The wild flowers which decorate our world offer a myriad
splendours for the landscape walker and home gardener to take delight in. As beautiful
and vibrant as cut precious gemstones, these treasures lighten the
spirit, not the pocket. Enticing wonder from the most world-weary of
eyes, their magnificent, yet delicate, colours offer displays too
transient to be spoiled by boredom or over familiarity.
Our ancestors held a deep fascination and respect for the wild flowers
and herbs which decorated their world. Not only did they bring beauty
to the countryside about them, they also provided flavour for their
meals and medicines for their bodies. Indeed, people were so in awe of
the properties of some of these plants that they imbued them with
supernatural attributes, believing them to be manifestations from the
Faery Realm or that they held links with saints or devils.
This enchantment of wildflowers and herbs gave plants a degree of
respect that now seems lost in the 21st Century. Indeed, many of the
flowers that will be explored on the following links are more commonly
termed 'weeds' today. How very sad and disrespectful of these charming
little creations is that! Let us return our respect to these precious
gifts of nature. They are certainly deserving of all the time and
thought we can offer them - as I hope the following pages will
illustrate:
 |
| A Winter Solstice Sunrise over a Trio of San Pedro Cacti |
To the pagan mind, plants are more than just a source of food and decoration. Some pagans inbue them with superstitions and folklore (and I have included as many of these on this site as I can source). Others use their medicinal properties to heal and balance both their physical and emotional well-being. Some venerate them as divine spirits and god(esses). And some, myself amongst them, just simply wonder at their mystery.
