Magical Herbalism

by Diane Sylvan, Sibylline Priestess

Herbal lore has been passed from healer to healer, mother to daughter, generation after generation. Herbalism is an ancient practice of a gentle science. The uses and properties of herbs are just now reaffirming itself in the western scientific community. Holistic medicines work with the body to balance our natural chemistry. The side effects of herbs are generally less severe then pharmaceutical drugs and the benefits to the body and soul are great. Although natural healing is practiced by many it is always best to do research for yourself, seek out someone well trained, and obtain a doctor’s diagnosis for all severe medial problems. When using a natural medicine for an ailment, seek medical council if a condition is threatening your well being, worsens or has persisted for an extended period of time (1-2 weeks). Herbal medicines are powerful and can, if used incorrectly, have life threatening results.

Hebe HE bee

Daughter of Zeus and Hera

Sister to Ares (the god of War) and Eileithyia, Hebe became the modest wife of Herakles (Hercules) after he became immortal and made his home on Mount Olympos (Olympus).

On Diana by Chaucer

“And there withall Diana gan appere With bowe in hand right as an Hunteresse, And saydê, ‘Daughter, stint thine heavinesse!’ And forth she wente and made a vanishing.” –Chaucer (C. T.), “The Knight’s Tale.”

 

Alvis

by Dr Anthony E. Smart

 
His name means all-wise. He was a member of the dwarf race. In return for the weapons he forged for the gods he was promised Thrud, Thor’s daughter, in marriage. Thor did not like this arrangement and devised a test of knowledge to stop the marriage. He told Alvis that he had to prove that his great wisdom made up for his small stature. Thor prolonged the test until sunrise when the rays of the sun fell upon the dwarf; all dwarves turned to stone if touched by the sun’s rays.

Aglauros

by Dr Anthony E. Smart

 
Daughter of Cecrops, the half-dragon half-man creature. Sister of Herse who was beloved by Hermes. When Hermes visited Herse, Aglauros, who was jealous, got in his way and said she would not move. The god took her at her word and turned her into stone so she could not.

Alfrodull

by Alex Pacheco, Clarksville Middle School

 
Alfrodull is the sun in Norse mythology. “Glory of elfs” is the meaning of the name. Other names were also used. A chariot driven by a girl was thought to be the sun. Two horses pulled the chariot; their names were Arvak and Alsvid. Because she was being persued by the wolf, Skoll, she drove very fast. Before the world ends, she will have a daughter.

Eumolpus

by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee, Ph.D.

 
According to Pausanias Eumolpus was a son of Poseidon and Chione, who was the daughter of the North-East Wind and Oreithuia from the Athenian royal family of Erechtheus. When Eumolpus was born, his mother Chione, afraid of her father, threw the baby inside the sea. Poseidon took care of his little boy and he brought him to the shore in Ethiopia. Poseidon’s sister Benthesikyme reared him and later on she married him to one of her daughters. But Eumolpus was in love with the other one and Benthesikyme banished him to Thrace. From there he had to run away, because he was preparing some conspiracy against his king-protector Tegyrios. So, he came to Eleusis.

Eleusis

by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee Ph.D.

 
Eleusis is the place, where the cult of the goddess Demeter existed many centuries and where the most famous religious festival, called the Eleusinian mysteries were performed in the honour of this deity. According to the “Homeric Hymn to Demeter” (7th century BCE), when the goddess Demeter was desparetely looking for her daughter (=Kore) Persephone -kidnapped by Aidoneus (Hades)- during her wandering she came to the city Eleusis. Here she was welcomed by the Queen Metaneria. To thank her, Demeter took care about prince Demophon. Each night she brought the boy near the fire to make him immortal and she fed him with the nectar and ambrosia of the Gods. When the child´s mother saw once at night what was happening, she was astonished.

Eileithyia

by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee, Ph.D.

 

According Homer Eileithyia was the goddess of birth-pain, but Homer was often thinking about a few Eileithyiai, the daughters of Hera. Also Hesiod presented Eileithyia as the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hera, but Artemis too were sometimes taking a role of this goddess and her title. Pausanias is describing two versions about the deity’s origin. (1) In the first story Eleithyia came from the Hyperboreans (from the legendary north) to Delos to help Leto, when she was giving birth to Artemis and Apollo. In the second case Eileithyia was born in a Cretan cave at Amnisos.

Brauron

by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee Ph.D.

 

Brauron, in the ancient times called Vrauron, situated on the east coast of Attica, was one of the oldest sacredplaces in Greece, where the goddess of nature and the protector of fertility and childbirth, Artemis was worshipped. According to the myths Iphigenia, the daughter of the Mycenaean king Agamemnon, established this sanctuary.