Last week I saw the new “Hilma” film (twice) at the Amherst Cinema. I think it is the first time in my life that I have paid to see the same movie more than once. And I thoroughly savored it both times, getting lost in the emotion, and finding the acting and production to be beautiful. It reminded me that Hilma af Klint was prolific not only in the abstract spiritual realm but that she also left behind a large body of work in botanical art and landscapes.
Hilma af Klint considered herself an amateur scientist. Her father was an admiral and mathematician and her ancestors were famous for having drawn “The Sea Maps of Sweden” and for calculating marine navigation tables. She lived during an era (1862-1944) in which scientific developments were quickly changing lives and society. She was endlessly curious about the world and was knowledgable about scientific discoveries of her time including quantum mechanics, electromagnetic waves, and Einstein’s theory of relativity, and sought to understand these theories in an artistic and spiritual way. Her spirituality was greatly influenced by Spiritualism and the occult specifically by Helena Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society and also by Rudolph Steiner founder of Anthroposophy.
Onto Violets. . .
This one might be one of my favourites of Hilma’s botanical watercolors as you see her interpretation of the forces/elements governing the violets and the way she strives to understand and classify the world, and perfect for a Beltane post.
Before the violet spoke to Hilma, Hildegard von Bingen understood the medicinal virtues of Viola odorata. The herb was grown in medieval kitchen gardens as well as Physic or medicinal gardens.
“The violet is mainly of moderate heat and it grows by the sweetness and gentleness of the air.” – Hildegard of Bingen
Another collector/art visionary we have mentioned before in these pages is Isabella Stewart Gardner who also loved violets and left the following instructions about her funeral
“If violets are in season, I should like to have one long cross of them on the coffin, going the whole length, plus the arms of the cross the whole width with a small bunch heather and white roses”
According to Maud Grieve’s Modern Herbal, there are over two hundred species of flowers in the violet family. Wild violets (Viola odorata) have heart-shaped leaves with purple-blue flowers. Some varieties also have white or yellow blooms. Both the leaves and flowers (which bloom in late winter and early spring) are also edible and rich in vitamins and minerals. This violet are classified as nourishing herbs in the Wise Woman Tradition of herbalism. They can be drunk in the form of an overnight infusion, the same method we talked about in the “For the Love of Nettles” post.
Medicinally speaking, violet are a gentle but effective remedy. They are classified as an alterative which generally speaking means they help build the blood and help the body restore optimal functioning by aiding metabolic processes. Violets also stimulate the lymphatic glands, helping the body get rid waste through its elimination channels . It is especially useful for swollen glands, and chronic issues of stagnation. Violets are a mover and shaker! Taken over time Violet can really be a good friend on a wellness journey. Taking Violet after a long winter is a wonderful way to get our bodies ready for a healthy and energetic spring. Thus earning her place amongst the best of the Spring tonics.
Violet also supports the immune system, helping clear infections of all kinds. Energetically she is soothing and cooling, so helpful in reduceing fever and inflammation. Violet’s cooling energy and mucilage provides relief to hot, irritated states in emotions and tissues, be they external or internal.
Violet also has a special affinity for the breasts and is my all time favorite ally for fibrocystic breasts, mastitis and even useful as part of a holistic protocol when treating some breast cancer. They are most effective when taken both internally and used externally as a poultice.
The Assortment of DIY Violet Preparations
Poultice: crush fresh violets and apply topically. You can also reconstitute dried violet by blanching in hot water.
Vinegar: Fill jar with violet flowers and leaves (or keep separate) cover with apple cider vinegar and let sit for 2 weeks before using
Oxymel: Fill jar with violet flowers, then cover 1/2 way with apple cider vinegar and top off with honey. Let sit for 2 weeks before using
Cold infusion (to extract mucilage most efficiently): steep 1 ounce of dried violet in 1 quart cool water for 3+ hours. Strain and drink.
Nourishing violet infusion: pour a quart of boiling water over 1 ounce of dried violet. Steep 4-8 hours, strain, and drink (you’ll get some mucilage from this preparation as well, as it will be extracted after the water cools).
Nasal/eyewash: Infuse violet in water (cool water will extract more mucilage), and strain through a coffee filter to ensure no plant bits To each 8 fluid-ounce cup, add roughly ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir till the salt is dissolved. Use as an eyewash in an eye cup, in a nasal spray bottle or neti pot.
Violet oil: Fill jar with fresh but dry (no dew or else it will mold) cover with olive oil or jojoba oil. Let sit two weeks before straining.
Tincture: Make a simple tincture by mincing fresh violet leaves and/or flowers and covering with 100 proof vodka in a mason jar. Macerate at least two weeks
Culinary: Salad, Soup, Juice, Jam, Candy and so many more
Violet Syrup
Maude Grieves (Modern Herbal available in it’s entirety online) describes one seventeenth century cookbook describes the use of violets to make a sweet syrup:
“Take a quantity of Blew Violets, clip off the whites and pound them well in a stone morter; then take as much fair running water as will sufficiently moysten them and mix with the Violets; strain them all; and to every halfe pint of the liquor put one pound of the best loafe sugar; set it on the fire, putting the sugar in as it melts, still stirring it; let it boyle but once or twice att the most; then take it from the fire, and keep it to your use. This is a daynty sirrup of Violets.”
Tried and Tested Modern Day Violet Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
4 cups violets, freshly picked, unsprayed
2 cups boiling water
2 cups sugar
1 lemon, juice of
2 cups water
Directions
Place violet petals in a deep bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Weigh down with a heavy dish to keep them submerged at room temperature for 24 hours.
Strain, squeezing out juice from the violets; compost the violets with Gratitude~
Place sugar, lemon juice and water in a saucepan and boil into a very syrup.
At near the candy stage. Add violet water and bring to a rolling boil. Boil 10 minutes or until thickened. Pour into sterile bottles. Allow to cool, then seal and refrigerate.
Serve with ice water or club soda.
According to pioneer in the Wild Food Movement and author of “Stalking the Healthful Herbs” ancient herbalists used violet syrup to cure epilepsy, pleurisy, jaundice, consumption, insomnia and more. He found that it had demulcent and expectorant properties, making it a tasty and effective cough syrup. However, he recommends enjoying just for the pure pleasure of the taste, putting on pancakes, making drinks from it, or pouring some over shaved ice. In Blanche Cybele Derby’s book “My Wild Friends” she gives a recipe for Violet Jam
One of my personal favorite Violet recipes is this Creamy Violet Dressing it’s the perfect addition to your wild spring salad.
Ingredients
2 cups fresh Violet Leaves
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey or maple syrup
1⁄2 cup olive oil
1⁄2 cup plain yogurt
2 garlic clove
Dash of pepper
1⁄4 tsp salt
Directions
1.) Add all the ingredients except yogurt are blended thoroughly in a blender or food processor.
2.) Add the yogurt and blend gently until smooth. Use liberally!
“If a kiss could be seen I think it would look like a violet.”
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Violets are a delight to the senses uplifting the heart, and can be very helpful in opening (while still protecting) the heart and conquering heartache and grief. Herbalist John Gerard (c. 1545-1612) said violet “comforteth the heart and other inward parts” Violet also calms—both emotionally and physically. I dedicate one afternoon every May to collecting Violets under the Apple Tree- a part of my annual holistic protocol.
In American folklore and African-American ritual, Violet is commonly used to either draw in new love or ease heartbreak. (One of Violets common names is heart’s ease for this reason) I’ve heard it said if you put the leaves of the violet in your right shoe and wear it for 7 days, you will bring new love to you. In the book “Hoodoo Herbs and Root Magic” Catherine Yronwode she suggests bathing in an infusion of violets for 9 days to ease heartbreak.