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To Drink or Not to Drink?
To Drink or Not to Drink? The Overlord and I are long overdue. I thought I would share a bit about my favorite alcoholic beverage. Excerpt from: Absinthe, The Gift of the Green Faeries Kristine Lambert “Absinthe is the aphrodiasiac of the self. The green faeries in the absinthe want your soul. But you are safe with me.” ‒from the movie, Bram Stoker’s Dracula Artemisia Absinthium. The scientific name alone sounds ethereal, and what mystical attributes it has always been given since antiquity. We know it more commonly as Wormwood or older folk-names such as Old Woman or Grown for a King. There are three types of wormwood, the first being Sea Wormwood. This is almost exclusively grown in England by, of course, the sea. It grows much shorter and is a saltier flavor (because of the sea salts) when added to absinthe. It is also the weakest of the three varieties. The next, Roman Wormwood, is grown atop the mountains of Italy and is a more brash, tree-like herb (though, this variety can be garden grown). The third is called Common Wormwood. This is the type that tends to be readily available and is usually used in any type of absinthe (this is the type I will concentrate on in this article). Common Wormwood can grow 3 to 4 feet tall; the roots grow deep and resemble the wood of a small tree. It grows long, whitish green, frosty leaves and at the joints toward the tops of the leaves grow little yellow flower buds. All wormwood buds in August, give or take a few weeks, and the leaves and flowers are almost the only part of the plant used. Wormwood belongs to what is called the Compositae family of herbs of which Tarragon and Magwort are also a part. Ancient physicians like Pythagoras and Hippocrates (the creator of the Hippocratic Oath) both often experimented with wormwood in their medical workings. In old apothecary texts, the virtues of wormwood were praised for its healing qualities in everything from neurological disorders to stomach afflictions to melancholy. Most turned out not only to be true, but to help patients miraculously. It is a proven fact that if hung in your closets, they will be free of moths and their larvae, and if taken internally, it will dispel parastitic worms (hence it’s name). Even with all of this talk of its virtues and proven facts, wormwood is one of the only herbs with so much focus on its magickal qualities. First of all, its gender is of a masculine nature, much like spearmint, peppermint, anise and clove. What this means is the flower usually buds small and has strong aromatic conditions, and all these fall under the male aspect of the universe. The planet that rules over wormwood is Mars. Its elemental (or magickal) counterpart is fire and it falls under Scorpio in zodiac correspondences. Because of the latter, old folk myth holds that wormwood can cure you of scorpion stings! The Deity most associated with wormwood is Artemis, and can even be found in its species name, Artemisia Absinthium, which is a combination of Artemis and the Greek word Absinthium (which means “undrinkable”. Thus the name absinthe. In occult books and grimoires, there are many magickal uses of wormwood. For instance, if a sprig is carried on your person, you are protected from bewitchment by others. It also supposedly counteracts the effects of being poisoned by hemlock. Ancient texts say that if it is burned in a graveyard, the spirits of the deceased will come forth and converse with the summoner. To this day, wormwood is still called for in certain love potions. Perhaps that is why absinthe was created, for its addictive and intoxicating effects! As you can see, Wormwood is some impressive herb, for there are references to it in Egyptian papyri, early Syrian records, and even in Bible. According to myth, wormwood grew along the trail the Serpent made when leaving the Garden of Eden, it also appears in the Revelation of St. John “And the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter.” Pretty intriguing, how this herb has reappeared throughout the earliest medical and magical, musings of mankind to nowadays. Absinthe was invented in the late 1700’s and was finally illegalized for sale and manufacture in many countries, including the United States, on March 16, 1915. |
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5/12/2006 1:39 pm |
Nice article on absinthe. I have always wanted to try it, but short of traveling to Europe, I wouldn't know were to obtain it. Would love to try it with you, Goddess.
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Hi slo4cups! (Who plays the guitar? My Overlord is a Guitar God!) I know I would LUV to indulge in some Absinthe with you, as well. If we don't see the green faeries, we at least can act like Naughty Nymphs! Great to meet you! Kisses and Caresses, Bemused
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5/13/2006 1:25 am |
haven't tried..yet..lol.. TTFN
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Hey I'm living here in Canada-- Agreed-- Beer IS Good! LOL My Overlord's Birthday is in a little over a week. Methinks it is time for the Birthday Faeries... It's Very Easy Being GREEN!!! Universal Love and Inebriation... Bemused
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