The Symbolism of the Daisy
Introduction
Although in the UK,
the symbolism of the Daisy is generally associated with Bellis perennis,
known as the ‘common, lawn or English daisy’.
A very large number of other plants belong to the Asteraceae or daisy family,
including the Oxe-Eye Daisy.
Asteraceae comes from the Latin word aster, which means “star”.
Indeed, we explored the links between the constellation of Virgo,
whose symbol is Astraea the Star Maiden,
in our video, Virgo, Virgins and the High Priestess.
In this video, we saw that in Greek mythology,
Astraea left the Earth
and was transformed into the constellation of Virgo.
Her name literally means “maiden of the stars”.
As such the Daisy is the symbolic flower of ‘Virgins’ and High Priestesses,
and in ancient sculptures we often see High Priestesses in a veil,
with a crown of daisies.
According to some old writers,
the generic name for the common Daisy
is derived from the Latin bellus (pretty or charming).
The common name is a corruption of the old English name
'day's-eye,' and is used by Chaucer in that sense:
'Well by reason men it call maie
The Daisie, or else the Eye of the Daie.'
The common Daisy and the Ox-Eye Daisy,
once had a great reputation as a cure for fresh wounds and gout,
and it was then known as 'Bruisewort’.
Used as an ointment it was applied externally,
but it was also used internally against ‘inflammatory disorders of the liver’,
and 'as an unfailing remedy in all kinds of paines and aches.''
Reinforcing the symbolism, as many High Priestesses were also healers.
The main symbolism
The Daisy is a symbol of innocence,
of service and sacrifice in its correct meaning -
giving rather than taking, kindness given without reward.
William Wordsworth
Small service is true service while it lasts;
Of Friends, however, humble, scorn not one;
The Daisy, by the shadow that it casts
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the Sun.
It exhibits the phenomenon of heliotropism,
where the flowers follow the position of the sun in the sky.
And this provides added richness,
as it is then a symbol not just of servitude,
but to powers greater than itself.
In other words, the Daisy is the ‘king maker’
the one who - as a High Priestess - serves a man born to be a ‘King’.
Its yellow centre, the fact it flowers in Summer,
and its white starburst arrangement of petals
associate it with the Sun symbols - Yellow or Gold, Noon, and Summer.
And as the Lion - Leo is the symbol of kings and a Sun sign
- the Daisy serves the ‘Lion’.
The Daisy follows soft the Sun - Emily Dickinson
The Daisy follows soft the Sun -
And when his golden walk is done -
Sits shyly at his feet -
He - waking - finds the flower there -
Wherefore - Marauder - art thou here?
Because, Sir, love is sweet!
The Norse and Celtic connection
The Ox-Eye Daisy has long been associated with the gods.
In Europe, it was once connected with the Thunder God,
who in Norse was Thor.
In Germanic mythology,
Thor is the hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder,
storms, sacred groves and trees, strength and the protection of mankind.
Thor’s name in Old High German was Donar,
and the Daisy was called ‘the Donar Daisy’.
But the Daisy was also sacred to Taranis, the pan-Celtic god of storms and thunder.
Taranis’ name literally meant “thunder”,
and appears to have been derived from the Proto-Celtic toranos.
Because of his association with the sacred wheel,
he was also called a “wheel god.”
Taranis was known in Irish mythology as Tuireann,
to the Romans as Jupiter, to the Greeks as Zeus and,
as we have seen, to the Norse as Thor.
As such the association of the Daisy as the symbolic flower of the High Priestess,
indicates that the symbolism would have been common across many countries
over all the cultures where the Thunder god [whatever name was used]
was recognised, the High Priestesses who served this god
wore a crown of daisies.
The ancients also dedicated the Daisy to Artemis.
Artemis, in Greek religion was the goddess of wild animals,
the hunt, vegetation and of chastity.
In other words she was a Virgin - the Romans called her Diana.
And Artemis was the daughter of Zeus.
And though a virgin was very fond of small children.
On the arrival of Christianity, the symbolism was transferred to St. Mary Magdalen
and the flower became the Maudelyn or Maudlin Daisy.
And this simply reinforces the idea
that the Daisy is the flower of High Priestesses - the ‘vestal virgins’
- a fact we explored in the videos on the Symbolism of the Cross
and on Virgo, Virgins and the High Priestess.
And the crown of flowers worn by many High Priestesses was a Daisy chain.
William Wordsworth - from To the Daisy
With little here to do or see
Of things that in the great world be,
Sweet Daisy, oft I talk to thee
For thou art worthy,
Thou unassuming common place Of nature, with that homely face
And yet with something of a grace Which love makes for thee ...
Sweet flower, for by that name at last
When all my reveries are past
I call thee and to that cleave fast,
Sweet silent creature!
That breath'st with me in sun and air,
Do thou, as thou art wont, repair
My heart with gladness, and a share
Of thy meek nature.