Magical Wildflowers

In the movie Caveman, a tribe of primitive peoples are out foraging for food. It's the dawn of time, early man is still learning what's edible and what's poisonous, so when they find a bush festooned with an abundance of red ripe berries, they send in Ringo Starr. Hesitantly, he samples the fruit, which turns out to possess hallucinogenic properties. They move on, dragging the doped-up Beatle behind.

If such a bush did exist, it most certainly would have become something of supernatural/religious significance, a tool used by the shaman to commune with the gods. In some cases, the plant itself would have been regarded as god.

Through the ages, many, many plants have been regarded as magical, and not just for their obvious "magical" properties (i.e. chemical compounds, but try explaining that to a Mongolian shaman in the year 457 BC). Many plants considered efficacious in magical application have been used to sprinkle around homes or cast at the moon; stuff that's not actually ingested, but flung about like fairy dust and incantated over.

Considering the evolution of humans, it's perfectly logical that some wildflowers were considered magical. Botany got its start in folk medicine and magic, just as astronomy got a jumpstart from astrology. But there are those who still believe in the magical properties of plants (not to mention astrology).

Since I have frequently touched on folk medicine, as well as the occasional culinary use of a wildflower, it's only fair that I share some of the magic. It is as much a part of our cultural heritage as it is a part of a wildflower's history, and I think it makes things just a little more entertaining.

I imagine everything, at one time or another, has been regarded as having magical powers of some sort. Even our common weedy Dandelion had, and is still considered by some to have its magical uses. Falling under the planetary influence of Jupiter, it is useful in divining the future, making wishes come true, and calling up spirits. Buried at the northeast corner of the home, Dandelions will bring favorable winds. If you want to send a message to a loved one, blow at the seed head in his or her direction while visualizing the message.

Not so weedy any more, huh?

Violets, another scourge of the manicured lawn, have their magical powers. Under the influence of Venus, Violets are used in spells of protection, luck, love, lust, healing, peace, and granting wishes. Sounds like a good wildflower to give elbow room in the yard.

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