Lignum Vitae

I'm so excited to be doing a post in tandem with Kimi of Grahtoe Studio. We're doing posts on Lignum Vitae wood.

Lignum Vitae is an awesome wood. In The Once and Future King, Merlin's staff was made of Lignum Vitae. I'm sure T.H. White picked that wood for good reason.

Lignum Vitae is latin for "tree/wood of life." I discussed this with my friend, who is a former Carmelite nun (really!). I've seen it translated in other places as "long life", but this is incorrect.

In the garden of Eden, after eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve were cast out to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life, which would enable them to live forever.

In Norse mythology, there is a Tree of Life. This Tree of Life is very special, having the heavens and earth balancing precariously. This Tree of Life is called Yggdrasil.

Lignum Vitae is known for having protective and healing properties and is a popular wood for wands.

Kimi has done a wonderful post about the medicinal and healing values of the Lignum Vitae. Swing on by her blog here.