Ladybugs, Shamen, and Mushrooms

Ladybug Lore



From Ladybug Lore:

In Europe, during the Middle Ages, insects were destroying the crops, so the Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon the Ladybugs came, ate the plant-destroying pests and saved the crops! The farmers began calling the ladybugs "The Beetles of Our Lady", and they eventually became known as "Lady Beetles"! The red wings represented the Virgin's cloak and the black spots represented her joys and sorrows.

Ladybug Shamanism: (also from Ladybug Lore)

In Sweden, folks believe that if a ladybug lands on a young maiden's hand, she will soon be getting married. If you find a ladybug in your house, count the number of spots and that is how many dollars you will soon receive.

In England, finding a ladybug means that you will have a good harvest.

In France, if you are sick and a ladybug lands on you, when it flies away, it will take the sickness with it.

If a ladybug has more than seven spots, then there will be a famine. If it has less than seven, then there will be a good harvest.

At one time, doctors would mash up ladybugs and put them in a cavity to cure a toothache.

Some people believe that the number of spots on a ladybug indicates how many children you will have.

If you find a ladybug in your house in the winter you will have good luck.

Hmmm, sounds familiar:

lucky charms: (from "Good Luck Charms" @ kidsweb)

Other good-luck charms people exchange at midnight include the 'lucky pig', the chimney sweep and 'the lucky mushroom'. We don't really know why the poisonous fly agaric was chosen as a good luck symbol. It might have to do with its bright red cap and its white spots on top.

(Except that Fly Agaric mushrooms, i.e. Amanita Muscaria isn't necessarily "poisonous")

a history of fly agaric mushrooms (and also a very enlightening read about mushroom consumption and warfare):

The response to the mushrooms varied from person to person and in the same person at different times. The mushrooms varied in potency and sometimes one mushroom was effective; at other times ineffective. The first response occurred in 1 to 2 hours beginning with twitching and trembling. Consciousness was maintained and during this induction phase the subjects were euphoric and contented. Then the visions came on. The subjects spoke to their visionary people and discussed various matters with them. They were quite calm but appeared entranced with a glassy stare. Other subjects became very jolly or sad, jumped about, danced, sang or gave way to great fright. Their pupils were enlarged. Lewin believed this was responsible for the distortions in size which occurred. Small objects appeared much too large. This "deceptive perception is apt to influence his action" ... "on the basis of his illusions the conclusion which he arrives at is very reasonable." In large quantities more severe hallucinations and rages occurred. The initial excitation could become more and more severe leading to attacks of raving madness. In some cases motor excitation was dominant.

Some images to consider:















When Santa was a Shaman

I also found these images during a google search under German Mushroom "Good Luck"

















and finally, let not forget: