Saturday, May 27, 2017

Lilacs, WOW!

There comes that day when I notice touches of color on the lilac bushes, or is it a tree, no mater. Because each day I wait to be overcome by the exquisite plums of  flowers and , and the rich fragrance  that reaches my soul.

I think this might have had something to do with why our ancestor believed that lilac could balance the spirit and material parts of our lives.   And perhaps why they believed that fairy folk would congregate there, and that fairy folk would appear to those who sat patiently waiting under the branches of a lilac tree.  These fairy folk  might even sing to one.  Lilac and the fairy folk associated with them are also associated with music, clairvoyance and a balanced life.

Somehow I would expect no less from the lilac tree,  than being magical!   Time  spent looking very closely at the bloom, is time well spent.  Wrapped in the depth of it's powerful but delicate fragrance I feel as our Victorian ancestors did, that the lilac is a lesson in beauty.

Lilac trunks are sturdy, often climbed them as a child, and I have a great scar on my left leg to prove it.  Having learned that they make great walking sticks or staffs, I now plan to use the next winter kill for that purpose.






The story of lilac, according to Greek mythology, begins with a beautiful nymph named Syringa (lilac's botanical name). Captivated by her beauty, Pan, the god of the forests and fields, chased Syringa through the forest. Frightened by Pan's affections, Syringa escaped him by turning herself into an aromatic bush – the flower we now refer to as lilac.

The 8th wedding anniversary flower and the state flower of New Hampshire (symbolizing the hardy character of the Granite State's citizens), lilacs are frequently considered a harbinger of spring, with the time of their bloom signaling whether spring will be early or late. In the language of flowers, purple lilacs symbolize the first emotions of love, while white lilacs represent youthful innocence.
~~Teleplora

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Meaning & Symbolism of Lilac
~~~Patti Wigginton

Lilacs
 The common lilac bush is one of many varieties. Patti Wigington 2016

Lilacs are lovely and fragrant, and in the late spring and early summer, you’ll probably notice their distinct, heady scent whenever you’re near one. Unfortunately, they only bloom for a very short period – just a couple of weeks, depending on where you live – so if you’re going to take advantage of their magical properties, you’ve got a pretty brief window of time to harvest the flowers. They typically appear between Beltaneand Litha, the summer solstice, but again, there will be some variations depending on your planting zone.
Lilacs appear in a wide range of colors, from pale white to a deep purple, and the shade depends on the particular species.

LILACS FOR LOVE, PROTECTION, AND MORE

In some magical traditions, lilacs are a romantic sort of flower, and are associated with playful flirtation, the blooming of new love, and short attractions. Lilacs may not bring you a marriage proposal, but if you’re looking for a short and light summer romance with no long-term ties, it’s the perfect flower to use in spellwork.
Lilacs have come to be associated with banishing and getting rid of negative energies – and that may well be due to its strong but light fragrance. Plant lilacs around your property to keep out those who might do you harm, or cut some to keep indoors as a way of preventing malevolent spirits, or other ghosts and haunts, from hanging around.
Interestingly, in some parts of the UK, it was believed that bringing white lilacs into the house was unlucky, but finding a five-petaled one can lead to good fortune. The origins of this particular bit of folklore are murky, but there is a theory that it may be due to the practice of using lilacs to mask the scent of death by placing them in a coffin. This concept is slightly problematic, as lilacs only bloom for a short period each year. Regardless, it does appear to be localized to certain areas of England.
Edwin Radford says in the Encyclopedia of Superstitions, “The purple and red varieties are usually less feared, but even they are sometimes excluded from house-decorations as bringers of misfortune… An interesting detail about the lilac tradition is that … it is found only in some English districts, especially in the midland counties, and is quite unknown elsewhere. It is lucky to find a five-petaled lilac blossom of any colour."
Jennifer Shepherd at the Lipstick Mystic recommends using the seasonal qualities of lilacs as a way of jumpstarting your life. She says, “Since lilac tends to be one of the earlier flowering plants each spring-time, it carries with it some of the same spiritual energies of other “early bloomers” like daffodils and forsythia. Lilac has the same quality of being able to push or penetrate through harsh, heavy “winter” energies. So if you’re seeking some kind of significant breakthrough in your life, and you want a little extra kick or punch to help get you through, connecting with the energies of lilac can be very helpful. Smelling the fresh flowers on the bush or bringing a few blooms inside to enjoy is the best way to connect with this special plant.”

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