Herba Mythica

XANTHE GRESHAM-KNIGHT tours internationally and has been Storyteller in Residence for The Chelsea Physic Garden, Harvard University, Psychologies magazine, Hastings Storytelling Festival, Stoke and Staffordshire Libraries and have received numerous commissions from The British Museum and The Smithsonian. She has performed at major UK Literature Festivals including Hay and Cheltenham and has created 8 performance art shows for adults on different Goddesses for venues including The Barbican, National and Soho Theatres.

‘In this compilation of leafy tales and plant magic, Xanthe has drawn on storytellers’ experience and heritage from across the globe … she has brought green enchantment to every page.’

• TitleCopyrightContentsIntroductionA Note on the TextForeword by Michael HollandForeword by Lisa SchneidauA Story Explaining Why the Names of Plants in this Book are CapitalisedAcanthus mollis (Acanthus): Flower of Rebirth, GreeceAchillea millefolium (Yarrow): Macha, IrelandAgrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony): Dian Cécht – The Well of Healing, IrelandAlnus glutinosa (Alder): Mis, IrelandAnemone coronaria (Anemone): Aphrodite and Adonis, GreeceArtemisia vulgaris (Mugwort): The Dreaming Plant, NorseHo Hsien Ku Becomes an Immortal, ChinaBellis perennis (Daisy): Pearl, Middle EnglishBetula pendula (Silver Birch): Birch Mother, Britain/Northern EuropeCamellia sinensis (Black Tea): Tea, JapanCannabis sativa (Hemp): The Origin of Kīf, Middle EastCastanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut): The Man Who Planted Chestnut Trees, Cantabria, SpainColchicum autumnale (Crocus): Medea, GreeceCommiphora myrrha (Myrrh): The Soul’s Scent, GreeceCrataegus spp. (Hawthorn): Mother of the Maypole, UKCytisus scoparius (Scotch Broom): The Broom Hill, England/ScotlandDictamnus albus (White Dittany): A Samodiva Doesn’t Keep House, BulgariaEuphrasia officianalis (Eyebright): The Healing Eye of Horus, EgyptFilipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet): Blodeuwedd, Queen of the Meadows, WalesFraxinus excelsior (Ash): A Walk with the Ash Tree, UKHelianthus annuus (Sunflower): The Sunflower Towelling Wrap, UK/FranceClytie and the Sun, GreeceHylotelephium telephium (Stonecrop): Trust-Me and Trust-Me-Not, ItalyLaurus nobilis (Laurel): The Wadjet Eye of Healing, EgyptLilium regale (Lily): Mother of AngelsMadhuca longifolia (Mahua): Mahua and the Wandering Penis, Santhal, IndiaMalus domestica (Apple): Avalon, the Isle of Apples, UKMedusa and the Golden Apples, GreeceMandragora autumnalis (Mandrake): Snakes and Mandrakes, EgyptMorus alba (White Mulberry): Mulberry and the Sacred Tanbur, KurdistanMyosotis spp. (Forget-Me-Not): Stream and the Blue Flower, SufiNelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus): Tara and the Lotus, TibetNeurolaena lobata (Jackass Bitters): The Pumpkin Seed, GuyanaNymphaea caerulea (Blue Water Lily): The Blue Lily Makes a New World, EgyptHathor’s Golden Lotus, EgyptOlea europaea (Olive Tree): The Olive Tree, a Blessed Tree, Morocco/FranceThe Eyes of Serapis, Greece/EgyptOpuntia ficus-indica (Sabra Cactus): Fart Roman Thab and the Golden Pomegranate Seeds, PalestinePapaver rhoeas (Red Poppy): Hekate Poppy, GreecePhoenix dactylifera (Date Palm): My Grandfather was a Palm Tree, IranPinus pinea (Stone Pine): The Magna Mater and the Pine Tree, ItalyPrimula vulgaris (Primrose): Carys of Nant Carfan, WalesPrunella vulgaris (Self-Heal): It’s all in the Name, ChinaPrunus armeniaca (Apricot): A Bee is Always Behind the Flower, KurdistanPrunus spinosa (Blackthorn): The Man and the Blackthorn Stick, IrelandQuercus robur (Common Oak): The Magical Flower, CantabriaDiana and the Golden Seed, GreeceRosa spp. (Rose): The Rose, America/RomaniaRose Kitchen Magic: A Ritual for Self-Love, ItalyRubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry): Cloudberry, FinlandRuta graveolens (Rue): The Herb for the Opening and Closing of Doors, BrazilSalix spp. (Willow): The Willow Flute, RomaniaSambucus nigra (Elder): The Tree of Freja, NorseSilene dioica (Red Campion): The Red Flower of Silenus, GreeceSilene latifolia (White Campion): Snake Flowers, WalesTabernanthe iboga (Iboga): Tiger’s Whisker, AfricaTaraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion): Brigit’s Favourite Flower, IrelandThymus vulgaris (Common Thyme): The Massage Oil, IndiaTilia spp. (Linden): Sister Trees, DenmarkTracheophyta spp. (Fern): The Golden Seed of the Fern, EuropeUlex europaeus (Common Gorse): When the Gorse is Out of Bloom, Kissing’s out of Fashion, IrelandUrtica dioica (Nettle): The Nettle Pharisee: A Philosophy of Nettle, EuropeVitis vinifera (Vine): Dionysus and the Wild Vine, GreeceZea Mays (Maize): Corn Mother, First Nations, AmericaGlossary of Healing PlantsReferencesBibliographyThanks