Magic in the Mundane — Eggs
We’re finally back with Magic in the Mundane, woohoo! Today we’re going to explore the magical properties of eggs.
Eggs for a long time have been a symbol of creation across multiple civilizations. Egyptian mythology has a cosmic egg that was created by the god Khnum from the mud of the Nile, and the sun god Ra was born from an egg. Continue reading
Magic in the Mundane — Dogs
Since the last post was about cats, of course we had to move on to dogs next. Otherwise, the house pet cat/dog continuum would implode and existence as we know it would be fuzzed beyond recognition.
Dogs and man go way back. The earliest domestication of dogs is dated to about 30,000 years ago in Eurasia. It’s theorized that tamer wolves hung around humans eating scraps of food, which ultimately led to their domestication and, thus, doggies.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that dog mythology abounds among ancient civilizations. Continue reading
Magic in the Mundane — Bells
I love bells. As a teenager, I used to wear a string of bells hanging from my waist. I wore them mostly because I liked their harmonious tinkling. But I think I also wore them because it made me feel like I had a foot in another time. A time where, perhaps, it wasn’t so odd for a girl to be wearing multiple mismatched skirts adorned with a string of bells. I didn’t really care that it probably portrayed me as odd in the here-and-now.
Hanging bells from one’s clothing is nothing new. Originally, it was done for protection from evil spirits. Bells have also been worn to help cure the sick, the cursed, and to assist in childbirth. In the Old Testament, the High Priest’s robes were adorned with golden bells. Continue reading
Magic in the Mundane — Alphabet
As far as basics in life goes, the alphabet ranks pretty high. We start learning it usually before we reach school, sometimes even before our memories have fully formed. It is the foundation of literacy which, in our Age of Information, is pretty important.
Yet in ancient times, writing—and being able to read what was written—was a skill that belonged primarily to priests. Add in the fact that inscriptions were engraved on tombs of the dead, and it’s not hard to believe that writing was viewed as a hidden wisdom with a connection to the underworld. Continue reading
A to Z Herbarium: Zhi Zi
Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality
Chinese-named herbs to the rescue again! This time, zhi zi = gardenia.
Fresh gardenia flowers placed in sickrooms will help with healing. The dried petals are often added to incenses and healing mixtures. Dried gardenia is also often used in Moon incenses, and scattering dried gardenia about the room will encourage peaceful vibrations.
A to Z Herbarium: Yarrow
Courage, Love, Psychic Powers, Exorcism
Yarrow offers protection when worn, and courage when held in the hand. Carrying yarrow will also attract the attention of those you most want to see. Dried yarrow hung over the bed or used in wedding decorations ensures that love will last for at least seven years.