ALMOND

© Anna Franklin

 This article may not be reprinted or quoted without permission.

The almond is related to the plum and the cherry and is a member of Rosaceae  family.  It is native to warmer regions of Asia and North Africa, but is widely grown in the Mediterranean and cultivated in many parts of the world including California, where large annual crops of almond nuts are produced every year.

 The Sweet Almond [Prunus amygdalus/ Amaygdalus communis var. dulcia] grows up to 9 m (30 ft) high. The bark is a reddish colour and the leaves ovate and smooth, appearing after the pinkish flowers in the early spring. The almond nut is well known and grows surrounded by a green casing. The hull splits open when the nut is ripe.

 The Bitter Almond [Prunus amygdalus/ Amaygdalus communis var. amara] is similar in appearance to the sweet almond, but the nuts vary in their chemical composition, containing prussic acid.

 The Dwarf Almond  [Amygdalus nana] is a low shrub,  similar in appearance to the common almond, but with smaller fruit. It is frequently planted as an ornamental shrub in Britain and the US for its profusion of blossoms.

 LORE:

In ancient Phrygia the almond was regarded as the Father of All Things, perhaps because the blossom is the first herald of spring, appearing before the leaves. Its Hebrew name shakad means “hasty awakening” or “to watch for”  and the January flowering of the almond in Israel marks the arrival of spring. The themes of the almond are spring, regeneration, divination and fertility.

 The almond tree is intimately connected with the Anatolian vegetation god Attis or Atys who was reborn each spring only to die and be mourned each winter. One of the oldest stories of the Great Goddess Cybele is that she was initially androgynous, and where her severed male genitals fell to the ground an almond tree arose, whose fruits gave birth to Attis.  Some said Attis was conceived when his mother, Nana, placed a ripe almond in her bosom. In another Greek myth when Attis was killed violets sprang from his blood and an almond tree from his body, which bore bitter almonds as a symbol of grief.

 These themes of both mourning and regeneration occur in the myths connected with the almond, echoing the mourning for the dead vegetation god in the winter and his regeneration in the spring. There are two types of almonds, the bitter and the sweet, lamentation and celebration.. Bitter almonds have poisonous properties and were used by the ancients as a vermifuge, while sweet almonds have a happier reputation as wholesome and comforting; Culpepper said “This kind of butter is made of almonds with sugar and rose water, which being eaten with violets is very wholesome and commodious for students, for it rejoiceth the brain and qualifieth the heat of the liver.”

 Phyllis [“Leafy”], was a Thracian princess who fell in love with Acamas [or in some versions of the story, Demophoon], who had to leave her to fight at the siege of Troy.  When Troy fell and all the warriors returned home, Phyllis went to the sea shore time after time,  hoping to sight his returning ship, but after her ninth visit she gave up, thinking him dead, and died of grief. Taking pity, Athene, the goddess of wisdom, turned her into an almond tree. Acamas’ ship had only been delayed by a leak, and he arrived the following day, and instead of embracing his living lover, could only embrace the bark of the almond tree. In response to his loving caresses, the tree burst into blossom. From this time onwards the Athenians danced in honour of Phyllis and Acamas each spring.  The story may be seen as symbolising the blossoming of flowers in response to the embrace of the sun’s warmth in the spring. 

Because it is associated with regeneration and bears nuts the almond is, by definition, a tree of fertility. In Sweden at Yule they still serve almond cakes showing a sow with piglets. One title of the Norse goddess Freya was Syr, meaning “sow”, because the pig is a prime symbol of fertility; it has many offspring in a litter and also because it appears in the moon colours of white, red and black, denoting its three phases, Maiden, Mother and Crone. In Germany the bride and groom were presented with almonds for fertility, while in Czechoslovakia sprigs were distributed among the guests. In Scandinavian countries Christmas dinner includes a rice pudding, called julgrot, which has an almond in it. According to tradition, whoever gets the almond will have good luck throughout the new year

 Jews carry almond boughs to temple on festival days. Aaron, the successor of Moses, cut his staff from the almond. The Jewish menorah is said to represent the staff of Aaron and its sconces are fashioned to resemble almond fruits. According to the Bible Moses put twelve rods, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, into the tabernacle in order to choose from among them which tribe should furnish the high priest.  Next day, the almond rod, representing the tribe of Levi, was found to be covered with leaves and blossoms.

 This sudden blossoming of an almond wand also occurs in the Germanic story of the knight Tannhauser.  He won the love of Lisaura, but when she heard that he had set out to Venusburg to kiss the queen of love and beauty, she killed herself. Tannhauser  stayed for some time in the cave palace, but after a time he sought permission to visit the upper world where he confessed his guilt to Pope Urban IV and asked for absolution.  The pope was horrified at the enormity of his sin and refused, saying: “Such guilt can never be forgiven. It is more likely that this dead staff in my hand will bloom, than that God should forgive you.”  On hearing this, Tannhauser sadly left, but, three days later, the pope suddenly discovered his staff to have budded and flowered.  Messengers were sent out after Tannhauser, but he was never seen again. This appears to be a reworking of a much older story in which the vegetation god spends time in the underworld during the winter and his regeneration and redemption is marked by the flowering of the trees in early spring.

 In the story of the wands of the twelve tribes of Israel we saw that the almond is associated with divination, and in the story of Phyllis, that it has connections with the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athene. Another association with wisdom occurs in the use of the almond in the ancient Greek festival in honour of Car, or Carya, otherwise known as Metis, the Titaness of Wisdom. The Caryatids were her nut nymphs, and images of their figures were carved as pillars to hold up temples. Car evolved into the Italian divinitory goddess Carmenta. This affinity with augury survived in popular folk magic, where eating almonds was believed to be divinatory, presaging a journey, whether the outcome is good or bad depends on whether the almond is sweet or bitter.  

RITUAL USES:

The almond is used to make a wand of fertility and regeneration, which is especially used at the time of the spring equinox and to invoke the element of air and the direction of the east. It is also a wand of authority which may be used jointly by the ruling high priest and high priestess.  

The blossoms, wood and nuts make a suitable incense alone, or in combination with other ingredients, to honour and invoke the direction of the east, the element of air, the planet Mercury and the star sign of Gemini. It is also used in incenses of the spring equinox and rituals of divination.  It may be used in incenses to invoke and honour Zeus, Freya, Phyllis, Amacas, Demophoon, Cybele, Attis, Nana, Car [Carya], Metis, Carmenta and the Caryatids.

 The blossoms may be used in chaplets and decorations at festivals to celebrate the spring, or at handfastings to signify that love survives death.

 Almond oil is often used as a base for magical oils, but should only be used for those connected with air, spring and its associated gods and goddesses. Almond oil can be used to anoint and consecrate the ritual sword.

 The sweet almonds pounded in water form “almond milk” which may be taken as a ritual drink, when seeking wisdom and guidance from the gods.

 MEDICINAL:

The sweet almonds, pounded in water to form “almond milk", can be used as a substitute for dairy products for those allergic to cow's milk. The milk is also helpful in cases of kidney and bladder stones. To ease heartburn peel and eat six sweet almonds.

 Sweet almond oil may be used as a base oil for aromatherapy. It is light and easily absorbed into the skin, while the essential oils freely dissolve into it. Used alone almond oil is ideal for general massage. It is a good moisturiser. Rub onto dry, chipped and damaged nails every night and you will have smooth, strong nails within a week.