223 WITCH CHALLENGE - Foraging Fun
As you know, I’m not as mobile as I’d like. It would be dangerous for me to try for walking a forest and walking at the beach would cause me to trip. BUT! I remember. I wandered the hills as a kid and found lots of things, like pine cones.
The Humble Pinecone
look up pictures of statues
Pinecones have served like a symbolic representation of Human Enlightenment, the Third Eye and the Pineal Gland. Our “Pineal Gland, shaped like (and named after) the Pine cone, Third Eye, the “Seat of the Soul,” the “Epicenter of Enlightenment”
(Was that or was that not deep for my wobbly little brain!
)
Ancient history
The Egyptian Staff of Osiris, dating back to approximately 1224 BC, depicts two intertwining serpents rising up to meet at a pinecone.
In the Asian Indians ‘Kundalini,’ a spiritual energy in the body is depicted as coiled serpents rising up from the base of the spine to the Third Eye (Pineal Gland) in the moment of enlightenment.
Hindu deities are also found interwoven with both literal and symbolic representations of serpents and pine cones. In some cases, Hindu gods are carved, sculpted or drawn holding a pine cone in an outstretched hand. Shiva, the most prominent god in the Hindu tradition, is consistently depicted with a head, or coiled hair, shaped in marked similarity to a pine cone and interwoven with a serpent or serpents.
Ancient Assyrian palace carvings, dating back to 713-716 BC depict four-winged God-like figures purposefully holding a loft pine cones, tribute to the Pine cone as symbolic of spiritual ascension and immortality,
A statue of the Mexican god “Chicomecoatl” (“Seven Snakes”) again depicts the deity offering forth pine cones in one hand, and an evergreen tree in the other.
Greeks and Romans
Dionysus, later known as Bacchus to the Romans, was continually depicted carrying a “Thyrsus,” a fennel staff woven with ivy and leaves and topped with a pine cone.
The Pigna is confirmed to have served as a large fountain overflowing with water next the Temple of Isis in Ancient Rome, however, the gigantic statue now sits directly in front of the Catholic Vatican in the “Court of the Pine cone.”
The Pope
Pinecones, perhaps most prominently found atop the sacred staff carried by the Pope himself. It’s found on the Vatican flag among other places .
Old testament
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Peniel the sun rose upon him.
–Genesis 32:30-31
(Literal Biblical translation of the word “Peniel” means “Face of God”)
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light.
A verse from Hosea, seems to more directly address the connection between spirituality and the Pine cone/Pine Tree:
O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a green pine tree;
your fruitfulness comes from me.
–Hosea 14:8
Many crop fields show circles with images very like the pine cone.
The pine cone opens and closes to protect and release seeds
Used whole or broken up into smaller pieces, pine cones make a great organic mulch as they take a long time to break down. By laying them around your trees and flowerbeds, they’ll help soils retain moisture and suppress weeds – and they look good too. They’re also a good natural slug repellent, and provide useful habitat for spiders.
Did you know pine seeds are edible? They can be eaten raw but are better roasted or toasted.
They can be made into flowers, painted, made into hanging ornaments or throw afew into a pretty bowl, surprise! A pretty decoration.
But remember, the animals in the woods eat the pine cone. If we take them all, they’ll starve.
Keep the ecology safe.
I absolutely loved this challenge
be blessed
Garnet
PS when are you offering a make up?
