84 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



stronger the better; if they can, in Herbs of Saturn, 

 let Saturn be in the ascendant; in the Herbs of 

 Mars, let Mars be in the mid-heaven, for in those 

 houses they delight; let the Moon apply to them by 

 good aspect, and let her not be in the houses of her 

 enemies; if you cannot well stay till she apply to 

 them, let her apply to a Planet of the same triplicity ; 

 if you cannot meet that time neither, let her be 

 with a fixed star of their Nature." 



In Deuteronomy (xxxiii. 14) we read that 

 precious things are put forth by the moon, but 

 precious fruits by the sun; and it certainly does seem 

 remarkable, that though in all ages, the sun has 

 been worshipped, as being the supreme and ruling 

 luminary, from whose life-giving rays all vegetation 

 drew its existence, at the same time, there should 

 have been a firm belief, that the growth and decay 

 of plants were associated most intimately with the 

 waxing and waning of the moon. 



Through all the ages the sun and the moon have 

 ranked high among the Nature gods, and even to 

 this day they have obeisance done to them among 

 some of the heathen tribes. 



Survivals of the ancient rite of sun-worship may 

 be traced in the custom of turning to the east, 

 as well as in the bonfires set ablaze on the hills on 

 Easter morning, which custom is still observed in 

 the Greek Church. 



There is a curious old Nature myth which runs 

 thus: 



" The Moon is a woman, and the Sun also; the 

 Stars are the Moon's children, and the Sun had in 

 old days as many. Fearing, however, that man- 

 kind could not bear so much brightness and heat. 



