The Hearth
Glad you stopped by, please come in and share the Hearth
It is always a blessing to see friends. Tis most kind of you to visit my humble cottage in the Grove. The old woman is speaking to a young friend about the Herbs, she is a powerful healer. There is so much to learn and re-member about the old ways.
Come, sit by the fire awhile
feel the warmth of the fire upon your face
smell the aroma of the healing herbs fill the room
let yourself melt into a simpler time and place
feel your own essence glow brightly
Long, long ago a Hearth glowed in each cottage. The nights were chill and the days were hard, but near the Hearth, all troubles were banished. The pleasing aroma of the night's meal mingled with the smells of peat and smoke floated from the iron pot and filled the air. Often the pungent scent of a healing herbal brew gave reassurance and comfort.
The old ways were often simple, but contained a deep understanding of the complexity of Nature. A reverence for Nature filled every aspect of life. Her ways were well known by the folk and their healers.
The Spirits of Nature were payed due respect and people did not consider themselves "masters" of the natural world. They were a part of it's magic, and so interacted with all things in a careful and mindful way. We would call that way spiritual, they called it living.
Every cottage had an Herb Garden, and the folk believed that the spirits of the plants would heal, if giving tender care, respect and proper ritual in preparation. The wee folk were known to be about, and small offerings of food were always left out for them, no matter how meager the food supply. To ignore the spirits of Nature was to court disaster. This was something that everyone knew. A lesson we would do well to heed ourselves.
No herbal potion or remedy has the power to heal unless it is made with an understanding of, and a respect for the spirits of Nature. Care must be taken to learn Nature's ways.
Be the cottage in Ireland, Scandinavia, Israel, Brazil, Turkey, Wales, Italy, China, Australia, Africa, Yugoslavia, The Arctic, Japan or America, the herbalists have all honored the Spirits of Nature for millenia.
Spirits of Nature
Bless these herbs with the power to cure
Fill their leaves and roots with healing properties
Fill me with wisdom and understanding as I work
Bless the preparation of this Healing Potion with skill
Make me mindful of both the gifts and dangers of Herbs
May the Spirits of Nature assist me in healing
May Ancient Healers guide my hands, heart and mind
I am humbled by the great powers and spirits of Nature
May your own Hearth be alive with spirits and powers of the Ancient Wisdom.
May you come to know the magic of Herbs and the wisdom of plants.
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Spiral Goddess Grove Copyright Abby Willowroot 1997 - 2004 ~ All right reserved (some flames excepted)
Additional artwork at this site Copyright TN Perkins.
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Other things you will find in the Spiral Goddess Grove include; ~ altars ~ groves ~ earth goddess ~ hygeia ~ the hearth ~ kali ~ gaea ~ gaia ~ autumnal equinoz ~ vernal equinox ~ solstice ~ kuan yin ~ laussel ~ labyris ~ labyrs ~ mary ~ moon goddess ~ neolithic goddess ~ pagan ~ paganism ~ pagan goddesses ~ pele ` nammu ~ mother ~ moon ~
~ ancestors ~ amazon ~ ancient goddesses ~ aphrodite ~ goddess art ~ celebration ~ astarte ~ minoan crete ~ crone ~ earth goddess ~ dolni ~ athena ~ brigid ~ brigit ~ cave art ~ wicca ~ wiccan ~ dianic ~ witch ~ spirituality ~ goddess 2000 project ~ ancestress ~ greenman ~ green man ~ spirit path ~ nature ~ kali ma ~ serpent ~ earth mother ~ faery ~ and much, much more!