom, Kissing's out of Fashion, Ireland
Urtica dioica (Nettle): The Nettle Pharisee: A Philosophy of Nettle, Europe
Vitis vinifera (Vine): Dionysus and the Wild Vine, Greece
Zea Mays (Maize): Corn Mother, First Nations, America
Glossary of Healing Plants
References
Bibliography
Thanks
