Herbs of the Faerie Realm - Lilacs
One of the loveliest sights and scents of springtime, lilac has long been considered a faerie and elf tree. Its sweetness draws elementals (and wildlife) to the garden and repels those that are not well meaning. Lilacs have long been used to drive away negativity, including being used to clear haunted houses. An English tradition associated lilac with death and declared it unfortunate to bring into the home, except on May Day. This myth dates back to the practice of using lilac blooms to mask he odour of death at funerals where the body was viewed at home. It became a tradition in temperate zones to plant lilacs in graveyards as symbols of death and remembrance, especially since the plant when in flower can even be found at night by it’s scent. New England lilacs were originally planted to deter dark forces from one’s property and lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire. In the language of flowers, lilacs symbolize wisdom, young love and remembrance. Lilac’s floral scent is used to promote harmony and increase mental abilities and invokes long forgotten emotions.
Lilac faeries are associated with music. Lilac can transport one to enchanted worlds, including faerieland. Amethyst and pink blossoms reflect the hues of tree sylphs, while white blossoms correspond to a more liberated spirit.
Lilac (Syringa species) is a member of the Oleaceae (Olive) Family. According to Greek mythology, a beautiful nymph named Syringa (Lilac’s genus name) had captivated, Pan, the god of the forests and fields with her beauty. Pan chased Syringa through the forest. Syringa escaped Pan’s attention by turning herself into a lilac bush with the assistance of some nearby nymphs. Pan realized he was holding reeds instead of Syringa. His sighs combined with the wind and reeds made harmonious sounds. Hermes (aka Mercury) suggested that, seven reeds of different lengths bound together could make panpipes, which were called Syrinx in honor of the nymph. Syringa also means "Hollow tube; tubular shape, pertaining to the shape of the flowers". Although not hollow, lilac twigs can be easily drilled out to make flutes and pipe stems. Vulgaris, the species name, means common.
Lilac is considered feminine; corresponding to the planet Venus and is associated with the element of Water. Finding a five petaled lilac blossom is believed to bring good fortune, and should one find one, may request a favor of the Good Folk.
Lilac blossoms are edible. A springtime delight is to make a lilac cold-water infusion. Simply fill a glass pitcher with fresh (unsprayed of course) lilac blossoms. Fill to the top with spring water. Allow to steep for an hour. Strain before serving in glasses. Drink in the beauty and aroma. Scatter a few lilac blossoms on fresh green salads. The blossoms can be candied and preserved to decorate desserts later in the year. Lilac leaves and the fruit are used to treat fevers, headache, febrifuge, and rid the body of worms when taken as a tea.
The lilac shrub, native to Eurasia is deciduous, and incredibly cold hardy, long lived and bears many fragrant flowers, usually in May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees moths and butterflies. Lilac thrives in most soils, including chalk, but dislikes acid soils. Its preference is a well-drained alkaline loam in a warm sunny position. It is usually found growing in hedges, woodlands, and in dappled shade.
Move a bench in a position where you can sit, relax and breathe in the sweet aroma. Though the perfumed flowers are short-lived, the shrub itself has outstanding longevity and known to outlive many a human, though not necessarily faerie.