cherry
Cherry is a tree.
- botanical information
- origin
- history
- nutritional information
- Chinese herbology
- magick correspondences and uses
- Goddesses and deities
botanical information:
Botanical name: Prunus avium or Prunus serotina
Common name: cherry
Cherry belongs to the rose family. Cherry trees average 60 to 80 feet and live until 150 to 200 years.
Cherry wood is used for making fine furniture, cabinets, musical instruments, and carvings. The heartwood of cherry ranges from rich red to reddish brown and darkens with age and exposure to light. The sapwood of cherry is creamy white.
origin:
Origin: Japan.
The cherry blossom was considered sacred to the Japanese emperor.
history:
History: In 1885 travel writer and photographer Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore of the U.S. started working with the Japanese government to arrange for chery trees to be planted along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. After years of negotiations the people of Tokyo donated 3,000 cherry trees to the people of Washington. On March 27, 1912, Helen Taft (wfie of the U.S. president) and Viscountess Chinda (wife of the Japanese Ambassador) planted the first two cherry trees. Approximately 150 of the original 1912 trees, including the first two planted, are still alive.
nutritional information:
American colonists mixed cherry juice with rum to make a bitter cordial called Cherry Bounce.
Chinese herbalism:
Chinese gender: yang (warm)
Chinese flavor: sweet
magickal correspondences and uses:
Western element: water
Magickal uses of cherry juice: love, platfulness, and psychic energy
Ritual uses of cherry: Use in rituals where creativity or sensitivity is needed.
Ritual uses of cherry: Use cherry flavored beverages in rituals honoring youthful Goddesses.
deities associated with cherry:
- any youthful Goddess
Early American colonists used cherry bark to make a drug to treat bronchitis. They used cherry stalks to make various medicinal tonics.
Some herbs may be poisonious under some conditions. Exercise appropriate care.
Wild gathering: Avoid wild gathering. Some plants are endangered species. Some plants can be toxic just by touch. Even experts can make deadly misidentifications of wild plants. Please grow your own herbs in your own goddess garden (or window boxes).
