#Wise Women

[haggishlyhagging]

The original "medicine men" in history were actually women. Briffault writes on this subject, "The connection of women with the cultivation of the soil and the search for edible vegetables and roots made them specialists in botanical knowledge, which, among primitive peoples, is extraordinarily extensive. They became acquainted with the properties of herbs, and were thus the first doctors." He adds:

The word "medicine" is derived from a root meaning "knowledge" or "wisdom" - the wisdom of the 'wise woman." The name of Medea, the medical herbalist witch, comes from the same root.... "The secret of the witch," said an Ogowe native, "is knowing the plants that produce certain effects, and knowing how to compound and use the plants in order to bring about the desired result; and this is the sum and essence of witchcraft." In the Congo it is noted that woman doctors specialise in the use of drugs and herbal pharmacy. In Ashanti the medicine women are "generally preferred for medical aid, as they possess a thorough knowledge of barks and herbs." In East Africa "there are as many women physicians as men." (The Mothers, vol. I, p. 486)

Dan McKenzie, in The Infancy of Medicine (1927), lists hundreds of ancient remedies, some of which are still in use without alteration, while others have been only slightly improved upon. Among these are substances used for their narcotic properties. A fleeting review indicates the astounding scope of these medicinal products. Useful properties were developed from acacia, alcohol, almond, asafetida, balsam, betel, caffeine, camphor, caraway, chaulmoogra oil (a leprosy remedy), digitalis, gum barley water, lavender, linseed, parsley, pepper, pine tar, pomegranate, poppy, rhubarb, senega, sugar, turpentine, wormwood, and hundreds more. These came from regions all over the globe-South America, North America, Africa, China, Europe, Egypt, etc. Not only vegetable but animal substances were made into remedies; snake venom, for example, was converted into a serum to be used for snake bites, the equivalent of today's antivenin.

According to Marston Bates, very little had been added to this remarkable ancient collection of medicine, until the discoveries of sulfa and antibiotics. "How primitive man discovered the ways of extracting, preparing and using all of these drugs, poisons and foods, remains one of the great mysteries of human prehistory," he writes (The Forest and the Sea, p. 126). But it is not so mysterious when we look in the direction of the female sex and become acquainted with the hard work, vast experience, and nimble wits of primitive womankind, preoccupied with every aspect of group survival.

Not only medicine but the rudiments of various other sciences grew up side by side with the craft and know-how of women. Childe points out that to convert flour into bread requires a knowledge of biochemistry and the use of the yeast microorganism. This substance also led to the production of fermented liquors and beer. Childe also gives credit to women for "the chemistry of potmaking, the physics of spinning, the mechanies of the loom, and the botany of flax and cotton" (What Happened in History, p. 59).

-Evelyn Reed, Woman’s Evolution: From Matriarchal Clan to Patriarchal Family

#Evelyn reed #womens history #anthropology #wise women #witchcraft #ancient remedies #primitive women

[siamkram]

Let us keep in mind that the best cannot and must not hide. Meditation, education, all the dream analysis, all the knowledge of God's green acre is of no value if one keeps it all to oneself or one's chosen few. So come out, come out wherever you are. Leave deep footprints because you can. Be the old woman in the rocking chair who rocks the idea until it becomes young again. Be the courageous and patient woman in "The Crescent Moon Bear" who learns to see through illusion. Don't be distracted by burning matches and fantasies like the Little Match Girl.

Hold out till you find the ones you belong to like the Ugly Duckling. Clear the creative river so La Llorona can find what belongs to her. Like the Handless Maiden, let the enduring heart lead you through the forest. Like La Loba, collect the bones of lost Valuables and sing them back to life. Forgive as much as you can, forget a little, and create a lot. What you do today influences your matrilineal lines in the future. The daughters of your daughters of Your daughters are likely to remember you, and most importantly, follow in your tracks.

-Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With The Wolves

#clarissa pinkola estes #women who run with the wolves #wild woman archetype #matrilineal #lessons #wise women #sisterhood #authentic living

[alchemisoul]

"There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business."

- William S. Burroughs

#william s. burroughs #the beatniks #the beats #the beat generation #poet #bard #author #writer #philosophy #witch #witchy af #witchy memes #dank memage #dank memes #wise women

[scripture-pictures]

#wise women #bible #drinking and wisdom #has oil #proverbs #daily bread #nightly bread #god is love

[swiftthisway]

Wise words from a wise woman…Congratulations to the Class of 2022💜💜💜

#taylor swift #taylorswift #22graduationversion #class of 2022 #wise words #wise women

[drmonkeysetroscans]

Learning.

#wise women

[themoonlightfaerie]

7/27/2022: Bee Balm, Garlic and Honey Vinegar.

#foraging #herbalmedicine #wise women

[oktobercountry]

#booklr #vintage books #book lover #old books #book art #oktobercountry books and records #books #old book smell #old illustration #women #wise women #lgbtq community #lgbtqia #fairy tales

[knowledgevariabledarcy]

#wise women #wise woman #wise words #Youtube

[rosielindy]

A few times in my life I’ve been able to look back over several years of activity and decision points that seemed meaningless at the time, then suddenly culminate into a major shift. 

This week is one of those times. Still processing and waiting to see what’s next. So many intersectional points, all of it exactly what I’ve said I want for 10+ years.

At a stage of life when some folks are thinking about retirement, I’m channeling my inner RBG, taking it to the next level. I’m an old soul and a late bloomer.

#wise women #respect #seat at the table

[magdalene-spirit]

Series Part 2/3

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What is the organising principle that you regulate yourself by?

Is it the man-made laws/rules given to you by a false paradigm?

Or do you govern yourself, how you feel and how you act in the world according to the inherent natural laws that ever-permeate time and space? The laws of the one ancient Mother?

These laws or forces are personified as the virtues or muses or goddesses— one could say fundamental essences or Shakti’s or forces that flow underneath everything.

The 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱 is the one who knows these names of the spirits of Mother that operate and uphold things that are to happen in the world.

Tune in to presence and vibration of the ever-present forces that flow through events and things.

Shift your centre from the false to the true—

And you will step into YOU, living your Divine driven Will/purpose for your life within time.

And you will feel real and substantial, taking your space as existence here and now.

And looking onto the world you will have returned to your 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱 capacity to 𝓚𝓷𝓸𝔀 things, to commune with the forces, the trees, the clouds and the stones around you.

When you know your own presence/essence/beingness you will know it in the other in a sacred union of the moment of your contact, your touching of the world you and the other become one.

#witch #wisewomen #mothernature #matriarchy #shakti #presence #magic

#witch #shakti #wisewoman #wise women #alchemy #feminine magic #oracle #patriarchy #magic #esoteric #consciousnesses #presence #matriarchy #cosmicmother #spirits

[portiascottgriffith]

sometimes a girl is actually a bunch of girls. and thats ok. all of her is awesome. shes multiple girls. a wom&n, if you will

this post is about being a system (but i dont mind if you reblog it about something else). also its inclusive of all system origins

#i love women im very tired 👍 #this is about being a system btw. shoutout to my gf. idk what shes got going on subsystem-wise but #either way thats literally so cool of her. more wom&n to love #plurality

[vos0q]

Dominique de Sade 🥀

#the case study of vanitas #ヴァニタスの手記 #vanitas no carte #vanitas no shuki #illustration #dominique de sade #Domi is a queen thank you very much #hers is my favourite design wise #I hope I did her justice. not my first time drawing her but my first complete drawing of her #perspective is hard #I lub handsome women yum yum

[irltaurus]

the ladies reading and relaxing

#black girls reading #black women reading #saw a post similar to this but they were literally all white lol #it was cute but wanted to make one for my ladies #happy sunday #🥰 #lisa bonet #lauryn hill #erika alexander #maya angelou #reagan gomez-preston #eartha kitt #whoopi goldberg #sade adu #dewanda wise #my posts #books and reading #bookstan #icon #icons

[neeshachar]

On my 100th reread of tgcf (I'm halfway through the first book) I am only now realising how much of a romantic Xie Lian is.

I thought the only line that indicated his nature was during the seaside "what matters is you, not the state of you" conversation where Xie Lian said "there were very difficult times in my life where I imagined if someone could see me like that and still love me. I still don't know if there would be anyone like that". But this is way later in the 3rd book and before that I hadn't imagined Xie Lian wanting someone to love him.

But I am now realising its outright clear from the beginning. In the first quest, Xie Lian enters the tea shop and looks out the window, noticing how beautiful the scenery was and his first thought was "this would be such a nice place for lovers' chance encounters" and immediately after that he has in own meet-cute with the butterfly.

Later, as he is led out of the bridal sedan by Hua Cheng, he is constantly thinking how great a husband Hua Cheng would be, "considerate, patient, loving" etc etc. Xie Lian enjoyed playing the bride then. He was thinking "oh it would be so nice if this were real, and this man was my husband". You cannot tell me that Hua Cheng was the only one swooning at the hand holding.

I see so many posts and edits of Hua Cheng being whipped from the start, but honestly Xie Lian was falling in love right from Mount Yujun. He knows nothing of the man but from one romantic encounter he remembers the boot bells so fondly and decides "he was soft with me. I like him". I know it's mxtx's doing and all but there is still something to be said when the story is narrated entirely in Xie Lian's head that every interaction XL has with San Lang that onwards is painted so romantically. Xie Lian is a romantic, it didn't take him long to fall hard and love Hua Cheng on purpose.

#I suppose this inspires bigger discussions on his abstinence and how in all those years he didn't love anyone else #or about his sexuality if he knew that in youth he didn't like women #Inspired by an edit I saw of them on “Can't Help Falling in Love” #“wise men say only fools rush in” when it is truly the og wise old man XL rushing in first #XL fell first? Can i say that? Actually idc I *will* say that #tgcf #tgcf xie lian #tgcf hua cheng #tgcf hualian #heaven official's blessing

[lavendermothmoss]

“With the Moon in Sagittarius, a joyful and exploratory emotional nature comes to the surface. Today you and everyone around you will be feeling the need to wander and to be a free spirit. There's an impulsive and restless quality to your instincts, and you will likely try finding out if the grass is greener elsewhere. Exploring emotions is another major theme today, and you'll do this in many contexts. It's also possible that you will feel connected to your beliefs and opinions in a protective way. You might find a tendency to reach for these beliefs in an effort to feel safe.

Your mood is not likely to keep you tied to domestic routines and responsibilities. In fact, you have an urge to escape them altogether. Idealistic and enthusiastic optimism is a hallmark of the day. Your instincts tell you that the glass is half full no matter what the situation, and this will help to push you forward as you reach for the highest heights, feeling as if it's your birthright.” - time passages app

#intuitive #divination witch #elemental witch #cosmos #moon #astrology #witchblr #celtic paganism #wise women