GABRIELA SARNA WIRASZKA – 2022

The Sacred Basket – Plants of Power and Magic in Polish Folk Healing
Herbs and flowers are some the greatest weavers and keepers of ancestral wisdom of the Polish people. Many of the oldest remaining charms and songs in Polish folklore are associated with plants and their healing properties and power. Some of these beliefs and practices not only have made their way to the church altar, but also influenced certain aspects of the Polish Catholic faith and celebrated Holy Days, especially those associated with Mother Mary and her representation of Mother Earth.

In this lecture Gabriela will present and explore the magical uses of plants in Poland from earlier history through present day. Various aspects of plant medicine and beliefs surrounding trees and plants will be discussed. Old Polish charms and poems dedicated to plants and their powers will be translated and analyzed for a deeper understanding of particular plant spirits as well as traditional approach to Polish folk healing.