Returning to Work, Uphill both Ways

That little description to the side of the page, under my name?  Yeah.  "Not necessarily in that order" has certainly described my last week and a half.  Sick kids, sick self - even the power of Vit C and the fabled flu vaccination wasn't enough to keep me from catching whatever it is my son had.

Oh, and there was a birthday in there, too- before the sickies appeared, mind you.  Going to be doing some double-time (triple time?) on herbs this week.  I've been reading and formulating posts all along, but just haven't had the thyme (hah!) or energy to post them here.  

Good thing in all this, I suppose, is that I'm not beating myself up about falling behind.  I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be.  And if the only thing that I learn from these forty days is that I am _not_ perfect,  I'm better off than I was before.   Imperfections, like the facets upon gem, can only will work to add luster and brilliance to the light which I reflect. 

And I'm fine with that.  

More later tonight.

WKKW

A Bridge to Terebinthia

Linden (Teil or Lime Tree)
Family:  Malvaceae
Genus:   Tilia
Species: T. cordata

Terebinth (Turpentine Tree)
Family:  Anacardiaceae
Genus:   Pistacia
Species: P. palastina

     Reference:  Isaiah 6:13

And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid to waste.  But as the terebinth and the oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land. (NIV)

This was an interesting find tonight.  Some Bible versions use terebinth, others use linden or teil – which are both completely different, useful trees.  As far as I can gather is that perhaps later translations may have misinterpreted the turpentine tree as teil, or misinterpreted the original word for many oaks or were just referring to whatever broad-leafed tree in general which would provide with 'useful wood' that otherwise would be harvested by being chopped down.  How much wood would it take to go through?  A lot.

Part of my research is derived from A Scripture Herbal (1842) by Maria Calcott, who references Isaiah for Teil, and has various references for Turpentine, or as it is commonly referred to elsewhere, Terebinth.  She differentiates between the trees; I shall endeavor to do the same.

Tilia is a temperate deciduous tree that is native to the Northern Hemisphere which is utilized for the fine, easily worked wood (known as basswood in America) it produces.  The vikings long prized this virtue by making wooden carvings, shields and structures from the tree.  Long-lived, they're also famed for the abundant shade from their large canopies of broad-leaved leaves.    The T. cordata produces small flowers which have been used medicinally; taken as a tea, they readily will ease respiratory problems (colds, throats, etc.)  The flowers have a pleasant, if light, taste and a pleasing aroma.

Pistacia is a fairly well-known shrub or squat tree that is native to the eastern Mediterranean region whose fruit is a drupe (the tree is in the same family as the cashew) that at one point in time was a source of food.  It too is long-lived, and grows abundantly throughout the region.  It has wide, oval leaves;  whether or not this would be considered a source of shade (as compared to its frequent Biblical companion the oak), is left to contemplation.

The linden and the oak play an important part of the Ovid's story of Baucis and Philemon (an old married couple who wished only to remain together forever) as the two intertwined trees into which they were transformed by Zeus as a blessing for long service; the terebinth tree commonly grows (and intertwines) with oak trees throughout the Levant.   Needless to say they exist together, and while not completely interchangeable botanically, the linden and the terebinth have their places in both history and Scripture.

***

Two trees, one verse.  Regardless of which came first, the meaning here, that the roots (the holy seed) of God will endure and come to fruit again, no matter what may transpire above ground, resonates easily in my heart.

I grew up, attending church, and wandered off path somewhere when there were some difficult times for my family, instead of keeping my faith.  I've sinned, I've done wrong – we all have.  But my roots, just as that of the majestic oak or that of the shielding linden, are undeniably strong.  They've held me aloft when I needed it, and supported me from below.  I was just too foolish to realize.

This fall we took the ash tree out in our front yard; my son and I counted its rings.  The tree was as old, if not older, than I am.  The roots run deeply; you can dig and try to uncover them all and remove them from your yard, but you never seem to find them all.  And it was only forty, not that long-lived.  Certainly not the centuries would be for a linden or an oak.  Those would be deeply grown.  And more stubborn to remove.

It brings me joy to know that He has always been there, keeping an eye on me, just waiting for the moment that I would come to fruition and rebuild the bridge that I once thought destroyed.

Coriander: The Color of Manna

Coriander
Family:  Apiaceae
Genus:   Coriandrum
Species: C. sativum

     Reference:  Exodus 16:31

31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

 And also:  Numbers 6:7

(Via Wikipedia)

Coriander is an annual herb which prefers well-drained soil and full sun.  In Ohio, once the temperature warms up, the plant is quick to flower and seed.  I've found that succession planting will grant a steady supply of it's sharp-tasting leaves (known as cilantro) for a season full of salsa and Indian dishes.  It is a tall, stalky annual whose flowers grow in arrays of white colored umbels.  The leaves are deeply lobed and irregular in shape. 

There's a fair number of people who can't tolerate the taste of cilantro leaf; it houses an essential oil which is disagreeable to some, giving the plant a very soapy mouth feel and bitter, off-putting taste (likened to that of a stink bug).   Cilantro aversion has been discovered to be genetic!  (N.B.  Coriander is derived from the Greek κορις, for bug!)

The herb is native to southern Europe, and northern Africa; it thrives and grows intermixed with other agricultural crops. Writings from the Han Dynasty of China note many products created with coriander; all in all it may very well have been domesticated and used for over three thousand years.  Considered a carminative herb, it will help aid digestion, restoring appetite and alleviating nausea.  The seed itself is taken and chewed by the handful after meals; later Europeans would take the same seed and coat it in hot sugar syrup, creating a confit:  sort of like a Jordan almond, but with a very tiny seed instead.  

***

When looking over a few books dealing with Scripture and plants, I noticed that a number of scholars had drawn attention to the deep wrinkled appearance of the coriander seed, either citing its imperfect appearance, or that it looked as if were puckered and drawn together as if it were a healing wound.  Digging a little further, the Hebrew word associated with coriander, gad, derived from gadad appears, meaning cut or cutting.  How or why these things are related is a linguistic scholar's guess, but I found it rather interesting.

Doubly interesting was realizing that coriander was well enough known in Biblical times that the outward appearance of a miraculous substance which was created to sustain, heal and inspire was summarized with a comparison with this odd, wrinkly little seed.  

I hope that when I'm old and odd and wrinkly, I'll too be used by God to sustain, heal and inspire.  

Black Mustard: Deeply rooted seeds of faith

Black Mustard

Family:  Brassicaceae

Genus:   Brassica

Species: B. nigra

Reference:  Matthew 13:31-32   

     31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 

     32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

And also:  Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19; Luke 17:6; Matthew 17:20 (all KJV)

(Via Wikipedia)

An ancient herb, mustard's first recorded mention was in sanskrit writings over five thousand years ago.  It was used as a pot herb and green vegetable by the days of the Romans who utilized its seed as well; dried and pounded into a flour, it was mixed with wine to create a type of table mustard.   Culinary tastes aside, it was highly valued as a medicinal herb and used to treat toothaches, and as a type of plaster or paste to treat sore or rheumatic joints.

Sources debate whether or not B. nigra was indeed the plant whose seed is highlighted by Jesus in the Parable of the Mustard Seed. While it is native to the Mediterranean and South Asia, it is possible that the plant could be Sinapis, the white mustard of the same family, or even an actual tree– Salvadore persica, known as the mustard tree. The latter, actual tree bears small seeds and grows relatively tall.  Given its heritage and use as a leafy green vegetable (including its inclusion into the wide category of bitter herbs), black mustard is the generally considered the most widely accepted suspect.

The plant itself, being a member of the Brassicaceae (formerly known as Cruciferae, "cross-bearing"), is related a wide number of crucifers and cabbages, all important food crops.  B. nigra is an annual plant that readily re-seeds, and, if left uncontrolled will spread wildly.  Pliny noted upon this, stressing that the roots held strong and was difficult to remove as the plant aged.  It bears a four-petaled yellow flower which while in bloom, forms what could be called a Maltese cross.   The plant thrives best in well-drained soil, but adequately tolerates poor planting if compensated with fertilizer; it will tolerate some sun, however it will appear wilted if left to full bright exposure, regaining itself at night.    Unlike others of its family the black mustard can grow as tall as six feet, but averages about half that in height.  It flowers in late summer, and the tiny seeds are typically harvested and dried in early fall.

Its medieval uses mimicked that of the Romans.  Gerard (1623) states that

"the seed of the mustard pounded with vinegar is an excellent sauce, good to be eaten with any grosse meates, either fish or flesh, because it doth help digestion, warmeth the stomach and provoketh appetite."

***
"It all starts from a seed; have faith in this seed,"  I've been known to say when teaching classes, introducing people to herbs and gardening in general.   I suppose I've had more faith in a seed than I may have otherwise believed.  
Upon looking back, and re-reading this parable, there's so many ways that I interpret it.  That the Kingdom of Heaven is the greatest amongst all; that birds (or, perhaps men) will flock to it, calling it home.  That man must carry this precious gift and give it space to grow.  And even botanically:  that this specific seed becomes a deeply-rooted, difficult to displace, nourishing plant that will freely grow and thrive and reproduce, even in places not usually all that nice for plants – provided it's maintained well.
Mustard teaches me that I need regular maintenance; that my belief and faith need a little boost now and again.

Costmary: The Bible Leaf

Costmary
Family:  Asteraceae
Genus:   Tanacetum
Species: T. balsamita

Also known as Sweet Mary, the Bible leaf, the Baslam herb, or one of its medieval names, Maudlin.  The name is said to be derived from the costus (Gk. "from the east"), a plant widely known in the ancient world whose root was imported for incense and perfume, and for the Virgin Mary, or possibly Mary Magdalene; many 'sweetly' scented herbs become, with time, associated with Biblical women.   In medieval France, it was outright called Herbe Sainte-Marie.

It is a hearty perennial herb with a wide, oblong leaf with a delightfully minty scent.  It grows to a height of three to four feet, and has August blooms that are comprised of small yellow flowers.  If grown in shade, it will produce a great sheath of leaves, and little by way of flowers.  It will tolerate dry soil well, and thrives in most conditions.

As the plant itself is related to tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), evidence exists that it may very well have been used to repel silverfish other book-bourne bugs from family heirloom Bibles.

M. Grieve, in her Modern Herbal (1931) states that, while the plant was 'native to the Orient' it had now 'become naturalized in parts of southern Europe' and was inevitably to be found in every garden in England.   It was once used as a flavoring for ale, for the scent and the taste of the leaf was similar to that of allspice, and referred to as aletcost.

***

Costmary is interesting in the fact that it's long been associated with the Bible, yet never mentioned within it.  Saussurea costus, from which its name is possibly derived, was known in ancient Israel as koshet, and was referred to as one of the ingredients used to create sacred, cleansing incense associated with the Tabernacle.   It's well-known Biblical associations most likely appear during Colonial America, wherein the leaves were both used as placeholders in hymnals and chewed as an invigorating pick-me-up for long sermons.  

I can relate to costmary.  No, really:   I've long considered myself (read:  associated myself as) a Christian – but I rarely attended a church.  Like our Bible leaf, I never really appeared anywhere there'd be any community, but rather would slip between the pages, hoping for goodness-by-association.  

Perhaps I've just been living life as a placeholder would all along.  Certainly gives me pause for thought.


A Pause-for-Thought Potpourri:
(via Old Fashioned Living)
2 parts rose
2 parts lemon balm
2 parts costmary
1 part whole clove

And so it begins

If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. - C.S. Lewis

The above, a quote from someone's random Pinterest board, was found alongside pictures of wizards and dragons, Minecraft and the various versions of Dr. Who and Hobbits that I find myself browsing through when idly spending time online.  

Yet it occurred to me that, poster-implied fantasy element aside, I understood the very essence of what it meant, even with not having yet read the book from which it was quoted, Mere Christianity.

A bell sounded; a whistle blew; horns blared upon high –  imagine whatever sound your mind makes when something finally rings true, for that is what I heard, felt.... Needed. For at that moment, having travelled the world – having conquered and created them in my spare time – having created a family and a home, I felt unfulfilled with the doldrums of housewifery and daunted by the task of homeschooling my children.  I desired more from and for myself:  I was unsatisfied.  Many changes have I made, yet none seemed to make a difference.

So I prayed.  And that did.

For those who know me, 'guarded' is a good word in description.  Whilst I can easily talk to dozens from a stage about my interest in herbs and the history about them, or swap silly stories about something I'd read or have witnessed my kids destroy, discussing what I am, and who I am, always feels distinctly uncomfortable.  Partially because I never feel like I have a good answer.  (And having a wealth of self-depreciating humor to rely upon seemed to suffice.) But mostly, because I don't have a good answer.

Thank you Mario!  But our princess is in another castle!

Another castle; another world.  One I yearn to explore and learn about, to grow with and in and through -  one that forgives me for not having a good answer.  One that I am assured will provide me with purpose and all answers that I seek.  But most of all, the peace that I desire the most.

***

I had long contemplated a blog on herbs and homeschooling and gardening and gaming – all those things which are rolled into my character – and those posts will come with time.   But for the next forty days, in observation of Lent,  I intend to share my exploration of the Word, a passage at a time, through my familiar green lens of herbs.   A different herb, each day:  its reference, significance, botanical aspects and how, if it can, affect and improve my understanding of God.  It may not seem like much, and perhaps in the grand scope of things it very well may not be, but I want to use the one gift that I know has been given to me to help me on my journey.  This is my beginning.  As we all know, stories that involve princesses also have endings: 'happily ever after,' is where I want to be.

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed ... and God saw that it was good."  Genesis 1:11

"For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs." Deuteronomy 11:10