Herb of the Day - Flax

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Herb of the Day - Flax

 

Mercury, Saturn, Uranus

Coutnermagick Herbe...Herbe of Consecration...Magickal

Herbe...Religious Herbe

Invocatory: Hulda

Also called: linseed

 

Lore:

Hulda, a northern European Goddess and Elf Queen, was believed to be

the deity who taught humans how to spin flax into thread. This blue- flowering herbe was sacred to her. Although not found in many

cultures, there are some who recognize a flax mother.

 

In central Germany, according to Frazer in The Golden Bough, flax is

believed to have magickal power to "Remove giddiness." It was

believed that you should frolic skyclad three times around the flax.

Just the thought of this custom gives one much to think about, for

it would seem to me that dancing naked in my gardens would be

anything but grounding!

 

Grieve describes a custom of Bohemia which sends children in their

seventh year to the flax fields to dance and play. This is done to

bring Hulda's blessings and, as they mature, will ensure beauty and

protection. According to a Prussian custom described in

The Golden Bough, the tallest village maiden took food into the

field for the god Waizganthos. She not only prays to him but stands

upon a stool so that, when mature, the flax will have grown to reach

the same height.

 

In many parts of Europe, old pagan fertility rites performed during

the spring became part of the Lenten activities leading to Easter.

Many of these involved fires. In Switzerland, a burning wheel was

rolled down the hill. Dancers would leap as high as possible which

was believed to encourage the flax to grow equally tall. In western

Bavaria, bonfires for the same purpose are lit at Midsummer.

 

The cultivation and use of flax was known in ancient Egypt. Flax

seeds have been found by archaeologists excavating tombs. Its

significance as a valued herbe is found throughout the Old

Testament. Flax and barley were destroyed by the plague of hail in

Exodus. We also read that the Pharaoh rewards Joseph, skilled in

dream divination, with a fine linen robe. Other references show that

spun flax (linen) was used as fabric in temples, for ritual garments

and some believe it was the fabric of the Christ's shroud.

~author unknown

 

 

 

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