“Shy, modest and faithful

I blossom in the shadows unseen.

Clad in shades of Emperors and Divinity,

I herald the Faerie Queen;

humble helpmate in fostering a Fae affinity.



Faithfully,

I hail both Venus and Persephone,

acclaiming around the Northern World,

each radiant Goddess of Spring.

With perfumed delicacy

I will ease your heart,

although I caution vigilence in all things.


Sugared sweet

or tossed about with tasty greens,

tussie mussie, perfume, healthy tea or tonic,

I am a treat fit for mortal queens.”


“Look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet, all last winter we slept in the seeming death but at the right time God awakened us, and here we are to comfort you.” Edward Payson Rod

 
Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts.  It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.  ~William Temple

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.  ~Malcolm S. Forbes
 

Violets, or Violas, have between 4 and 500 species worldwide! Heartsease and Pansies belong to the same Family. The violets I am most familiar with prefer shady moist areas and are low-growers (only six inches at most) although they can spread rapidly and wildly. This year has been a wonderful Violet Carpeted Spring. The lovely heartshaped leaves illuminate to a marvelous shade of green with sunlight. Purple, yellow, white and black… the common colors of a Violet here in the U.S., makes for a pretty potent combination when you look at color symbology.


Purple was a traditional color for Emperors and Rulers. It is considered to be a strengthening and protective color. Shades of purple have a strong impact on the psyche and have been used to soothe patients suffering from a variety of mental and nervous disorders. Indigo, violet, purple and lavender help to balance the mind, transform obssessions and fears, stimulate intuition and imagination, sedate an overactive psyche or calm turbulent emotions.Purple is also associated with artistic and musical impulses, myster, impulses, beauty, high ideals, sensitivity, spirituality, compassion and creativity.White, of course, is the ultimate color of Purity. A good all-around color, White is also protective, cleansing, excellent for releiving emotional shock or despair. White can bring peace, freedom, healing, Divine energy, Universal energy, and openess. However, too much white becomes sterile, draining, isolating and lifeless. White is the color that most often represents North on the Medicine Wheel.


Black can represent wisdom, the Void, the passive but creative feminine life force, Creation, mystery, protection, infinity, the unknown, the Night, the Crone aspect, maturity, and Death. A powerful color, too much Black in our lives could keep us from proper growth and the necessary changes so vital to life. Black often represents the direction West on the Medicine Wheel, the direction of Wisdom, water, feminine power, the Void, and maturity. Yellow, the traditional color of the East, symbolizes Sun energy, beginnings, air, thought, spring, enthusiasm, newness, creativity, curiosity, mental healing, discrimination, happiness, and illumination. This color can help us when we are seeking to express our innermost thoughts, aid memory, clear our thoughts, make decisions, organization, in assimilating new information or thoughts, hope, aid in seeing all sides of an issue, build self-confidence, and encourage optimism. On the flip side, Yellow is often the color of fear, cowardice, warnings, and caution.

So, while the predominant color of a violet is often purple, it does vary or contain a touch of all these colors. Thus this tiny Singer reminds us that a healthy combination of these qualities will bring sweetness and new thought to your life. In the language of flowers, violets represent modesty, faithfulness, maidenly shyness, devotion, and watchfulness. Amongst Celts and Germans, violets are heralds of Spring. During spring celebrations in Germany May wine is often drunk, which is made from wine, herbs and violets. Combining wine and violets hails back to ancient Greece where they were not only mixed with wine, but strewn at feasts, and fashioned into garlands as it was believed they would ward off dizziness and headaches.


Which is actually pretty interesting when you consider that the Greek word for violet is io, as in Io who bore children to Zeus and was harried across the seas by Hera’s gadfly! Surely worth experiences worth at least one whopping headache! Being a Herald of Spring, connects this little Teacher with all Deities of that Season. Napolean adopted this flower as the emblem of his party and it is said that Joesphine wore one in her locket and covered his grave in violets.
In Pakistan, violet tea is drunk to increase sweating and thus reduce fever. They are also reputed to relieve anxiety, insomnia and reduce high blood pressure. In the 17th century throat lozenges, made with violet conserve, were used to treat bronchitis, as well as to combat sinus congestion. Violet sugar was a popular staple in apothecaries of the time, and was used to treat consumption. Violets do have natural antibacterial properties in their blossoms, contain vitamins A and C, and also contain an asprin-like compound. Native Americans soaked corn seed in an infusion of yellow violet to prevent insects from eating the seeds.

Modesty and humility are the first lesson of this shy Teacher. This handy-dandy gentleman of the Plant Nation sits at his ease in the shade as we hurry by, wondering when we will take notice of him again. Humble Violet, give us much to ponder. Its very name conjures the color of Passionate living coupled with innocent humility. As always, the color and variety of the violet/viola/johnny-jump-up/pansy will carry their particular message to you, and they do come in quite a variety! How do Violets appear in you life?

 
“He died of a surfeit of violets, they say.” The Last Unicorn

“It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.” Miss Manners

“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.” Confuscius