Flowers of Blood - Plants in Swedish Folklore

Flowers of Blood is a fascinating exploration of the folklore of plants in pre-industrial Sweden. Through a deep dive into the world of the enchanted flora of northern Europe, the author evokes a dreamlike borderland where the numinous is thought to dwell and where each plant and tree is filled with hidden meanings, arcane knowledge and mysterious powers. Imbued in a deep animistic worldview, the natural environment of the rural folk presented is alive with spirits and supernatural beings. Here, we encounter the Underworld Dwellers, the Devil, Näcken (the water sprite), Skogsrået (the forest sprite), Hyllefroa (the elder tree spirit) and biblical figures like Cain, Judas Iscariot and Maria, in evocative plant and tree folk legends. Through in-depth researches in the archives of Uppsala and Stockholm and older local historic books, Sara Bonadea George presents, for the first time in English, a body of lore that remains little known at present even in Sweden.

Acclaimed by scholars and herbalists alike, Flowers of Blood offers a deep exploration of the ways in which folklore serves as a vital link between past and present, preserving Sweden's rich botanical, magical, cultural traditions.

The book is richly illustrated with photos from museum archives and illustrations of skilfully chosen artists.

The text is accompanied by a short story and poem by Per Faxneld, Associate Professor in History of Religions and author of several books on the history of esotericism.

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The Tree of Cain - A Poem by Per Faxneld

Flora of Enchantment. An Introduction

The Yellow Flower of Blood

Landscape of the Devil

Temptation. The Tree of Knowledge

Stem of the Traitor. Judas in Nature

Eternal Unrest. The Trembling Aspen

Tree of Blood

The Juniper Cross

Golgotha of the North

Wreath of Humiliation. Crown of Thorns

Maria in the Orchard, Freja´s Tears of Gold

A Shadow Realm. Poisonous Plants

The Sorceress Appears. Enchanted Milk

Fröja´s Apples

Tree of the Boundary Land

Skogsrået, the Guardian of the Forest

Holy Hawthorn

Mezereon and Valerian

Midsummer Visions

Luna is My Name

Lilies of the Water Spirit

Enigmatic Troll Butter

Satan's Flight. Protective Plants

Song of the Elves

Thorn King

The Church of Lucifer

Broom and Scythe

A Relentless Weave. The Mystery of Death

Oats on the Juniper Bushes. The End of the World

The Woman in the Field. Folklore Past and Present

The Apostle Tree - A Short Story by Per Faxneld

Acknowledgments

About the author

References