Red Geraniums

 

My mom had sayings.  She had little rituals.  I grew up with these and never thought much about it.  As a crone, I now see myself doing, or at least remembering, these bits of wisdom.

Quite a while back I was plant shopping with a friend.  We were marveling at the lush red geraniums.  “A witch lives there.”  I remembered.   I smiled and explained that my mom used to tell me that many witches grew bright red geraniums by their front door. 

“Never knew that,” my friend replied.

This spring I headed to the garden center and bought a red geranium.  I would think of my mom whenever I walked in or out of the front door.  Hmmm…..I wondered if any one else had ever heard this story.   I decided to dig around to see what I might find.  The mystical language of flowers!

Harper Lee realized how the vibrant red geranium was a sign of hope and light.  In To Kill a Mockingbird Mayella tends to these beautiful flowers.  She appears to have little reason to be optimistic yet amid all the ugliness of her life she tends her beloved geraniums.

Red geraniums are said to be protective plants. It is thought that planting a red geranium near the front door warns you when strangers are approaching because (according to legend) the flowers will turn and point to visitors when they get near your home.

And yes, folklore tells us that witches feel that red geraniums planted near your doorway will turn away illness since the flowers are a symbol of good health.

So I have red geraniums blooming by my front door.  And so does my friend!

Owning My Magic

 

Magic is all around me but often times I forget that!  I’m thinking that I should intentionally inject some magic into every day.  And how will I do that?  Well, that’s the fun part of this adventure.  The magic may be something I remember my mom doing or saying.  The magic could be some folk remedy or Goddess ritual I had been reading about.  The magic could mine, straight from my heart!

Today is June 1. 

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     On the first day of the month these words are said, first thing, to insure luck and prosperity all month long.

I decided to find out, why rabbit?  It seems that no one really knows but there are bunches of hunches.  I like the theory that the ancient Celts believed that rabbits communicated with the spirits because they burrowed underground.  Rabbits could bring your messages straight to where they needed to go. 

What if “rabbit” doesn’t happen to be the first word out of my mouth on the first of the month (coffee is usually the first thing I mutter in the morning)?   All is not lost.  If you say it backwards you are safe, so “tibbar, tibbar”

Fun tidbits: 

                                                                                                                                               The great comedian Gilda Radner said, “Bunny, bunny” for a month of laughter, love, and peace.    Some folks say “rabbit” 2 times, some 3.  Others say “white rabbit.”      

There are also folks that say “hare, hare” before they fall asleep on the last day of the month to have good luck.

Rabbit, rabbit! May you enjoy a peaceful month!