Honeysuckle and the Gift of Happiness | Mystical Musings

Honeysuckle teaches us that in our search for happiness, we must focus on the little things. | Honeysuckle and the Gift of Happiness

Mystical Musings: Honeysuckle and the Gift of Happiness

Spending time studying honeysuckle meant spending time meditating on what it means to be truly happy. Yes, honeysuckle represents happiness in the natural world, but what does that really mean?

If the honeysuckle vine’s magical energy were to reach out and touch our lives with the gift of happiness, what would that look like?

Happiness is an emotion, but it is also a composite of emotions. It’s almost like an umbrella term that describes a flurry of emotions, like joy, pleasure, and excitement.

We feel happy sometimes when we look back and reflect on our childhood through the rose-colored glasses that nostalgia often lends us.

Nostalgia is a bit of an oxymoron in that it is a bittersweet form of happiness – a happiness that brings with it a little pang and yearning for something that we had once…and then lost.

A little smile dares color our faces when we reminisce on more innocent times when the world was simpler…easier…happier.

But we also feel sadness as we look through the looking glass to a time that has come and gone. Those moments of magical, bubbling joy now belong to the past.

Honeysuckle treats us to happiness by way of nostalgia, so that yes we have joy in our pleasant memories…but we also experience the pain of yearning. Pain and joy, are coupled together so that we truly feel the emotion of happiness. Every good emotion must sting…just a little so that you know it is real.

Emotions are magical…and fleeting. We are becoming less and less a people capable of emotion as cultural changes and societal shifts demand that we feel less and less in order to survive.

In our endless quest to heed our own survival, we often lose sight of what we’re surviving for – to be happy. What is the point of all of this if it doesn’t bring us joy? Why bother clinging to the mortal coil if it doesn’t make us happy?

Honeysuckle teaches us that in our search for happiness, we must focus on the little things, like the sweet taste of honeyed nectar like a secret treasure to be discovered within its petals, or the effervescent, scintillating aroma the flowers emit at peak bloom.

These things are all wonderful little miracles Mother Nature provides to remind us that the best things in life are free and that sometimes the simplest phenomena can bring the most joy.

Yes, a new shiny car or a bigger house can bring you a measure of joy, but eventually, you are prone to get bored of these things, as they are material and subject to erosion, wear and tear.

But the magical scent of the honeysuckle’s bloom, from season to season, will always be a spellbinding marvel of Nature that nothing man-made can replicate. The pleasant taste of honeysuckle nectar will always rival even the best delicacies that the most seasoned cooks have to offer.

Happiness, at the end of the day, is natural. Happiness is Nature-made.


*FDA Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not render medical or psychological advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or psychological problem, you should consult your appropriate health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Links on this website are provided only as an informational resource, and it should not be implied that we recommend, endorse or approve of any of the content at the linked sites, nor are we responsible for their availability, accuracy, or content.

The All-Heal: Valerian Spiritual Meaning and Magic

A close-up of white valerian flowers.

Valerian is powdered and used in sachets for protection and purification and can be placed under the pillow as a sleep aid. When hung in the home, it can guard against lightning strikes, and powdered and sprinkled along the threshold it can deter unwanted guests.

It is believed that if a woman pins a sprig of Valerian to her clothing, men will follow her like a child does their mother. Valerian can be placed around the home to quell couples’ quarrels and can also be placed in love sachets. Planting Valerian in the garden can bring harmony to the home, and you can add it to your ritual space to cleanse the area.

Greeks hung sprigs of Valerian on their windows to ward off evil from the home, and the dust is sometimes called “graveyard dust,” which can be used as a substitute for graveyard dust in magical work. Valerian is used during Samhain and Yule celebrations and can be added to charms and talismans for protection.

Selective focus close-up of red valerian flowers.

Like catnip, cats are magically drawn to Valerian, which can be used in spell work involving cats and other animals. It is also a very powerful panacea and can be used to treat many ailments, including headaches, cramps, and digestive upset.* The name comes from the Latin word valere which means to be strong and healthy and is also known as “all-heal.”

Valerian is believed to be able to turn any bad situation into a good one. It is a powerful sedative that can relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Place valerian in your shoes to protect against the flu, and drink valerian tea when in need of purification.*

Be careful of long-term use of valerian, as it can become addictive. Pregnant women should avoid valerian.*

Light pink valerian flowers.

*FDA Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not render medical or psychological advice, opinion, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or psychological problem, you should consult your appropriate health care provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Links on this website are provided only as an informational resource, and it should not be implied that we recommend, endorse or approve of any of the content at the linked sites, nor are we responsible for their availability, accuracy, or content.


More from Elune Blue

Moistened red apples hanging from a tree at midday.

The Fruit of the Gods: Apple Spiritual Meaning and Magic

Apples have a deeply-rooted magical history and are a richly symbol-laden fruit. They are known as the “Fruit of the Gods” in Celtic Mythology, and the Irish revered “The Silver Branch,” a magical artifact said to be needed to enter the Underworld before one’s time. Apple is also known as the “Fruit of the Underworld,” and some have believed …

Continue Reading

Dewy bilberries on a metal jar lid near moistened leaves and scattered bilberries.

The Vision Berry: Bilberry Spiritual Meaning, Myth and Magic

I had never heard of Bilberry before. I was researching the grain harvest festival of Lammas when I ran across this peculiar fruit. I had initially mistaken the name for another coinage of blueberry, but it is not. It is a very different fruit altogether. I sniffed around online and found the reason I had never heard of bilberries …

Continue Reading

A selective focus close-up on lavender flowers.

The Scent of Tranquility: Lavender Spiritual Meaning and Magic

The scent of fresh lavender can transport us to a place of utter serenity and refreshing calm. For centuries, many a culture have taken the opportunity to use this herb of tranquility to invite soothing, peaceful energies and usher in a cleansing air. Lavender’s power, like its penetrating and piercing periwinkle …

Continue Reading

An assortment of pumpkins of various colors, large and small, surrounded by twigs and fall leaves.

All Hallow’s Gourd: Pumpkin Spiritual Meaning and Magic

It’s Halloween night. A certain fresh briskness fills the air as children dressed as goblins, ghouls, superheroes, and witches scanter excitedly from house to house, pillaging the neighborhood for treats. In the backdrop of the dark of night is the Autumn leaves, providing a certain fiery orange glow that seems to …

Continue Reading

Privacy Policy