Near the end of the herb garden I visited last summer, there was a beautifully constructed protected area known as the sorcerer's garden. It was described as:
Symbol of yin and yang, witness to the Earth's and Moon's cycles, repository of our dreams, privileged place to share special time together, the witches' garden is our sacred space. Symbolically, we have filled it with pants that are magical, curious and sacred, in honor of all the witches that have come before us in this wonderful profession.
The hallucinogens, sedatives, stimulants and otherwise extreme plants were used by shamans and healers to open the inner eye. Belladonna, jimson weed, henbane, morning glory, foxlgove, tobacco, garlic, Queen Anne's lace... these plants are no longer used in daily pharmacopoeia but the had great influence in days past. In this privileged space, we get together to mark solstices and equinoxes, celebrate our harvests and rejoice in the beauty of the earth.
There was an entrance made of tree covers that started you on the path towards the sacred space.
This cove led to a narrow dug in path with cedar trees on the side. It was all very intimate and beautiful, something to aspire to creating at one's own home.
The end of the path wound around to the entrance of the sorcerer's garden itself. It was also very nicely constructed and something a home gardener would be pleased to have. Wooden doors are attached to branches that form the pillars and archway to walk under.
There was a Native Cherokee Legend that also described the sacred "magical" space of medicinal plants:
Int he beginning of time, when the world was peaceful and magical, human beings made their appearance. At first, animals were intrigued and impressed by the abilities and cleverness of humans. They could do things that had never been done before: make fire, sculpt rocks and wood, invent bows and arrows...
The bear tried sculpting but hurt his paws, the world burned his fur trying to make fire, the dear now live din fear as he had become a meal of choice! HUmans were abusing the precious gifts of the gods. The hour was bad! The animals decided to meet and talk about this problem.
The discussion was quite lively. The animals felt threatened but they did not want to destroy the human race knowing that a heart was beating inside each of them. The bear, who was the chief of the animals, asked his friends the viruses and bacteria to create diseases for the humans in order to reduce their power and their supremacy. And as the bear trusted their judgment, he created medicinal plants so that those with a pure heart who listened to nature could become their allies and survive.
Some of these plants make up the collection of plants at the sorcerer's garden, some of which have medicinal properties, and other less so as they were used to induce altered states of mind through the chemicals in the plants. The sorcerer's garden was described again:
These magical plans are no longer used in the day-to-day pharmacopoeia, but at a different time, their influence was quite remarkable, producing spiritual, magical, revolutionary or creative visions. Some are stimulants or narcotics, some are hallucinogenic or poisonous, and were used in traditions and rituals the world over.
Medieval witches, shamans in Asia or the AMericas, Celtic druids, African sorcerers and Amazonian healers explored these plants and their incredible powers, bringing on strange ans sometimes dangerous experiences. As green witches of the 21st century, we stay within the bounds of curative plants, but proudly carry on the legacy of the witches who paved out way.
I'll get into some of those plants at a later time.
Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.
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