Sacred Plants in Folk Medicine & Rituals: Ethnobotany of Slovenia

by Vlasta Mlakar

The book is a compendium of traditional knowledge and beliefs about the world of plants, and the widespread usage of that knowledge in the culture and lives of Slovenian people. In many aspects, this knowledge is common to all Central European traditions. The book gives an insight into a thousand-year-old treasury of our ancestors’ knowledge about the use of plants for medicinal and ritual purposes, always linked with beliefs about the supernatural world, which allowed humans to channel their spiritual, social and material perception of the world and the individual in it. Plants are multi-purpose companions of humans, providing them with everything they need for life. By highlighting different usages of plants, the author presents this rich cultural heritage, the wisdom of our ancestors and their industriousness, their perception of the world and natural occurrences, developed from a deep understanding and intimate connection with the natural environment. Our ancestors were guardians of sacred knowledge, derived from a perfect harmony between the natural and cosmic orders. They worshipped the holy mountains, healing water springs, holy forests and trees, plants and animals, rocks on the ground, as well as planets and stars in the sky. This ancient knowledge and wisdom about leading a life in harmony with Nature was preserved and transferred from generation to generation. People regularly performed different ritual offerings and other acts of gratitude to give back to Nature what it had so generously bestowed on them.

204 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2020

Reviews

[Patricia Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to have this resource in the English language. Ethnobotanist Vlasta Mlakar shares her extensive knowledge of the lore, traditions, and superstitions as well as magical and medicinal uses of common plants of Slovenia. The only *tiny* bit I would have liked would have been a translation of what the Slovenian folk names mean, but that's not going to take away from my five star review, since I can easily look that up in google translate. An invaluable resource for those interested in the ethnobotany of Slovenia (and nearby lands).

[Māra Zukure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overal good and interesting collection, and I believe very important source of Slovenian ethnobotany in English.