Flax
by Amethyst
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Anyone know where winter's gone! It's been too warm of late to really call this time of year winter. I've been thinking it's more like early spring, which has got me to thinking about Ostara (Eostara) and a related herbe and this one seemed to fit the bill (winter's most probably just hiding round the corner, ready to sneak back in when I'm not looking) so here it is a month early. |
Botanical: Linum usitatissimum
Planetary associations: Mercury, Saturn, Uranus
Element: Fire
Gender: Masculine
Magickal classifications: Countermagick Herbe, Herbe of Consecration, Magickal Herbe, Religious Herbe
Invocatory: Hulda
Part Used: Seed, Flowers
Synonyms: Linseed, Linaza, Sib Muma
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 the 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 you much to think about, because it would seem that dancing naked in the garden is anything but grounding!
Grieve describes a custom of Bohemia which sends children to run or dances in a flax fields at the age of seven to bring them Hulda's blessings, and to assure them of growing up to be attractive and protected. Newborn babies are placed in a flax field to sleep for similar reasons. 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.
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 the Pharaoh rewards Joseph, skilling 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.
Flax thread is intimately connected to the life maze and to the Web of Life.
Usage
Costumers, dressmakers, tailors and any who have skill with needles and thread would be blessed with the gift of a vase of flax flowers, for it would serve them as a patron herbe. Flax provides us with one of the most sacred fabrics with which to make altar cloths and ritual robes.
The oil of the flax seed is known as linseed oil. This oil is used to consecrate magickal items and crystals, particularly those used for divination. The items should be lovingly anointed when the Moon is full. A beautiful herbe for the garden, the lovely blue flowers are much loved by the devas. Flax may be used in incense to consecrate the ritual wheel or sun/moon disc or zodiac symbol.
Flax is one of the few herbes with a history of providing what has come to be known as grounding. Flax has a well-established history of use for banishing negative energies. It is sometimes used in baby blessings. For magickal purposes, the flowers should be gathered when first dry from the morning dew. They maybe powdered for incense or kept whole and strewn around the home during a house blessing. Linseed provides an appropriate oil for maintaining a wooden altar, religious furniture or other wood items which should regularly have oil rubbed into them.
The blue flowers are worn as a preservative against sorcery. Sprinkle the altar with flax seeds while performing healing rituals or include it in healing mixtures.
Put flax seed in your shoe to ward off poverty. Use in money spells, place a few seeds in your wallet, purse or pocket to attract money. A prosperity ritual is to place a container on the altar and add a few coins along with flax seeds. Repeat every day to bring prosperity into the home.
For protection while asleep, mix equal parts of flax seed and mustard seed and keep the mixture next to the bed. On the other side of the bed place a pan of cold water, and you will be guarded while you sleep. A box containing red pepper and flax seeds prevents evil from entering your home.
The immature seedpods are poisonous, and should never be ingested.
Flax has strong connections with both Ostara (Eostara) and Midsummer. Through its association with Hulda, flax can connect you with elves and the eldritch.
