History and Folklore

The plants and natural materials that I use in my work usually have a rich tapestry of traditional and historical uses that also tie into folklore. From traditional food, medicines, pest control, and even warding off evil spirits, the natural world has always enriched and informed culture. Because I also make some miniature models of natural items, I will also include information about the items the models are based on.

Plants: 
Chamomile has been used as a protective plant for prosperity and resilience. It has been planted near homes to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Traditionally, chamomile has been used by herbalists as a remedy for headaches and a sleep aid. 

Flea bane has been known as a protective plant that has been used to ward off everything from pests to evil spirits. It has also been traditionally used medicinally in Native American cultures.

Grapevine is called the "blood of the earth" by ancient Greeks, and is associated with the gods Dionysus,  Bacchus, and Osiris. It symbolizes intertwining of life, death, and rebirth in many cultures. 

Lamb's ear has been used throughout recorded history as a medicinal plant. It easily serves as a bandage, mitigates stings, and provides headache relief. Some cultures even used it for open wounds, sore throats, and its soft leaves even work well for emergency toilet paper. In European folklore, lamb's ear acts as a symbol of comfort and remembrance for those who are bereaved. 

Lemon balm is associated with the Greek nymph Melissa, linked with bees and immortality. It has been used by herbalists to enhance moods, heal emotional trauma, reinforce cognition, and ensure long life. 

Skullcap has been used as a grounding herb, binding contracts, and spiritual protection. Also known colloquially as "snapdragon," it is traditionally used by Native Americans and herbalists to treat various ailments. 

St. John's wart has been used as a protective plant to ward off evil spirits. It was traditionally used by herbalists to cure or aid almost any ailment. A reddish pigment is created from hypericin secretions in the flowers. 

Western hemlock is the official tree for Washington state. It has many uses among Coast Salish peoples including pigments, tanning agents, and cleansing solution. Western hemlock is heavily associated with feminine energy and humility among many Native American and First Peoples' traditions. 

Wolf's bane is a highly toxic plant that is said to have been created from the saliva of Cerberus. It was used as a protective herb against supernatural creatures. Ancient hunters used wolf's bane to poison wolves.

Fungi and Lichen:
Fly agaric mushrooms have been known as a sign of good luck in Europe, among a rich history throughout European folklore. It may also be the first known hallucinogenic to have been used for ritualistic purposes. 

Usnea lichen is called whimsical names like "beard of the forest gods" and "hair of the woodland spirits." It has been known to symbolize protection, connecting to nature, growth and cleansing, promote harmony, and ward off evil. Usnea is an indicator of air quality, since it needs cleaner air in order to thrive. It is also rumored to have been used as original yule tree décor in northern Europe, draped like tinsel.

Stones and Crystals:
Howlite is known to some Native American cultures as the "White Buffalo Stone," representing peace, divinity, and spiritual power. Today, it is used in spiritual practices as an aid for spiritual connection and associated with intuition, creativity, patience, and tranquility. Howlite is said to absorb negative energy, stress, and anger. 

Moss Agate, also called the "gardener's stone," has been known historically to symbolize fertility, growth, and emotional stability in multiple cultures. In some Native American cultures, the moss like inclusions in the stone are linked to Mother Earth and used to bring rain, as we well as promote successful a growing season and harvest. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it for things like seals and amulets, while ancient Egyptians viewed the stone as a symbol for fertility. It was also used historically by midwives in several cultures to ease the burden of delivery and thought to reduce the risk of hemorrhaging.  

Quartz is found in many places around the world. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that clear quartz was "permanent ice," and used it to cool beverages and to satiate thirst. In Japanese traditions, quartz was known as the "breath of a white dragon," and symbolized perfection, purity, and infinite space. Egyptians used it to focus beams of sunlight, as a symbol of rejuvenation, and channeling planetary energy. In Irish and Scottish lore, it was used as protective charms. Many Native American cultures used quartz to dispel evil, spiritual growth, or for meditation. A "crystal ball" used for divination would have originally been made from quartz. 

Selenite is named after the Greek moon goddess, Selene. It was believed that the moon was made of Selenite. Ancient Greeks and Romans used selenite as a symbol of purity and protection. In the middle ages, selenite was crushed into a powder to make a paste that was painted above doorways to keep evil spirits at bay. Today, selenite is still widely used in modern practices to cleanse spaces, thoughts, people, and more. On the practical side, pure selenite is a lot more transparent than blue selenite (the type that I use in some of my work). Thus, it was sometimes used in building construction, like in 5th Century Rome. 

Smoky Quartz has a long and storied history beginning with ancient cultures. In Scottish traditions, it was revered for grounding properties and a strong connection to the earth. Celtic peoples used it for divination, ancestral connection, representation of earth deities, and grounding. Smoky quartz was also known by ancient Egyptians as a guardian stone for the afterlife, ancient Greeks and Romans for divination, Taoists as a meditation aid, among many other cultures. Native American cultures traditionally used smoky quartz for a variety of reasons, including healing, various rituals, and balancing energy. 

Tiger's Eye has historical uses that are documented all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia, where it was associated with the God Belus/Marduk (the "all seeing" god) and known as nicknames like "Oculus Belus." Ancient Romans saw it as a sign of courage, strength, and patience, while ancient Egyptians saw it as a symbol of divine sight and used it to protect sacred places associated with the sun god Ra and the earth god Geb. In Greek folklore, Odysseus was given a tiger's eye bracelet by Athena to aid in overcoming dangers. In Buddhism, it is associated with courage and power and is known as a sacred stone. 

Marine Invertebrates: 
Auger conch shells are used in multiple modern spiritual practices for grounding, spiritual connection, and protection. Some practices also associate auger shells with male deities in rituals. 

Coral has historically used as talismans for protection and to ward off evil. For multiple Native American cultures, coral was treated like a sacred stone. They used coral as a spiritual symbol, in ceremonies, and as a sign of status and vitality. In Hindu traditions, coral represents strength and vitality, and is associated with the planet Mars. Coral is found throughout history in many other cultures from around the globe, including Romans, Native Hawaiians, peoples of West Africa, indigenous Chinese, and more.

Shark's eye conches, also called mermaid money, are a type of moon snail. Shark's eye shells are connected to the third eye, intuition, spiritual growth, and divine knowledge. Its spiral represents the perpetual cycle of life, death, and rebirth.