{"id":62,"date":"2008-10-01T00:04:40","date_gmt":"2008-10-01T00:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=63"},"modified":"2008-09-28T10:41:19","modified_gmt":"2008-09-28T10:41:19","slug":"the-herbal-healing-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2008\/10\/01\/the-herbal-healing-perspective\/","title":{"rendered":"The Herbal Healing Perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"

No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.\u00a0 If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time.\u00a0 Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. ~Epictetus (c. 50 – 120)<\/em><\/p>\n

Every now and again I get glimpses of my Granny\u2019s kitchen window.\u00a0 Her kitchen was red and white \u2013 red cherries on the curtains \u2013 I think.\u00a0 It was a small kitchen but always full of warmth and light, maybe because so much love came out of that tiny little room.<\/p>\n

If you looked out of her window you were privy to an enchanted world, where dragonflies and fairies played among the leaves of an enormous fig tree.\u00a0 She was such a captivating woman that as children – her word was above any god.\u00a0 And she said that figs were fairy candy.\u00a0 So be it.\u00a0 We ate more figs than our stomach could handle.\u00a0 Those were the sweetest fruit!<\/p>\n

Now I have a fig tree in my side yard\u2026.and ya\u2019 know the dragonflies and fairies really do dance on the leaves\u2026..and the birds chirp merrily as they nourish themselves on the freshly fallen figs, which makes the cats tail swish vehemently to and fro, which attracts the dogs\u2026which inevitably causes havoc.<\/p>\n

Figs are one of the oldest fruits recognized by man. It’s no wonder the fig has been enjoyed for centuries. Its sweet, delicious flesh, long used as a sweetener before the advent of refined sugars, enhances both savory dishes and desserts.\u00a0 High in potassium, iron, fiber and plant calcium, figs are also used for medicinal purposes as a diuretic and laxative.<\/p>\n

Figs have been cultivated in the Eastern Mediterranean area for thousands of years. Archaeologists think it was one of the first fruits domesticated–as early as 4000 BC! Sumerian scribes writing on clay tablets around 2500 BC in the reign of King Drukagina mention figs, as do the earliest books in the Bible. Some scholars believe the forbidden fruit picked by Eve was a fig rather than an apple.<\/p>\n

The fig tree figures in the founding of great cultures and religions. Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were suckled by a she-wolf under a fig tree, which later, in the time of Pliny, was revered as a sacred tree. While sitting under a fig tree, Siddhartha Gautama had the revelation that formed the foundations of Buddhism. Figs have been prized for both medicinal and dietary value. Mithridates, the Greek king of Pontus, heralded figs as an antidote for all ailments and instructed his physicians to consider its uses as a medicine. The early Greeks so highly prized figs that it was considered an honor to bestow the foliage and fruit. In the original Olympic games, winning athletes were crowned with fig wreaths and given figs to eat. Pliny of Rome said:<\/p>\n

“Figs are restorative. The best food that can be eaten by those who are brought low by long sickness and are on the way to recovery. They increase the strength of young people, preserve the elderly in better health and make them look younger with fewer wrinkles”.<\/p>\n

The fig tree can live as long as 100 years and grow to 100 feet tall \u2026.. Aha! No wonder the fairies love that tree.<\/p>\n

Blessings Be!
\nMagikal Martha<\/p>\n

Magikal Fare<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stuffed Fresh Figs<\/em><\/p>\n

Fill stemmed fresh figs with:
\nCultured sour cream and grated orange peel<\/p>\n

Figgie Pudding <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00bd c. butter
\n2 eggs
\n1 c. molasses
\n2 c. dried figs
\n\u00bd tsp grated lemon
\n1 c. buttermilk
\n\u00bd c. chopped walnuts
\n2 \u00bd c. flour
\n\u00bd tsp baking soda
\n2 tsp baking powder
\n1 tsp salt
\n1 tsp cinnamon (ginger may be a substitute)
\n\u00bd tsp nutmeg<\/p>\n

Preheat oven to 325. Beat butter until soft. Add and beat eggs until fluffy, and molasses. Add finely chopped dried figs, grated lemon rind, and buttermilk and black walnuts. Sift all-purpose flour. Resift with baking soda.\u00a0 Add baking powder; salt, cinnamon (or ginger) and nutmeg. Stir the sifted ingredients into the pudding mixture. Bake in a greased 9-inch tube pan about one hour.<\/p>\n

Fig Preserves<\/em>
\nThis recipe comes from my great-great grandmother.\u00a0 It is at least 100 years old.<\/p>\n

5 lbs peeled figs
\n5 lbs sugar
\n1 lemon sliced<\/p>\n

Peel and quarter figs, add sugar and sliced lemon. Let stand two or three hours to draw juice, stir occasionally.<\/p>\n

When sugar has softened, begin cooking. Bring to a rolling boil. Boil 25-30 minutes, stirring constantly so liquid doesn’t stick to bottom of pot.<\/p>\n

After foam disappears and juice has thickened, ladle into hot jars and seal.<\/p>\n

Magikal Abilities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ruler:<\/em> Jupiter<\/p>\n

Type:<\/em> Tree<\/p>\n

Element:<\/em> Fire<\/p>\n

Magikal Form:<\/em> The Fig tree is androgynous.\u00a0 The fruit represents the feminine and the triple lobed leaves the masculine.\u00a0 Use for balance.\u00a0 Fig adds enlightenment, fecundity, love, power, and wisdom to beverages.<\/p>\n

Deities:<\/em> Isis and Ra<\/p>\n

To cause a man to view his future bride<\/strong>
\nMix together magnate dust; powdered coral with the blood of a white pigeon to form a dough. Enclose it in a large fig, wrap it in a piece of blue cloth, and then wear it around your neck when you go to sleep.<\/p>\n

Fairy Magic<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Apsaras, also called Sky Dancers, are fig tree fairies \u2013 actually they are Devas, who come from Hindu mythology.<\/p>\n

They bless humans at important stages of in their lives. They have been known to seduce scholars and scientists, and sexually exhaust them so that they will not discover things which are better left alone.<\/p>\n

Evoke the Apsaras for blessings, sex magic, good luck and protection for gamblers.<\/p>\n


\nAnd A Little Bit of Gypsy Magick<\/strong><\/p>\n

Write a question on a fig leaf.\u00a0 If the leaf dries slowly, the answer is yes, or it is a good omen.\u00a0 If it dries quickly, the meaning is no or a bad omen.<\/p>\n

To charm the pants off of someone, give them a fig.\u00a0 As long as they keep the fig they will be spellbound by your presence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig.\u00a0 If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time.\u00a0 Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. ~Epictetus (c. 50 – 120) Every now and again I get glimpses of my Granny\u2019s kitchen window.\u00a0 Her kitchen was red and white \u2013 red cherries on the curtains \u2013 I think.\u00a0 It was a small kitchen but always full of warmth and light, maybe because so much love came out of that tiny little room. If you looked out of her window you were privy to an enchanted world, where dragonflies and fairies played among the leaves of an enormous fig tree.\u00a0 She was such a captivating woman that as children – her word was above any god.\u00a0 And she said that figs were fairy candy.\u00a0 So be it.\u00a0 We ate more figs than our stomach could handle.\u00a0 Those were the sweetest fruit! Now I have a fig tree in my side yard\u2026.and ya\u2019 know the dragonflies and fairies really do dance on the leaves\u2026..and the birds chirp merrily as they nourish themselves on the freshly fallen figs, which makes the cats tail swish vehemently to and fro, which attracts the dogs\u2026which inevitably causes havoc. Figs are one of the oldest fruits recognized by man. It’s no wonder the fig has been enjoyed for centuries. Its sweet, delicious flesh, long used as a sweetener before the advent of refined sugars, enhances both savory dishes and desserts.\u00a0 High in potassium, iron, fiber and plant calcium, figs are also used for medicinal purposes as a diuretic and laxative. Figs have been cultivated in the Eastern Mediterranean area for thousands of years. Archaeologists think it was one of the first fruits domesticated–as early as 4000 BC! Sumerian scribes writing on clay tablets around 2500 BC in the reign of King Drukagina mention figs, as do the earliest books in the Bible. Some scholars believe the forbidden fruit picked by Eve was a fig rather than an apple. The fig tree figures in the founding of great cultures and religions. Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were suckled by a she-wolf under a fig tree, which later, in the time of Pliny, was revered as a sacred tree. While sitting under a fig tree, Siddhartha Gautama had the revelation that formed the foundations of Buddhism. Figs have been prized for both medicinal and dietary value. Mithridates, the Greek king of Pontus, heralded figs as an antidote for all ailments and instructed his physicians to consider its uses as a medicine. The early Greeks so highly prized figs that it was considered an honor to bestow the foliage and fruit. In the original Olympic games, winning athletes were crowned with fig wreaths and given figs to eat. Pliny of Rome said: “Figs are restorative. The best food that can be eaten by those who are brought low by long sickness and are on the way to recovery. They increase the strength of young people, preserve the elderly in better health and make them look younger with fewer wrinkles”. The fig tree can live as long as 100 years and grow to 100 feet tall \u2026.. Aha! No wonder the fairies love that tree. Blessings Be! Magikal Martha Magikal Fare Stuffed Fresh Figs Fill stemmed fresh figs with: Cultured sour cream and grated orange peel Figgie Pudding \u00bd c. butter 2 eggs 1 c. molasses 2 c. dried figs \u00bd tsp grated lemon 1 c. buttermilk \u00bd c. chopped walnuts 2 \u00bd c. flour \u00bd tsp baking soda 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon (ginger may be a substitute) \u00bd tsp nutmeg Preheat oven to 325. Beat butter until soft. Add and beat eggs until fluffy, and molasses. Add finely chopped dried figs, grated lemon rind, and buttermilk and black walnuts. Sift all-purpose flour. Resift with baking soda.\u00a0 Add baking powder; salt, cinnamon (or ginger) and nutmeg. Stir the sifted ingredients into the pudding mixture. Bake in a greased 9-inch tube pan about one hour. Fig Preserves This recipe comes from my great-great grandmother.\u00a0 It is at least 100 years old. 5 lbs peeled figs 5 lbs sugar 1 lemon sliced Peel and quarter figs, add sugar and sliced lemon. Let stand two or three hours to draw juice, stir occasionally. When sugar has softened, begin cooking. Bring to a rolling boil. Boil 25-30 minutes, stirring constantly so liquid doesn’t stick to bottom of pot. After foam disappears and juice has thickened, ladle into hot jars and seal. Magikal Abilities Ruler: Jupiter Type: Tree Element: Fire Magikal Form: The Fig tree is androgynous.\u00a0 The fruit represents the feminine and the triple lobed leaves the masculine.\u00a0 Use for balance.\u00a0 Fig adds enlightenment, fecundity, love, power, and wisdom to beverages. Deities: Isis and Ra To cause a man to view his future bride Mix together magnate dust; powdered coral with the blood of a white pigeon to form a dough. Enclose it in a large fig, wrap it in a piece of blue cloth, and then wear it around your neck when you go to sleep. Fairy Magic The Apsaras, also called Sky Dancers, are fig tree fairies \u2013 actually they are Devas, who come from Hindu mythology. They bless humans at important stages of in their lives. They have been known to seduce scholars and scientists, and sexually exhaust them so that they will not discover things which are better left alone. Evoke the Apsaras for blessings, sex magic, good luck and protection for gamblers. And A Little Bit of Gypsy Magick Write a question on a fig leaf.\u00a0 If the leaf dries slowly, the answer is yes, or it is a good omen.\u00a0 If it dries quickly, the meaning is no or a bad omen. To charm the pants off of someone, give them a fig.\u00a0 As long as they keep the fig they will be spellbound by your presence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}