since-thyme-immemorial

[since-thyme-immemorial]

Yggdrasil, The World Tree

An ash I know, Yggdrasil its name, With water white is the great tree wet; Thence come the dews that fall in the dales, Green by Urth's well does it ever grow.

Thence come the maidens mighty in wisdom, Three from the dwelling down 'neath the tree; Urth is one named, Verthandi the next,-- On the wood they scored,-- and Skuld the third. Laws they made there, and life allotted To the sons of men, and set their fates.

A Norse myth.

The Poetic Edda, Translation by Henry Adams Bellows, 1936.

[since-thyme-immemorial]

Apollo and Hyacinthus

[Hyacinthus] was the son of King Amyclas and Queen Diomede, and became famous throughout Laconia for his beauty. Apollo fell in love with him, and so did the god of the west wind, Zephyrus. One hot summer's day, Hyacinthus and Apollo were playing a game of quotis, when Zephyrus interfered with the game. He blew at the quoit that Apollo was throwing, so fiercely that it hurtled toward Hyacinthus. The quoit struck him so hard that he died. Apollo wept over the body of the beautiful boy, and changed the blood that soaked the ground into a flower, the hyacinth. On its petals can be seen the letters "AI," which in Greek are the sound of lamentation.

A Greek myth.

Mythology: Myths, Legends and Fantasies, Dr. Alice Mills, 2013.

[since-thyme-immemorial]

Vishnu, Brahma and a Rose

Once upon a time Vishnu came down to earth for a visit. While he was bathing in a pool a lotus blossom opened and out stepped the god, Brahma, who proudly pointed to the lotus and claimed it to be the most beautiful flower in the world.

Vishnu agreed that it was beautiful but added, "In my paradise there is a lovelier flower, pale as the moon, with perfume so sweet that no fragrance on earth can compare with it." Unbelieving, Brahma promised that if Vishnu could prove his claim, Brahma would relinquish his position of chief god. Instantly they were transported to Vishnu's paradise where they walked through beautiful gardens to a gleaming, mother-of-pearl bower. In the center was a lone rose bush bearing a single exquisite flower. Its petals were creamy white and its fragrance was superior to anything Brahma had ever known. He bowed his head and admitted, "This is the fairest flower that grows."

A story from India.

The Magic of Roses, Matthew A. R. Bassity, 1966.

[since-thyme-immemorial]

Why Some Trees Are Always Green

When the plants and animals were first made, they were told to watch and stay awake for seven nights. All of the animals and plants wished to do this. They knew if they did not sleep, they would be given some special sort of power.

The first night passed and all of the animals and plants stayed awake. It did not seem hard to them and some of the animals and plants even began to boast about how easy it was.

When the second night came, it no longer seemed so easy for all of them and some found it very hard not to fall asleep. When the next night came, some of them could stay awake no longer, and by the fourth night, nearly all of them slept.

When the seventh night ended, only a few had stayed awake. Among the animals, only the panther and the owl had not slept. So they were given the power to see in the dark. From then on, the panther and owl would be able to prey on those animals which had failed to remain awake and watchful and now must sleep each night.

Among the plants, only the pine, the spruce, the hemlock, the cedar, the laurel and the holly had remained awake and watchful. Because they were faithful, they were given the power to remain green all year around, and their leaves would hold great medicine. But all of the other plants would have to lose their leaves each winter because they did not endure the test. Not only that, but they would also have to fall asleep until the warmth of spring came again.

So it is that to this day when young men go out to fast on a hill and pray for their medicine, they remind themselves they must stay awake like the cedar and the spruce and the pine. They must look into the dark with the vigilant eyes of the panther and the owl. For great medicine never comes to those who are not watchful.

A Cherokee story.

Native Plant Stories, Joseph Bruchac, 1995.

[since-thyme-immemorial]

The Origin of Evergreens

Perhaps you have wondered about the true origins of evergreens. Entirely outside of botany there is this old story:

A tiny bird with a broken wing fluttered through the woods, trying to get assistance from the trees. But the Oaks were too busy with their acorns; the Birches were too proud to speak to anyone, and the Willows were too laden with their own grief to listen to other people's troubles. But the Fir said, "You may live in my branches." The Pine added, "If you do that, I will protect the Fir from the cold winds," and the Juniper promised bright berries for food.

By and by, Winter came and the North Wind asked if it might take the leaves from the trees, but Mother Nature answered, "You make take all the leaves except those that sheltered my poor injured bird." So this is why we have evergreens.

The Book of Trees, Alfred C. Hottes, 1932.