Almond



amygdalus communis (LINN.) var. amara

LORE
Grieve provides us with considerable lore
regarding this graceful, flowering tree.
In more temperate climates it comes into bloom
in January it signifies "the awakening up of Creation."
For most readers this takes place closer to the Equinox.
Grieve writes that Aaron chose a slender branch of almond
for his rod and the nuts were used to decorate
the golden candlestick kept with the Tabernacle.

There are some indications the almond may have been
considered a Tree of Life by some older Hebrew cults.

This beautiful tree is associated with Phyllis,
the Greek daughter of King Sithon of Thrace.
She was to be married to Demophoon,
son of Theseus and Phaedra.
When Demophoon was late for the wedding,
Phyllis was overwhelmed with grief, believed herself
abandoned and committed suicide by hanging.
The gods, being kindly, took pity upon the young lovers.
Phyllis was transformed into an almond tree and Demophoon,
properly remorseful, when shedding tears at the site,
found the tree opening into bloom.

Grieve, in A Modern Herbal gives the almond the attribute
of an "emblem of true love inextinguishable by death."
Attis is the Phrygian equivalent of Adonis,
According to Graves, his mother Nana concieved him,
as a virgin, by swallowing an almond.
(In some versions this is the pomegranate seed.)
In the Phrygian myth, as cited by Sir James G. Frazer
in The Golden Bough: A Study In Magic and Religion,
the almond tree is seen as as "the father of all things."


CONSTITUENTS
HABITAT
LORE
MAGIC
MAGICAL PROPERTIES
Oil of Almond
USE

Sweet Almond
Sweet Oil
prunus amygdalus


SOURCE(S)

Morality; is doing the right thing and not caring
if any one is watching

Draconian


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