Spells and Soil

Garden Spells by Claire Nahmad
The Magic of Herbs, Trees, and Flowers
Introduction

A garden is a holy place. From the concept of the Garden of Eden as humanity's mystic point of origin to the idea of paradise as a garden which represents the realm of final homecoming to which we strive and aspire, gardens seem to be enshrined in our consciousness as the alpha and omega of spiritual experience.

It was in a garden that Christ underwent his sleepless night of agony before his sacrifice the following day, and in a garden too that Mary Magdalene met the arisen Christ, mistaking him at first for the gardener. In many religions, the idea of the garden is celebrated with reverence; and in the folklore of ancient Britain, magical associations are given to every tree, herb, bush and flower of the wayside and the garden. In its wider sense the garden embraces the countryside and according to the wisdom of the philosophers, alchemists, hermits and wise women of the past-the entire earth.

From such a macrocosm, we come to the microcosmic gardens of our own making, a custom that began with the dawn of our civilization when "gardens of Adonis" were set out in containers on rooftops in ancient Greece and bloomed in profusions of roses. Even then, gardens were regarded as a sanctuary, some peaceful, sweet-flowering green arbour where people could retire to think and to give ear to the wisdom and inspiration inherent in nature. The Greek philosopher Epicurus taught his pupils in a garden, and poets, painters and musicians throughout the ages have found their muses therein.

In ages past, intellectual accomplishments and the opportunity for self-expression through the arts were largely denied to women. The craft of garden making, however, was not. The garden was often their special domain and became the embodiment of their inspiration-both practical and poetic. In addition to the "silver bells, cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row" or the flower garden, there was nourishment from the kitchen garden, and healing and restorative plants grown in the medicinal garden.

The ideas of magic and enchantment, of the effect of the moon and stars on the tides of growth and decline in nature, and of fairies, elves and gnomes who were mysteriously associated with the subtle creative forces of the earth, were never far removed from the domestic garden where all this mystery could be seen taking place.

Strange magical beings were encountered: tiny flower fairies, little old men and women who seemed to have the garden under their care, tall and beautiful elf men and women who lived in trees and who could created music as fairy pipers-angelic spirits of the garden who seemed to endow the air with grace and beauty and colour-and fabulous beasts which might appear within its precincts to warn, protect or bring a supernatural message. All have been reported as living constituents of the folklore of the garden, encountered by simple country people not given to flights of the imagination.


As our understanding of the world increases, we will hopefully come to realize more fully that there is real wisdom and knowledge to be gained from the treasures of our folklore. Already we are aware that life is composed of many subtle vibrations and emanations, of which we have had little or no previous scientific knowledge, which have been preserved in the vision of wise women and esoteric lore.

It is in the light of this awareness that Garden Spells is offered. It is a Victorian wise woman's guide to the marvels, mystery and magic associated with the garden, from its trees, flowers and herbs, through its animals, birds, and insects and its spirits and fairy folk, to the rocks and stones that can be found in its soil. Here are the charms, spells, invocations, and runes of wise women's lore, accompanied by instructions for blessing the garden, foretelling the weather and developing a rapport with flowers, trees, fairies, and animals. There are instructions for creating an herb garden in the Elizabethan mode, and tips for ridding the garden of pests and attracting butterflies.

There is true fascination in discovering the magic of these charms and rituals. For those who dislike the harsh chemical effects of modern methods Garden Spells offers a new philosophy based on love and respect for all life.

Its inspiration comes from centuries of homespun wisdom and traditional lore which reveals how every garden can be given a special atmosphere if its owner's heart is put into creating and tending it.